DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Comstock Act: The 150-year-old chastity law that may be the next big fight over abortion
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

“Comstock is really the backdoor way to remove access to abortion across the whole country,” said Greer Donley, a University of Pittsburgh Law School professor who specializes in abortion law. Severino argued that, at least when it comes to the Comstock Act’s prohibitions on mailing abortion pills, Congress is well within its powers to regulate those shipments. Several towns, some in New Mexico and elsewhere, have passed local ordinances that cite the Comstock Act and prohibit business within those jurisdictions from shipping or receiving items used for abortions in the mail, as covered by the Comstock Act. The lawsuits in New Mexico state court that those ordinances have prompted may provide for another opportunity for courts to elaborate on what the Comstock Act means. The Supreme Court, in the emergency order it issued last week, did not say anything about the Comstock Act.

☆ Anti-abortion group asks Supreme Court to keep mifepristone restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Anti-abortion demonstrators celebrate outside the United States Supreme Court as the court rules in the Dobbs v Women's Health Organization abortion case, overturning the landmark Roe v Wade abortion decision in Washington, U.S., June 24, 2022. An anti-abortion group on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to keep restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone in place while the battle over the medication's legal status plays out. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on Friday temporarily blocked those restrictions until 11:59 p.m. The anti-abortion organization also said the court should consider whether the FDA properly approved mifepristone in 2000 if it takes the case. If the lower court rulings against mifepristone ultimately stand, access to abortion could face restrictions even in some states where the procedure remains legal.

☆ An obscure, 150-year-old morality law has resurfaced in the legal battle over abortion medication
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A federal appeals court discussed an obscure, 150-year-old morality law in its decision on abortion medication mifepristone. A challenge to the legality of sending abortion medications via mail referenced the Comstock Act of 1873. A law professor called the legislation an outdated "zombie law" that was now in danger of being "selectively enforced." The Comstock Act was named after Anthony Comstock, a moral crusader in 19th-century America, according to Middle Tennessee State University's First Amendment Encyclopedia. A 'zombie law' that should've been repealedMurray says invoking this "zombie law" is "rolling back modernity."

☆ Virginia Rep. Jennifer Wexton reveals Parkinson's Disease diagnosis but says its not a 'death sentence' and vows to continue serving her district
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rep. Jennifer Wexton said Tuesday that she's been diagnosed with Parkinson's. The three-term Virginia Democrat plans to keep serving in Congress "for many years to come." "You are welcome to empathize, but don't feel sorry for me," the 54-year-old Wexton told supporters. Jennifer Wexton (@RepWexton) April 11, 2023"Parkinson's is not an untreatable disease, a cognitive impairment, or a death sentence. You are welcome to empathize, but don't feel sorry for me," the three-term Virginia Democrat said in a video she posted online.

CNN —Dueling decisions in two federal district courts last week are likely to set up a showdown at the Supreme Court over the fate of the abortion pill mifepristone. When the Supreme Court upheld the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in 2007, dubious scientific arguments became even more central to anti-abortion advocacy. In Gonzales v. Carhart, the court held that in circumstances of scientific uncertainty, legislators would have more latitude to regulate abortion. Implausible scientific claims are now visible on social media, in lawsuits and in congressional hearings. (By taking this position, abortion opponents can still defend bans with no or few exceptions by claiming that abortion is never necessary.)

Big gas producers including Chesapeake Energy Corp (CHK.O) and Comstock Resources Inc (CRK.N) are reducing their drilling. "About a third of U.S. gas production is associated gas - produced from oil wells," said Jacques Rousseau, a managing director at research firm ClearView Energy Partners LLC. Gas from the Permian also has climbed to record highs every month this year. PRODUCTION REMAINS STICKYU.S. gas production remains on track to hit 100.67 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) this year, up from last year's record 98.09 bcfd, according to the U.S. government. Despite low gas prices, U.S. drillers have 160 rigs seeking gas up 16% from a year ago, according to data from Baker Hughes Co (BKR.O).

March 31 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs, with the quarterly count dropping for the first time since 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co (BKR.O) said in its closely followed report on Friday. U.S. oil rigs fell one to 592 this week, while gas rigs decreased two to 160. For the month, the total oil and gas rig count rose two rigs, the first monthly increase since November. For the quarter, the total oil and gas rig count fell by 24 rigs, the first quarterly decline since the third quarter of 2020. The drop in gas prices has already caused some exploration and production companies, including Chesapeake Energy Corp (CHK.O), Southwestern Energy Co (SWN.N) and Comstock Resources Inc (CRK.N), to announce plans to reduce production by cutting some gas rigs.

☆ Abortion pill mifepristone ruling in Texas case could hinge on 1873 Comstock Act
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A federal judge in Texas may try to invoke an obscure 19th-century law called the Comstock Act to roll back mail delivery of the abortion pill mifepristone. His rationale could hinge in part on the Comstock Act. The anti-abortion group's attorneys argued that the Comstock Act and other laws ban mail delivery of mifepristone. The Comstock Act has not been enforced in decades, said Rachel Rebouche, an expert on reproductive health law at Temple University. Congress passed the Comstock Act in 1873 after an anti-vice crusader named Anthony Comstock successfully lobbied lawmakers to declare "obscene" materials as not mailable.

☆ Chesapeake Energy to reduce drilling amid natgas price slump
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Liz Hampton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 22 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy Corp (CHK.O) on Wednesday said it would pull back on drilling and completing wells this year as natural gas prices have crashed to a quarter of what they were last summer. Earlier this month, Comstock Resources Inc (CRK.N) said it would cut drilling rigs to seven from nine this year. Henry Hub natural gas futures on Wednesday briefly dipped below $2 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) for the first time since September 2020, and were down from last year's $8 peak. Chesapeake, which previously announced plans to sell its oil position to focus on gas production, on Tuesday said it would sell oil assets in South Texas to chemical maker INEOS for $1.4 billion. Rival shale oil producer Diamondback Energy (FANG.O) on Wednesday said it was increasing its non-core asset sale target to at least $1 billion by the end of this year, up from $500 million previously.

Feb 1 (Reuters) - A group of 20 Republican state attorneys general on Wednesday told Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA.O) and CVS Health Corp (CVS.N) that they risk running afoul of federal and state law if they dispense the abortion drug mifepristone by mail. Walgreens and CVS have said they intend to become certified and dispense the drug in states where abortion is legal, though neither has yet done so. Mifepristone, used in combination with another drug, misoprostol, is approved for abortion within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. The attorneys general called this interpretation "bizarre" and warned that mailing the drug could violate some states' laws. Meanwhile, generic mifepristone manufacturer GenBioPro and a doctor have challenged restrictions on the drug in West Virginia and North Carolina, respectively.

☆ Favorite income ideas of top performing funds cluster around similar stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

CNBC Pro found four income funds that have performed well over the past three years, which could be opportunities for investors searching for reliable income as the year progresses: The BNY Mellon Income Stock Fund , Neuberger Berman Dividend Growth Fund , Invesco Value Opportunities Fund and Invesco Comstock Fund . Here are the funds: Three stocks stand out as being among the most heavily weighted across three of the funds: JPMorgan , Goldman Sachs and Caterpillar . Financial services names make up a large part of both the BNY Mellon and Invesco Comstock funds, with roughly 30% and 22% of the funds' investments in the sector. Both of them, as well as the Neuberger fund, include JPMorgan, which is the single biggest weighting in the BNY Mellon fund. Goldman Sachs is another favorite financial stocks, being heavily weighted in the BNY Mellon and both Invesco funds.

☆ The FDA's power to approve drugs faces sweeping challenge in lawsuit seeking to pull abortion pill from U.S. market
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine asked a federal district court in Dallas late last year to declare the FDA approval unlawful and completely remove the abortion pill from the U.S. market. If the lawsuit prevails, women across the U.S. would lose access, at least temporarily, to the most commonly used abortion method. Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk is hearing the challenge to the FDA's approval of the abortion pill. Lawrence Gostin, an expert on public health law at Georgetown Law, said it would be "highly irresponsible" and "reckless" for a judge to overturn the FDA approval of mifepristone. Under federal law, lawsuits against the U.S. government must be filed within six years of an agency action.

☆ First Female Vice Chair of GE Lists Manhattan Townhome for $10.995 Million
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Sarah Paynter | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Be the first to know about the biggest and best luxury home sales and listings by signing up for our Mansion Deals email alert. Beth Comstock , a former vice chair at General Electric, is listing her Manhattan townhouse for $10.995 million.

☆ USPS can keep delivering prescription abortion drugs, DOJ says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Postal Service (USPS) can continue to deliver prescription abortion medication despite a June 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned a landmark abortion rights decision, the Justice Department said on Tuesday. Evelyn Hockstein / Reuters/Alamy fileMifepristone is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to induce an abortion up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy. It must be followed by a second drug, misoprostol. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment on the opinion. Restrictions on the abortion medication lifted in 2021 had been in place since the FDA had approved the drug in 2000.

☆ U.S. Postal Service can continue to deliver prescription abortion medication - DOJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Postal Service (USPS) can continue to deliver prescription abortion medication despite a June 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned a landmark abortion rights decision, the Justice Department said on Tuesday. Mifepristone is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to induce an abortion up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy. It must be followed by a second drug, misoprostol. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment on the opinion. Restrictions on the abortion medication lifted in 2021 had been in place since the FDA had approved the drug in 2000.

☆ Energy stocks had a blowout performance this year. In 2023, the outlook is more uncertain
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-25 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

After enjoying a monster rally in 2022, energy stocks are heading into an uncertain new year. Energy stocks surged this year after the war in Ukraine interrupted the global oil supply, and drove up the price of a barrel of oil. Ongoing geopolitical risks To be sure, not everyone believes that the outlook is positive for energy stocks, especially without the resolution of some ongoing geopolitical disruptions. That would be bad even for energy stocks. If they do add to their energy allocation, he stressed a preference for U.S. energy over global energy for a "more stable" investment environment.

☆ Jan. 6 committee highlights: Panel votes on criminal referrals for Trump and others
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Rebecca Shabad | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Jonathan-Allen-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +48 min

“By the time President Trump was preparing to give his speech, he and his advisors knew enough to cancel the rally. “Some have suggested that President Trump gave an order to have 10,000 troops ready for January 6th. On far-right groups drawing inspiration from Trump: Trump has not denied that he helped inspire far-right groups, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, to violently attempt to obstruct the official certification proceedings on Jan. 6. "There is no question from all the evidence assembled that President Trump did have that intent." Share this -Link copiedInside the final Jan. 6 committee meeting The Jan. 6 committee met for what’s likely its final public meeting, with many of the usual faces present.

☆ Jan. 6 committee live updates: Panel votes on criminal referrals for Trump and others
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Summer Concepcion | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Summer-Concepcion-Byline-Jm.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +42 min

Committee details Trump allies' efforts to obstruct its investigation In its report summary, the committee detailed some of the efforts to obstruct its investigation. On far-right groups drawing inspiration from Trump: Trump has not denied that he helped inspire far-right groups, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, to violently attempt to obstruct the official certification proceedings on Jan. 6. "There is no question from all the evidence assembled that President Trump did have that intent." Share this -Link copiedInside the final Jan. 6 committee meeting The Jan. 6 committee met for what’s likely its final public meeting, with many of the usual faces present. The committee will likely reveal Eastman’s referrals during Monday’s meeting, in addition to expected criminal referrals for Trump.

☆ A rare fund in the green this year succeeds by betting on stocks that work even in a recession
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

As investors brace for more volatility in 2023, one fund beat the market this year by betting on stocks that work even in a recession. The fund's current portfolio managers started at the fund in June 2019. The select portfolio has a 0.680% expense ratio, and a minimum initial investment of $1,000. Contrarian flair For the portfolio managers, one of the stock picks that best exemplifies their investing style is Las Vegas Sands . Through it all, the portfolio managers advise keeping a long-term time investment horizon and patience, especially in a volatile macroeconomic backdrop.

☆ Dan Loeb’s Third Point builds stakes in retailers Bath & Body Works, TJX
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Daniel Loeb's Third Point disclosed new positions in retailers Bath & Body Works and TJX Companies in the third quarter, a new regulatory filing showed. The hedge fund built a $265 million bet in Bath & Body Works, making the retailer its sixth biggest holding at the end of the third quarter, the filing showed. Off-price retailer TJX has fared better,, with shares slipping only about 3% on the year. Loeb's largest positions: Consumer giant Colgate-Palmolive was Loeb's biggest position at the end of the third quarter, with a stake worth more than $800 million, the filing showed. Loeb took a $241 million stake on Twitter last quarter, betting that Elon Musk's takeover deal would go through.

☆ How Trump's Senate trial could end with a vote to ban him from ever holding federal office again and kill any chances of a 2024 run
▼ + stars: | 2021-02-09 | by ( Kayla Epstein | Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

It's unlikely Republicans would join Democrats to vote to convict Trump who's mulled a 2024 run. But the Constitution allows the Senate to bar an official that lawmakers have convicted in an impeachment trial from holding federal office again. It's also not certain if enough Republicans will vote to convict Trump and trigger the vote to ban him from holding public office again. It's not impossible, but the odds of 67 senators voting to convict Trump are long. Jolly at the time said the House need not worry about what the Senate would do with the impeachment vote.

☆ Introducing Wall Street's Hottest Offspring
▼ + stars: | 2010-02-22 | by ( Courtney Comstock | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

They're good looking, smart, and powerful. Andy Hall's daughter Emma facebookThis story was first published on February 22, 2010 and does not meet Insider's current editorial standards. These sons and daughters of Wall Street's finest are well on their way to becoming the next generation of hot shot career men and women. Each one has a great opportunity to hit it big in the world of finance and beyond. Oh, and they're all pretty good looking.

Search resuls for: "Comstock"

22 mentions found