Citing concerns about an exponential rise in juvenile filings and detention holds, clergy leaders of A Mid Iowa Strategy (AMOS) are calling on their County Supervisors to vote against increased funding for juvenile attorneys, calling it a "direct result of the more punitive approach" recently taken towards children. An editorial written by several clergy triggered a heated response by the County Attorney (both pieces included below).

AMOS advocates a return "to the best practice model the County Attorney's office pioneered from 2006-2009" which made good use of "informal adjustments and alternatives to detentions for non-violent, non-repeat juvenile offenders."

Read more

Republican Governor Terry Branstad of Iowa signed into law a bill that will appropriate $100,000 per year for Project IOWA for the next two years. Project IOWA is a labor market intermediary that prepares adults for dignified participation in the labor market by training for jobs that already exist, and thus also helping employers find motivated and skilled workers. Project IOWA was established with the support of AMOS to better address the jobs -skills mismatch in the state.

"An enthusiastic crowd of about 1,500 people filled a Vallejo high school gym Sunday afternoon to welcome a new multi-county organization to the community.

Read more

In a prayer service and press conference organized by Austin Interfaith, Central Texas Bishops and clergy from six religious denominations "pressed Tuesday for reforms centered on keeping families together and allowing unauthorized immigrants to earn legal residency with a path to citizenship.... such principles are key to what they called just and humane immigration reforms."

Central Texas Religious Leaders: Immigration Change Must be Just, Humane, Austin American Statesman Printable version

Read more

Governor Brian Sandoval signed ground breaking anti-sex trafficking legislation in the presence of 'Nevadans for the Common Good.' Leaders had fought hard to crack down on the pimps that recruit young people into prostitution, including organizing assemblies, press conferences and legislative visits to Carson City. Said Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, "Nevadans for the Common Good have been a driving force behind this bill."

Read more

"The Valley Interfaith Project is sparking a grass-roots movement to increase school funding statewide, and the Scottsdale Unified School District is the first to jump onboard.

Read more

"On Thursday evening, King spoke to over 100 adults who are either participating in the Valley Interfaith GED program or waiting to do so. The house meeting was held at St. John the Baptist's in San Juan. Speaking in Spanish, King praised those participating in the GED program and spoke about his vision for scaling up what Valley Interfaith has started....

....asked if the GED en Español program could be scaled up to match the obvious demand, King had no doubts. 'I have no doubt at all. We will find a way to do it.'"

Read more

Bishop Gerald F. "Kicanas joined nearly 100 members of churches of different denominations from the area who gathered ... to organize a campaign in favor of not only a new immigration law but also efforts of Gov. Jan Brewer to expand the state's health program for the poor: the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)....

Kicanas' appeal came as he spoke to members of Yuma County Interfaith, a faith-based group whose leaders and members represent a variety of religious denominations in the area."

Read more

"Meeting city, state, faith and education leaders on Thursday, Sen. John McComish, of District 18, voiced his continued support for Gov. Jan Brewer's plan to expand Medicaid in the state at a panel hosted by the Valley Interfaith Project (VIP).....McComish and Rep. Heather Carter, of District 15, pushed the expansion that would give Medicaid to about 300,000 low-income Arizona residents.

VIP's crowd included nearly 800 people from surrounding churches, school districts and organizations."

Read more

"Together Baton Rouge volunteers have worked to clean up the Gilbert Memorial Park Cemetery, to launch with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank...and to advocate for reliable funding and better administration for the Capital Area Transit System.

With this new community Bible study program, the purposes are to 'develop relationships across the lines that divide us' and embrace 'the call of Scripture to act in the world today,' Wesley said."

Read more