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credit: Real Clear Politics Released by the Associated Press on Friday, an inspector general's report regarding the IRS revealed the agency had improperly targeted conservative-leaning groups that were filed tax-exempt under section 501(c) of the Tax Code. In order to be eligible for preferential tax treatment, a 501(c) organization needs to have limited election involvement, and the 2012 race prompted increased scrutiny on registered groups. According to the AP, organizations with 'Tea Party

(Credit: Chicago Tribune) As the legislative session in Illinois nears its conclusion on May 31, several issues, including gay marriage, remain unresolved in the state. Now, Governor Pat Quinn is directly calling on the Legislature to solve the issue. A same-sex marriage bill passed the Illinois Senate in February and went to the House. Although Democrats hold a majority in the House as well, the bill has stalled. Supporters believe that they do not yet have the votes needed for passage. "We'

Photo by Woodley Wonder Works Fears about the absence of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird or JD Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye are merely myths that mask real facts on a new national curriculum, Common Core Standards Initiative advocates argue. National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel said: "Change is hard. And a healthy dose of skepticism may be in order, especially when the stakes are so high. But as a general rule, doomsday scenarios rarely materialize." Those doomsday

As 2012 comes to an end, we're all scrambling to nationally recollect the top ten events of 2012. Yes, there were the London Olympics, the Giants winning the World Series and a myriad of other sporting events, plus a long-awaited royal wedding. But both international and domestic politics reigned the airwaves, dominated conversations, and were tweeted millions of times over. Ready or not, here are the top ten events of 2012, in no particular order: 10. Unsurprisingly, more money was spent in th

For nearly twenty five years, December 21, 2012 has been the talk of soothsayers and oracles, all of whom forecast a worldwide event that will, in one way or another, change the face of the planet. This has led people of every religion to envision their own idea of what may or may not happen at this juncture in time. Christians, of course, presuppose that December 21 could be their long awaited rapture, perhaps ignoring a simultaneous view that the Lord said no one knows the day or the hour. S

Credit: www.ed.gov Illinois, New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon, and Wisconsin will get a share of the 2012 Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge, a $133 million grant fund to enhance superiority and expand access to education programs throughout those states. The five finalists join the nine existing state grantees who secured first-round funding last year. Arne Duncan, the US Secretary of Education, said that every child is worthy of the lasting benefits of a high-class learning program: "Than

Today is the first day that same-sex couples are allowed to get married in the state of Washington.  The legislation permitting same-sex marriage was passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Chris Gregoire on February 13, 2012, but it was stayed pending a vote of the people.  In every instance of same-sex marriage going to the vote of the people, it had been voted down.  But the general election of 2012 would turn out to be more interesting than all the years prior. Washington

Credit: Erik M. Lunsford The environment and climate change were not only discussed in a limited manner during the election season, but the current Doha Climate Change Conference, hosted by the United Nations (UN) until December 7, is not making headlines either. Will the imminent economic disaster resulting from Mississippi's record low-water mark shift the focus to this issue? In 2012, the United States experienced the worst drought in at least 50 years and its consequences on the US agricul

(Credit: Washington Times) Barely a few weeks after the conclusion of the 2012 presidential election, there is already much speculation about the 2016 elections. Kentucky US Senator Rand Paul has indicated some interest and former Florida governor Jeb Bush's name has been floated, most notably by his son. Just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad announced his interest in eliminating one of the first events of the presidential election season: The Ames Straw Poll. He

Credit: The Albany Times November 6, 2012 is now considered to be a key date in the history of gay rights activism. Same-sex marriage was legalized in Maine, Maryland, and Washington through ballot referendums approved by popular vote. These landmark victories for gay rights on election night brought the total number of states that recognize same-sex marriage to nine. There were other important milestones for gay rights activism in 2012, including the election of the first openly gay Senator,