Raising the minimum wage is a hot topic all across the country, and it has been for quite a while. Here are a variety of news stories from throughout the nation.

Traffic was snarled up today, while of demonstrators took to the streets in support of $15 dollars an hour. These protests stretched nationwide, from Atlanta to New Orleans and all the way from California to the New York Island.

Fast-food workers picket demanding wage hikes http://nyp.st/1DiM73o via @nypost

Fight for $15: workers across US protest to raise minimum wage – live http://gu.com/p/47gpg/stw

Elected, as well as appointed officials were all chomping at the bit today to praise the idea of a pocket park and take individual credit for spending our hard earned taxpayer dollars on this auspicious Tax Day.

US removes Cuba from state sponsor of terror list. The following timeline is more specific of this strange evolution.

1960: US breaks off diplomatic relations and imposes trade embargo.
1961: US backs failed Bay of Pigs invasion; Castro calls Cuba a communist state and begins to ally with USSR.
1962: Fearing US invasion, Castro allows USSR to deploy nuclear missiles in Cuba. Superpowers brink of war.
1980: Around 125,000 Cubans, many prisoners, flee to the US when Castro temporarily lifts restrictions

Percy Sledge, who was the singer of classic soulful ballads has died at 74. He died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana this morning. The cause of death was liver cancer, according to his manager

The singer sky-rocketed to the top of the charts after recording "When a Man Loves a Woman" – his debut single in 1966. But he released other songs, which you may also enjoy,

Percy Sledge - If Loving You Is Wrong: https://youtu.be/ADFCF4I4y5U

In Memoriam: R&B Singer Percy Sledge http://www.nbcnewyork.com/multimedia/NATL-2014-In-Memoriam-238430011.ht…