WARNING: Beware of Law Firms that exploit sincerity for $$$$$ and public relation gains who do not respect persons who sincerely come forward to expose waste,fraud, and abuse.

Over 200 people attended a Boston community speakout tonight to talk about the impact of a third year of state budget cutbacks on education, health care, elder services, teen jobs and other programs.

BOSTON/State House - In a resounding majority vote of 139 to 17, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a much anticipated bill late Wednesday to reform the state’s criminal record system—known as CORI. The comprehensive reforms followed the Senate’s passage of a similar crime bill last November.

The bills are now sent to Conference Committee where the House and Senate versions will be merged before reaching the Governor’s desk for signing. Governor Patrick has promoted CORI as a top priority and released a statement Wednesday night that he "looks forward to working with the House and Senate to get a strong bill on his desk."

BOSTON/State House - Half a dozen top law enforcement officials held a press conference Tuesday expressing wide ranging support for CORI reforms passed by the Senate last November and pending vote in the House.

"Police chiefs don't sign on to this bill easily, because it appears to be soft on crime," said Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis. "But it's anything but soft on crime...It's smart on crime."

Cambridge, MA - About 30 union members gathered at Boston's British Consulate on April 16 to demand justice for 570 California miners who have been locked-out of work by the Rio Tinto mining corporation since January 31, 2010 at the world’s 2nd largest borax mine in Boron, CA.

Two representative of the group went inside the Consulate's offices and met with Chris Henderson, the Deputy Consul General and his staff.

Dorchester, MA - Over 200 labor and community supporters turned out for a rally at the Shaw's Supermarket on Thursday to support striking warehouse workers at the company's Methuen Distribution Center.

Lynn, Mass. - About 75 telecom workers and community supporters rallied in support of a local Verizon technician who was recently threatened by a supervisor while acting in his capacity as an IBEW Local 2321 steward during a "captive audience" safety meeting.

In response to the steward's statement that management often retaliates against workers who ask questions during meetings, the foreman forcefully pointed his finger in the steward's face and said, "you're dead!!" For emphasis, he said it twice.

BOSTON/Charlestown - More than 90 union members, students and community activists jammed the SEIU Local 888 union hall on Saturday for a "Troublemakers School" sponsored by Massachusetts Jobs with Justice.

IBEW Local 2222 Business Manager Myles Calvey gave a rousing welcome to kick things off. "We're not going to get labor's problems solved in Washington or on Beacon Hill unless we take a page from the civil rights and gay rights movements," said Calvey, a former New England telecom strike leader. "We've got to be a lot more aggressive so that politicians are forced to deal with our issues. We've got make our problems, their problems!"

BOSTON/Boston Common - With the message "Not one more Death, Not One Dollar More!", about 100 military family members, veterans, and peace activists marked the 1,000 death of a U.S. soldier in Operation Enduring Freedom Monday afternoon at Park Street Station in Boston.

OEF is the military's name for the Afghanistan conflict. 930 of those victims died in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan, and 70 in other parts of the world.

Veterans read aloud the names of 60 New England residents who lost their lives in the conflict, and 60 names of Afghan civilians who died were also read. The names of the 1,000 dead were inscribed on postcards calling on Congress to stop funding the war; those assembled signed the cards, which will be sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Sherborn, MA - Approximately 45 people attended the first anniversary and new member meeting of Metrowest Peace Action (MwPA) on Saturday at the Peace Abbey. Congressman Barney Frank spoke for about 20 minutes and took questions for another 25. He talked about a strategy for cutting the military budget (25% solution)and challenging the notion that we have to be #1 superpower, world's policeman etc. His current thinking is to recommend to Congress, that in deficit reduction talks, any cuts to domestic/civilian programs be met with comparable cuts in the military budget. If we don't cut within the military, the cuts to social and domestic programs will be too severe. Due to time constraints of Frank and MwPA, questions were cut off after a lively exchange on US/Gaza.