The Big Feed and The Art of the Rural

I’m a big fan of The Art of the Rural, so it’s fun to find out that someone from there will be at The Big Feed in Yuma, Colorado, Sat., Oct. 15. Here’s more about The Feed:

SOURCE
THE BIG FEED — 2011
Saturday, Oct. 15-16 at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, Yuma, Colo.
The entry to this event is FREE with a $5 donation and one food item to share!

The BIG FEED is an annual event and action held by M12. It is a celebration of the regional landscape, experimental art and architecture, food, music, culture and community. It is a forum to connect community members and artists in a casual atmosphere, as well as an opportunity for the larger public to learn more about the groundbreaking work presented by the attending community members, artists, musicians, critics, and curators. Landing somewhere between a family reunion, potluck dinner, symposium, and festival, The BIG FEED is held every second weekend in October. The event is open to the public and free with a $5 donation and one food item to share. For more information on the event and the organization please visit the M12 website.

Art of the Rural is also on Facebook.

Topeka City Council Considering Decriminalizing Domestic Violence; DA Stops Prosecuting Misdemeanor DV Cases in Topeka Due to Budget Cuts

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, when programs helping victims are calling on their communities to send the message that domestic violence will not be tolerated, Topeka, Kansas City Council is considering decriminalizing domestic battery in order to save money.

The Topeka City Council is butting heads with Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor, who announced Sept. 8 that due to budget cuts, his office would no longer prosecute misdemeanor cases, including domestic violence cases, in Topeka. This change left it to the City of Topeka to enforce its ordinance against domestic battery.

If the City Council repeals the ordinance, battering cases will no longer be prosecuted in Topeka unless the district attorney reconsiders.

In the meantime, victims of violence are in grave danger. Already, since Sept. 8, the district attorney has rejected at least 30 domestic violence cases. Eighteen people arrested in Topeka for domestic battery have all been released from county jail when no charges were filed.