PeoriaStory

Wasted money at District 150?

PEORIA, IL -- For a school district with a $12 million deficit, Peoria District 150 certainly has some high spending and apparently wasteful ways.

The public comments at the School Board on August 25 highlighted some of the wasted money.  Here is a recording of the comments:

 

Dist 150 Aug 25

 

Board critic Sevino Sierra wondered why some school buildings still are not air conditioned, and questioned the board's priorities.

Critic Terry Knapp mentioned a Freedom of Information Act response showing a top administrator spent $450 for a hotel room in Los Angeles, Calilf on Dec. 23, charged to a District 150 credit card, also known as a P-card. "There's nothing going on two days before Christmas," Knapp said. He suggested that the administrator be fired for misusing the card.

He also questioned restaurant meals charged to the cards, and $650 paid in sales taxes last month on $9,000 in beauty supplies. Over $30,000 has been paid in sales taxes that the school district didn't owe, he said. The district is exempt from sales taxes.

When the board's turn to comment came, board member Jon Bateman noted that the charge in Los Angeles was put through on the 23rd but showed the hotel room was used on Dec. 20.  For whatever that's worth.

Supt. Grenita Lathan denied that the district had paid the sales taxes, but did not comment on the hotel charge. 

Critic Sharon Crews commented that hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on staff travel, likely of dubious value to student achievement. A written copy of her report will be posted below.

It shows that combined with the $350,000 spent on Rosetta Stone (detailed at a recent board meeting by Crews), a foreign language computer program not in use except for a few students, almost $1 million has been wasted in District 150, while schools are not air conditioned and a $12 million deficit is on the books.

Two parents also spoke to the board.  One said that District 150 schools do not welcome parents, compared with Quest, the charter school, which does welcome them.

The other complained about a student being bullied, and said her attempt to get the student transferred to another school has not been successful. Instead she received a bureaucratic runaround.  

Lathan said she should talk immediately with an administrator in the audience about her issues.  

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Here are the comments of Sharon Crews:

 

Dr. Lathan seemed pleased to announce that all schools except Richwoods are now Title I eligible and that she hopes to add Richwoods soon.  To me, Title I equals poverty status.  While I may see the need, I do not think “achieving poverty” is a cause for celebration.

I would prefer that District 150 spend all its time, energy, and money proving that public schools can be attractive and effective for students of all economic status.  I do have a problem with providing free lunch and books to those families who do not meet poverty guidelines.

However, the extravaganza at the last board meeting revealed why Lathan is so pleased with the Title I status.  Title I money provided $288,000 of the $388,000 spent on travel last year.

Much of 2 and ½ hours was spent singing the praises of the AVID program.  I wish I could require each of you to tell me how you expect the $360,000 you have spent on AVID to meet its promise of closing the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. 

You voted to spend $243,000 for travel to AVID conferences for summer 2013, last school year, and summer 2014 plus, at least, $117,000 on the program itself.  How are you going to prove this program is worth $360,000?

So many forces motivate students for academic success—teachers, parents, grandparents, even siblings, and, most of all, inner drive.  How can you possibly give AVID enough credit to justify the expenditure?  You have money to pay AVID but it looks like you will be broke when it’s time to pay teachers who carry out your programs.

You sent 64 employees to Indianapolis in 2013 and 124 to Indianapolis or Philadelphia in 2014.  Thirty-eight of those who went in 2014, also, went in 2013.  Some employees get a double dose and most get none of this expensive training. 

On the subject of travel, one administrator charged $428 for a stay at a hotel in Los Angeles for December 23.  Who was traveling for District purposes two days before Christmas?  There were no approved trips for those dates.

Your bad news tonight warrants a moratorium on travel and probably the end of some expensive unused or unproven programs.   - 30 -         

 

 

 

 

Bicycle hearing

PEORIA, IL -- From a news release:

Do you bicycle in Peoria? Would you like to?
Bicycle improvements have been proven to positively impact community health, safety and economic prosperity in communities nationwide. For this reason, Peoria is developing the City’s first Bicycle Connectivity Master Plan.

This Plan will provide a road map for Peoria to become a City where bicycling is a safe, comfortable, and convenient travel option. Share your ideas and learn more at upcoming public meetings.

Wednesday, August 27th — 5:30-7:30 pm
Northwoods Community Church
10700 N Allen Rd
Peoria, IL 61615

Thursday, August 28th — 5:30-7:30 pm
Bradley University, Westlake Hall, Room 116
810 Tobias
Peoria, IL 61606

 

Free in Peoria at the public library, Aug. 21-31

 PEORIA, IL -- From a news release:

Saturday, August 23 – 2:00 – 3:00 p.m

Peoria Public Library Main Library Computer Lab

24/7 Learning Workshop: Mango Languages

Students of all ages and skill levels are invited to this interactive instruction session to learn how to use Mango Languages on www.peoriapubliclibrary.org.  Master that foreign language class or improve travel language skills with the help of this free service. Bring your Peoria Public Library card and PIN.

 

Saturday, August 23 – 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Peoria Public Library Main Library Gallery

“What in the Warehouse?” Artist’s reception for the Artists of the Atelier exhibit. Free and open to the public.

 

Saturday, August 23 3:30PM - 4:00PM

Peoria Public Library Main Library

Abraham Lincoln Storytime –Come to hear fantastic stories about President Lincoln and his life.  We’ll make fun crafts to go with the interesting stories about his life.  While supplies last.  Ages 5 to 10.

 

Sunday, August 24 1:00PM - 3:00PM

Peoria Public Library Lakeview Branch

Silver Screen Sunday

Showing North by Northwest starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Free.

 

Monday, August 25,  6:30PM - 7:30PM

Peoria Public Library Lakeview Branch

Let’s Talk Dyslexia

Please join Gina Cooke, founding director of the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Peoria, as she discusses resources available in the area for children and adults who have dyslexia.

 

Closed for Labor Day Weekend and Holiday

All locations of Peoria Public Library are closed August 30, 31 and September 1. Many services are available at www.peoriapubliclibrary.org.  -30-

Cancer is a genetic disease: speaker

PEORIA, IL -- An expert in the genetics of cancer, Dr. Charles G. Mulligham, described the genetic sequencing project taking place at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where he works. He spoke to a Peoria audience on Aug. 13.

He delivered the Robert D. Hart, MD, endowed lecture at the new Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, with his talk sponsored also by Children's Hospital of Illinois and the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria.  

The St. Jude project aims to cure cancer in all children, with the implications for adult cancer significant as well, he said.

"Genetic changes trigger abnormal cell growth and cancer," he said. "For a normal cell to turn into a cancer cell it must mutate" and is not held in check by the body. "We need a complete understanding of all inherited and acquired genetic changes."

When no other organization would do it, St. Jude embarked on a $65 million study of the genetics of childhood cancer, especially ALL, or acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common childhood cancer. 

Twenty different subtypes were identified, each with different genetic changes, he said. The discoveries led to changes in treatment for ALL, he said.

Also among the discoveries: 64 genes that cause childhood leukemia are inherited, with cancer risks for those in the child's family.

Phase 2 of the project, at $30 million for two years, will continue to define the mutations that drive pediatric cancer, he said.

The goal is to sequence comprehensively the DNA and RNA of the cancer, he said, so an accurate diagnosis can be made and treatment developed that works.

"We have an incomplete understanding of the genetic changes driving cancer, so every change must be catalogued and studied," he said.

Genetic sequncing for relapsed tumors revealed a "common ancestor that gives rise to both" the tumor and the relapsed tumor, he said. "This adds complexity to what we are doing."

Genetic sequencing is incredibly complex, and errors can be made in the analysis of the results. The complete process is expensive as well, but costs have dropped to about $10,000 per person."This will become commonplace for all" patients, he said.

All the St. Jude discoveries are published for anyone to read, he said.

Medicare will not pay for genetic sequencing until it is proven to work for treatment. St. Jude aims to prove that, he said, so Medicare and insurance companies will pay.

    --Elaine Hopkins

 

Racial bias in traffic stops: ACLU

Press release from the ACLU:

Chicago -- A full decade after Illinois mandated that all law enforcement agencies in the state collect and record data about every traffic stop as a means of curbing racial profiling, a study today pointed to continuing signs of troubling racial bias in so-called consent searches by police.  The findings, released by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, are drawn from data from the Illinois Department of Transportation, reflecting reporting from Illinois law enforcement agencies during 2013 under the Illinois Traffic Stop Statistical Study Act.

The data reveals, as an example, that statewide across Illinois, African American and Latino drivers are nearly twice as likely as white drivers to be asked during a routine traffic stop for "consent" to have their car searched.  Yet white motorists are 49% more likely than African American motorists to have contraband discovered during a consent search by law enforcement, and 56% more likely when compared to Latinos. 

The Illinois Traffic Stop Statistical Study Act was first adopted by the General Assembly in 2003, under the sponsorship of then-State Senator Barack Obama.   As President, Mr. Obama has pointed proudly to this legislative accomplishment, noting the critical role this data can play in curbing and preventing the scourge of racial profiling.  Earlier this year, Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation to extend the collection of data through 2019. 

"The 2013 data continues to paint a picture that is troubling and must be addressed," said Adam Schwartz, senior legal counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois.  "Once a stop occurs, drivers of color are more likely to be asked for permission to search their car -- even though the statistics show that police are far more likely to find contraband in the automobile of a white motorist." 

 We see that these troubling signs of racial bias have persisted for a decade in many of our larger police agencies without any response -- that has to end," added Schwartz. 

 A consent search occurs when a police officer asks a motorist for permission to search their car, after a routine stop, even if there is no visible evidence to justify the search.   In 2013, the Illinois State Police conducted more than 2,100 consent searches, nearly 10% of all such searches in Illinois.  A Latino motorist was nearly 2.5 times more likely than a white motorist to be asked for permission to search his/her car during a stop by an ISP trooper.  Yet, a white motorist asked for consent was nearly 2.5 times more likely than a Latino motorist to have contraband.  

Since the setting of the request for consent is often coercive (taking place alongside a road with an armed law enforcement official), most drivers consent to be searched.   A leading law enforcement analysis group, the Police Executive Research Forum, explains that a disparity in consent search "hit rates" for different ethnic groups -- like those produced by ISP troopers and other police officers across the state -- show that "a lower standard of proof was applied to searches of minorities than to searches of Caucasians."  

A number of local police agencies with unusually high numbers of consent searches had especially troubling disparities in consent search data:

•               Chicago -- The Chicago Police Department, which conducted nearly 1,400 consent searches, was more than four times more likely to seek consent to search vehicles driven by African Americans or Latinos (4.74 times more likely for African Americans and 4.09 times more likely for Latinos).   Once those searches were completed, white motorists were far more likely to have contraband -- 2.1 times more likely compared to African American motorists and 1.86 times more likely compared to Latinos. 

•               Aurora -- In Illinois’ second largest city, located 50 miles west of Chicago, African American and Latino motorists were far more likely to be asked for consent to search their vehicle – 2.36 times and 1.63 times more, respectively.  Yet white motorists who were consent searched were far more likely to have contraband than African Americans (30% more) and Latinos (46% more).

•               Springfield -- In the Capitol City, African American motorists were 3.4 more likely than white motorists to be consent searched, and white motorists were 89% more likely than African American to have contraband discovered during a consent search.  

•               Rockford -- In Illinois’ third largest city, located in Northwest Illinois, African American motorists were 69% more likely than white drivers to be asked for consent to search their cars, even though white motorists were 67% more likely than African American motorists to be found with contraband during such a search. 

"This is a statewide problem, with troubling patterns emerging from nearly every corner of the State," said the ACLU's Schwartz.   "Behind these numbers is a far more troubling reality -- each year in Illinois, thousands of completely innocent motorists of color are subjected to humiliating, frightening, time-consuming consent searches that are not necessary or productive in terms of using law enforcement resources."  

The ACLU of Illinois today repeated their call that the Illinois General Assembly ban the practice of consent searches statewide.  

The ACLU report also notes that there is a troubling racial disparity in the use of drug-sniffing dogs by police in the State.  The Illinois State Police, for example, was more than twice as likely to conduct a dog sniff on a stopped automobile driven by a Latino motorist compared to a white motorist.  Yet, white motorists were 64% more likely than Latino motorists to be found with contraband in a trooper search that followed a dog alert.  Moreover, the data shows that 50% of all searches conducted by the ISP in response to the alert of a dog yielded no contraband. In short, the dogs are wrong as often as they are right. 

"This data shows that the use of drug-sniffing dogs needs to be limited and better regulated," added Schwartz.   

 

#   #  #

A copy of the ACLU’s full report and exhibits is available here.

Edwin C. Yohnka

Director of Communications and Public Policy

American Civil LIberties Union of Illinois

312.201.9740, ext. 305

[email protected]

 Exhibit 1 of the report also states:

While this report focuses on consent searches and dog sniff searches, many police agencies in Illinois also have racial disparities in the initial decisions to commence traffic stops. Statewide in 2013, minority motorists were stopped 22% more frequently than expected based on the minority driver benchmarks established by the statistical consultant retained by the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”). Nearly 120 Illinois police agencies, comprising 13% of all such agencies, stopped minority drivers at least twice as frequently as expected based on their respective IDOT benchmarks. See Exh. 1 (IDOT report of 2013 Study Act data) at pp. 4-5. Moreover, there was a statewide racial disparity in the duration of traffic stops in 2013: the mean durations are 11 minutes for white drivers, 12 minutes for black drivers, and 13 minutes for Hispanic drivers. See Exh. 2 (IDOT data sheet for all of Illinois in 2013).

Ridiculous!

Updated 8/12/14

PEORIA, IL -- The old Soviet style politbureau is alive and well at the Peoria District 150 School Board.

The August 11 meeting began with not a 90-plus presentation of various school programs, but a program lasting two and one half hours, featuring a long line of teachers and middle school students.  The teachers all praised Superintendent Grenita Lathan for allowing the programs they described to operate.  The students did cheers, step dances, and read a few short speeches.

It was obviously a scripted program designed to make Lathan look good to the board.  But 2 1/2 hours of this?  A ridiculous waste of precious time on something not suitable for a business meeting of the board.

At 8 p.m. I couldn't stand it any more and left, leaving my handy digital recorder with District 150 Watchgroup members determined to stick it out.  A recording of the public comments is available here. 

 

Dist 150 Aug 11

My decision to leave was a good one.  The public comments did not begin until around 9:30 pm., for a meeting that began at 6:30 pm. 

By then only three people commented, in the new 3-minute format.  Terry Knapp branded the long program as outrageous, and said in his long history with District 150 he had never seen anything like it.

Sevino Sierra once more called for the superintendent and some board members to resign. 

Sharon Crews talked about the outrageous expenses on the Rosetta Stone program, $324,000, which is hardly being used.  Her written report is below.

Read it and weep for the taxpayers of Peoria:

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

The Lathan administration has spent over $324,000 on Rosetta Stone.

The 2011-12 Strategic Plan states that the District had completed plans to “utilize Rosetta Stone to provide a world language curriculum to all primary students and targeted middle schools.”  The May 2014 FOIA response does not seem to verify those claims.

The response to my request for District curriculum guides and/or instructions to teachers for Rosetta Stone usage was “There are no such written documents.”  Since the program’s use is not specified in a curriculum in which teachers are told what to teach and how often to teach it, there is a good chance that the program isn’t being used.

In spite of the website claims, the FOIA response states the program has been used at Manual as only supplementary material for Spanish and French.  At Trewyn, Rosetta was used for only three months until a Spanish teacher was hired. 

I failed to ask what languages are covered by the over $324,000 purchase.  My guess is many more than Spanish and French, which are the only languages used—very minimally.

 The invoices I received gave little hint as to what was actually purchased.  Perhaps someone around the horseshoe would care to enlighten us.  One invoice was for 8500 online site renewals for over $145,000.  Of course, there was an original charge for a similar amount.  Over $6,000 was spent for instructor training and manuals.  If there was a training session, I bet there was some money spent on P-Cards for food.

The FOIA response did not provide the names of teachers who use Rosetta Stone in their classrooms, as requested—which probably means there aren’t any.

The District spends considerable money on textbooks for high school Spanish and French classes—and for teachers.  The use of Rosetta Stone at only two schools as only a supplemental resource does not seem to justify spending over $324,000.

 The bigger question is how many of the other very expensive computer software programs purchased by Lathan’s regime are not utilized enough to justify the expense?

Quite honestly, I believe you owe us an explanation as to why you approved spending $324,000 for Rosetta Stone.

 --Public comments by Sharon Crews, August 11, 2014

Here's her hand out, a comparison of Roseetta Stone FOIA Request, the response and the District 150 website:

FOIA Request:     Identify the school and the grade level (and teachers) where the Rosetta Stone

                             Program is used on a regular basis.

FOIA Response:  Manual 8-12; Trewyn K-5

                             At Manual the curriculum for Spanish and French does not specify that

                             Rosetta Stone is used as a requirement—just an additional resource for

                             students.

                             At Trewyn, students used Rosetta Stone twice a week for 3 months until a

                             full-time Spanish teacher was hired.

Website Info:       By the end of 2011-12 school year, Strategic Plan 3.1.8—“Utilize Rosetta

                             Stone to provide a world language curriculum to all primary students and

                             targeted middle schools”—marked as COMPLETE

FOIA Request:     What language(s) is taught?

FOIA Response:   Only Spanish and French at Manual and only Spanish at Trewyn, as noted

                              above—as an additional source.

Website Info:       A world language curriculum (My Note:  Strategic Plan seems to imply more

                                     than two languages).

FOIA Request:     Please provide any District curriculum guides and/or instructions to teachers,

                             identifying specific material that is to be covered and/or guidelines as to what

                             skills should be mastered.

FOIA Response:  There are no such written documents.  However, at Manual only, students use

                             Rosetta Stone several times a week.  Teachers assign 2-3 sections per week

                             using Rosetta Stone to be completed by students.

Website Info:       A world language “curriculum” is mentioned, but evidently there is no

                             curriculum.

FOIA Request:    Do any students/classes receive credit base solely on learning that takes place

                            through Rosetta Stone?

FOIA Response: No, students have additional classroom instruction beyond utilizing Rosetta

                            Stone.

Website Info:      The website states Rosetta Stone would provide a world language curriculum to

                            primary schools and targeted middle schools.  (My Note:  No primary schools

                            are listed in the FOIA response and only Trewyn Middle School.  Also, note that

                            the website states “Rosetta Stone would provide...,” not supplement.)

FOIA Request:    Provide data showing other uses of Rosetta Stone—online at home, etc.

FOIA Response:  Rosetta Stone is used during scheduled class time (My Note:  at Manual and

                            Trewyn only as stated above).  Students are not required to work

                            independently on Rosetta Stone online at home.

Website Info:       One sentence in a several page document dated May 2013 and titled “Leading

                            Teachers in Peoria Public Schools stated, “Promote the use Rosetta Stone over

                            the summer. Students who are limited English proficient should have their

                            language set on English.”

 

   INFORMATION ABOUT ROSETTA STONE TAKEN FROM THE DISTRICT 150 WEBSITE

A “Rosetta Stone” search on District 150’s Website will take you to 222 general sites with very little information about Rosetta Stone.  The many other sites under “Rosetta Stone” are mostly, if not all, Kellar teacher websites with little or no information about Rosetta Stone.

These are the mentions of Rosetta Stone:

On District 150’s website the Strategic Plan Improvement Target 3:1 reads:  “By the end of the 2011-12 school year, increase the use of educational technology and web-based tools to enhance teaching and learning.  Strategic Plan 3.1.8—“Utilize Rosetta Stone to provide a world language curriculum to all primary students and targeted middle schools”—is marked as COMPLETE.

District 150’s “Learning at Home” website but Rosetta Stone isn’t mentioned, just Compass Learning, Accelerated Reader, and Type to Learn.

One sentence in a several page document dated May 2013 and titled “Leading Teachers in Peoria Public Schools stated, “Promote the use Rosetta Stone over the summer. Students who are limited English proficient should have their language set on English.”

 Glen Oak Website lists Rosetta Stone as a program at Glen Oak with no information about its use.

 ellar Website states “What is Rosetta Stone?  Click on the link below get a more detailed understanding of the program.  The link goes to Wikepedia.  The website, also, has a “Sign In” link, where apparently students can use Rosetta Stone at home.

Kellar July 25, 2011, letter to parents:  Three exciting additions to our program this year will be

Compass Learning, Gifted and Talented Programming, and Rosetta Stone.

orthmoor Website states “Rosetta Stone:  Student Log-In.  First 3 letters of last name followed by lunch/id number (just like Compass Learning) - 30 -

 

 

 

 

A waste of state funds?

PEORIA, IL -- The most shocking item in today's Peoria Journal Star is an ad, from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

It seems IDOT is thinking of replacing the eastbound lane of the McClugage Bridge! 

Say what?  I drove over that bridge yesterday, Aug. 9, and it was just fine.  

What on earth is IDOT thinking? 

There are poor roads everywhere, but they are targeting this? 

If the structure holding up the bridge is the issue, then fix it without dismantling the bridge for months. 

The ad was to inform the public of a meeting, from 5 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at the Washington School Gym, 3706 N. Grand Boulevard in Peoria.  Grand Blvd. is the red light just before Prospect, going east.

I plan to be there to ask hard questions about this project.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Free in Peoria, this weekend

PEORIA, IL -- There are many great free events this coming weekend in Peoria.  Here are some:

 

 Peoria Public Library North Branch - Music in the McKenzie: Way Down Wanderers, Sunday, Aug 10, 2 - 4 pm. Admission: free. 3001 W. Grand Parkway. Peoria. 309-497-2100.

 

Concert in the Park - Peoria POPs Dixieland Breakout

Sunday, Aug 10, 3 - 5 pm. Admission: free. Franciscan Rec Center, 908 Sterling Ave. West Peoria. Bring a blanket or lawn chair.

 

Peoria Municipal Band Concert, Sunday, Aug 10, 7 pm. Admission: free. Glen Oak Park Amphitheater. Peoria.

And the biggest, new event:

GET FIRED UP at IGNITE Peoria!

Saturday, August 9 at the Peoria Civic Center, 9 AM - 4 PM

A celebration of creativity featuring events that will inspire innovation, release artistic vision and spark the passionate imagination of our community.

Free Admission and Free Parking! For more information visit the IGNITE website at www.ignitepeoria.com.

Next week: fight against fracking

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- Fracking has caused earthquakes, is fouling ground water, destroying our national heritage, our land.  Fight back!  From a news release:

 
Time to put more pressure on our elected officials, especially the Governor.  
   

1) No-Fracking Fair!  Days of Action at the Illinois State Fair
Let Gov Quinn know - "Good Governors Don't Frack!"  
Join many enviro groups; Illinois South, SAFE, Illinois People's Action, Food and Water Watch, Move On,
Frack Free Illinois and Sustainable Springfield just to mention a few
at the Illinois State Fair next week - Wed, Aug 13th, 
and come Tues evening, Aug 12th, to stay over in local Springfield churches.  
 
Will Reynolds of Southern IL says, "If you take time off work, this day is the day!"  

Tues, Aug 12th arrive at the local Springfield churches (location TBA) in the evening, any time from 7p-11p. 
(Bring your sleeping bags and mats, and your own snacks, there are no showers but bathrooms are available.)

 Wed, Aug 13th, 9:00a, meet out front of a political gathering with the Governor and other Democratic politicos to protest fracking at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 3000 S. Dirksen Parkway, in Springfield.
Bring your signs saying things like:  "Renewble Energy Now"  "No Coal, No Fracking, No Nuclear - No Kidding!"  "No to Frackquakes in IL"  "Clean Energy + Green Jobs Beat Fracking + Coal Mining"

 After the rally we will transfer to the IL State Fair grounds, there will be peaceful actions going on inside and outside.  Admission to the fair grounds is Adults: $7, and 60 and older: $3.

Wed. night, 7pm, a free showing ot "Triple Divide" 
at the Liberty Brew and View, 3149 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 
https://www.facebook.com/events/727481790640049/ 

(Triple Divide is said to be the only documentary of its kind on the controversial subject of fracking capable of speaking to all sides, with exclusive interviews from the industry, experts, and Americans suffering in the wake of shale gas development. “It’s the best movie on fracking to date [using] facts, not fiction or spin” wrote Pennsylvania resident, Robert Donnan. Academy Award nominated actor Mark Ruffalo co-narrates. The film is co-directed by journalists Joshua Pribanic & Melissa Troutman. 
http://tripledividefilm.org/)

You can stay another night in the Springfield churches and go back to the State Fair the next day, Thurs, Aug 14th, for more actions for Republican's Day.

For more information go to  https://www.facebook.com/events/743716929020761/ or call Dr. Lora for more details 773/486-7660