A transgender student in Georgia says a school policy stopped her from running for homecoming queen. Riley Williams, a student at Charles R. Drew High School, says she was told school policy requires students to run for homecoming court positions based on their sex assigned at birth. She argues the rule excludes transgender students from running for positions that reflect their gender identity. Williams started a petition calling on state education officials and local school boards to repeal the policy and adopt inclusive guidelines. Petition link: c.org/y5gwmLY8 #homecoming #Georgia #lgbtq

In 2009, Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan killed 13 people and wounded 32 others at Fort Hood, Texas. He is scheduled to be executed by firing squad there on December 3. In an interview on October 7, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the execution would be public: “We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it.” A day later, a Pentagon official told Reuters and ABC News that it would be livestreamed, with details to follow. At least a dozen petitions have launched against the livestream. One calls on the Department of Defense to cancel the broadcast, emphasizing that opposing the livestream does not excuse Hasan’s crimes or diminish the victims' suffering. "We ask the authorities to consider whether a livestream is necessary and whether transparency can be achieved without turning an execution into public entertainment," the petition reads. Petition link: c.org/gH5p7J8K #NidalHasan

Caring for a loved one shouldn’t mean giving up your income or having no time to rest, says family caregiver Dugan Meredith. He’s petitioning for respite care, mental health services and financial relief for unpaid family caregivers. Meredith cares for his mother-in-law, who has dementia, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He describes the sacrifices people rarely see: dinners with friends he turns down, movie nights with his sister he misses and days he couldn’t spend watching his daughter compete in high school rodeo. He is one of an estimated 59 million Americans caring for an adult loved one, according to AARP. His petition asks policymakers to expand support for families doing this work. Petition link: c.org/LRgyFmzW #caregiver #caregiving #eldercare

(Content warning: death of a child) Olvin Cabrera Valladares, 13, died after being found unresponsive inside a slide at Miami’s Shenandoah Park on September 25. His mother says his shirt became caught on a screw inside the slide. A passerby tried to help, and Olvin was taken to the hospital, where he was placed on life support and later died. City officials have not publicly confirmed his mother’s account, and the circumstances remain under investigation. Residents are petitioning for an independent safety review and replacement of the park’s tower slide with a safer alternative, proposing a shaded, accessible splash pad. The petition also asks the city to publicly report past injuries and safety complaints. After initially reopening, the slide is now closed again. Miami officials confirmed October 8 that enclosed slides at four city parks have been closed until further notice. Petition link: c.org/qp58h6Yb #Miami #children #childsafety

After San Fernando Valley dad @carlosmcgnarlos posted a video comparing his $3,300 utility bill to his mortgage, he says other Los Angeles residents responded with similar stories. His petition calls for an independent audit of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's rates, tiered pricing and pass-through charges. More than 8,000 people have signed. Petition Link: c.org/nMVNspx6 #electricity #LosAngeles #california

Gypsy Rose Blanchard says her former partner faced years of online harassment before he died last week. Now she's launching a petition calling for Kenan's Law, which would change how social media platforms respond to repeated reports of online harassment. Ken Urker, the father of her daughter, was found unresponsive at his Louisiana home on Oct. 1. His death remains under investigation. The petition calls for social media companies to create new systems, including pattern-based reporting, the ability to submit multiple posts and accounts in a single report, and human review of moderation decisions, to curb repeated cyberbullying and harassment. Petition link: c.org/DV77PqC2 #gypsyrose

Thousands of Cornell students, faculty and supporters protested Monday over the university’s handling of allegations raised in Jane Doe’s lawsuit. Cornell has announced plans for an independent review of its response. An alumni-led petition has surpassed 60,000 signatures, pledging to withhold donations until Cornell meets demands for transparency and reform. Started by Cornell alum and Betches cofounder Sami Sage, it calls for the release of investigation records, removal of any school officials found complicit, and a public apology, audit and binding new policies for handling sexual assault cases. Petition link: c.org/sWGZXDdz #Cornell #Cornell7

After a teacher and her student died together in the water during a fifth-grade field trip, a petition is asking an Iowa school to carry her name. Hannah Jorgensen was 24. Ahmed Osman was 10. When he fell in near the Coralville Reservoir spillway on Sept. 22, she went in to try to save him, according to news reports. Now, the petition is urging school leaders to rename Borlaug Elementary so it will "forever remind students and faculty of her legacy." Petition link: c.org/HLYt9kR9 #teacher #iowa #school

A man who got too close to a bull elk in North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park was chased away by the animal. Now, a petition is asking officials to ensure it is not euthanized over the encounter. Bull elk can become more territorial and unpredictable during mating season. While no agency has publicly announced plans to euthanize this animal, supporters want officials to rule out that outcome and focus on keeping visitors at a safe distance. Petition link: c.org/GmjxJkyh #animals #elk #northcarolina #greatsmokymountains

(Content warning: se*ual violence) "As alumni, we play a role in holding the University accountable." A former Cornell student alleges she was drugged and gang r*ped by seven fraternity members in 2024. According to her attorney, two of the accused were expelled, while the other five received lesser sanctions, including suspensions, workshops and essay writing. Now, Cornell alum @samisagesays, cofounder and chief brand officer of Betches Media, has launched a petition calling on fellow alumni to withhold support and charitable contributions. The petition calls for a full and transparent investigation and the removal of any school officials found complicit in the university’s handling of Jane Doe’s case. You can read or sign here: c.org/v7bcKhfP #cornell #cornell7