For months now, as part of its effort to justify and rally support for deportation, the Trump administration has cleverly referred to all undocumented immigrants as “criminals.” That strategy is as grossly inaccurate as it is brutally manipulative. Consider the facts behind this confusing mess.

Entering the U.S. by unlawful means, crossing the border without inspection at a legal point of entry, is indeed a crime. But it is a misdemeanor (8 U.S.C. § 1325). Reentry after deportation, crossing the border without inspection a second time, however, does rise to a felony (8 U.S.C. § 1326). 

By contrast, overstaying the expiration on one’s visa (entering the country legally with inspection but remaining beyond the term of the visa) is a civil—not criminal—offense.  According to the Center For Migration Studies, these people make up over 40 percent of the undocumented population in the United States. They are not criminals. They have not committed either a misdemeanor or a felony.

In a city that paved over its history, Z.F. Taylor is putting it back on stage.

The idea for the Legacy Series didn’t start in a theater. It began with a conversation with local business owner Todd Wilson, who spoke of the King-Lincoln Bronzeville District as a place rich in history. He told Z.F. Taylor there were stories in the community that needed to be told, stories that could “really impact the present generation and the generations to come.”

For Taylor (pictured above), a playwright since the age of 12 and a man who admits he hasn’t had a real vacation in over 20 years, that idea became a mission. The Legacy Series, he says, was born from “the need to tell stories from days gone by so that people can get lessons to help them be better for days to come”.

Standing up for Racial Justice and Democracy
Indivisible Central Ohio cares about racial justice, and we know you do too! Showing up to honor the memory and legacy of Congressman John Lewis on the fifth anniversary of his passing is a way to show you care and are committed to racial justice as a part of the urgent struggle to protect our democracy amidst the attacks from the Trump regime. 

Lots of BO from the OBBBA

When President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or OBBBA, into law on July 4th, he essentially eliminated renewable energy subsidies for residential solar by the end of this year.

Corporate and utility scale solar projects must now be placed in service by the end of 2027. If they begin construction within 12 months of the signing of the bill, they have four years to complete construction and still qualify for the energy incentives.

The question of the moment is, what qualifies as beginning construction?

Developers have relied on what are called safe harbor rules to determine when construction begins. Under these rules, they have two options.

The 5 percent cost method is where the developer must spend at least 5 percent of the cost of the project. Typically, they do this by buying inverters or solar panels and then often these are placed in a warehouse until the actual construction can begin.