15 million. That, according to data complied by the Department of Labor, is the approximate number of full-time jobs needed to put unemployed, underemployed, and discouraged workers back to work in the U.S.

Unemployment rose in May, from 5% to 5.5%, the largest one month jump in over 20 years. The national average for a gallon of gas reached $4 this week, with the upward spiral expected to continue.

After the failure of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act in the Senate last week, climate change activists are calling for a stronger "science-based" bill that will meet minimum standards needed to maintain a livable climate.

A study conducted in the late 1980s on Everglades National Park employees to determine the effects of DEET found that a full one-quarter of the subjects studied experienced negative health effects that they blamed on exposure to the chemical.

On Wednesday, June 4, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta issued its decision on the appeal submitted by the defense. In a 99-page ruling, and by unanimous decision, the three judges upheld the guilty verdicts against the five Cuban patriots and annulled the sentences of three of them, who must be re-sentenced.

Praising Sen. Hillary Clinton's long record of fighting for equality for LGBT people, Obama for America Deputy Campaign Manager Steve Hildebrand extended a warm welcome to LGBT supporters of the New York Senator on a conference call June 6.

As the reader is probably aware, California’s Supreme Court overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage on May 15 of this year, joining Massachusetts as the only other state in the union to offer full marriage rights to same-sex couples. The decision is set to take effect on June 16.

Native Americans and others are about half-way through their journey along the Chattahoochee River, to walk and give thanks to the river.

The New Deal government represented new forces and politics. It operated through the Democratic Party. It made the Democrats as a party the majority party of the country, something they had not been since before the Civil War.

"Sen. McCain’s record shows he’s in lockstep with President Bush and the Administration’s corporate allies," said AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker in a press statement today responding to John McCain's June 3rd speech in Louisiana.

Barack Obama was right; working Americans are bitter. "More than half of US workers say the American Dream is unattainable and nearly half blame the political system for the deterioration in their economic circumstances," according to a new Zogby International survey released last week.

With the final two primaries in South Dakota and Montana, Barack Obama secured the nomination of the Democratic Party. It is the first time an African American candidate has been nominated for a major political party in the US in its history.

José "Pepe" Cárdenas and officials in charge of attacking Cuba have brazenly revealed in Washington how they are to squander the $45 million assigned to subversion in Cuba via "experienced" institutions, preferably European and Latin American ones

Random channel and Web surfing of the network and cable talk shows and news sites reveals an obsession with sensational stories that have little bearing on working Americans and a near complete media blackout on John McCain's plans for outsourcing jobs.

Something called the "GI Bill" passed both houses of Congress with large majorities in recent weeks. It really would provide educational benefits to veterans, but it's not a bill. It's an amendment. It could be introduced as a bill, pass again with large majorities, and probably even override a veto.

(APN) ATLANTA – This year, there is a US Senate contest in Georgia for the seat held by US. Sen Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), and in addition, as is the case every two years, there are contests for all 13 Congressional seats.

Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan's forthcoming book has caused a political firestorm by offering unusually blunt criticisms of the Bush White House.

David Brooks (the NYT's ultra-conservative mouth piece) has written an open letter to the presidential candidates (Dear Senators Obama, Clinton and McCain) which appeared 5-30-2008 ["The Reality Situation"].

As the close of the Democratic primaries near, and it becomes increasingly clear that Barack Obama, as the presumptive nominee, will next week launch his campaign against John McCain, rumors and speculation about who will be on the ticket are swirling from the Washington press corps to my 8-year old son.

The real entertainment regarding campaign '08 isn't Senator Barack Obama. It's watching how people react to him, Black and white. From Blacker-than-thou commentators to pesky Black conservatives.