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For the 46.5 million Americans living below the poverty line, 16 million of which are children, life has become a consistent struggle. This struggle does not simply begin and end with monetary concerns, but in fact surrounds both a physical and mental exertion of the individual.Using the national U.S. census and NCCP, researchers found that in 2013, the poverty line rested at $11,490, a number which equates an individual working full time while only making $5.00 – far below the national minimum

The hits just keep coming for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. For weeks, stories of the deplorable policies and procedures in place at VA Medical Centers across the country have continued to surface and have stirred outrage among service members, veterans, and Americans at large. As these accounts continue to emerge, an increasing number of Americans are calling for justice, but justice doesn't seem to be forthcoming. Earlier this month, more accounts of "secret wait lists" emerged in

The way we elect the president and vice president in the U.S. is quite unique compared to the way we elect every other elected office. We don't elect them directly. Instead, we vote for electors who then cast votes for a presidential ticket. Electors from each state are supposed to cast their votes for whichever candidate won that state's popular vote -- "winner takes all."  However, every once in awhile there is a rogue elector who casts a different vote as "winner takes all" is not required b

In Illinois' 11th Congressional District, the Republican Party is looking to regain a seat in the Chicago area that may be difficult, but possible.Representing the 41st state House district, the GOP is hanging its hopes on Darlene Senger. The 11th Congressional District extends from Senger's native Naperville before stretching west to Aurora, narrowing and heading south through Bolingbrook, and finally ending in Joliet. After winning March's primary, Senger embarked on a 10-day "Jobs and Busin

A national discussion regarding the state of civil rights in the U.S. exploded after racial comments made by Clippers owner Donald Sterling were made public, followed by news that he has been banned for life from the NBA.However, another story broke on the same day NBA Commissioner Adam Silver held his press conference that might be even more important for the future of civil rights in the country: a federal court struck down Wisconsin’s voter ID law. The law first passed in 2011, as a measure

As the Republican Party seeks to retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014, an Illinois district that favors Democrats could eventually become more competitive. Illinois' 8th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Cook, Kane, DuPage, and Lake Counties, is a district that was redrawn after the 2010 census to favor Democrats. The incumbent is Democrat Tammy Duckworth, a Thai-born double leg amputee veteran of the Iraq war. After her active military service ended, Du

It's been a while since Chicago was regarded as the murder capital of the United States. The recent sharp decline in the murder rate in Windy City has raised a few questions. According to the Chicago Police Department, the first quarter of 2014 registered the lowest number of homicides since 1958. In the first 3 months of the year, Chicago had 6 less murders than this time in 2013, and 55 fewer than this time in 2012. Overall crime plummeted 25 percent from 2013.So what explains this stunning n

"To help liberals understand (and be civil to) conservatives." "To help conservatives understand (and be civil to) liberals." "To help everyone understand libertarians, who are often ignored because they don't fit on the left-right spectrum." On the website of CivilPolitics.org, readings and resources in each of these areas aim to foster mutual understanding in our divided political environment. The three phrases also succinctly sum up their efforts. CivilPolitics.org is an organization devo

Yes for Independent Maps is an ongoing effort in Illinois to add an amendment to the state constitution that would put the process of decennial redistricting into the hands of an independent board. The group describes itself as a "nonpartisan campaign" to "bring together community leaders, people at the grassroots, and everyone in between." Senior adviser Ryan Blitstein says that after years of gerrymandering and little transparency in the process, "It's a bipartisan problem and it demands a bip

In Illinois' 17th Congressional District, a re-match is set which may help determine the balance of power in the House of Representatives. Stretching from Rockford in north central Illinois, extending south and west along the border with Iowa, before finally reaching Peoria in central Illinois, the 17th district sees Colona native and former Republican congressman Bobby Schilling attempting a political comeback. In 2010, Schilling, a former insurance agent and restaurant proprietor, challenged