Congregation members of a new mosque located in a former hot dog
stand on Western Avenue provided a first look inside their recently
renovated-space at a meet and greet with West Ridge residents Wednesday night.
News that a mosque might be built in the former U Lucky
Dawg location was not received well by community members, because they
wanted to see it remain a commercial space.
Nonetheless,
the mosque's leaders persevered with their plans and were issued a special use
permit for the prayer center, after originally being denied, and bought
the property about a year ago.
“Our doors
are open to any of you,” mosque spokesman Rashid Motivala told about 30
residents. “From the community, what we are expecting [is] that if you
have any concern or anything, we are open for compliment ... or your ideas
and how we can improve our services.” Read more »
Certain student loan interest rates are set to double, from 3.4 percent
to 6.8 percent, come July 1. The rate hike could potentially cost millions of people who
rely on college financial assistance an additional $1,000 each school year.
Upon returning home last year from serving two years in the U.S.
Army, Asma Njesada said her greatest challenge was finding a job.
This post was authored by Alex Showerman, Democracy for America's New Media Manager.
Prominent studies that rank states’ business climates often
contradict each other and should not be used to inform public policies,
according to a new 
