Channels: Stories from the Niagara Frontier, a production initiative that matches local filmmakers with grassroots activists to document stories that significantly impact the WNY region, but are underreported by the mainstream media. Read more about the program and watch videos produced through the Channels program in the past HERE. THE SCHEDULE Thursday, February 2nd (noon – 1 PM) Everybody Lives Downstream [by Anna Scime & Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER, 28 mins] examines the history of this city’s complicated relationship with the Buffalo River – the way we continue to alter this body of water through industrial exploitation as well as remediation and restoration efforts. Discussion with filmmaker Anna Scime will follow the screening. read a PREVIEW of this video or WATCH it! Thursday, February 9th (noon- 1 PM) Reclamation [by John Fink & Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 18 mins] focuses on an inclusive community centered around this 100 year old congregation that has been continually adapting to challenges facing the health, safety, and economic stability of their often neglected neighborhood. Discussion with the church’s Pastor Gary C. Steeves will follow the screening. read a PREVIEW of this video or WATCH it! Thursday, February 16th (noon- 1 PM) Living in the Shadow of the Bridge [by Mark Barner & Niagara Gateway Columbus Park Association/Buffalo West Side Environmental Defense Fund, 22 mins] depicts the negative impact that the Buffalo & Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority’s constantly changing expansion plans have on the quality of life, property value, and the health of West Side residents. Discussion with Kathy Mecca from the Columbus Park Association will follow the screening. read a PREVIEW of this video or WATCH it! Thursday, February 23rd (noon- 1 PM) You Are Where You Live [by Vince Mistretta & Clean Air Coalition of WNY, 23 mins] chronicles the personal stories of the Clean Air Coalition’s fight for the people’s right to a healthy environment. Discussion with members of the Clean Air Coalition of WNY will follow the screening. read a PREVIEW of this video or WATCH it! Channels 2011 was funded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation. Squeaky Wheel is a grassroots, artist-run, non-profit media arts center founded in 1985 to promote and support film, video, computer, digital, and audio art by media artists and community members. More info: www.squeaky.org.]]>
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‘Nightmare scenario’: Analysis warns Supreme Court may ‘clear path’ for one-party rule
A Democratic voting rights group was "sounding the alarm" Wednesday, warning of a "nightmare scenario" wherein the U.S. Supreme Court could "clear the path for a one-party system" and give Republicans control of Congress.
The high court is slated to rehear Louisiana v. Callais on Oct. 15, and in a new Politico report, Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter Fund signal that removing Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act could give Republicans a path to redraw up to 19 House seats to benefit their party.
The Voting Rights Act — the landmark Civil Rights-era legislation — has been targeted by Republicans, aiming to remove this particular section, Politico reports.
The move would "clear the path for a one-party system where power serves the powerful and silences the people,” Black Voters Matter Fund co-founder LaTosha Brown said in a statement.
The ruling could also ultimately remove 30% of Congressional Black Caucus seats and 11% of Congressional Hispanic Caucus seats, according to Salon.
This could leave limited options for Democrats.
"Democrats could also find ways to use any changes to the VRA to their benefit. The party could redraw maps in heavily-blue areas with VRA protections to try and expand their margins, but there will be fewer opportunities," Politico reports.
The law has been used to offer protections against racial gerrymandering in redistricting, a topic that's become a key move ahead of midterm elections amid President Donald Trump's push to maintain GOP control in Congress, putting pressure on Republicans to redraw district lines and saying "there could very well be consequences" if they don't take action.
Trump mocked as ‘historic’ Gaza peace plan missing ‘vital’ piece
President Donald Trump stood with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and announced a new ceasefire proposal and peace plan, but critics couldn't help but notice it's missing some critical pieces — namely, that a key party is missing.
Steve Herman, executive director at the Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation, quoted Trump's comment, "Everyone else has accepted it."
"Except Hamas, according to President Trump, explaining his plan calls for a 'Board of Peace' to be headed by himself," said Herman.
It prompted national security lawyer Bradly P. Moss to remark, "So, you know, a peace plan missing a vital party."
"The new official Trump plan for Gaza. Quite a few things to parse out, including accountability mechanisms, who actually makes up the stabilisation force, and what mandate they would have," said Dr. H.A. Hellyer, a geopolitics and security expert on the Middle East and Europe at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies.
Even senior Washington Examiner writer David Harsanyi had questions: "This plan has been tried more than once. Palestinians have never been able to meet #1."
Bloomberg's Washington Correspondent Josh Wingrove couldn't help but notice that the plan, "previously described as a '21-point plan,'" now "includes 20 points and an image of proposed withdrawals."
"The points include a call for Gaza's governance to be supervised by a 'Board of Peace' - chaired by Trump himself," added Wingrove.
White House columnist Niall Stanage, at "The Hill," also questioned, "It runs to 20 points but how will point 1 — upon which all else may hinge — be defined or verified and by whom?"
"If Trump is to be the head of the newly established transitional administration in Gaza, it means Gaza is becoming a mandate of the USA. Blair is the Mandate Governor," observed Tuğçe Varol, an academic working on Russian and Turkish foreign policy.
