Republicans advance bills to take over Democratic city government

Mississippi The Republican-controlled Mississippi legislature passed legislation last week that creates a separate unelected court system and expands Capitol Police authority in Jackson. Unelected judges House Bill 1020 would allow white, statewide officials to appoint their own judges to a new criminal justice court in America’s second Blackest city. Specifically, the bill tasks Mississippi Supreme Court […]

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Shuttered maternity wards, abortion pill bans, and crisis pregnancy center funding

IDAHO An Idaho hospital is shutting down its labor and delivery department after the state’s criminalization of abortion providers drove away many of its doctors. Bonner General Health, located in the city of Sandpoint (northern Idaho), explained in a press release that “highly respected, talented physicians are leaving” and “recruiting replacements will be extraordinarily difficult.” In addition, […]

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Republicans roll back child labor protections while attempting to cut food benefits

Child Labor Arkansas Earlier this month, newly-elected Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed a bill into law that rolls back child labor protections across the state. H.B. 1410, the “Youth Hiring Act of 2023,” eliminates the requirement that children under 16 years of age obtain a work certificate from the state before starting a job. […]

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DOJ sues Cancer Alley company; Biden admin considers the fate of the Willow drilling project

Cancer Alley The Department of Justice sued the country’s sole neoprene plant in Louisiana over violations of the Clean Air Act, asking the courts to force the company to reduce its cancer-causing emissions. Denka, a chemical corporation headquartered in Japan, leases a neoprene manufacturing site in St. John the Baptist Parish (southeast Louisiana) from American […]

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Biden fails self-governance test by supporting GOP measure to block DC criminal code revision

Senate Democrats are coming out in favor of a GOP measure to block the District of Columbia from updating its century-old criminal code. Background As I am far from an expert on DC criminal law, this section summarizes two comprehensive articles on the subject from Slate and DCist. I highly suggest reading these articles for more detail. DC’s […]

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House GOP’s first month in charge: Manufactured outrage, red scare bills, and pedophile smears

Pandemic spending The House Oversight Committee, now led by Rep. James Comer (R-KY), held its first hearing this month titled “Federal Pandemic Spending: A Prescription for Waste, Fraud and Abuse.” Three witnesses attended the hearing: David Smith, U.S. Secret Service Assistant Director of Office of Investigation; Michael Horowitz, DOJ Inspector General; and Gene Dodaro, Comptroller […]

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