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☆ Seeking the ‘Right’ Customers, an Insurer Is Accused of Discrimination
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Emily Flitter | More About Emily Flitter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A spokesman for the Maryland Insurance Administration declined to comment. The dispute reveals how a long-used insurance industry technique, ostensibly aimed at managing risk, can open the door to bias. As they evaluate a customer, agents are expected to decide whether a potential customer seems honest or reliable, or judge how tidy or well maintained their home is. “There are all kinds of conscious and unconscious biases involved.”Insurers have also been accused of discriminating against Black and Hispanic customers in other ways. But the accusation against Erie is that its policies kept Black and Hispanic homeowners out of its customer rolls in the first place.

Persons: Matthew Cummings, ”, Daniel Schwarcz Organizations: Maryland Insurance, University of Minnesota Law School, State Farm, Erie Locations: Erie, Chicago

☆ A top South Carolina Democratic official dismisses Dean Phillips' presidential bid as 'not serious,' says the Minnesota lawmaker has not yet contacted the party in the key early-voting state
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

But Christale Spain, the SC Democratic Party chair, told Politico he had not yet contacted Dems in the state. AdvertisementAdvertisementSpain said that Phillips had not yet spoken with Democrats in South Carolina, which she said was a sign that he's "not serious." "Any serious Democratic candidate … would understand that Black voters in South Carolina have been the backbone of the Democratic Party," she told the publication. (The change has caused a major rift with New Hampshire's claim as the first primary state by law.) (Steve Schmidt, the former GOP strategist now advising Phillips, told Politico that the campaign would "cede" the state to Biden.)

Persons: Dean Phillips, Joe Biden, Phillips, —, Joe Biden wasn't, Biden, Spain, …, Steve Schmidt Organizations: SC Democratic Party, Politico, Dems, Service, Minnesota, Democratic, New, South Carolina Democratic, Democratic Party, South, South Carolina —, DNC, GOP, Biden Locations: Spain, Washington, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada, president's State

☆ Trump’s Loss of Loyalty
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Susan Milligan | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

But for Trump, Ellis' plea was especially damaging, since it underscored the steady evaporation of something Trump has demanded from staff and associates since his days as a New York businessman: loyalty. "If I knew then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post-election challenges. The three former Trump lawyers who pleaded guilty in Georgia were facing some serious potential consequences, he noted, including not just time behind bars but the loss of their law licenses – and that may take priority over honoring Trump's demands for loyalty. "This is not about Donald Trump vs. Michael Cohen," Cohen said as he entered the New York courtroom. You saw Donald Trump try to walk away from Sidney Powell – despite documentary evidence that he had called her his lawyer.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jenna Ellis, Ellis, Trump, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, “, ”, Powell, Chesebro, David Becker, Becker, Republicans –, –, Tom Emmer, Joe Biden, Jim Jordan of, Jordan, Emmer, Trump's, Team Trump, Michael Cohen, Cohen, ” “, it’s, ” Trump, Mark Meadows, Meadows, Jack Smith, Smith, Norman Eisen, Sidney Powell –, That’s, Bunny, Amy Lee Copeland, Rouse, Copeland, ” Copeland Organizations: Trump, Donald Trump View, Election Innovation, Research, D.C, Hill, Republicans, Team, New, ABC News, ABC Locations: Georgia, New York, Georgia’s Fulton County, New York City, Washington, Minnesota, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Meadows, Savannah , Georgia

☆ Who is Rep. Tom Emmer, the House GOP’s new speaker nominee?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Piper Hudspeth Blackburn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Rep. Tom Emmer, the House majority whip whose bid for House speaker was thrown into immediate jeopardy Tuesday afternoon, has tried to balance an at-times moderate voting record while trying to appeal to the Donald Trump-aligned base of the Republican Party. The Minnesota Republican emerged Tuesday afternoon as House Republicans’ new speaker nominee in the scramble to succeed Kevin McCarthy. Several Republicans who oppose Emmer told CNN Tuesday they will not change their stance and are calling for a new candidate. As majority whip, Emmer has experience with keeping the GOP’s narrow majority in line. McCarthy has backed the Minnesota Republican for speaker and urged the conference to elect him by the end of the week.

Persons: Tom Emmer, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Emmer, CNN’s KFile, Joe Biden, Patrick McHenry, McCarthy, Tom, ”, Steve Scalise, Ralph Norman, “ didn’t, ” Norman Organizations: CNN —, Republican Party, The, The Minnesota Republican, Republicans, Trump, CNN, Republican, Minnesota, Financial Services, Minnesota Republican, Press, GOP, South Carolina Rep, Caucus Locations: The Minnesota, Minnesota, “

☆ Justice Amy Coney Barrett says it would be a 'good idea' for the Supreme Court to institute an ethics code
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amy Coney Barrett on Monday endorsed the idea for a formal ethics code for the Supreme Court. Barrett, a conservative former federal appeals court judge who has served on the Supreme Court since October 2020, told an audience at the University of Minnesota Law School that instituting an ethics code would allow the justices to offer the public greater transparency. And she also pushed back against any idea that the justices differed on the necessity of creating an ethics code. But when the host, former Minnesota Law Dean and professor Robert Stein, asked Barrett about a timeline for when the high court might institute an ethics code, she said she wasn't able to offer any specifics. The push for increased ethics rules for the high court has grown louder this year following detailed reports of the activities of several justices off the bench.

Persons: Amy Coney Barrett, Barrett, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, —, Minnesota Law Dean, Robert Stein, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Roe, Wade, ProPublica, Harlan Crow, Thomas, Paul Singer, Alito Organizations: Supreme, University of Minnesota Law School, Service, US, Appeals, Seventh Circuit, Minnesota Law, Wall Locations: Minnesota

☆ Student-loan borrowers in Minnesota are getting over $17,000 in refunds after paying a company that 'falsely promised' debt relief, the state attorney general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Student-loan borrowers in Minnesota are getting over $17,000 in refunds through a recent settlement. The attorney general accused a company, Docupros, of pocketing illegal fees over the false promise of debt relief. It's one of the 52 companies Minnesota is investigating over potentially fraudulent behavior with borrowers. AdvertisementAdvertisementAnother day, another settlement for student-loan borrowers. Along with Ellison's efforts, government agencies have been scrutinizing companies that are misleading borrowers into unnecessarily paying for debt relief services.

Persons: —, Keith Ellison, Docupros, Ellison Organizations: Service, Minnesota, Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Education Department Locations: Minnesota, California

CNN —Following Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster as House speaker, names have started to emerge as possible successors to take over the gavel. Jordan replied “yes,” when asked if he is running for speaker and said he had just talked to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the No. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/FILELouisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, who serves as House majority leader, announced on Wednesday his intention to succeed McCarthy. As he exited a GOP meeting, he told reporters, “Steve Scalise has been a friend for a long time. Kevin HernRep. Kevin Hern leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the Capitol Hill Club on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy’s, McCarthy, Tuesday’s, Jim Jordan Rep, Jim Jordan, Anna Moneymaker, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Jordan, “, Steve Scalise, Fani Willis, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Trump, Hunter Biden, ” Scalise, Scalise, ”, David Duke, Tom Emmer, Tom Williams, Emmer, “ Steve Scalise, Kevin Hern, ”, I’ve, ” Hern, Hern Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican, Committee, Manhattan, Attorney, Justice Department, Freedom Caucus, Building, Congress, Ku Klux, House Republican Conference, Capitol, Minnesota Republican, Louisiana Rep, Minnesota, Financial Services, Capitol Hill Club, Oklahoma Republican, Caucus, McDonalds, Small Business Locations: Washington , DC, Benghazi, Trump, Fulton County, Louisiana, Alexandria , Virginia, New Orleans ’, Minnesota, Texas

The U.S. consumer agency, which enforces federal antitrust law, and 17 states filed their lawsuit against Amazon in Seattle federal court on Tuesday, asking a U.S. judge to consider an injunction and other penalties to combat alleged unlawful conduct. The FTC's lawsuit is related to but broader than a series of private consumer cases filed in recent years against Amazon that are pending in the same U.S. federal court. The private antitrust cases offer an early window into some of the legal arguments Amazon could be expected to make to challenge the FTC's lawsuit. Generally speaking, U.S. judges are "wary of using antitrust law to punish low-pricing behavior," said antitrust scholar Sean Sullivan of the University of Iowa's law school. Sullivan said it is not always a clear line between "good low pricing" — based on market competition — and "bad low pricing" that helps a company acquire or maintain market power.

Persons: Mike Segar, David Balto, Diane Hazel, Foley, Lardner, Hazel, Tom Cotter, David Zapolsky, Zapolsky, Lina Khan, Ricardo Martinez, Martinez, George W, Bush, Sean Sullivan, Sullivan, Mike Scarcella, Leigh Jones Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Federal Trade, Amazon.com, Amazon, Reuters, FTC, U.S, University of Minnesota Law School, District, University of, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, Seattle, Washington, Mt, Rainier

The judge described how Trump, his adult sons Donald Jr. and Eric, the Trump Organization and other defendants made up valuations and inflated Trump's net worth to suit their business needs. Trump and the other defendants have argued that they never committed fraud, and that the challenged transactions were profitable. Engoron said James submitted "conclusive evidence" that Trump had overstated his net worth by between $812 million and $2.2 billion. Engoron's decision does not automatically mean James' fraud case will go to trial next Monday. Trump has sued to delay the trial, accusing Engoron and James of ignoring the appeals court order to narrow the case.

Persons: Donald Trump, Scott Morgan, Justice Arthur Engoron, Letitia James, Engoron, Trump, Donald Jr, Eric, Christopher Kise, James, Bill Black, Black, Lawfare, Hunt, Trump's overvaluations, Trump's, Ivanka, Democrat Joe Biden, Jean Carroll, Karen Freifeld, Jack Queen, Jonathan Stempel, Chris Reese, Deepa Babington, Leslie Adler Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Trump Organization, Trump, University of Minnesota Law School, Trump Organization of, Democrat Locations: Dubuque , Iowa, U.S, York, New York, Manhattan, Lago, Florida, Manhattan's, Saudi Arabia

☆ In April, Trump said his private-jet LLC was worth no more than $1,001. Then in July, he said it was worth up to $25 million. Why?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Revised Trump ethics filings show massive shifts in the value of some Trump entities. In an April filing with the Office of Government Ethics, Trump claimed that the TAG Air had a value of $1,001 or less. Then, in a revised July filing, Trump valued TAG Air at between $5 million and $25 million. During the 2016 campaign, taxpayers reportedly paid TAG Air $1.6 million to cover the cost of transporting the Secret Service agents charged with protecting him. Here is Trump's first financial disclosure form, filed in April:And here is Trump's revised financial disclosure form, from July, in two parts.

Persons: Trump, Donald Trump, Letitia James, Steven Cheung, James's, Mike Pence's, General James, Richard W, Painter Organizations: Trump, Service, Trump Organization, New York, TAG Air, Inc, Boeing, Government, TAG, Secret Service, United Arab, China, Management, Briarcliff Manor Development, White, University of Minnesota, Chase Manhattan Bank Locations: cryptocurrency, Iran, China, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, New York State, York, Ethereum, Turkey, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, South Korea, Ireland, Briarcliff Manor

☆ Trump faces another 14th Amendment candidacy challenge, this time in Minnesota
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The new Minnesota lawsuit was filed in state court by Free Speech For People, one week after another group initiated a similar challenge in Colorado. The Republican primary in Minnesota is on March 5, which is Super Tuesday. The new lawsuit seeks to block Trump’s name from the primary ballot as well as the general election if he wins the nomination. Last year, the bipartisan House committee that investigated the January 6 attack recommended that Trump be barred from holding future office under the 14th Amendment. Since then, Trump has been indicted on separate federal and state charges stemming from his schemes to overturn the 2020 election.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, “ Donald J, Steve Simon, ” Simon, disqualifying Trump, “, hasn’t, ” Ron Fein, ”, ” Trump, Steven Cheung Organizations: CNN, Trump, GOP, Democratic, Iraq, Republican, Republicans, House Locations: Minnesota, Colorado, insurrectionists, United States, North Carolina , Arizona, Georgia, New Mexico

☆ Relief could be on the way for student-loan borrowers who paid one of the 52 companies suspected of 'falsely promising' them loan forgiveness, Minnesota's attorney general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Minnesota AG Keith Ellison opened investigations into 52 student-debt relief companies. He said those companies are suspected of "falsely promising" loan forgiveness to borrowers for fees. Should the investigations find wrongdoing, impacted borrowers could receive relief. Last week, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced that his office has opened investigations into 52 student-debt relief companies "suspected of violating Minnesota law," according to the press release. The FTC had previously halted operations of two different debt relief companies that scammed borrowers out of $8.8 million under the guise of debt relief.

Persons: Keith Ellison, California —, Ellison, Joe Biden's, servicers Organizations: Service, Minnesota, Joe Biden's Education, Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, FTC, Consumer Financial Protection Locations: Minnesota, Wall, Silicon, California

“In this case, Tony Downs has agreed to take important steps to prevent child labor violations,” department Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach said in a statement. Political Cartoons View All 1148 ImagesTony Downs “disputes and does not admit the violations of law alleged” by the labor department, according to the agreement. The investigation into Tony Downs began after the Minnesota labor department received a complaint about working conditions at the Madelia plant, according to the complaint. Investigators conducted an overnight inspection between Jan. 26 and Jan. 27, interviewed workers, documented working conditions and contacted area school districts. The labor department found that Tony Downs was aware of the issue.

Persons: Tony Downs, Nicole Blissenbach Organizations: Tony, Tony Downs Food Company, Minnesota Department of Labor, Industry, Employers Locations: Minn, Minnesota, Mankato, Madelia

☆ Big Farms and Flawless Fries Are Gulping Water in the Land of 10,000 Lakes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Dionne Searcey | Mira Rojanasakul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +19 min

UNCHARTED WATERS Big Farms and Flawless Fries Are Gulping Water in the Land of 10,000 Lakes When Minnesota farmers cranked up their wells in a drought, they blew through state limits. The location of the White Earth Reservation is also shown, in the upper left portion of the map. Cloud St. Paul Minneapolis Rochester Sandy Soils WHITE EARTH RESERVATION Duluth Irrigation Wells St. Cloud St. Paul Minneapolis Rochester Sandy Soils WHITE EARTH RESERVATION Duluth Irrigation Wells St. “There’s a lot of water in this area.”His farm is awaiting approval for two new state permits for irrigation wells.

Persons: Warren, Mike Tauber, they’ve, ”, Trevor Milbrett, Warren Warmbold, “, Mr, Warmbold, Offutt, Ellen Considine, don’t, Carlos Gonzalez, It’s, farming’s, Robert Glennon, John Nieber, Paul Minneapolis, Nieber, White, Jamie Konopacky, Allan Armstrong, Armstrong, Armstrong’s, Austin Tersteeg, Erskine, Tersteeg Organizations: R.D, Offutt, Minnesota Department of Natural, New York Times, Irrigation, Farmers, state’s Department of Natural Resources, United States Department of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, Star Tribune, Getty, Park Rapids ., University of Minnesota, Twin, Paul Minneapolis Rochester Sandy, Paul Minneapolis, White, Department of Natural Locations: Lakes, Minnesota, R.D, Warren, Minn, Backus, Eagle Bend, United States, Midwest, Park Rapids, In Minnesota, North Dakota, America, Offutt, Twin Cities, Sandy, Duluth, Wells St, Cloud, Paul, Paul Minneapolis Rochester, Austin, Red Lake County

☆ DeSantis said he's 'basically moved on' from the Disney feud — and now wants Bob Iger to drop the lawsuit against Florida that legal experts say the company could win
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ron DeSantis told CNBC he and his allies would like to move on from the Disney feud. DeSantis said he would tell Disney CEO Bob Iger to drop the lawsuit, and that they can't win it. I'm totally fine with that," DeSantis told CNBC. When asked what he would tell Disney CEO Bob Iger today, DeSantis said he would tell him to "drop the lawsuit." The Walt Disney Company and DeSantis's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Bob Iger, Disney —, They're, Sindhu Sundar, that's, David Schultz, it's Organizations: Florida Gov, CNBC, Disney, Service, Gov, Florida, University of Minnesota, Walt Disney Company Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon

☆ Minnesota lawmaker Dean Phillips says Biden should 'pass the torch' in 2024: Democrats 'would like to see an alternative'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips is open about his desire for a Democratic candidate that isn't Joe Biden. Phillips said on "Meet the Press" that Americans want to "turn the page" from the last Biden-Trump face-off. A "moderate governor, hopefully from the heartland" would be a better, more unifying choice, Phillips said. "Tired of the meanness and the fear-mongering of Donald Trump, I would like to see Joe Biden, a wonderful and remarkable man, pass the torch, and cement this extraordinary legacy," Phillips said Sunday. "As a Democrat, I adore Joe Biden.

Persons: Dean Phillips, isn't Joe Biden, Phillips, Trump, Joe Biden, Chuck Todd, Donald Trump, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Marianne Williamson, Biden, Todd, Gretchen Whitmer, J.B . Pritzker, Josh Shapiro, Tim Walz, Tony Evers Organizations: Democratic, Biden, Service, Politico, Michigan, Illinois Gov, Minnesota Gov, Wisconsin Gov Locations: Minnesota, Wall, Silicon, Illinois, Pennsylvania

☆ Move or Quit: Grindr Dictates New Office Rules Amid Union Drive
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Emma Goldberg | More About Emma Goldberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Grindr said that the plan had been in the works for months, and that the employees had been warned earlier in the summer that their remote work arrangements would end. election petition,” a company spokesperson said. Many companies have started to issue office attendance rules, with some indicating that they will monitor badge swipes or incorporate compliance into performance reviews. For employees at Grindr, the difficulty of the N.L.R.B. “What Grindr will say is that it reached this completely independent of any actions by the employees to organize,” Mr. Bodie said.

Persons: Grindr, ”, Matt Bodie, Mr, Bodie, “ Organizations: University of Minnesota Law School Locations: Grindr

☆ Insurer’s Retreat in Florida Signals Crisis With No Easy Fix
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Emily Flitter | More About Emily Flitter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Insurers are trapped in a riddle: In a world where the risk of costly disasters is rising but high premiums are squeezing policyholders and angering state regulators, how can they continue to make money? Farmers, one of America’s biggest home insurers, didn’t say what specifically led to its decision. Was the cost of payouts too high in recent years, which saw record-setting numbers of billion-dollar disasters, just as rates charged by reinsurers, which sell insurance to insurers, were rising? Or is Farmers playing a game of chicken with state regulators, hoping that walking away now will give it leverage to charge customers more in the future? “A lot of insurers have been losing a lot of money in Florida and they’ve been threatening to leave for years,” said Daniel Schwarcz, a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School who specializes in insurance.

Persons: they’ve, ”, Daniel Schwarcz Organizations: Farmers Insurance, reinsurers, Farmers, University of Minnesota Law School Locations: Florida

Miami CNN —Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 charges related to alleged mishandling of classified documents. During the hearing, Trump sat hunched over with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. The criminal charges in the Justice Department’s classified documents case escalates the legal jeopardy surrounding the 2024 GOP front-runner. What Tuesday’s hearing is aboutAttorneys Todd Blanche and Chris Kise represented Trump in court for the arraignment. The new charges in the DOJ documents case are drastically more serious and present the possibility of several years in prison if Trump is ultimately convicted.

Persons: Donald Trump, ” Trump, Todd Blanche, Trump, Trump’s, Walt Nauta, Jonathan Goodman, Nauta, David Harbach, ” Goodman, “, Department’s, Jack Smith, Justice Department’s, Aileen Cannon –, Lago, –, Chris Kise, Alina Habba, ” Habba, ”, Jay Bratt, Harbach, Julie Edelstein, David Aaron, Perkins, Cannon, Alan Rozenshtein, ” Kel McClanahan Organizations: Miami CNN, Justice Department, Trump, Justice, Doral, Mar, DOJ, “, West Palm Beach, DOJ National Security Division, University of Minnesota, Circuit, George Washington University Law School, CNN Locations: Miami, New York, Ft . Pierce , Florida, West Palm

☆ Supreme Court rules for homeowner in 'equity theft' dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Lawrence Hurley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Supreme Court of the United States building are seen in Washington D.C., United States on December 28, 2022. But the county sold the home for $40,000 and kept all the proceeds, Tyler's lawyers at the Pacific Legal Foundation say. The remaining states return the surplus proceeds when seized properties are sold. A year later, the county sold it for $40,000, keeping the $25,000 in profit. Owners have three years to pay the taxes and have an opportunity to repurchase the seized properties.

☆ Winner of 'Prove Mike Wrong' contest takes Mike Lindell to court for $5 million after successfully proving him wrong
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Mike Lindell owes Robert Zeidman $5 million over a contest to disprove the 2020 election was rigged. Lindell told Insider that Zeidman, a computer scientist, "isn't even a cyber guy." Joshi told Insider there's no basis for Lindell's claim that Zeidman should not have been in the "Prove Mike Wrong" contest. "Mike Lindell is not gonna take this big sham," he told Insider, speaking in the third person. Lindell told Insider Friday he was frustrated that Fox News caved.

☆ Ron DeSantis' memoir could come back to bite him in Disney legal battle
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Statements in DeSantis' bestselling memoir may hold the proof Disney needs to win its case. Ron DeSantis may have inadvertently handed Disney key evidence it needs to beat him in their escalating legal and political battle. In addition to supporting legislation against Disney, DeSantis has also frequently and fervently railed against the "woke" company. Ron DeSantis is again going after Walt Disney World, after the company launched a stealth power play. Executive Office of the Governor, State of FloridaAs promotion for his memoir, DeSantis also penned a February Wall Street Journal editorial entitled "Why I Stood up to Disney."

☆ A Minnesota lawmaker cast his vote in a Zoom meeting shirtless and lying in bed
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Minnesota lawmaker briefly appeared without a shirt on a live-streamed Zoom meeting. State Sen. Calvin Bahr also appeared to be lying in bed during Monday's legislative meeting. Minnesota State Sen. Calvin Bahr briefly appeared on screen shirtless when the state's Office of the Legislative Auditor met virtually to hold a vote. He was visible for no more than a second before the camera swiftly panned up and his screen turned black, displaying just his name. Bahr, a Republican, joined the Minnesota Senate earlier this year after serving in the state's House of Representatives for six years.

☆ Disney's lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis has teeth, legal experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Disney's lawsuit accused Florida officials of infringing on its constitutional rights. Ron DeSantis culminated in a stunning lawsuit on Wednesday, where the entertainment giant said state officials retaliated against it, citing a lawmaker who said "You kick the hornet's nest, things come up." Schultz said Disney could even seek in the lawsuit to depose DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president. It targets The Walt Disney Company." The position articulated by state officials — including that the bill's focus extends beyond Disney — shows Disney will likely keep drawing on more pointed material to support its retaliation claims, said Schutz.

☆ Supreme Court Wary of Windfall in Seizure of Condo for Unpaid Taxes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Adam Liptak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court seemed united on Wednesday, in the last scheduled argument of its current term, in its distaste for how county officials in Minnesota had treated a 94-year-old woman who had stopped paying property taxes on her condominium after moving into an assisted-living center. By the time the county seized the property, the woman, Geraldine Tyler, owed about $2,000 in taxes and another $13,000 in penalties and interest. The county sold the condo at auction for $40,000, and it kept not only the $15,000 that all agree it was due but also the remaining $25,000. Retaining the entire value of a confiscated property, even when the debts owed amounted to a small portion of it, is authorized by Minnesota law. According to the county’s brief, about 20 other states have similar procedures.

Search resuls for: "Minnesota Law"

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