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Aug 20, 2015

Local groups sue Husted over invalidating Nov. 3 charter initiatives in Medina, Fulton and Athens counties

Local groups sue Husted over invalidating Nov. 3 charter initiatives in Medina, Fulton and Athens counties

Residents of Medina, Fulton and Athens counties filed a lawsuit against Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted this week for blocking local votes on county charter initiatives to stop natural gas pipelines and injection wells.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 20, 2015

Supreme Court to rule on anti-fracking measures

Supreme Court to rule on anti-fracking measures

Representatives of committees in Athens County and two other Ohio counties seeking passage of anti-fracking county charters are asking the Ohio Supreme Court to order Secretary of State Jon Husted to dismiss protests against the measures and allow them to make the Nov. 3 general election ballots in the three counties.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 20, 2015

The Olympian: Fracking foes sue Ohio elections chief over ballot ruling

The Olympian: Fracking foes sue Ohio elections chief over ballot ruling

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Residents in three Ohio counties contend in a lawsuit that Secretary of State Jon Husted violated their rights when he invalidated ballot proposals they offered that would have restricted development projects related to the gas-drilling technique known as fracking.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 19, 2015

The Leap: In Colorado, A Revolutionary New Coalition Stands for Community Rights

The Leap: In Colorado, A Revolutionary New Coalition Stands for Community Rights

In Colorado, local governments cannot raise the minimum wage, pass rent control laws, or ban fracking. A system of state “preemption”—a favorite tool of the fossil fuel industry—stands in their way.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 17, 2015

Denver Business Journal: Proposed Colorado amendment would give locals more say on fracking, wages (Video)

Denver Business Journal: Proposed Colorado amendment would give locals more say on fracking, wages (Video)

Community activists submitted the wording Monday for a proposed Colorado constitutional amendment that would allow local governments more power over oil and gas regulations and over the setting of a minimum wage.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 17, 2015

Husted nixes charter proposal

Husted nixes charter proposal

Fulton County residents will not vote on a charter government Nov. 3 because the submitted proposal flies in the face of state law, according to Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 17, 2015

EnergyWire: Ohio secretary of state tosses anti-fracking elections in 3 counties

EnergyWire: Ohio secretary of state tosses anti-fracking elections in 3 counties

Ohio blocked three counties from holding elections that could ban oil and gas or pipeline development, but organizers said they may go to court to get the proposals back on the ballot, and at least one local election could still go forward.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 16, 2015

Ohio Secretary of State says: No vote on local charter

Ohio Secretary of State says: No vote on local charter

The Athens County Bill of Rights Committee, along with similar committees in Medina and Fulton counties, plans to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court after Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted rejected the groups’ anti-fracking charter government proposals for the ballot this November.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 16, 2015

Vindy.com: Petition decision & tyranny

Vindy.com: Petition decision & tyranny

Once again, political tyranny rears its ugly head as Ohio Secretary Of State Jon Husted maintains that as chief executive over elections, he is using his “unfettered authority’’ to make thousands of signatures of active voters invalid in ruling that referendums on fracking would circumvent state law.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 16, 2015

Anti-frackers hope to make Youngstown’s November ballot

Anti-frackers hope to make Youngstown’s November ballot

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – In Athens, Fulton and Medina Counties Ohio’s Secretary of State, Jon Husted, declared anti-fracking ballot initiatives will not be put before voters on the November ballot, even though there were enough signatures to place them on the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 15, 2015

Medina County can’t vote to ban fracking

Medina County can’t vote to ban fracking

MEDINA, Ohio – The fight isn’t over for Medina County homeowners opposed to the Nexus pipeline and pushing for a ban on fracking in the county.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 14, 2015

Ohio groups unhappy with Husted decision on charter votes

Ohio groups unhappy with Husted decision on charter votes

COLUMBUS, OH: The Ohio Secretary of State, Jon Husted, declared that the citizens of Medina, Fulton, and Athens Counties may not vote on their own county charter initiatives, despite meeting requirements to place those initiatives on the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 14, 2015

Groups to seek Ohio constitutional change on community rights

Groups to seek Ohio constitutional change on community rights

Grass-roots groups in Medina and two other counties intend to keep fighting Ohio’s gas-and-oil industry, after Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted invalidated ballot proposals in those counties.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 14, 2015

Ohio counties can’t vote to ban fracking, Husted rules

Ohio counties can’t vote to ban fracking, Husted rules

Residents of three counties won’t be voting this November on whether to allow fracking, based on a ruling Thursday by Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Aug 14, 2015

Press Release: People of Spokane to Vote on Worker Bill of Rights

Press Release: People of Spokane to Vote on Worker Bill of Rights

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON: Judge Salvatore Cozza from the Spokane County Superior denied a preliminary injunction brought by the Mayor of Spokane to block the vote of a Worker Bill of Rights initiative, which is on the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 13, 2015

Secretary of State sides with Athens County charter protest, rejects proposal for November ballot

Secretary of State sides with Athens County charter protest, rejects proposal for November ballot

Community bill of rights in charter proposal would have banned some fracking-related activities

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 13, 2015

Meigs County group sues commissioners on charter initiative

Meigs County group sues commissioners on charter initiative

MEIGS COUNTY, OH: Frustrated by the efforts of the Meigs County Commissioners to keep residents’ community rights county charter initiative off the November ballot, the Meigs County Home Rule Committee (MCHRC) has sued the Commissioners to force the measure on to the ballot. On July 20, they filed a lawsuit in the Fourth District Court of Appeals in Chillicothe, claiming the Commissioners have illegally refused to take action on the measure in order to block a vote by the people.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 12, 2015

August Update: Chomsky, Hedges, Unions Endorse Worker Bill of Rights

August Update: Chomsky, Hedges, Unions Endorse Worker Bill of Rights

Learn the latest news on Spokane, WA’s, Worker Bill of Rights, read Community Rights Paper #5 on Citizens United, and join us for the launching of the Ohio Community Rights Workshop.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Aug 12, 2015

Inlander: Envision Spokane fires back against mayor’s legal challenge

Inlander: Envision Spokane fires back against mayor’s legal challenge

CELDF assists Envision Spokane in asking a judge to dismiss efforts to keep the people’s Worker Bill of Rights off the ballot. Spokane, WA’s, mayor filed the lawsuit.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 9, 2015

Ohio Secretary of State to decide on charter protest this week

Ohio Secretary of State to decide on charter protest this week

The Ohio Secretary of State’s Office is expected to make a decision by this Thursday on whether a proposed charter government for Athens County will go on the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 5, 2015

The Spokesman-Review: People, not city, should vote on workers’ bill of rights

The Spokesman-Review: People, not city, should vote on workers’ bill of rights

As the City of Spokane sues its own citizens in an attempt to keep a Worker Bill of Rights off the ballot, this opinion piece points out the hypocrisy and the anti-democratic tactics of City Hall.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 3, 2015

Inlander: City of Spokane wants Worker Bill of Rights initiative off ballot, files suit

Inlander: City of Spokane wants Worker Bill of Rights initiative off ballot, files suit

The city of Spokane attempts to keep the people of Spokane from voting on their own Worker Bill of Rights, filing a lawsuit to block the duly qualified initiative from the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 3, 2015

Envision Worker Rights Media Statement: City Files Legal Challenge to Block the Democratic Rights of Voters

Envision Worker Rights Media Statement: City Files Legal Challenge to Block the Democratic Rights of Voters

Despite the constitutional right of Spokane, WA, citizens to vote on their own Worker Bill of Rights, the City of Spokane files suit in an attempt to block the qualified initiative from the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 24, 2015

The Southern Illinoisan: Anti-fracking group drafting a community bill of rights

The Southern Illinoisan: Anti-fracking group drafting a community bill of rights

Jackson County, IL, residents launch a campaign to advance a Community Bill of Rights banning fracking as a violation of their rights to clean air and water.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 20, 2015

The World: Your View: Kudos from the other end of the LNG pipe

The World: Your View: Kudos from the other end of the LNG pipe

The people of Colorado express esprit de corps with and appreciation of the people of Oregon as both states advance community rights to stop fracking and its infrastructure and make real the promise of democratic self-governance.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 3, 2015

Foster’s Daily Democrat: Reclaiming community rights is nothing new

Foster’s Daily Democrat: Reclaiming community rights is nothing new

A New Hampshire Community Rights Network Board member traces Community Rights back to colonial New England, where residents reclaimed those rights from the British Crown in the American Revolution – and where Community Rights are being reclaimed again today.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

May 12, 2015

Dissident Voice: The Future is in the Past: Economics 101 for Spokane

Dissident Voice: The Future is in the Past: Economics 101 for Spokane

An in-depth look at Spokane, WA, its economy, and what sustainable and just would mean to the almost 40,000 people living in poverty. This includes Envision Spokane’s Worker Bill of Rights, aimed for the November 2015 ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 25, 2015

Foster’s Daily Democrat: CELDF can help communities

Foster’s Daily Democrat: CELDF can help communities

In a letter-to-the-editor, New Hampshire resident and New Hampshire Community Rights Network member Pamela Martin recognizes CELDF’s work to support communities in protecting their rights over corporate claimed “rights” and government interests.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 23, 2015

Plunderblund: Lethal Injection: One County’s Fight Against Frack Waste Wells And The Need For A Statewide Effort

Plunderblund: Lethal Injection: One County’s Fight Against Frack Waste Wells And The Need For A Statewide Effort

As Athens County, OH, residents are subjected to increasing quantities of fracking wastewater imported into their communities, they are finding no remedy in their state government. It’s time for residents to stand together to protect their health, safety, and welfare.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 25, 2015

The Spokesman-Review: Envision Spokane initiative would add workers’ rights to city charter

The Spokesman-Review: Envision Spokane initiative would add workers’ rights to city charter

Envision Spokane – a community, rights-based organization in Spokane, WA – is advancing a Worker’s Bill of Rights for the November 2015 ballot that would protect workers’ rights to a living wage, equal pay for equal work regardless of gender or race, and other rights for workers.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 20, 2015

Inlander: Envision Spokane files new Worker Bill of Rights initiative

Inlander: Envision Spokane files new Worker Bill of Rights initiative

Envision Spokane advances a CELDF-drafted Worker’s Bill of Rights to protect workers’ rights to a living wage, and three other key provisions.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 19, 2015

Windsor Now: Community rights discussion takes root in Windsor

Windsor Now: Community rights discussion takes root in Windsor

Residents of Windsor, CO, work to place a rights-based Charter Amendment on the ballot for a vote by the people, to secure and protect community rights, and ban fracking as a violation of those rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 9, 2015

New Hampshire Public Radio: Newfound Voters Again Weighing Wind Restrictions

New Hampshire Public Radio: Newfound Voters Again Weighing Wind Restrictions

Threatened with industrial wind farms, communities in New Hampshire use Community Bills of Rights to ban the harmful practices. The Town of Alexandria votes this Tuesday at Town Meeting on a second rights-based ordinance to strengthen their ban on unsustainable energy practices.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 18, 2015

BlogTalkRadio: Soldiers for Peace International: CELDF and Local Democracy with Kai Huschke

BlogTalkRadio: Soldiers for Peace International: CELDF and Local Democracy with Kai Huschke

While corporations are granted growing numbers of “rights” by the courts, local communities are asserting community rights to local self-government, and to clean air, soil, and water – and banning corporate activities that violate those rights. Listen to Rick Staggenborg’s interview with CELDF’s Kai Huschke.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Feb 8, 2015

Foster’s Daily Democrat: Barrington citizens add resource protection item to March ballot

Foster’s Daily Democrat: Barrington citizens add resource protection item to March ballot

Barrington, NH, residents bring a Community Bill of Rights initiative to direct democracy at Town Meeting in March. The Barrington community is threatened by water, gravel, and mineral extraction, and is using Community Rights to protect themselves and local ecosystems.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 30, 2015

The Spokesman-Review: Court orders initiative vote

The Spokesman-Review: Court orders initiative vote

The Washington State Appellate Court ruled in favor of a Community Rights initiative that had been kept off the ballot by local corporate and government interests, finding that the right of initiative by the people is protected.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 28, 2015

Huffington Post: ‘Supreme Court Five’ Unleash Government Of, By and For the Oligarchs

Huffington Post: ‘Supreme Court Five’ Unleash Government Of, By and For the Oligarchs

The Supreme Court makes decisions that are benefiting corporations and harming democracy, while communities are working to adopt Community Bills of Rights that codify people’s rights to local self-governance and sustainable communities – banning those corporate activities that violate those rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 25, 2015

Truthout: ALEC Forces the Question: Will Labor Really Go Local?

Truthout: ALEC Forces the Question: Will Labor Really Go Local?

While ALEC and other pro-corporate entities attempt to decrease worker rights,CELDF partners in Colorado and Spokane, WA, begin working on Community Bills of Rights to protect workers’ rights, building on the “floor” of rights established at the state and federal levels.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 25, 2015

Truthout: ALEC Forces the Question: Will Labor Really Go Local?

Truthout: ALEC Forces the Question: Will Labor Really Go Local?

While ALEC and other pro-corporate entities attempt to decrease worker rights,CELDF partners in Colorado and Spokane, WA, begin working on Community Bills of Rights to protect workers’ rights, building on the “floor” of rights established at the state and federal levels.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 7, 2015

E&E Publishing: Speaking for the trees, lawyer pushes unconventional doctrine

E&E Publishing: Speaking for the trees, lawyer pushes unconventional doctrine

While the oil & gas industry protests, CELDF & allies bring forward the Rights of Nature as the basis to give ecosystems legal standing to protect itself. The Little Mahoning Watershed in Grant Township, PA, filed to intervene in a case against Grant’s Community Bill of Rights banning frack wastewater injection wells.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Dec 19, 2014

WTAE Pittsburgh: Chronicle: Drilling Down (Part 6: “Whose Land is It?”)

WTAE Pittsburgh: Chronicle: Drilling Down (Part 6: “Whose Land is It?”)

Residents of western Pennsylvania determine to protect their community, families, and the land by banning fracking through Community Bills of Rights, and Rights of Nature conservation easement.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Dec 16, 2014

Monadnock Ledger-Transcript: Pipeline meeting draws big crowd

Monadnock Ledger-Transcript: Pipeline meeting draws big crowd

Southern New Hampshire communities unite in opposition to a gas pipeline project threatening their Towns, and learn about Community Rights as a means to protect residents and local ecosystems.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Dec 13, 2014

Sentinel & Enterprise: Pipeline no more popular in N.H.

Sentinel & Enterprise: Pipeline no more popular in N.H.

Mason, NH, residents gather to oppose a gas pipeline threatening their community, and learn about CELDF-drafted Community Bills of Rights to stop harmful corporate activities as a violation of Community Rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 19, 2014

Daily Camera: Letter-to-the-Editor: Let the revolution begin

Daily Camera: Letter-to-the-Editor: Let the revolution begin

The idea that advancing and enforcing people’s fundamental rights, while directly challenging the power of corporations and the state to override community rights, is somehow an act of government overthrow says more about our current political/legal system than it does about the Colorado Community Rights Network.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Nov 19, 2014

Truthout: Amending Colorado’s Constitution: Do Communities Have Right to Clean Air and Water?

Truthout: Amending Colorado’s Constitution: Do Communities Have Right to Clean Air and Water?

As voters last week banned fracking in regions from Ohio to Texas to California, Colorado citizens are meanwhile attempting to reclaim their own right to a safe, healthy environment by enacting the Colorado Community Rights amendment to the Colorado Constitution.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 13, 2014

Fort Bragg Advocate-News: Fracking ban success surprises supporters

Fort Bragg Advocate-News: Fracking ban success surprises supporters

Mendocino County, CA, residents voting to use Community Rights to ban fracking by an overwhelming majority in the November election, welcome the broader conversation about the recognition of community rights within the county.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 6, 2014

EagleFordTexas.com: Mendocino County voters ban fracking

EagleFordTexas.com: Mendocino County voters ban fracking

Mendocino County, CA’s, Community Bill of Rights banning fracking protects residents and local ecosystems, and challenges existing law that denies communities the right to local decision-making, the right to clean air and water, and the right to create sustainable communities.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 5, 2014

YES! Magazine: 6 Ways Americans Voted Against Corporate Power in the Most Expensive Midterm Elections Ever

YES! Magazine: 6 Ways Americans Voted Against Corporate Power in the Most Expensive Midterm Elections Ever

CELDF-drafted Community Bills of Rights banning fracking and challenging corporate claimed “rights” in Ohio and California take center stage.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success Story

Sep 26, 2014

CentralMaine.com: East-west corridor remains a danger

CentralMaine.com: East-west corridor remains a danger

Dover-Foxcroft, ME, resident urges communities to assert their rights to protect themselves from harmful corporate projects, such as the East-West Corridor, through Community Bills of Rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 21, 2014

EcoWatch: Colorado Town Sues State, Gov. Hickenlooper and COGA to Protect Right to Ban Fracking

EcoWatch: Colorado Town Sues State, Gov. Hickenlooper and COGA to Protect Right to Ban Fracking

Lafayette, CO, residents file a preliminary injunction to protect their Community Bill of Rights banning fracking.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots