The Oregon Secretary of State determined that a proposed initiative to amend the Oregon constitution to allow a private casino in east Multnomah County did not have have enough signatures to qualify for the November 2010 ballot. Continue reading “The Oregonian, “Wood Village casino backers drop suit against Oregon Secretary of State””

A class-action lawsuit filed in Louisiana claims that 350 Filipino teachers were placed into indentured servitude after being recruited to teach in the state. The teachers were recruited through a placement service, which “charged them exorbitant application fees and transportation and housing costs” and took large amounts of their salaries, according to the lawsuit. The suit also contends that the teachers were forced to live in crowded houses and could not see their families. The suit names Universal Placement International (UPI), based in Los Angeles, and a related company, PARS International Placement Agency of Manila. Lourdes, as defendants.  The suit is being filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Continue reading “Filipino teachers file class action alleging they were forced into indentured servitude”