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DECEMBER 2021 ISSUE



EDITORIAL: OVER A CUP OF TEA



Healing Hands of Christ Offered by “Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church”



BY HEIDI M. PASCUAL


For Christian believers, this shrine provides hope for people searching to be healed from their illnesses, especially those whose diagnoses can no longer find cure regardless of modern medical interventions.


“Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church” is located in Barangay Tinamnan, town of Lucban, province of Quezon in Southern Philippines. It was constructed in 2002 through the efforts of a Filipino Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Joseph Ayala Faller. The five-hectare shrine features the Via Dolorosa Grotto, the Healing Church, a mini-replica of Noah’s Ark, the Sea of Galilie, a Holy Family Park, and a Pastoral Center.

-- READ MORE


PHOTO ON THE RIGHT:

The Via Dolorosa Grotto features a 50-ft. image of the Risen Christ on top of a hill with 300-plus steps.



our STORIES AND FEATURES





Senate Must Reform Filibuster To Pass Voting Rights Bills After Senate Republicans Again Block Legislation



By Michael Sozan


Oct. 25 --Last week, Senate Republicans again uniformly blocked Democrats’ attempt to begin debate on urgently needed voting rights legislation. The minority party’s filibuster of the Freedom to Vote Act—and their expected filibuster of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) in the coming days—are just two of several harmful blockades of voting rights bills over the past year, at a time when U.S. democracy is under increasing assault by partisan actors. With no other viable options left—and with President Joe Biden’s recent remarks signaling support for fundamental change of the filibuster rules—the Senate should expeditiously move to reform the arcane filibuster and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the VRAA with a simple majority vote.. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE



The Climate Needs a Balanced Judiciary



By Maggie Jo Buchanan

As litigation continues over efforts to address climate change, it is critical that America’s federal courts include judges with professional expertise advancing climate protection policies.

As the world continues to grapple with the climate crisis, the U.S. federal courts are set to play a key role in efforts to protect and improve the environment in the years ahead. In 2017, 654 climate change cases were brought in the United States within three years, that number nearly doubled, to approximately 1,200 cases filed. To best evaluate these claims, the United States needs a balanced judiciary made up of judges from a wide range of legal backgrounds.--." -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE



President Biden’s Economic Agenda Will Help Make Life More Affordable Without Adding To Inflation



By Rose Khattar, Andres Vinelli and Christian Weller


The Build Back Better Act and the already enacted bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will help reduce inflationary pressures in the coming years and lower costs on essentials such as prescription drugs, energy, child care, and housing.


Inflation has risen to more than 6 percent over the past year, but this paints an incomplete picture. Many families—especially lower-income ones—have seen substantial job and wage gains, -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE


Secretary Mayorkas and CAPAC Members Discuss Immigration and AAPIs



From CAPAC


November 15, 2021, Washington, D.C. — Today, members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) met with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.


After the meeting, CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) issued the following statement:


“Asian Americans are just 6% of the total US population, but make up 27% of America’s foreign-born population. That makes immigration – and reforms that allow families to stay together – incredibly important to our community, even though AAPIs are often overlooked in conversations about immigration reform...." -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE



Affirmative Action Myths and Facts



From NCAPA


Myth: Asian Americans are hurt by affirmative action Fact: Asian Americans benefit from affirmative action in both direct and indirect ways, and there is certainly no evidence of harm to Asian Americans by race-conscious admissions.


--- ACCESSIBILITY Affirmative action helps to ensure that our universities, especially highly selective elite universities, remain accessible to students of all backgrounds. Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Southeast Asian American students have the most to gain directly from these policies -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE​



Women of Color and the Wage Gap



By Robin Bleiweis, Jocelyn Frye, and Rose Khattar


Women of color continue to suffer the most severe gender wage gap in the United States, a reality that reflects the effects of intersecting racial, ethnic, and gender biases that threaten the economic security of them and their families. ​


As breadwinners, workers, and caregivers, women of color have been the longtime yet unsung backbone of the U.S. economy. This integral role has been front and center during the devastating COVID-19 pandemic that has wreaked economic havoc in every corner of the country and continues to have lingering effects. Not only has the United States relied on women of color as essential workers to help keep the economy running, provide much-needed services, and sustain families throughout the pandemic, but it has also watched these women shoulder disproportionate job losses and caregiving challenges—all while they are earning just a fraction of what their white and male counterparts earn.-- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE



Local area Destination Marketing Organization awarded a grant by Governor Evers and State of Wisconsin.







As a part of the governor's more than $140 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund investment in Wisconsin's tourism and entertainment industries the Local Destination Marketing Organization, The Stockholm Area Merchants Association was awarded a significant grant to help continue the strong growth in tourism the Wisconsin part of the Lake Pepin Area has seen pre covid.


The Stockholm Area Merchants Association started humbly as group of merchants in Stockholm that wished to cooperatively market the village and has grown to an area wide Destination Marketing Organization that has members all along the “West Coast of Wisconsin”, all striving to build a stronger economy for all in the area. The Lake Pepin based DMO was the smallest size organization to be awarded these major investments.


The funds, although small by large area budgets is equivalent to approx. a third of the DMO’s annual budget. The grant writing and submission was undertaken by SAMA President Char Harris Scherer and volunteers from the organization and the membership is thrilled at the results and believe it sets a precedent for the organization and the area. -- READ MORE



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AAPI Victory Alliance, Rep. Lucy McBath & Activists Elevate the Voices of America's Gun Violence Survivors and Highlight Urgent Action Needed



APIAVOTE ISSUES A STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE RECENT VIOLENCE AGAINST SAN DIEGO’S FILIPINO COMMUNITY



4 Things To Know About China’s Climate Approach



Employee Retention Credit
by Mei-Feng Moe



Part 1

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (also known as the CARES Act) is a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill which included a refundable payroll tax credit for eligible employers who paid qualified wages to employees during the pandemic for the period March 13, 2020 through December 31, 2020.



UNABLE TO CONTINUE WORKING?? There should be help. Social Security Disability and SSI - Programs designed to help individuals who are disabled from work. IF YOU APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY AND/OR SSI AND YOU ARE DENIED, THERE IS HELP! Call 1-800-254-7766



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We offer a wide range of benefits including fully paid dental and HMO health insurance premiums for full time employees. The County will also provide contributions towards POS health insurance premiums, retirement, and short/long term disability. Additional benefits available include long term care, vision coverage, flex spending account and deferred compensation programs paid in full by the employee, and 6 weeks of paid parental leave for birth or adoption of a child (for further details visit www.countyofdane.com/emprel).


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Contact





heidipascual2016@yahoo.com