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Coal Mines Keep Operating Despite Injuries, Violations And Millions In Fines

Howard Berkes, Anna Boiko-Weyrauch, Robert Benincasa NPR
A joint investigation by National Public Radio and Mine Safety and Health News found thousands of mine operators fail to pay safety penalties while they continue to manage dangerous — and sometimes deadly — mining operations. Most unpaid penalties are between two and 10 years overdue; some go back two decades. And federal regulators seem unable or unwilling to make mine owners pay or improve working conditions.

GOP Voter Purge Scheme's Impact on 2014 and Beyond

Greg Palast Al Jazeera
A Republican-controlled computer system allegedly meant to identify fraudulent voters, may have contributed to GOP victories in Senate races in Colorado and North Carolina, and a tight gubernatorial race in Kansas. While Interstate Crosscheck has not discovered a single instance of voter fraud, it was used by Republican elections officials in 27 states to purge thousands of voters, a high percentage of whom were minorities, from the voting rolls.

Got Unfair Labor Practices? Put 'em to Use

Robert M. Schwartz Labor Notes
One weapon in a Union's arsenal is using Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaints against an employer. In this article, Attorney Robert Schwartz explains the basic uses of ULP's.

Mark Twain’s Democratic Ideal

Lewis Lapham Salon
Twain aims a blast of laughter at a society making itself sick with its consumption of “sweet-smelling, sugar-coated lies,” believing that it is allegiance to the truth and not the flag that rescues the citizens of a democracy from the prisons of their selfishness and greed.

Ferguson: Justice Is About What Comes After

Tony Messenger The Guardian (London) and the St. Louis Post Dispatch
America is on edge about the Ferguson grand jury decision. But justice is about what comes after that. There will come a day soon when the protests, in whatever shape they take, fall off the front page. No matter what happens, justice will still be possible.

90-Year-Old Arrested for Feeding Homeless

Russell Brand (The Trews) reacts to the news that 90-year-old Arnold Abbott was arrested by police in Florida for handing out meals to homeless people in a park.

John Oliver: The Lottery

State lotteries claim to be good for education and the general wellbeing of citizens. But are they? (Spoiler alert: No.)

The Inspiration Project

Music Under New York artist Cathy Grier (aka NYCSubwayGirl) asks her favorite question "What inspires you?" Super Short Doc 2014 Chain Film Fest official selection.