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WHAT ARE LOCAL ‘CRIME-FREE’ OR ‘NUISANCE’ ORDINANCES? Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesAnti-crime and nuisance ordinances have been around for years and are widespread in their usage. More than 2,000 cities nationwide have enacted such policies since the 1990s, according to the Chicago-based Shriver Center on Poverty Law. Critical studies and lawsuits indicate enforcement of nuisance laws frequently occur in poorer neighborhoods and communities of color. Other area cities have rewritten their ordinances, including Faribault in 2022 as it agreed to pay $685,000 to settle a federal lawsuit over the law.

Persons: ”, Corey Bernstein, Devon Orland, “ We’ve, ” Orland, Louis, ___ Hanna Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, Shriver, Poverty Law, Crime Free Association, DOJ, Housing, National Disability Rights, American Civil Liberties Union, New, New York Civil Liberties Union, U.S . Department of Housing, Urban Development, Louis Park Locations: Minneapolis, Chicago, Anoka , Minnesota, Hesperia , California, Georgia, New York, Rochester, Troy , New York, Peoria , Illinois, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Norristown , Pennsylvania, Maryland, California, Illinois, California , Illinois , Ohio, Pennsylvania, Golden Valley, St, Bloomington, Faribault, Topeka , Kansas

A Vermont mother wanted to teach her then-14-year-old son a lesson after he came home with electronic cigarettes he stole from a gas station. The teen eventually was injected with a ketamine, a sedative, then taken to a hospital, according to the lawsuit and video. When the two officers arrived to speak to the teen, Austrian told them her son was acting erratically and had a rough week. The lawsuit says the teen “reflexively rose from the bed and flailed his arms haphazardly at the officers." Officers told him to stop spitting, and paramedics, who police called, placed a spit hood over his head.

Persons: Cathy Austrian’s, they'll, Adante Pointer, ”, Pointer, Elijah McClain, Burlington, EMTs, ” Samantha Sheehan, Miro Weinberger, Sheehan, he'd, “ Organizations: The Associated Press, American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont, ACLU, Burlington, Associated Press, Burlington Fire Department, Police, Cumberland Farms Locations: Vermont, Burlington, Austrian, San Francisco Bay, Colorado, Cumberland

(AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker behind a new law that allows millions in state income tax to go to private school tuition scholarships is now targeting the referendum petition process that could allow state voters to repeal it. The bill would allow a person to have their name removed by sending a signed letter to the Nebraska Secretary of State. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesThe new law does not appropriate taxpayer dollars directly to private school vouchers. Instead, it allows businesses and individuals to donate up to $100,000 per year of their owed state income tax to organizations that award private school tuition scholarships. When I told them that the petition was against school choice, they were upset.

Persons: LINCOLN, Omaha Sen, Lou Ann Linehan, Linehan, “, ”, Bob Evnen, Clarice Jackson, Jackson, they'd, Sen, Danielle Conrad, Conrad Organizations: —, Nebraska, State, Government, Military, Veterans Affairs Committee, Republican, Nebraska Legislature, American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska Locations: Neb, Nebraska, Omaha

A near-total abortion ban has been in place in Kentucky since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. “Repealing the current abortion ban in Kentucky is not about promoting one choice over another," she said. Andy Beshear that attacked his Republican challenger’s longstanding support for the state's abortion ban. Kentucky's Supreme Court last year refused to strike down the near-total abortion ban. In Kentucky, Burke revealed two other bills Wednesday.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Lindsey Burke, Republican supermajorities, “, ” Burke, Kentuckians, ”, Addia Wuchner, Burke, Jackie McGranahan, Hadley Duvall, Duvall, Andy Beshear, Beshear Organizations: —, Democratic, Republican, Supreme, Democratic Rep, Republicans, GOP, ”, Capitol, American Civil Liberties Union of, Kentucky, Democratic Gov, Kentucky's, Bluegrass State Locations: FRANKFORT, Ky, Kentucky, U.S, Kentucky's, American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky

☆ Lawmakers to grill CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media firms at hearing on child safety
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Mark Zuckerberg, Linda Yaccarino, Evan Spiegel and other leading social media executives face a grilling on Wednesday from lawmakers concerned about child exploitation and safety on their services. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have blasted the companies for failing to properly address what some have called a "plague of online child sexual exploitation" on social media apps. Wednesday's hearing is focused specifically on issues pertaining to child exploitation and the prevalence of child sexual abuse material on social media. The social media executives are expected to detail their efforts combating child exploitation on their platforms, which include working with law enforcement and tasks like proactively identifying potential predators. Watch: Early Meta platforms investor Brad Gerstner tackles big tech ahead of key earnings week

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Linda Yaccarino, Evan Spiegel, —, Shou Zi Chew, Jason Citron, Sen, Dick Durbin, Lindsey Graham, S.C, Citron, Meta, Brad Gerstner Organizations: Meta, U.S, Senate, Intelligence, Capitol, Washington , D.C, TikTok, Spiegel, Google YouTube, Committee, Lawmakers, Electronic Frontier Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union Locations: Washington ,, Washington, . New

☆ Biden has spent millions on gun policy, but future violence prevention depends on who wins the presidency
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementThe future of gun violence prevention policy will likely depend on who works in the Oval Office. But continued federal action hangs on whether Congress passes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2023, a bill that would cement an office of gun violence prevention in the US Justice Department. As election season gears up, gun-related injuries have surpassed car crashes as the leading cause of death for young people, and 18,874 Americans lost their lives to gun violence last year, per the Gun Violence Archive. Breaking down Biden's investment in gun violence preventionIt's been almost six months since The Biden-Harris Administration created the first White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention , tasked with reducing gun violence across the country through executive and legislative action. The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, specifically, is funded through Congress' annual executive office appropriations.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley —, It's, Harris, Biden, John Feinblatt, Biden's Organizations: of, Service, US Justice Department, Republican, Fox News, Brennan Center for Justice, Biden, Harris Administration, White, Safer, Democratic, —, Gun Safety, Justice Department, American Civil Liberties Union, Senate, Congress

Utah became the latest state to regulate bathroom access for transgender people after Republican Gov. Opponents noted not all states allow people to change their birth certificates and that many trans people don’t want to have surgery. West Virginia’s Legislature is considering a transgender bathroom bill for students this year. “Nobody I know cares if a transgender woman comes into their bathroom, uses it for its intended purpose and walks out,” Birkeland said. Equality Utah, a nonprofit organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, advocated for the amendment but still opposed the bill.

Persons: Spencer Cox, ” Cox, Tennessee —, Kera Birkeland, ” Birkeland Organizations: Republican Gov, West, Republican, American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, Senate, Equality Locations: Utah, — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida , Idaho , Iowa , Kansas , Kentucky, North Dakota , Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia’s, Salt Lake County, Equality Utah

Circuit Court of appeals denied the request for the case to go before the full 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a panel ruled 2-1 last year that only the U.S. attorney general can enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe 8th Circuit ruling applies only to federal courts covered by the district, which includes Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. “The decision by the Eighth Circuit to not revisit the case is a serious blow to the rights of Arkansas voters," Holly Dickson, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas, said in a statement. The Arkansas lawsuit challenges the state House redistricting plan, which was approved in 2021 by the all-Republican state Board of Apportionment.

Persons: weren't, ”, David Stras, Donald Trump, Holly Dickson, ’, Tim Griffin, “, Arkansans, Griffin, Steven Colloton, Colloton, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, ” Colloton, Lavenski Smith Organizations: —, U.S, Supreme, Circuit, The, Arkansas State Conference NAACP, Republicans, American Civil Liberties Union, Eighth Circuit, Black, Republican Locations: The Arkansas, Arkansas, Arkansas , Iowa, Minnesota , Missouri , Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Southern

Some are sentenced to hard labor and forced to work – or face punishment – and are sometimes paid pennies an hour or nothing at all. While prison labor seeps into the supply chains of some companies through third-party suppliers without them knowing, others buy direct. The AP reached out for comment to the companies it identified as having connections to prison labor, but most did not respond. Corrections officials and other proponents note that not all work is forced and that prison jobs save taxpayers money. They also aren’t learning skills that will help them when they are released,” said law professor Andrea Armstrong, an expert on prison labor at Loyola University New Orleans.

Persons: They’re, they’ve, Russell Stover, Bunge, Louis Dreyfus, Archer Daniels, Cargill, ” McDonald’s, Mills, ” Bunge, they’re, ”, David Farabough, don’t, Andrea Armstrong, Columbia University’s Ira A, Lipman Organizations: Associated Press, Kroger, Target, Aldi, U.S, Walmart, Costco –, Washington, American Civil Liberties Union, AP, Maine Foods, Taylor Farms, Archer Daniels Midland, Consolidated, Foods, Corrections, Loyola University New Orleans, Public Welfare Foundation, Columbia, Lipman Center for Journalism, Arnold Ventures Locations: U.S, Idaho, In Kansas, Cal, Arizona, Tennessee , Arkansas, Ohio, Arkansas, Investigative@ap.org

For instance, the U.S. has blocked shipments of cotton coming from China, a top manufacturer of popular clothing brands, because it was produced by forced or prison labor. While prison labor seeps into the supply chains of some companies through third-party suppliers without them knowing, others buy direct. Cargill acknowledged buying goods from prison farms in Tennessee, Arkansas and Ohio, saying they constituted only a small fraction of the company’s overall volume. For instance, about a dozen state prison farms, including operations in Texas, Virginia, Kentucky and Montana, have sold more than $60 million worth of cattle since 2018. “What for?”FOLLOWING THE MONEYThe business of prison labor is so vast and convoluted that tracing the money can be challenging.

Persons: it’s, Willie Ingram, “ They’d, billy clubs, they’d, ”, Ingram, didn’t, they’re, don’t, Andrea Armstrong, Frank Dwayne Ellington, Ellington, Koch, “ It’s, it’s somebody’s, Alishia Powell, Clark, “, Bunge, Louis Dreyfus, Archer Daniels, Cargill, ” McDonald’s, Mills, ” Bunge, Burger, Jermaine Hudson, ” Hudson, Calvin Thomas, Thomas, Ken Pastorick, Pastorick, Jennifer Turner, Faye Jacobs, Jacobs, ’ ” David Farabough, they’ve, Joshua Sbicca, Cliff Johnson, Jimmy Dean, Sara Lee, Tyson, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, that’s, ” Ivey, “ They’re, ’ ”, William “ Buck ” Saunders, Hickman’s, Brooke Counts, Counts, John’s, Jack Strain, Tammany Parish, Russell Stover, Curtis Davis, Robert Bumsted, Cody Jackson, Columbia University’s Ira A, Lipman Organizations: Louisiana State Penitentiary, The Associated Press, Walmart, Cargill, U.S, Kroger, Target, Aldi, Corrections, Loyola University New Orleans, Koch Foods, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Washington, Archer Daniels Midland, Consolidated, AP, Foods, Dairy Farmers of, Big, Sam’s, Tyson Foods, U.S ., Civilian, OSHA, Fair Labor, American Civil Liberties, Colorado State University, MacArthur Justice Center, University of Mississippi, PepsiCo, Brevard County Sheriff, Arizona . Companies, Costco, Correctional, Prisons, Nut, Maine Foods, Taylor Farms, Transitional, Associated Press, Public Welfare Foundation, Columbia, Lipman Center for Journalism, Arnold Ventures Locations: ANGOLA, La, Southern, Louisiana, Texas, In Louisiana, Angola, United States, “, Ashland, U.S, China, Tennessee , Arkansas, Ohio, Dairy Farmers of America, Texas , Virginia, Kentucky, Montana, Baton Rouge, Mississippi, Manhattan, America, Alabama, American, Arkansas , Texas, Florida , Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, In Alabama, Florida, Brevard County, Arizona, Wisconsin, California, Colorado, state’s St, Tammany, Idaho, In Kansas, Cal, St, Francisville , Louisiana, Feliciana, Investigative@ap.org

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — Bidding to salvage a border deal in Congress that also would unlock money for Ukraine, President Joe Biden offered fresh assurances Saturday night that he would be willing to close the U.S.-Mexico border if lawmakers would only send him a bill to sign. Biden — also eager to disarm GOP criticism of his handling of migration at the border — said at a political event in South Carolina that he would shut down the border ’“right now” if Congress passed the proposed deal. “It’ll also give me as president, the emergency authority to shut down the border until it could get back under control. If that bill were the law today, I’d shut down the border right now and fix it quickly.”The deal being negotiated in Congress would require the U.S. to shutter the border if roughly 5,000 migrants cross illegally on any given day. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesIn a written statement on Friday evening, Biden said the deal would allow him “a new emergency authority” to close the border.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden —, “, Biden, “ It’ll, I’d, Donald Trump, He's, Trump’s admonitions, Deirdre Schifeling, ”, Mike Johnson, Guatemalans, ___ Long Organizations: COLUMBIA, Senate Democrats, Republicans, GOP, America, Biden, House, Democratic, “, American Civil Liberties Union, Border Patrol, Hondurans Locations: South Carolina, Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, Venezuela, Washington

ATMORE, Ala. (AP) — Alabama's first-ever use of nitrogen gas for an execution could gain traction among other states and change how the death penalty is carried out in the United States, much like lethal injection did more than 40 years ago, according to experts on capital punishment. Oklahoma and Mississippi already have laws authorizing the use of nitrogen gas for executions, and some other states, including Nebraska, have introduced measures this year to add it as an option. “This is a chapter in a long-running story in the United States,” Sarat said. A majority of states, 29, have either abolished the death penalty or paused executions, and there were just 24 executions carried out in five U.S. states in 2023, according to Washington, D.C.-based Death Penalty Information Center. “More states have abolished the death penalty since 2007 than in any other comparable 17-year period in American history,” Sarat noted.

Persons: — Alabama's, Steve Marshall, Kenneth Eugene Smith, ” Marshall, ”, Steven Harpe, Smith, gurney, John Q, Hamm, ” Hamm, Harpe, Justin Farris, ” Farris, “, Austin Sarat, ” Sarat, Clayton Lockett, Lockett, ” Ryan Kiesel, ” Kiesel, ” ___ Murphy Organizations: Alabama, Amherst College, Washington , D.C, American Civil Liberties Union Locations: Ala, United States, “ Alabama, Alabama, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Nebraska, Europe, U.S, Washington ,, Oklahoma City

☆ Texas man sues Macy’s and Sunglass Hut parent over wrongful arrest linked to facial recognition
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A Texas man is suing Macy’s and the parent company of Sunglass Hut after the two companies allegedly relied on error-prone facial recognition technology to falsely accuse him of armed robbery. “They were misled by Sunglass Hut and Macy’s and the reason why Murphy was jailed is because of the actions of these companies. In 2020, the American Civil Liberties Union challenged Detroit’s police department over what the group described as the first known wrongful arrest involving facial recognition. Facial recognition concernsFor years, civil liberties and privacy experts have warned of the risks of overly casual facial recognition use or an overreliance on the technology, and the possibility that algorithmic bias could lead to misidentification, racial discrimination or other unintended consequences. The FTC has similarly moved to restrict Instagram-parent Meta from using facial recognition technology, which Meta has challenged in court.

Persons: CNN —, Macy’s, Harvey Murphy Jr, Murphy’s, Murphy, ”, Daniel Dutko, “, EssilorLuxottica didn’t, EssilorLuxottica, Dutko, ” Dutko, Sunglass, “ We’re, they’re, ‘ We’ve, Meta Organizations: CNN, The Washington Post, Houston police, Department of Motor Vehicles, Houston, American Civil Liberties Union, Office, Federal Trade Commission, Aid, FTC Locations: Texas, Sunglass, Harris County, Houston, Sacramento , California, Harris, EssilorLuxottica, Michigan, Detroit

“We have undeniable evidence of victory — lives being saved,” said John Seago, president of Texas Right to Life. For abortion-rights activists, Cox’s case was a powerful illustration of how abortion bans could be dangerous for women with pregnancy complications. Over and over, people talked about her with awe, her courage in going public.”Seago, the Texas Right to Life president, defended Texas’ abortion ban. Among leading anti-abortion activists, there’s a general consensus that women should not be prosecuted for seeking or obtaining an abortion. Conversely, some abortion opponents — including Chris Smith — fear a Democratic sweep might lead to a law overriding the state abortion bans that are now in effect.

Persons: “, ”, John Seago, Carol Tobias, Dobbs, ” Tobias, Court’s Dobbs, Roe, Wade, Brent Leatherwood, “ We’ve, –, Jeanne Mancini, Jean Marie Davis, Davis, Mike Johnson, Chris Smith, Mancini, J.J, There’s, Kate Cox, Cox, Nancy Northup, ” Seago, there’s, Jamila, “ I’m, ” Smith, Sen, Lindsay Graham, Katie Glenn Daniel Organizations: Democratic, Jackson, Health Organization, Republican, Southern Baptist, Pregnancy, U.S . Rep, Congressional, American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Reproductive Rights, Physicians, Reproductive, SBA Locations: Texas, Washington, U.S, Ohio , Kansas, Kentucky, California , New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Florida, New Mexico, Brattleboro , Vermont, New Hampshire, Idaho

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Standing or stopping is now banned on pedestrian bridges on the Las Vegas Strip where visitors often pause to take photos amid the glittery casino lights or to watch street performers. Violators of the ordinance that took effect Tuesday could face up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine. Clark County commissioners voted unanimously this month to approve the measure prohibiting people from “stopping, standing or engaging in an activity that causes another person to stop” on Strip pedestrian bridges. The ban doesn’t include standing or stopping if a person is waiting to use an elevator, stairway or escalator. The county said it planned to install signs on the Strip identifying locations where stopping or standing is prohibited.

Persons: Clark County Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Las, American Civil Liberties Union of Locations: Clark, American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada

(AP) — What’s expected to be an expensive and bitter fight over multiple Missouri abortion-rights ballot measures so far has not attracted much money. An abortion-rights campaign called Missourians for Constitutional Freedom had no money on hand as of Dec. 31, according to campaign finance reports filed Tuesday. A competing Republican-backed campaign raised roughly $61,000, most of which came from a $50,000 donation from Director Jamie Corley. It typically costs millions of dollars just to pay workers to collect enough voter signatures to get a constitutional amendment on the Missouri ballot. Meanwhile, an anti-abortion group called Missouri Stands with Women launched its own campaign Tuesday to block any abortion-rights measure from passing.

Persons: — What’s, Jamie Corley Organizations: COLUMBIA, American Civil Liberties Union, Republican, Ohioans United, Reproductive Rights, Protect, Women Locations: Mo, Missouri, Ohio, Protect Women Ohio

DENVER (AP) — Frontier Airlines has settled a lawsuit filed by female pilots who accused the airline of discriminating against pregnant or breastfeeding employees. In the agreement announced Tuesday, Frontier will let pilots pump breast milk in the cockpit during “noncritical phases” of flights. The Denver-based airline also agreed to let pilots who are breastfeeding reduce their flying time and treat pregnancy and breastfeeding the same as other medical conditions if they make pilots unable to fly. In the case involving Denver-based pilots, the airline also agreed to comply with a current union agreement letting pregnant pilots fly if they have medical approval. The airline also agreed to continue to let breastfeeding pilots reduce their schedules to 50 hours of flying per month, and to update and make available a list of lactation facilities at airports.

Persons: Aditi Fruitwala, ” Fruitwala, Jacalyn Peter, didn't Organizations: DENVER, — Frontier Airlines, U.S, Commission, Frontier, American Civil Liberties Union, Denver Locations: Denver

Baton Rouge-based U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick issued a two-week extension Thursday afternoon, giving lawmakers extra time to construct a congressional map, the American Civil Liberties Union confirmed to The Associated Press. Louisiana is among the list of states still wrangling over congressional districts after the U.S. Supreme Court in June ruled that Alabama had violated the Voting Rights Act. Republicans say the map is fair and argue that Black populations in the state are too dispersed to be united into a second majority Black district. Another mostly Black district could deliver a second congressional seat to Democrats. In June 2022, Dick struck down Louisiana’s map for violating the Voting Rights Act.

Persons: Shelly Dick, John Bel Edwards, Eric Holl, Jeff Landry, Edwards, Dick, ” Dick, Obama, Landry, Landry won’t, “ Organizations: GOP, Capitol, American Civil Liberties Union, Associated Press, ACLU, Democratic Gov, Republican, U.S, Supreme, Black, Republicans, U.S ., Appeals, Fifth District Locations: BATON ROUGE, La, Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Alabama, Black, New Orleans

☆ Meet Allison Greenfield, the law clerk driving Trump bonkers at his fraud trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

In Donald Trump's civil fraud trial, however, his attorneys have spent a disproportionate amount of time — and ire — on Allison Greenfield, the judge's principal law clerk. Notes and whispersDuring the trial, Greenfield is quiet. AP Photo/Seth WenigBecause of the enormous public interest in the Trump trial, it's held in the New York civil court's large ceremonial courtroom. AdvertisementEarly in the trial, Engoron issued a gag order forbidding Trump — and later his attorneys — from disparaging his staff, including Greenfield, citing numerous threats. A New York Law Department representative said a list of her cases was "not readily available."

Persons: Donald Trump, Arthur Engoron's, Allison Greenfield, —, Donald Trump's, Arthur Engoron, Letitia James, — Engoron, James, Alina Habba, Habba, James didn't, Hillary Clinton, Greenfield, Engoron, Christopher Kise, Clifford Roberts, Jesus M, Suarez, Trump, Chris Kise, Seth Wenig Greenfield, interposes, Alison R, Democratic Sen, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, they're, Seth Wenig, it's, It's, Trump's, Ruth B, Kraft, Falcon Rappaport, Berkman, Engoron's, hasn't, she'd, Images Greenfield, George B, Daniels, Bill Clinton, Jaffe & Asher, Gregory Galterio, Jaffe, Cardozo, Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, Anna Sorokin, Anna Delvey, Sorokin, Donald Trump Jr, Brendan McDermid, he's, — Greenfield, Greenfield didn't, Kise, Laura Italiano Organizations: Service, New, Trump —, Trump Organization, AP, Democrat, Republican Party, Democratic, Trump, Falcon, Truth, Images, Cardozo School of Law, New York University, US, Jaffe &, New York Police Department, New York Law, Engoron, American Civil Liberties Union, Business, Democratic Party, West Side Democrats, Grand Street Democrats, Hell's, Democrats, Village Independent Locations: Greenfield, New, Manhattan, New York, Engoron, York, SLU

☆ TikTok’s recent court victories show just how hard it might be to ban the app
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Brian Fung | Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The lawsuit in Indiana sought court-ordered fines and restrictions on TikTok for allegedly violating state consumer protection laws. Both cases reflected concerns expressed by government officials at all levels in the United States about TikTok’s ties to China through its parent company, ByteDance. Calls for a TikTok ban in the US first arose during the Trump administration and have waxed and waned in the years since, but most attempts to ban the app have been challenged in court. What comes nextUltimately, the state-level efforts in Indiana and Montana failed for many reasons, Goldman said, and policymakers should take note of this. The Indiana decision is less likely to have a nationwide impact, Goldman added, simply due to the typical obscurity of state court rulings and how state laws differ from one jurisdiction to another.

Persons: TikTok, ” Eric Goldman, ’, Trump, Donald Molloy, Molloy, Patrick Toomey, “, ” Molloy, ”, Jennifer DeGroote, DeGroote, Goldman, Blake Reid, Reid Organizations: CNN, TikTok, Santa Clara University, American Civil Liberties, Security, University of Colorado Locations: Indiana, Montana, United States, China

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's decades-old aggravated prostitution statute violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday after an investigation, warning that the state could face a lawsuit if officials don't immediately cease enforcement. LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates have long criticized the measure as discriminatory, making it almost impossible to find housing and employment due to the restrictions for violent sex offenders. The DOJ letter details several of the struggles of those with aggravated prostitution convictions. A lifetime sex offender registration can stop people from visiting with their grandchildren, revoke job offers, and severely limit housing options. Plaintiffs who had filed a lawsuit seeking to block the aggravated prostitution law in October said the DOJ's letter only further supports their efforts.

Persons: —, ”, Bill Lee, “, Kristen Clarke, Jonathan Skrmetti, David Rausch, Steven Mulroy, it's, Mulroy, ” Brandon James Smith, Skrmetti, “ OUTMemphis, Molly Quinn, OUTMemphis, Adrian Sainz Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, American Civil Liberties Union, Transgender Law Center, Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, of, DOJ, Associated Press Locations: Tenn, Tennessee, United States, Shelby County, Memphis, Memphis , Tennessee

☆ Opinion | The Window to Meaningfully Support Separated Immigrant Families Is Closing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Kelly Albinak Kribs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

If approved, the settlement would provide families with some temporary benefits such as work authorization, short-term housing medical assistance, including behavioral health services. It also would provide them with an opportunity to apply for permanent immigration status through the asylum system. The government’s short-term and impermanent relief denies families the stability and support they deserve as they piece their lives back together. Instead, the federal government should — and can still — provide separated families with permanent immigration status, monetary damages and accountability for the harm they continue to endure. Justice for separated families must include permanent immigration status in this country, so that families can focus on rebuilding their lives without the looming fear of deportation to dangerous circumstances.

Organizations: American Civil Liberties Union, Trump

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Iowa Safe Schools, an organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ children, and seven Iowa students, ranging in age from fourth to 12th grades, and their families. One plaintiff, Iowa City high school senior Puck Carlson, said in an online news conference that the law is having a devastating effect on Iowa LGBTQ+ students. She has watched her younger LGBTQ+ sister struggle to feel safe in school since the law took effect, she said. Many of the banned books contain content of particular relevance to LGBTQ+ students, including LGBTQ+ characters, historical figures or themes. “As a result of the ban, LGBTQ+ students are denied the comfort of narratives that include LGBTQ+ characters and the solace that they are not alone,” the ACLU said.

Persons: “, Thomas Story, Kim Reynolds, ” Reynolds, Puck Carlson, ” Carlson Organizations: American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Lambda, Republican, Iowa Safe Schools, Iowa, Iowa City, “, Schools, ACLU, Republicans Locations: Iowa

Homeless people and their advocates say the sweeps are cruel and a waste of taxpayer money. The AP submitted data requests to 30 U.S. cities regarding encampment sweeps and received at least partial responses from about half. “Unfortunately, it’s becoming a way of life, and that is 100% incorrect.”For homeless people, sweeps can be traumatizing. But never an end solution.”There are many reasons why someone might reject shelter, say homeless people and their advocates. We’re walking around saying, ‘What do you need?’”In Portland, the encampment dismantled in July was cleared again, in September and November.

Persons: Will Taylor, ”, Taylor, he's, …, ” Angelique Risby, it’s, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, David Sjoberg, ” David Ehler Jr, Crews, Sara Angel, “, Masood Samereie, ” Samereie, Roxanne Simonson, Sam Dodge, Dodge, Michael Johnson, aren't, Charise Haley, “ There’s, pare, Francis Zamora, Zamora, Brad Lander, ” Lander, Eric Adams, Charles Lutvak, Lutvak, Danielle Werder, Kieran Hartnett, who's, ____ Har, Casey, Thomas Peipert, Angeliki Kastanis, Christopher Weber Organizations: Contractors, U.S, The Associated Press, American Civil Liberties Union, Democratic, Republican, Supreme, ACLU, Northern, Politico, AP, San, Police, Public Works, Department of Emergency Management, Democratic New York City Locations: PORTLAND, Portland, West Coast, Los Angeles, New York, U.S, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Miami, Albuquerque, Anchorage, Boulder , Colorado, California, San Francisco, Northern California, Denver, Connecticut, Colorado, “, New York City, Hennepin County, Boston

☆ Students are lawyering up in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Hafez, who CNN has reached out to for comment, is now suing Accuracy in Media for defamation and emotional distress, and the violation of his civil rights. Hafez is among the politically and ethnically diverse students across the country who are filing lawsuits in the wake of October 7. Some are invoking the Civil Rights Act, claiming their schools aren’t protecting them from religious discrimination. “We believe that a number of universities are violating Title VI in this moment. “We have had a massive and unprecedented spike since October 7.”The legal standard for Title VI cases is high, Cron said.

Persons: Yusuf Hafez, “ Columbia’s, ” Hafez, Hafez, Minouche Shafik, “, ” John Beckman, ” Beckman, Beckman, Justin Sadowsky, ” Sadowsky, Sadowsky, Dylan Saba, State University of Florida Chancellor Ray Rodrigues, DeSantis, ”, Brittany Wise, ” Adam Steinbaugh, ” Steinbaugh, you’re, Matthew Cron, Donald Trump, ” Saba, Kenneth Marcus, Wellesley, ” “ Wellesley, UPenn, Magill, “ We’ve, Marcus, George W, Bush, Cron, ” Cron, Yusuf Hafez’s, SWATTING, ” – CNN’s Matt Egan, Celina Tebor Organizations: New, New York CNN — Columbia University, Media, CNN, Civil, Columbia, Columbia University, New York University, Jewish, gaslighting, NYU, New York police, Islamic, Civil Rights, Department of Education, Palestine, American Civil Liberties Union, Palestine Legal, University of Florida, UF, Justice, State University of Florida, ACLU, ” CNN, State University System of, University of Florida’s, “, Governors, Foundation, Rights, Florida, DOE, of Education Office, Legal, University of Illinois Chicago, UIC, Brandeis Center, University of Pennsylvania, ”, University, Trump, Ivy League, Private, AIM, U.S . Locations: New York, Israel, Gaza, Palestine, Florida, State University System of Florida, Colorado, “, Penn, Chicago

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