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☆ Factbox-Biden Administration, Texas Battling Over Border Policies on Multiple Fronts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Those cases could ultimately determine how much power, if any, states possess to police international borders when they disagree with federal immigration policies. The Biden administration has sued to strike down the law, claiming it interferes with the federal government's exclusive powers to police the border and enforce immigration laws. In defending the law, Texas will have to contend with a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down key provisions of an Arizona immigration law. Texas in its lawsuit claims that by destroying the wire, federal agents are violating the state's property rights. Days after four migrants drowned in the river last July, the state installed the string of buoys, prompting a lawsuit by the Biden administration.

Persons: Daniel Wiessner, Greg Abbott, Joe Biden, Abbott, Biden, Alexia Garamfalvi, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Republican Texas, Democrat, Supreme, Biden, U.S . Customs, Border, . Border Patrol, U.S, Circuit Locations: Mexico, Texas, U.S, Arizona, Rio Grande, Eagle, , Texas, Mexico . Texas, New Orleans, Rio, Albany , New York

☆ US Court Will Reconsider Forcing Texas to Remove Rio Grande Migrant Barrier
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Daniel Wiessner(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday said it would reconsider a recent decision requiring Texas to remove a 1,000-foot-long (305-meter) floating barrier it had placed in the Rio Grande river to deter migrants from illegally crossing the border with Mexico. That ruling was a setback for Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, who has strongly criticized Democratic President Joe Biden's handling of record numbers of migrants crossing the border illegally. Abbott's office, the office of Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and the U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The floating barrier is part of Abbott's broader effort to deter and punish illegal border crossings, collectively known as Operation Lone Star. All of those initiatives have spawned court battles between Texas and the Biden administration and civil rights groups.

Persons: Daniel Wiessner, panel's, Biden, Greg Abbott, Joe Biden's, Ken Paxton, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S, Circuit, Texas, Republican, Democratic, Republican Texas, U.S . Department of Justice, Lone Star, Democrat Locations: Texas, Rio, Mexico, New Orleans, Lone Star . Texas, Albany , New York

Attendees inspect Smith and Wesson firearms at the National Rifle Association's (NRA) annual meeting, in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., April 28, 2019. Smith & Wesson, which is incorporated in Nevada, did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The group of nuns filed the lawsuit in their role as Smith & Wesson shareholders, in what is known as a derivative lawsuit. The nuns alleged that the directors of Smith & Wesson have ignored growing legal risks from making assault-style rifles. Smith & Wesson warned in its 2022 annual report that it might have to pay significant damages due to legal proceedings against the company.

Persons: Smith, Bryan Woolston, Jeffrey Norton, gunmakers, gunmaker Remington, Adrian Dominican, Bon, Francis of Philadelphia, Jesus, Tom Hals, Alexia Garamfalvi, Leslie Adler Organizations: Wesson, REUTERS, Smith, Tuesday, Smith & Wesson, Sandy, Elementary, U.S, Supreme, Adrian, Bon Secours, St, Jesus &, Thomson Locations: Indianapolis , Indiana, U.S, WILMINGTON , Delaware, Nevada, Colorado, Connecticut, New York , Illinois, California, Adrian , Michigan, Marriottsville , Maryland, Aston , Pennsylvania, Ontario Province, Marylhurst , Oregon, Wilmington , Delaware

U.S. District Judge William Young told a JetBlue lawyer that he expected airline fares would rise if no-frills, ultra-low-cost Spirit no longer was around to "undercut everyone else" and drive down prices. The four largest U.S. carriers - United Airlines (UAL.O), American Airlines (AAL.O), Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) and Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) - control 80% of the domestic market. JetBlue and Spirit combined control about 8%, according to their lawyers. Duffy said allowing JetBlue's, the sixth-largest U.S. airline, and Spirit, the seventh-largest, to merge would result in higher prices and fewer flights once lower-cost Spirit was no longer competing. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Will DUnhma, Mark Porter and Alexia GaramfalviOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Department's, William Young, Young, Edward Duffy, Duffy, Ryan Shores, Joe Biden's, Shores, JetBlue's, Nate Raymond, Will DUnhma, Mark Porter, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: BOSTON, ., JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, Justice Department, District of Columbia, Justice, U.S, United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit, U.S ., Thomson Locations: U.S, Boston, New York City, Newark , New Jersey, Fort Lauderdale , Florida

Those losses ended a nine-trial winning streak for Bayer, shattering investor and company hopes that the worst of the Roundup litigation was over. Her case will help test whether plaintiffs' recent victories were an aberration, or the payoff from favorable court rulings and a shift in plaintiffs' strategy. Plaintiffs' lawyers reject the notion that the evidence about regulators explains their wins. While plaintiffs' lawyers in earlier trials mentioned other chemicals, transcripts of recent closing arguments suggest they have become more prominent. More Roundup trials are expected in 2024.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Kelly Martel, Bayer, Martel, glyphosate, That's, Tom Kline, Jason Itkin, Ernest Caranci, Bart Rankin, Rankin, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Bayer AG, REUTERS, Bayer, U.S, Monsanto, . Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Union, Health, Thomson Locations: Wuppertal, Germany, Philadelphia, Pleas, Pennsylvania, Europe, New York

Asylum-seeking migrants walk in the Rio Grande river between the floating fence and the river bank as they look for an opening on a concertina wire fence to land on the U.S. soil in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 1 (Reuters) - Texas must remove a 1,000-foot-long (305-meter) floating barrier it placed in the Rio Grande river to deter migrants from illegally crossing the border with Mexico, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday in a victory for President Joe Biden's administration. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision declined a request by the Republican-governed state to reverse a federal judge's decision ordering it to move the string of buoys placed in the Rio Grande in July near Eagle Pass, Texas. Judge Don Willett, a Trump appointee, disagreed with his colleagues in the ruling that the portion of the Rio Grande where the buoys were placed was navigable. On Thursday, a federal judge rejected a bid by Texas to block federal immigration authorities from destroying the wire fencing.

Persons: Go Nakamura, Joe Biden's, David Ezra, Greg Abbott, Abbott, Biden, Don Willett, Willett, Donald Trump, Daniel Wiessner, Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: REUTERS, Circuit, Appeals, Republican, 5th Circuit, U.S . Army Corps of Engineers, Texas, Democrat, Trump, U.S . Justice, Thomson Locations: Rio Grande, Eagle Pass , Texas, U.S, Texas, Rio, Mexico, New Orleans, Eagle, , Texas, San Antonio, Albany , New York

[1/2] Migrants, most from Venezuela, stand near razor wire while surrendering to authorities after wading across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico, in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. October 5, 2023. REUTERS/Adrees Latif/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 30 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Thursday rejected a bid by Texas to block federal immigration authorities from destroying razor wire fencing that the state placed along the border with Mexico to deter illegal border crossings. Moses denied the state's motion to block federal officials from destroying the wire fencing pending the outcome of the state's lawsuit filed in October. The judge last month had ordered the federal government to temporarily refrain from cutting or removing the razor wire while she considered the state's motion. A federal judge at the Biden administration's request in September ordered the 1,000-foot (305-meter) barrier removed, but an appeals court allowed it to remain in place temporarily while Paxton's office pursues an appeal.

Persons: Adrees Latif, Alia Moses, Biden, Moses, Ken Paxton, “, ” Paxton, Greg Abbott, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Department of Justice, Republican, Texas National Guard, Lone Star, Republican Texas, Customs, Border Protection, Biden, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Rio Grande, United States, Mexico, Eagle Pass , Texas, U.S, Texas, Del Rio , Texas, Rio, Albany , New York

A Wells Fargo logo is seen in New York City, U.S. January 10, 2017. And they often work unpaid overtime because of chronic understaffing at Wells Fargo branches, according to the lawsuit. Wells Fargo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Michael Scimone, a lawyer for Perez, said Wells Fargo has consistently classified workers as exempt from overtime pay even though they are not managers and lack any decision-making authority. “Companies like Wells Fargo should know better than to withhold overtime pay from workers like Ms. Perez," Scimone said in a statement.

Persons: Stephanie Keith, Wells, Wells Fargo, Sabrina Perez, Perez, Michael Scimone, Scimone, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics . Wells Fargo, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, Fargo & Co, Senior, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics ., Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, San Francisco, Wells Fargo, Albuquerque , New Mexico, Wells, Albuquerque, Alaska, Albany , New York

☆ Celsius Network faces roadblocks in pivot to bitcoin mining
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Dietrich Knauth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Crypto lender Celsius Network may have to seek a new creditor vote on its proposed transformation into a bitcoin mining business, a U.S. bankruptcy judge said during a court hearing on Thursday. Celsius said last week that it had reduced its post-bankruptcy business plans to focus only on bitcoin mining, citing the skepticism of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about its other planned business lines. The SEC did not definitively object to Celsius' bankruptcy plan before it was approved, but Celsius said the agency was unwilling to approve crypto lending and staking activity that the agency has opposed in the past. Celsius attorney Chris Koenig argued at Thursday's hearing that Celsius's court-approved bankruptcy plan gave the company flexibility to pivot to a mining-only business. Celsius creditors can expect a 67% recovery under the new plan, an increase from 61.2% under the Fahrenheit deal, according to court documents filed on Thursday.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Martin Glenn of, Glenn, Chris Koenig, Koenig, Arrington, BRIC, Dietrich Knauth, Alexia Garamfalvi, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Bankruptcy, US Bitcoin Corp, Arrington Capital, Recovery Investment, US, Thomson Locations: U.S, Martin Glenn of New York

A lower court judge had blocked enforcement of the ban in certain situations on Aug. 4, but the order has been on hold while the state appeals to the Texas Supreme Court. Oral arguments in the case are set for 10 a.m. (1600 GMT) in Austin. She was told she could not have an abortion until fetal cardiac activity stopped or her condition became life-threatening. Other plaintiffs said they were forced to travel out of state for medically necessary abortions. Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Shelby Tauber, Jessica Mangrum, Molly Duane, Amanda Zurawski, Zurawski, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Shelby, Texas, Texas Supreme, Center for Reproductive Rights, Thomson Locations: Texas, Denton , Texas, Austin, Travis County , Texas, New York

☆ 3M, DuPont defeat massive class action over forever chemicals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Clark Mindock | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 27 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Monday handed 3M (MMM.N), Corteva Inc (CTVA.N) subsidiary E.I. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a lower court's approval of the massive class action, which included virtually every resident of Ohio and put considerable legal pressure on the chemical manufacturers to settle the plaintiffs' claims. The appeals court instructed the lower court to dismiss Hardwick's lawsuit, which had aimed to force the companies to pay for studies analyzing the health impacts of PFAS. The lawsuit also sought to establish a fund to monitor Ohio residents for health impacts from PFAS exposure. The chemicals are often referred to as forever chemicals because they do not easily break down in nature or in the human body.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, du Pont, du Pont de Nemours, Kevin Hardwick, Clark Mindock, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: DuPont de Nemours , Inc, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Corteva Inc, du Pont de, du Pont de Nemours and, Circuit, DuPont, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Ohio, Cincinnati , Ohio, Lincoln

A Tesla sign is pictured outside the Tesla Gigafactory 2 in Buffalo, New York, U.S., February 13, 2022. A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional official on Friday tossed out a complaint filed in February by Workers United, a union seeking to organize workers at Tesla's Buffalo, New York "gigafactory." Workers United claimed that within days of announcing a union campaign earlier this year, Tesla fired dozens of workers from its Autopilot department. Tesla and Workers United did not immediately respond to requests for comment. President Joe Biden said this month that he supported the union's efforts to organize workers at Tesla and Toyota.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, Tesla, Kayla Blado, Blado, Joe Biden, Elon Musk, tweeting, Daniel Wiessner, Aurora Ellis, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: REUTERS, Tesla Inc, National Labor Relations Board, Workers United, Workers, United Auto Workers, UAW, Detroit Three, Tesla, Toyota, NLRB, Thomson Locations: Buffalo , New York, U.S, New York, Tesla's Buffalo , New York, Buffalo, Florida, Fremont , California, Albany , New York

Zhao's lawyers in a Thursday filing asked U.S. District Judge Richard Jones in Seattle not to reverse bail conditions set by a magistrate judge on Tuesday that would allow him to leave the U.S. while awaiting sentencing. Zhao, a citizen of the UAE and Canada, stepped down as CEO of Binance on Tuesday after pleading guilty to willfully causing the global cryptocurrency exchange to fail to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program. Allowing Zhao to return to the UAE would allow him to take care of his partner and three children and prepare them for his sentencing, defense lawyers argued. The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment on Friday. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Zhao Changpeng, Binance, Benoit Tessier, Changpeng Zhao, Richard Jones, Zhao, Jones, Brian Tsuchida, Nate Raymond, Alexia Garamfalvi, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Viva Technology, Porte de, REUTERS, United Arab Emirates, U.S, District, Islamic, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Justice, Thomson Locations: Porte, Paris, France, Seattle, U.S, UAE, Canada, Binance, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Iraq, Syria, Boston

Zhao's lawyers in a Thursday filing asked U.S. District Judge Richard Jones in Seattle not to reverse bail conditions set by a magistrate judge on Tuesday that would allow him to leave the U.S. while awaiting sentencing. Zhao, a citizen of the UAE and Canada, stepped down as CEO of Binance on Tuesday after pleading guilty to willfully causing the global cryptocurrency exchange to fail to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program. Allowing Zhao to return to the UAE would allow him to take care of his partner and three children and prepare them for his sentencing, defense lawyers argued. The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment on Friday. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo arrives to depart in his helicopter after announcing his resignation in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., August 10, 2021. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 24 (Reuters) - A woman who in 2021 accused former New York governor Andrew Cuomo of groping her when she was working for him has filed a civil lawsuit against her one-time boss. It was the only criminal charge brought over the allegations against Cuomo. Another former aide, Charlotte Bennett, sued Cuomo for sexual harassment in September 2022. Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi Editing by Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Cuomo, Caitlin Ochs, Brittany Commisso, Cuomo, Letitia James, Commisso, Charlotte Bennett, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Alistair Bell Organizations: New, REUTERS, Democrat, New York, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, New York, Albany , New York, Albany's

☆ Monsanto hit with $165 million verdict over PCBs in Seattle school
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Clark Mindock | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. jury has ordered Bayer's Monsanto to pay $165 million to employees of a school northeast of Seattle who claimed chemicals made by the company called polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, leaked from light fixtures and got them sick. The award included nearly $50 million in compensatory damages, and $115 million in punitive damages. Monsanto said in a statement that it will contest Monday's verdict, and that blood, air and other tests show the school employees were not exposed to unsafe levels of PCBs. PCBs are chemicals once widely used to insulate electrical equipment and in other common products like carbon copy paper, caulking, floor finish and paint. Employees, students and others have claimed in numerous lawsuits against the company that exposure to PCBs at the Sky Valley center caused their cancers, thyroid conditions and other health problems.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Monsanto, Clark Mindock, Alexia Garamfalvi, Richard Chang Organizations: Bayer AG, REUTERS, Monsanto, Sky Valley Education, Thomson Locations: Leverkusen, Germany, U.S, Seattle, Washington, Sky, Monroe , Washington

The lawsuit also alleged that Pfizer, despite knowing of the quality-control issues, persuaded Texas' Medicaid program to add Quillivant to its list of preferred drugs. The lawsuit accuses the companies of defrauding the state's Medicaid program, and seeks unspecified money damages from the companies. Pfizer and Tris, which manufactured the drug for Pfizer, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2017 warned Tris of manufacturing lapses. Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Ken Paxton, Pfizer, Tris, Paxton, Quillivant, Tarik Ahmed, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Pfizer, REUTERS, Texas, Tris, Republican, Nextwave Pharmaceuticals, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Southern, of, Thomson Locations: Harrison County , Texas, Texas, U.S, Manhattan, of New York, New York

☆ Celsius Network pivots to bitcoin mining after bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Dietrich Knauth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Celsius Network logo and representations of cryptocurrencies are seen in this illustration taken, June 13, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Crypto lender Celsius Network has scaled back its post-bankruptcy business plans to focus only on bitcoin mining, citing U.S. regulators' skepticism of its other planned business lines. A U.S. bankruptcy court in Manhattan had approved Celsius' Chapter 11 plan on Nov. 9, clearing the company to return cryptocurrency to customers and create a new company owned by Celsius creditors. The SEC did not definitively say during Celsius' bankruptcy case whether the new company's business plans would violate U.S. law, but it reserved the right to make that determination later. Bitcoin mining was always meant to be the "core business" of the new company, Celsius said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, BlockFi, Dietrich Knauth, Alexia Garamfalvi, Richard Chang Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Securities & Exchange Commission, SEC, Arrington Capital, Bitcoin Corp, Voyager, Thomson Locations: U.S, Manhattan, New Jersey

☆ Maryland Handgun Licensure Law Is Unconstitutional, US Court Rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Nate Raymond(Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday declared that Maryland's licensing requirements for people seeking to buy handguns were unconstitutional, citing a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision last year that expanded gun rights. "Maryland has not shown that this regime is consistent with our nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation," U.S. A gun rights group called Maryland Shall Issue sued in 2016 along with two individuals and a gun store, arguing that the restrictions violated the Second Amendment. Richardson on Tuesday said the Supreme Court in 2022 "effected a sea change in Second Amendment law" when it struck down New York state's limits on carrying concealed handguns outside the home. Maryland had said its law mirrored historical limitations on "dangerous" people owning firearms.

Persons: Nate Raymond, Julius Richardson, Donald Trump, Richardson, Randy Kozuch, Andrew Brown, preemptively, Barbara Milano Keenan, Barack Obama, Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: Reuters, Supreme, Circuit, U.S, New York, Republican, Rifle Association's, Legal, NRA, Maryland, Democrat, Democratic Locations: U.S, Richmond , Virginia, Maryland, New York, Boston

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Deitch said in court that Waithe's scheme victimized at least 50 women. Waithe worked at Northeastern from October 2018 to February 2019, when the university fired him, and had previously coached at Penn State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Tennessee and Concordia University Chicago. Prosecutors said Waithe sent the women nude or semi-nude photos he had stolen and requested they send additional ones so he could conduct "reverse image searches." But, with the help of a hacker, Waithe stole nude pictures of one of the Northeastern athletes stored on her Snapchat account and cyberstalked her, Deitch said. While some ignored his emails, at least 17 women responded, sending him 350 nude or semi-nude photos, according to the indictment.U.S.

Persons: Steve Waithe, Adam Deitch, Deitch, Waithe, Prosecutors, Patti Saris, Jane Peachy, Nate Raymond, Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: BOSTON, Northeastern University, U.S, Northeastern, Penn State University , Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Tennessee, Concordia University Chicago, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: Boston, Waithe, Northeastern, U.S

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday declared that Maryland's licensing requirements for people seeking to buy handguns were unconstitutional, citing a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision last year that expanded gun rights. "Maryland has not shown that this regime is consistent with our nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation," U.S. Richardson called the Maryland law an "additional, preliminary step" that subjected law-abiding people to a 30-day waiting period before they could begin the usual process to acquire a firearm through a separate background check system. A spokesperson for Maryland Attorney General Andrew Brown, a Democrat who is defending the law in court, said his office was "weighing options for next steps in this case." Maryland had said its law mirrored historical limitations on "dangerous" people owning firearms.

Persons: Kevin Lamarque, Julius Richardson, Donald Trump, Richardson, Andrew Brown, preemptively, Barbara Milano Keenan, Barack Obama, Nate Raymond, Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: White, REUTERS, Supreme, Circuit, U.S, New York, Republican, Maryland, Democrat, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Montgomery County , Maryland, Washington , U.S, U.S, Richmond , Virginia, Maryland, New York, Boston

REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies PepsiCo Inc FollowNEW YORK, Nov 15 (Reuters) - New York state sued PepsiCo (PEP.O) on Wednesday, accusing the beverage and snack food giant of polluting the environment and endangering public health through its single-use plastic bottles, caps and wrappers. The lawsuit filed in state court in upstate Erie County is among the first by a U.S. state to target a major plastics producer. "All New Yorkers have a basic right to clean water, yet PepsiCo's irresponsible packaging and marketing endanger Buffalo’s water supply, environment, and public health," she said in a statement. The New York lawsuit also said PepsiCo has deceived consumers by announcing various targets to reduce the amount of non-recycled plastic it uses in packaging, although it has actually increased its usage. The lawsuit seeks to force the Purchase, New York-based company to stop causing a nuisance, clean up contamination and pay for damages caused by plastic waste.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Letitia James, PepsiCo, James, Jack, Doritos, Judith Enck, Obama, Clark Mindock, Jonathan Stempel, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: Pepsi, REUTERS, PepsiCo, The New, Gatorade, Lay's, Plastics, Environmental Protection Agency, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Erie County, Buffalo, The New York, , New York, Fritos, Lipton, Connecticut, Minnesota, . California

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 14 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Tuesday rejected efforts by major social media companies to dismiss nationwide litigation accusing them of illegally enticing and then addicting millions of children to their platforms, damaging their mental health. The decision covers hundreds of lawsuits filed on behalf of individual children who allegedly suffered negative physical, mental and emotional health effects from social media use including anxiety, depression, and occasionally suicide. "Today’s decision is a significant victory for the families that have been harmed by the dangers of social media," the plaintiffs' lead lawyers - Lexi Hazam, Previn Warren and Chris Seeger - said in a joint statement. More than 140 school districts have filed similar lawsuits against the industry that are also before Gonzalez, and 42 states plus the District of Columbia last month sued Meta for youth addiction to its social media platforms. She cited as an example allegations that companies could have used age-verification tools to warn parents when their children were online.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, Lexi Hazam, Previn Warren, Chris Seeger, Gonzalez, Meta, Rogers, Jonathan Stempel, Nate Raymond, Chizu Nomiyama, Matthew Lewis, Alexia Garamfalvi, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, of Columbia, U.S, Communications, Thomson Locations: Oakland , California, New York, Boston

☆ Crypto lender Celsius Network cleared to exit bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Dietrich Knauth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Crypto lender Celsius Network received U.S. bankruptcy court approval for a restructuring plan that will return cryptocurrency to customers and create a new company owned by Celsius creditors. Crypto lenders BlockFi and Voyager Digital were wiped out in bankruptcy, and cryptocurrency exchange FTX remains stuck in Chapter 11 proceedings. In addition to their stake in the new company, Celsius customers will receive a partial repayment of the cryptocurrency assets they deposited on the platform. Celsius had 600,000 customers who held about $4.4 billion in interest-bearing Celsius accounts when it filed for bankruptcy, according to court documents. The restructuring plan includes a settlement that values Celsius's proprietary crypto token, CEL, at 25 cents.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Martin Glenn, Michael Arrington, BlockFi, Arrington, Alex Mashinsky, Mashinsky, Dietrich Knauth, Alexia Garamfalvi, Lisa Shumaker, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Bankruptcy, LLC, Arrington Capital, Voyager, Nasdaq, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New Jersey, New York

The settlement is the largest ever for the Justice Department involving claims of discrimination based on citizenship, the agency said. It requires Apple to pay $6.75 million in civil penalties and $18.25 million to an unspecified number of affected workers. The Justice Department did not specify which Apple jobs were affected by the recruitment procedures or how Apple may have benefited from them. Along with the payout, Apple agreed to align its recruiting for PERM jobs with its normal practices. The company will be required to conduct more expansive recruitment and train employees on anti-discrimination laws, according to the settlement.

Persons: Mike Segar, Apple, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Deepa Babington Organizations: Apple Inc, Apple, REUTERS, U.S . Department of Justice, Justice Department, Justice, DOJ, The Justice, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York, U.S, PERM, Albany , New York

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