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☆ Canada’s gold heist: Inside one of the biggest thefts in the annals of crime
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Ramon Sanchez | Ray Sanchez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

“One which we jokingly say belongs in a Netflix series.”A truck driver with a fraudulent waybill for a seafood shipment picks up the container. Instead of a load of farm-raised seafood, the truck driver pulled away from the loading dock with loot. “They needed people inside Air Canada to facilitate this theft,” Peel Regional Police Det. In its legal response to the Brink’s lawsuit, Air Canada has denied it was “careless” and its security lax. Canadian police had identified him as the truck driver early in the investigation but had not been able to locate him.

Persons: ”, Nishan Duraiappah, Nando Iannicca, Canada “, ” Duraiappah, ’ ” Patrick Brown, –, Mike Mavity, Mavity, couldn’t, “ We’re, ” Mavity, “, it’s, Brink’s, Eric, “ They’re, Nick Milinovich, Duraiappah, CNN’s Paula Newton, Fabiana Chaparro Organizations: CNN, Toronto Pearson International, Air Canada, ” Peel Regional Police, Netflix, Peel Regional Police, Peel, Canadian, CSI, Vancouver Bullion & Currency Exchange, Air, Police, ” Air Canada, Authorities, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, ” Police, Investigators, Court, Middle, Middle District of Pennsylvania, ” Peel Locations: Zurich, Switzerland, Canada, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Brampton, Toronto, Air Canada, United Kingdom, Dubai, India, Franklin County , Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Middle District, Atlanta

A gag order against one of Trump’s biggest foes could score political points and help him and his co-defendants in the short term. Then, McAfee appeared to suggest a gag order may be necessary. “I don’t know a reason to have a gag order right now,” Parker told CNN. The former president already faces a gag order in his criminal hush money case that’s headed to trial later this month in New York. And several other defendants in the Georgia case, including former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and former Georgia GOP Chairman David Shafer, have offered commentary on the case and Willis on social media.

Persons: Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Willis, juggles, Trump, Scott McAfee, ” Willis, McAfee, Nathan Wade, Wade, Wade’s, ”, I’ve, ” McAfee, Willis ’, Steve Sadow, Michael J, Moore, ” Moore, they’ve, Buddy Parker, John Eastman, hasn’t, ” Parker, “, ” Willis ’, ‘, ’ ” McAfee, Rudy Giuliani, David Shafer Organizations: CNN, Trump, McAfee, Middle, Georgia GOP, gander Locations: Georgia, Atlanta, Fulton County, Middle District, Trump, “, New York, we’re

☆ A Jacksonville Jaguars ex-employee was given 78 months in prison after stealing $22 million that his lawyers said he later lost on Draft Kings and FanDuel
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Jaguars ex-employee has been sentenced to 78 months in prison for stealing $22 million from the team. Amit Patel, 31, spent almost all of the money on losses on Draft Kings and FanDuel, his lawyers said. Prosecutors said Patel also used the cash to buy private flights, luxury items, and cars. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA former Jacksonville Jaguars employee who pleaded guilty to stealing $22 million from the team was sentenced to six and a half years in prison on Tuesday.

Persons: Amit Patel, FanDuel, Prosecutors, Patel, —, undoubtably, Tiger Woods, Philippe, Megha Parekh, Parekh, Henry Lee Adams Jr Organizations: Jaguars, Service, Jacksonville Jaguars, Justice Department, Tesla, Nissan, Associated Press, BI, ESPN, NFL Locations: District, Florida, Beach , Florida

☆ Judge Throws Out Defamation Lawsuit Against Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Remy Tumin | More About Remy Tumin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a defamation lawsuit against Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after her half sister accused her of spreading “disparaging, hurtful and false” statements in interviews. Samantha Markle, who shares a father with Meghan, claimed that comments Meghan made in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 and later in a Netflix documentary series, “Harry & Meghan,” aimed to portray Ms. Markle as “an unwelcome opportunist” who was “weaseling her way” into her famous half sister’s life. In a 58-page decision, Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida found that Ms. Markle had failed to identify any statements that supported her defamation claims. She also ruled that Meghan’s statements were protected either because they were pure opinion or substantially true, or because Ms. Markle had failed to make a case that they were defamatory in the first place. Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, spoke in detail to Ms. Winfrey about their split from Britain’s royal family in a CBS special that was broadcast in the United States on March 7, 2021, and in the six-episode Netflix series in 2022, sending shock waves around the world as they accused the royal family of failing to protect them.

Persons: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Samantha Markle, Oprah Winfrey, Harry, ”, Markle, “, Charlene Edwards Honeywell, Prince Harry, Winfrey Organizations: Netflix, U.S, Middle, CBS Locations: Middle District, Florida, United States

☆ Elon Musk’s X must face copyright infringement suit by music publishers, federal judge says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The decision exposes X, formerly Twitter, to claims that it gave paying “verified” subscribers more leeway than non-paying users to illegally share copyrighted music. The lawsuit, filed last June by the National Music Publishers’ Association — whose members include Universal, Sony and Warner Music Group — also claims that X delayed responding to copyright infringement notices and didn’t take enough “reasonable steps” to combat repeat offenders. But she threw out claims by music publishers that X was directly responsible for stealing artists’ intellectual property. Most large social media platforms, such as TikTok, pay licensing fees to music publishers in exchange for giving users the ability to share songs on the websites. In the case against X, music publishers cited more than 1,700 songs whose copyright X has allegedly infringed, including hits such as Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” Outkast’s “Hey Ya!” and Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk,” featuring Bruno Mars.

Persons: Elon Musk’s, National Music Publishers ’ Association —, Warner Music Group —, Aleta Trauger, X, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey’s, Mark Ronson’s, ”, Bruno Mars, “, ” Trauger Organizations: New, New York CNN, Elon, National Music Publishers ’ Association, Universal, Sony, Warner Music Group, X Corp, Court, Middle, Middle District of, CNN Locations: New York, TikTok, Rhianna, Funk, Middle District, Middle District of Tennessee

☆ Laken Riley: Vigil to be held for Augusta University student killed on UGA campus as a suspect remains in custody
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —A vigil will be held Monday afternoon for Laken Hope Riley, an Augusta University nursing student who was found dead after jogging on the University of Georgia campus last week, as her suspected killer’s immigration status has drawn the scrutiny of Republican leaders. Riley, who was a UGA student until May 2023, was found dead Thursday near a lake on the university’s campus from blunt force trauma, according to UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark. Riley’s killing has left the University of Georgia to grieve two tragic deaths that occurred less than a day apart: Her body was discovered just hours after the death of a UGA student the previous night. The Monday afternoon vigil will be co-hosted by Riley’s Alpha Chi Omega sorority at UGA in remembrance of both of the dead students, the university said. Clark referred to Riley’s killing as a “crime of opportunity,” noting he believes the suspect acted alone.

Persons: Laken Hope Riley, Riley, Jeff Clark, Jose Antonio Ibarra, Ibarra, Clark, haven’t, ” Clark, outcries, Brian Kemp, Joe Biden, ” Kemp, Joe Biden’s, Mike Johnson, Riley’s, Biden, “, ” Jose Antonio Ibarra Clarke, Greg Abbott, Diego Ibarra, Peers, ’, ”, ” Riley, ” Laken Hope Riley, Lauren Phillips, “ I’m, LISTo, CNN’s Ashley R, Williams, Rebekah Riess, Priscilla Alvarez, Isabel Rosales, Jaide Timm, Garcia, Jamiel Lynch Organizations: CNN, Augusta University, University of Georgia, Republican, UGA, UGA Police, Investigators, GOP, Riley’s Alpha Chi Omega, Police, ” Police, Customs, Georgia Gov, Sheriff’s, Governors, Republican Texas Gov, Democratic, Biden, Pew Research, ICE, New York City, NYPD, US, Office, Middle, Middle District of Georgia, Augusta University College of Nursing, UAC, Facebook, of Nursing, Hispanic Student Association Locations: Venezuelan, Mexico, Middle District

☆ Trump state prosecutions reach a critical point on the same day in two cities
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The high-stakes hearings nearly 900 miles apart speak to the extraordinary entanglement of the 2024 election and Trump’s legal quagmire that now spans multiple presidential elections. Thursday will not even be the first time this week that the ex-president’s legal plight is playing out in two separate cities. The ruling could remove Trump’s capacity to do business in New York — the city where he made his name. As the expected first criminal trial, the New York case could still have important political implications. But the impact of Trump’s legal problems on a wider electorate is still to be tested.

Persons: Donald, Trump, Fani Willis, Joe Biden’s, Scott McAfee, Willis, quagmire, “, ”, ” Trump, Jack Smith, Smith, Juan Merchan, Stormy Daniels, McAfee, Nathan Wade, ” McAfee, Trump’s, Michael Roman, Wade, Roman, Anna Cross, ” Willis, Michael Moore, he’s Organizations: CNN, Fulton, Trump Organization, Trump, Big, Big Bethel AME Church, Middle, Middle District of Locations: New York, Georgia, Fulton County, York, Fort Pierce , Florida, Washington, South Carolina, Georgia In Georgia, Big Bethel, Atlanta, Middle District, Middle District of Georgia

WASHINGTON (AP) — The e-commerce giant eBay will pay $59 million in a settlement with the Justice Department over thousands of pill press machines sold on the the platform. The Justice Department says eBay failed to meet those requirements for thousands of pill presses and pill-filling encapsulating machines, including high-capacity pill presses capable of producing thousands of pills per hour. Many people who bought pill presses on eBay have since been charged in illegal counterfeit pills trafficking cases, according to the Justice Department. “Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl are a significant contributor to the deadly overdose epidemic,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. The company has agreed to step up its compliance program on sales of pill presses as well as counterfeit molds, stamps and dies, and encapsulating machines, which are used to fill pills.

Persons: ”, Vanita Gupta, Nikolas Kerest of, Henry Leventis Organizations: WASHINGTON, eBay, Justice Department, Drug, Administration, Department, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Middle, Middle District of Locations: Nikolas Kerest of Vermont, Middle District, Middle District of Tennessee

☆ The judge in Trump's E. Jean Carroll trial actually showed restraint when bench-slapping his attorney, former judge says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The judge overseeing Donald Trump's second E. Jean Carroll defamation trial has repeatedly bench-slapped his lawyer. Alina Habba repeatedly made simple lawyering mistakes, disrupting the proceedings. The judge actually showed restraint handling Habba, one former judge said. And the judge actually showed restraint in his repeated scoldings of Habba, a former federal judge told Business Insider. AdvertisementJones said that by being disruptive in the court, Habba is doing exactly what Trump wants: sowing chaos.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Jean Carroll, Alina Habba, —, Lewis Kaplan, reprimanding, Kaplan barked, Habba, Trump, Carroll, Kaplan, John Jones, Jones, Kaplan's, she's Organizations: Service, Business, New, Trump, Middle District of, Dickinson College Locations: New York, Habba, Middle District, Middle District of Pennsylvania

☆ Novo Nordisk finds compounded Wegovy up to 33% impure, sues Florida pharmacies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Patrick Wingrove | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Injection pens of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy are shown in this photo illustration in Oslo, Norway, November 21, 2023. The Danish drugmaker said it found impurities in all the drugs tested from Wells Pharmacy and Brooksville Pharmaceuticals, both based in Florida. Novo said the compounded versions of Wegovy tested from Brooksville were also less potent than advertised, with one sample shown to be at least 19% weaker than indicated. The drugmaker has already filed 12 lawsuits against medical spas, weight-loss clinics and compounding pharmacies offering products that claim to contain semaglutide. The case against Wells was filed in the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Ocala division and the suit against Brooksville in U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa division.

Persons: Victoria Klesty, Danish drugmaker, Novo, Brooksville, ” Jason Brett, Eli Lilly, Mounjaro, Wells, Patrick Wingrove, Josephine Mason, Bill Berkrot, Jane Merriman Organizations: REUTERS, Novo Nordisk, Wells Pharmacy, Brooksville Pharmaceuticals, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, FDA, Novo's, Middle District of, Brooksville, Thomson Locations: Oslo, Norway, Victoria, Danish, Florida, Wells, U.S, Middle District, Middle District of Florida, Ocala, Tampa

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has secured a $9 million settlement with Ameris Bank over allegations that it avoided underwriting mortgages in predominately Black and Latino communities in Jacksonville, Florida, and discouraged people there from getting home loans. Garland has prioritized civil rights prosecutions since becoming attorney general in 2021, and the current administration has put a higher priority on redlining cases than before. The anti-redlining effort has now secured $107 million in relief, including the Ameris settlement, which a judge must approve. A $31 million settlement with Los Angeles-based City National in January was the largest for the department. The Ameris case is the first brought by the department in Florida, said Roger Handberg, the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida.

Persons: Biden, General Merrick Garland, “ Redlining, ” Garland, Garland, redlining, Roger Handberg, ”, Kristen Clarke, Ken Sweet Organizations: WASHINGTON, Justice, Ameris Bank, Ameris, National, Middle, Middle District of, ___ Associated Press Locations: Black, Jacksonville , Florida, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Homeownership, Los Angeles, Florida, U.S, Middle District, Middle District of Florida, ”, ___, New York

☆ A Hooters restaurant in North Carolina has been accused of racial discrimination in a lawsuit, which said managers made jokes about Black workers' hairstyles and appearances
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The EEOC has sued a Hooters in North Carolina, accusing the restaurant of racial discrimination. Managers joked about the appearance of staff who were Black or had dark skin tones, the suit alleged. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen the pandemic hit in March 2020, the restaurant laid off its roughly 43 Hooters Girls, the lawsuit said. The restaurant began recalling some of the Hooters Girls, and by about mid-May 2020, 13 of them had been asked to return to work, the lawsuit said. Prior to lockdown, 51% of the Hooters Girls at the restaurant were Black or dark-skinned, but of the workers who were recalled, only 8% were, the lawsuit said.

Organizations: Hooters, Service, Employment, Hooters Girls, Court, Middle, Middle District of Locations: North Carolina, Wall, Silicon, Greensboro, Middle District, Middle District of North Carolina

☆ North Carolina Hooters sued for racial discrimination against employees
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued a North Carolina Hooters restaurant for allegedly discriminating against Black or darker-skinned “Hooters Girls,” the federal agency announced Thursday. In March 2020, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Greensboro, North Carolina, Hooters temporarily laid off around 43 employees, dubbed “Hooters Girls” by the restaurant chain. There was a “marked shift in the racial composition of the restaurant’s Hooters Girls workforce,” when employees were called back in, according to the EEOC release. The complaint also alleged that the darker-skinned Hooters Girls “experienced racial hostility and observed preferential treatment of White employees while employed at the restaurant” and received less-lucrative shifts. The Greensboro restaurant had no comment and directed CNN to the company’s public relations department.

Persons: EEOC, VII Organizations: New, New York CNN, Employment, Commission, North Carolina Hooters, Hooters, Hooters Girls, CNN, Civil, Court, Middle, Middle District of Locations: New York, Greensboro, North Carolina, Middle District, Middle District of North Carolina

☆ Hidden investors took over Corizon Health, a leading prison healthcare company. Then they deployed the Texas Two-Step.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Nicole Einbinder | Dakin Campbell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +63 min

The nurse practitioner on duty that day was employed by Corizon Health, Inc., one of the nation's largest private prison healthcare providers. Under federal law, a bankruptcy judge may respond to evidence of self-dealing or perjury by appointing a trustee to take control of the bankrupt company, bankruptcy experts told Insider. Just six months before the Garcia family was scheduled to have their day in court, Corizon filed for bankruptcy. "The Corizon bankruptcy is presently in a court ordered mediation, and we are seeking a global resolution for all the parties involved." Goldberger's attorney, Joseph Haspel, responded to queries with a statement saying that "Mr. Goldberger is a passive investor" in Corizon, Tehum, YesCare, Perigrove, and Perigrove 1018.

Persons: Hector Garcia, Garcia, wriggling, Adria Malcom, Corizon, Bryan Baker, —, Doña Ana, Corizon ., Garcia's, Daniel Jimenez, Gina Macias, Belen Lowery, Hector Garcia , Jr, it's, Johnson, Tehum, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, I've, Isaac Lefkowitz, James Hyman, YesCare, Lefkowitz, Ian Cross, Lynn LoPucki, Tracey Grissom, William Kelly, Kelly, Hector Garcia Jr, Hector Jr, Ricky, he'd, Hector Garcia's, Ana County , New Mexico Hector Jr, Matt Coyte, Coyte, Hyman, didn't, Sara Tirschwell, Kholood, Tirschwell, Jason S, Ana County, Nick Tomecek, Christopher Atkinson, Wendy McGee, McGee, Stephanie Kiger, Anita Skipper, Atkinson, He's, Simche Steinberger, England, Steinberger's, Steinberger, Michael Flacks, Sylvia Jarrus, Cross, he's, David Gefner, Abraham Goldberger, Gefner, Perigrove, Terrence A, they'd, Oved, Goldberger, CHS Dana Anna, Flacks, Moneyman, Joel Landau, Joseph Haspel, Haspel, Andrew Levander, Landau, James Hyman's, It's, Genesis, David Harrington, Bill de Blasio, there'd, Hindenburg, David Paterson, Mark Roe, availing, Dick Durbin, Gefner . Lefkowitz, Tirschwell —, Davidson Kempner, Tim Hunter, Tirschwell's, catastrophically, Tirschwell's playbook, Jeff Sholey, Sholey, Steven Storch, Daniel's Organizations: Detention, Insider, Corizon Health, Inc, Housing, University of Missouri Health Care, Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, Senate Banking Committee, Court, Middle, University of Florida, Alabama, futon, Health Services, New, Arizona, BlueMountain Capital Management, Flacks, Revenue, Corizon, New York Times, Tehum Care Services, CHS, YesCare Holdings, Okaloosa, Wyoming Department of Corrections, University of West, YesCare, Public, Alabama Department of Corrections, . Alabama Department of Corrections, Tehum, US, University of Missouri, LinkedIn, Flacks Group, Consulate Health Care, Justice Department, YesCare Corp, United Staffing Solutions, Charlotte, CHS Okaloosa, United, Solutions, Pharmacorr, Trade Center, Securities and Exchange Commission, Hindenburg Research, Alabama Department, Corrections, Geneva Consulting, Genesis Healthcare, Trade, Geneva, New York Stock Exchange, Pinta Capital Partners, The, Pinta Capital, New York Gov, Staffing Solutions, DG Realty, Harvard Law School, ACLU, Public Justice, Lawyers, Seven Trade, World Trade, Gefner, Southern, Southern District of Texas, The Alabama Department of Corrections, Southern Poverty Law Center, Medicare, Services, Quest Turnaround Advisors, New York City, Republican, city's Campaign Finance, CFB, Campaign Finance, Finance Locations: Ana, Las Cruces , New Mexico, facility's, Doña, Jimenez's, Las Cruces, Houston, New, Rockland County, Texas, Middle District, Tennessee, Michigan, Virginia, New York, Oregon, Idaho, New Mexico, Ana County , New Mexico, Corizon, Florida, New York City, A, York, Nashville, Missouri, Brentwood , Tennessee, Delaware, Okaloosa, Florida's panhandle, Okaloosa County, Okaloosa County , Florida, University of West Florida, YesCare, Wyoming, Shawnee County , Kansas, Bernalillo County , New Mexico, Tehum, Perigrove, Suffern, Brooklyn, America, Manhattan, Suffern , New York, Geneva, nonpayment, United States, Rivington, Alabama, Southern District, Wexford, Maine, Corizon's Texas, Mexico, Tirschwell's, YesCare Corp

If the proposed trial date is accepted, Trump will begin his trial in the Georgia case when the Republican presidential nominating process is well underway. Several states will already have held their nominating contests, including the traditional early states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Super Tuesday, when voters in more than a dozen states, including California and Texas, will go to the polls, takes place on March 5, 2024. The filing indicates Willis is seeking to quickly initiate the process of sharing discovery with all 19 defendants and wants to keep her word to hold a trial within six months. The proposed schedule may be difficult, said Michael J. Moore, a former US attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.

Persons: Fani Willis, Donald Trump, Willis, Trump, Michael J, Moore, “, ” Moore, ” “ Organizations: CNN, Republican, arraignments, Middle, Middle District of, Prosecutors Locations: Fulton County, Georgia, Iowa , New Hampshire , Nevada, South Carolina, California, Texas, Middle District, Middle District of Georgia

☆ Civil rights groups sue Tennessee over the state's GOP-drawn congressional and state Senate maps, calling the boundaries 'unconstitutional racial gerrymandering'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Civil rights and voting rights groups have sued Tennessee over the state's congressional map. The GOP-drawn map led to the elimination of a heavily blue district in one of the state's Democratic centers. Bill Lee and several top election officials over the state's congressional and state Senate maps, arguing that the boundaries are unconstitutional and violate the rights of minority voters. Tennessee district maps must preserve the ability for voters to express their shared interests and elect the political representation of their choice." At the heart of the matter is the creation of three Republican-leaning congressional districts that include parts of Democratic-heavy Davidson County but which all elected GOP members of Congress.

Persons: Bill Lee, Debby Gould, mapmakers, Philip Randolph, Jim Cooper, Steve Cohen, Memphis Organizations: Tennessee, Democratic, Service, Tennessee Republican Gov, Republican, Court, Middle, Middle District of, GOP, League of Women Voters, of Women Voters, Tennessee State Conference of, NAACP, Equity Alliance, Memphis, Philip Randolph Institute, American, of Tennessee Locations: Wall, Silicon, Memphis, Nashville, Middle District, Middle District of Tennessee, , Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Davidson, exurban, Davidson County, Shelby County

REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File PhotoCompanies Starbucks Corp FollowAug 11 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Friday dismissed a conservative activist investor's lawsuit against Starbucks' (SBUX.O) board, opposing the company's diversity, equity and inclusion policies and calling it frivolous. The nonprofit, which holds around $6,000 in Starbucks stock, said those policies require the company to make race-baced decisions that violate federal and state civil rights laws. The lawsuit is similar to those recently by conservative activist groups opposing corporate diversity and inclusion efforts in the wake of a June Supreme Court ruling. The ruling declared unlawful the race-conscious student admissions policies used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. On Friday, Daniel Morenoff of The American Civil Rights Project argued that Starbucks policies seeking to increase racial diversity among its suppliers, vendors, and employees were discriminatory and that NCPPR's cause was in the corporate interest.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, District Judge Stanley Bastian, Daniel Morenoff, Bastian, Craig, Jody Godoy, Tom Hals, Chris Reese, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Empire, REUTERS, Companies Starbucks, Starbucks, National Center for Public Policy Research, Blacks, Chief U.S, District, Harvard University, University of North, American Civil Rights, Target Corp, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York, U.S, Spokane , Washington, America, University of North Carolina, Florida, Wilmington , Delaware

☆ FBI finds stolen human remains in Kentucky man's home
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Lauren Mascarenhas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —When FBI agents arrived at James Nott’s Kentucky apartment with a search warrant on Tuesday, they asked if anyone else was home. Nott has not been charged with crimes connected with the body parts. It all started last summer, when the police in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania, received a tip about possible human remains located at the home of a man named Jeremy Pauley, according to the complaint. Officers searched his home in Enola, Pennsylvania, and found organs and skin, among other human remains, the FBI said. During the FBI investigation, Pauley told agents about a network of people buying and selling stolen human body parts.

Persons: James, ” Nott, That’s, Nott, Aaron Dyke, Jeremy Pauley, Pauley, Cedric Lodge, Lodge, William Burke, “ William Burke, William Hare, Burke, Hare, Robert Knox, “, ” Pauley, Caroline Branum Organizations: CNN, FBI, “, Harvard Medical School, Court, Middle, Middle District of, Anatomy Department, University of Edinburgh, WGAL, AK, WLKY Locations: James Nott’s Kentucky, East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania, Enola , Pennsylvania, Middle District, Middle District of Pennsylvania, ”, Edinburgh, Mount Washington , Kentucky

“The Harvard and UNC admissions programs cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause. We have never permitted admissions programs to work in that way, and we will not do so today,” Roberts wrote. During oral arguments, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar stressed the unique interests of the military and argued that race-based admissions programs further the nation’s compelling interest of diversity. Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at the University of Texas School of Law, said the decision will still not end the legal fight over college admissions. The Supreme Court stepped in to consider the case before it was heard by a federal appeals court.

Persons: John Roberts, “, ” Roberts, Clarence Thomas, ”, ” Thomas, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, ” Sotomayor, Sotomayor, Martin Luther King, Jackson, “ ‘, Roberts, Elizabeth Prelogar, ” Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, ” Trump, Mike Pence, ” Pence, Chuck Schumer, Laura Coates, Steve Vladeck, ” Vladeck, ” Long, SSFA, Loretta C, Biggs, ” Biggs, SFFA, Cameron T, Norris, Harvard “, Prelogar, Lewis F, Powell Jr Organizations: CNN, Harvard, University of North, UNC, Supreme, GOP, Republican, America, Truth, New York Democrat, University of Texas School of Law, Asian, Fair, Court, Middle, Middle District of, University, US, University of California, Bakke Locations: University of North Carolina, Independence, United States, Lower, Middle District, Middle District of North Carolina

☆ A federal judge says Florida's new anti-drag law threatens free speech and can't be enforced, at least for now
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Charles R. Davis | Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A federal judge is blocking enforcement of Florida's new law on drag shows. The judge ruled the language is overly vague and threatens free speech. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill, SB 1438, that he said was designed to protect children from sexually explicit drag shows. The drag law, by contrast, "is specifically designed to suppress the speech of drag queen performers," Presnell wrote, pointing to a bill sponsor's claim that the law would put an end to "Drag Queen Story Time," which entails no sexually explicit content. Presnell's ruling marks the third time this month that a judge has struck down portions of DeSantis' anti-LGBTQ agenda.

Persons: —, Ron DeSantis, Judge Gregory A, Presnell, Bill Clinton, DeSantis, Jeremy Redfern, Brandon Wolf, Walt, Robert Hinkle, Clinton, Nikki Fried Organizations: Service, Florida, Florida Gov, Court, Middle, Department of Business, Miami Herald, Walt Disney World, Democratic Party of Locations: Florida, Orlando, Hamburger, Middle District, Democratic Party of Florida

☆ Fact Check-Photo misidentifying Harvard Medical School morgue manager circulates online
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The person in the photo, Jeremy Pauley, is also allegedly involved in the trafficking scheme as a client who bought human remains. A press release on the indictment can be read (here). On Facebook, users sharing a photo of Pauley said: “this is the morgue manager of the Harvard Medical school. Pauley, who was previously arrested in 2022 for buying human remains on Facebook, is also accused of involvement in the human remains trafficking scheme from the June 14, 2023 indictment. A photo of a man with facial tattoos and piercings circulated online shows Jeremy Pauley, not Cedric Lodge, the former Harvard Medical School morgue manager.

Persons: Cedric Lodge, Jeremy Pauley, Pauley, Matthew Lampi, Read Organizations: Harvard Medical School, Reuters, Facebook, Harvard Medical, Associated Press, Pennsboro Township Police, Attorney’s, Middle District of Pennsylvania Locations: Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania, Middle District, Arkansas

☆ Twitter hit with $250 million lawsuit from music publishers over alleged copyright infringement
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —Music publishers sued Twitter for more than $250 million in damages on Wednesday, alleging that the social media platform “breeds massive copyright infringement that harms music creators.”The lawsuit alleges that for years, Twitter has allowed users of its platform to share copyrighted songs without a license. Twitter’s alleged permissiveness around users sharing copyrighted songs, combined with the social network’s promotion of tweets with copyrighted music, has unlawfully helped fuel the company’s growth, according to the National Music Publishers’ Association, whose members include Universal, Sony and Warner Music Group. “Providing free, unlicensed music gives the Twitter platform an unfair advantage over competing platforms, such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and others.”Twitter’s competitors, the music publishers said, all pay licensing fees to rightsholders for the ability to use the copyrighted music. The lawsuit cites the sweeping layoffs under Musk’s ownership that have eliminated entire teams at Twitter. It also highlights Musk’s own views on copyright, including a screenshot of two of his tweets from prior to the acquisition.

Persons: Elon Musk, Twitter’s, Mariah Carey’s, Mark Ronson’s, ”, Bruno Mars, Snapchat, Twitter didn’t, ” Musk Organizations: Washington CNN — Music, Twitter, Elon, National Music Publishers ’ Association, Universal, Sony, Warner Music Group, Facebook, YouTube, Copyright, Federal Trade Commission, Court, Middle, Middle District of Locations: Funk, Middle District, Middle District of Tennessee

June 14 (Reuters) - The former morgue manager at Harvard Medical School was among five people indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday over allegations they stole and sold body parts from cadavers donated to the school, federal prosecutors said. The buyers mostly resold the body parts, prosecutors said. A sixth person was previously charged in Arkansas in the same investigation on suspicion of stealing body parts from a mortuary she worked for, prosecutors said. People whose body parts were sold had volunteered their remains to be used to educate medical professionals, Karam said. The Harvard Medical School cooperated with the investigation, he said.

Persons: Cedric Lodge, Gerard Karam, Karam, George Daley, Daley, Lodge, Brad Brooks, Donna Bryson, Grant McCool Organizations: Harvard Medical, Attorney's, Middle, Prosecutors, Harvard, Reuters, FBI, ABC News, U.S, Harvard Faculty of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Thomson Locations: U.S, Middle District, Pennsylvania, Scranton , Pennsylvania, Boston , Massachusetts, Arkansas, Lubbock , Texas

☆ Former Harvard morgue manager is accused of stealing, selling and shipping human body parts, indictment says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Laura Ly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A former morgue manager at Harvard Medical School is facing federal charges for allegedly stealing, selling and shipping human body parts, according to an indictment. “The theft and trafficking of human remains strikes at the very essence of what makes us human. Cedric Lodge was fired by Harvard Medical School on May 6, according to a letter from the university. Human remains are voluntarily donated to Harvard’s medical school for educational purposes. Maclean allegedly paid Cedric Lodge $600 for two dissected faces in October 2020, the indictment said.

Persons: CNN —, Cedric Lodge, “, Lodge, Denise, Katrina Maclean, Joshua Taylor, Maclean, Taylor, Christopher Opiel, Pennsylvania Gerard M, Karam, ”, Cedric, Denise Lodge, ” Both Maclean, ’, ” “, altruistically, George Daley, Edward Hundert Organizations: CNN, Harvard Medical, Court, Middle, Middle District of, Harvard Medical School, University, Harvard, US Postal, Lodges, US Locations: Boston, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Middle District, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Peabody , Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Tewksbury , Massachusetts

☆ The manager of a Popeyes franchise 'screamed' obscenities at federal investigators and slammed the kitchen door so hard it shook the building, the Labor Department said
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Popeyes franchise manager "screamed" at federal investigators, the DOL says in a lawsuit. He cursed at the investigators and slammed a door so hard it shook the building, per the lawsuit. The complaint claims that the district manager "instantly started screaming 'what the f*** are you doing here,' using an aggressive tone and demeanor." The district manager also slammed the kitchen door "so hard that the entire establishment shook," per the complaint. RBI and lawyers for the district manager and the franchise company did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside of regular US working hours.

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