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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Five women who say they were sexually assaulted or harassed by a former Kansas City, Kansas, detective filed a lawsuit Friday accusing the government of allowing police corruption to thrive for years. The Kansas City Star reports that the federal lawsuit says the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, allowed its officers to “terrorize, abuse and violate” Black residents through a pattern of misconduct and assaults without being disciplined or investigated. Golubski has been accused by federal prosecutors and civil rights groups of framing Black citizens and sexually harassing Black women and girls for years in Kansas City, Kansas. Four of the five plaintiffs allege Golubski sexually assaulted or stalked them. Acoording to the lawsuit, Golubski replied, “Report me to who, the police?

Persons: Roger Golubski, Golubski, Acoording, ” Organizations: KANSAS CITY, Kan, Kansas City Star, Unified Government Locations: KANSAS, Kansas City , Kansas, Wyandotte County and Kansas City , Kansas

☆ Supreme Court Adds Two More Gun Cases to Docket
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Jess Bravin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The Supreme Court will hear arguments over whether federal law prohibiting individuals under domestic-violence protective orders from possessing firearms violates the Second Amendment. Photo: Mariam Zuhaib/Associated PressWASHINGTON—The Supreme Court said Friday it would decide two gun-related cases, adding to a docket that already includes a major follow up to its 2022 opinion curbing gun regulations under an expanded view of the Second Amendment. In brief unsigned orders, the court said it would hear the Biden administration’s appeal of a circuit court ruling that so-called bump stocks, which can convert semiautomatic weapons to function automatically, can’t be regulated as machine guns under the Gun Control Act of 1968. The court also agreed to hear the National Rifle Association’s appeal of a circuit court decision throwing out its lawsuit against a New York state official the gun group alleges discouraged insurance companies from doing business with it.

Persons: Mariam Zuhaib, Biden Organizations: Associated Press WASHINGTON, Gun Control, Rifle Locations: New York

☆ US Supreme Court to decide legality of federal ban on gun 'bump stocks'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Andrew Chung | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Bump stocks use a semiautomatic's recoil to allow it to slide back and forth while "bumping" the shooter's trigger finger, resulting in rapid fire. The Supreme Court previously had turned away some challenges to the bump stocks prohibition. Cargill sued to challenge the rule, which required him to surrender his two bump stocks. That decision "threatens significant harm to public safety," the Justice Department said in a filing to the Supreme Court. "Bump stocks allow a shooter to fire hundreds of bullets a minute by a single pull of the trigger.

Persons: George Frey, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, Michael Cargill, Cargill, Richard Samp, Samp, Biden, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Supreme, Trump, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, U.S . Justice Department, National Firearms Act, New Civil Liberties Alliance, Cargill, ATF, U.S . Justice, Circuit, Justice Department, National Rifle Association, Thomson Locations: Orem , Utah, U.S, Austin , Texas, Las Vegas, New Orleans, United States, New York

Federal appeals courts have come to different decisions about whether the regulation defining a bump stock as a machine gun comports with federal law. The Trump administration’s ban on bump stocks was an about-face for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The full U.S. 5th Circuit ruled 13-3 in January that Congress would have to change federal law to ban bump stocks. But a panel of three judges on the federal appeals court in Washington looked at the same language and came to a different conclusion. As such, it is a machine gun under the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act.”A decision is expected by early summer in Garland v. Cargill, 22-976.

Persons: Biden, Trump, Obama, Jennifer Walker Elrod, Robert Wilkins Organizations: WASHINGTON, Supreme, Justice Department, U.S, Circuit, Trump, of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Las, ATF, 5th Circuit, National Firearms Act, Control, U.S ., Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, Cargill Locations: Las Vegas, New Orleans, Washington, Garland

☆ Opinion | The Laws of Campus Culture War
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( David French | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +15 min

They represent the moral and philosophical foundations for the concrete constitutional rules of culture war that directly apply on campus. One of the most powerful and compelling arguments for free speech in American history was born out of mob suppression. In 1860, Frederick Douglass wrote his “Plea for Free Speech in Boston” after a violent mob shut down an antislavery event. Every college and university — public or private — that receives federal funds has an affirmative duty to protect students’ civil rights. In the recent past, schools have sometimes been too enthusiastic about stopping harassment, defining the term so broadly that university anti-harassment policies actually violate students’ free speech rights.

Persons: George Washington, ”, “, Abraham, ” Washington, Johnson, Watts, they’re, Deactivating, Frederick Douglass, ” Douglass, Biden, Davis, VI, Scott Alexander’s, it’s, — Organizations: State University System of, Justice, Cooper Union, Cornell University, Trees School, . Ohio, Klan, Hamas, Civil, of Education, Cornell, Democratic Locations: State University System of Florida, Palestine, New York City, Ithaca, N.Y, ”, United States, America, Newport, R.I, Texas, Terminiello, Chicago, Brandenburg, ., Ohio, “, Gaza, Florida, Boston, Monroe County

In the Minnesota case, the plaintiffs are asking the state’s highest court to declare that Trump is disqualified and direct the secretary of state to keep him off the ballot for the state’s March 5 primary. But as awful as the melee was, and as disturbing as the rioters’ actions were, it was not a war upon the United States,” they wrote in an earlier filing. The Minnesota Supreme Court justices have scheduled just over an hour for oral arguments Thursday. The Minnesota case was filed by Free Speech For People, while the Colorado case came from another long-established group with significant legal resources, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. In Colorado, ballot challenges first go to a judge for a hearing and then can be appealed to the state Supreme Court.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, “, Trump, They’ve, Biden's, Trump’s, ”, ″, don’t, —, Joan Growe, Paul Anderson, Steve Simon, Simon, ___ Riccardi Organizations: PAUL, Trump, U.S . Capitol, U.S, Supreme, United States, Capitol, Republican Party of Minnesota Locations: Minnesota, Colorado, United States, The Minnesota, Washington . In Colorado, Denver

☆ National Association of Realtors CEO quits earlier than expected after federal lawsuit loss
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Laya Neelakandan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The National Association of Realtors announced Thursday that CEO Bob Goldberg will resign earlier than expected, as the group contends with the fallout from a federal lawsuit and a harassment scandal. The leadership transition comes days after a federal jury found the association — and some residential brokerages, including units of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway — liable for conspiring to artificially inflate commissions from home sales. The association did not mention the lawsuit in Goldberg's decision to step down. Starting Nov. 30, Goldberg will be replaced by Nykia Wright, who's serving as interim CEO while the association searches for a permanent replacement. Goldberg will continue to serve as an executive consultant through the transition, the association added.

Persons: Bob Goldberg, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway —, Kenny Parcell, Goldberg, Nykia Wright, who's Organizations: National Association of Realtors, NAR, New York Times, CNBC PRO Locations: Edmonton , Alberta, Canada, Warren

The Chicago-based NAR said Thursday that Bob Goldberg would be stepping down after a 30-year career at the trade association. Nykia Wright, former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times, was tapped to take over on an interim basis, beginning Nov. 20. Real estate agents must be dues-paying members of the NAR in order to advertise themselves as Realtors. Its size and influence in the U.S. real estate industry has not only made the trade association a target in litigation, but also brought it under the scrutiny of the Justice Department. The department filed a complaint in 2020 against the NAR, alleging it established and enforced rules and policies that illegally restrained competition in residential real estate services.

Persons: Bob Goldberg, Nykia Wright, Goldberg, “, Wright, Kenny Parcell, Tracy Kasper Organizations: ANGELES, National Association of Realtors, Chicago Sun, NAR, The New York Times, Realtors, Justice Department, of, U.S ., Times Locations: Chicago, Kansas City , Missouri, Missouri, The, Utah, U.S, Western, of Missouri

(AP) — Indiana's attorney general violated professional conduct rules in statements he made about a doctor who provided an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio in the weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, according to a court opinion filed Thursday. At the time, Ohio law prohibited abortions after six weeks of pregnancy but the girl could still be provided a legal abortion in Indiana. The opinion specifically faulted Rokita for describing Bernard on the show as an “abortion activist acting as a doctor — with a history of failing to report" instances of abuse. In his statement, Rokita said he signed an affidavit to bring the proceedings to a close and to “save a lot of taxpayer money and distraction." Within weeks of Bernard's July 2022 interview about providing the abortion, Indiana became the first state to approve abortion restrictions after the U.S. Supreme Court ended constitutional protections.

Persons: —, Roe, Wade, Caitlin Bernard, Todd Rokita, Bernard, Rokita, ”, “, Gerson Fuentes Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Indianapolis Star, The Indiana, Republican, Fox News, Rokita, Associated Press, Indiana University Health Locations: INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Ohio, Indiana, Indianapolis

☆ California healthcare provider's move shows pitfalls of Medicare Advantage
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Mark Miller | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

But Part D prescription drug or Medicare Advantage coverage should be reviewed. Medicare Advantage enrollment has grown quickly over the past decade, partly due to its all-in-one features and lower upfront costs. Medicare Advantage plans can drop healthcare providers from their networks - and that happens when providers and insurers cannot agree on contract terms. The Scripps decision marks a new twist: healthcare systems deciding to drop out of Medicare Advantage. During the annual enrollment period, it is possible to drop Medicare Advantage in favor of traditional, fee-for-service Medicare.

Persons: Scripps, Chris Van Gorder, ”, “, Sophie Exdell, Medigap, Exdell, Mark Miller, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Scripps Health, Diego, Medicare, Scripps, Health Insurance, Program, Reuters, Thomson Locations: San Diego , California, Southern California, San Diego, Connecticut, Maine , Massachusetts, New York, In California

☆ Mormon church sued again over how it uses tithing contributions from members
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, historic Mormon Salt Lake Temple is shown here with Christmas light display in Salt Lake City, Utah. The church agreed to pay $1 million and Ensign Peak will pay $4 million. Their lawsuit seeks class-action certification, potentially involving millions of church members, and an independent entity to oversee collection and use of church donations. Ensign Peak has spent funds only twice in its 26-year history, according to both lawsuits. From 2010-2014 it put $1.4 billion to build a mall near Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City.

Persons: of Jesus Christ, doesn't, James Huntsman, Jon Huntsman, Jr, didn't, Huntsman's, Daniel Chappell, Masen Christensen, John Oaks, Huntsman, David Nielsen, Ensign Peak Organizations: of Jesus, Utah Gov, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Corporation of, Advisors, U.S . Senate, U.S, Ninth Circuit Locations: Salt Lake, Salt Lake City , Utah, U.S, Salt Lake City, California, Virginia, Utah, Temple

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The state of Tennessee has agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a federal lawsuit by its former vaccine leader over her firing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current and former health commissioners, and the state's chief medical officer agreed that they will not “disparage” Fiscus. Some lawmakers even threatened to dissolve the Health Department because of such marketing. A publicized Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security investigation indicated the package was sent from an Amazon account using a credit card, both in her name. Those are among several laws passed by Tennessee Republican lawmakers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that restrict vaccination or masking rules.

Persons: Michelle Fiscus, ”, Fiscus, “ Organizations: Tennessee Department of Health, Department of Health, Department, COVID, of Health, Republican, Tennessee Department of Safety, Homeland Security, Tennessee Republican Locations: Tenn, Tennessee

Marshals have for the first time released data on how many people were shot by their officers or other police working with them. Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis ordered the review last year, saying it reflects the seriousness of shots fired by officers. The report does not include information on whether the shootings were deemed legally justified nor data on more recent shootings, though it does say that those outlined in the report were independently investigated. The aim was to study policies, training, tactics and equipment to figure out ways to make shootings less likely or destructive in the future, the report released Tuesday states. Marshals, and they work with more than 3,500 task force officers from departments around the U.S., the report states.

Persons: It's, Ronald Davis, Marshal, Chase White, “, Lee Friedman, Geoffrey Alpert, ” Alpert Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Marshals, Justice Department, FBI, University of Illinois, University of South Locations: Tucson , Arizona, Texas, U.S, Chicago, University of South Carolina

[1/3] The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) logo is seen at the FDIC headquarters in Washington, February 23, 2011. FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg said in March the agency was also probing possible misconduct related to the collapses of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank (SBNY.PK) New York. As with SVB and Signature Bank, the FDIC is probing whether First Republic executives and board members broke rules that require them to act in the bank's best interests. NO ACTIONThe March implosions of SVB and Signature Bank sparked a deposit run at First Republic. FDIC bank failure probes can take years.

Persons: Jason Reed, Martin Gruenberg, SVB, Michael Roffler, James Herbert, Roffler, Michael Krimminger, IndyMac, Michael Perry, Douglas Gillison, Christine Prentice, Michelle Price, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, REUTERS, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, First Republic Bank, Reuters, FDIC, Valley Bank, Signature Bank, Regulators, First Republic, U.S . Justice Department, Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, First, Bloomberg, Federal, JPMorgan Chase &, JPMorgan, Reserve, New, Thomson Locations: Washington, Republic, New York, First Republic, Massachusetts, SVB

☆ Pilot indicted for threatening to shoot captain who tried to divert a commercial flight for medical emergency, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Lauren Mascarenhas | Rashard Rose | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Jonathan J. Dunn was indicted by a Utah grand jury on October 18 and charged with interference with a flight crew, stemming from an August 2022 incident, according to court documents. Dunn was authorized to carry a gun on board the plane due to the Transportation Security Administration’s Federal Flight Deck Officer program, the Inspector General’s office said. The Federal Flight Deck Officer program was developed in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks and involves training and arming pilots to handle an in-flight attack, such as a hijacking attempt. “Upon successful completion, the pilot is deputized as a federal law enforcement officer and issued a TSA-approved firearm and federal flight deck officer credentials,” the Transportation Security Administration said. Pilots, flight engineers and flight navigators who meet certain requirements are eligible for the program, according to the agency.

Persons: Jonathan J, Dunn, “, General, General’s Organizations: CNN, US Department of Transportation, Delta, Transportation Security, TSA, Transportation Security Administration, Pilots, FBI, Federal Aviation Administration, District of Locations: Utah, District of Utah

Delta Air Lines said Wednesday that the pilot accused of threatening to shoot the plane's captain during a flight no longer works for the airline, and federal officials say his authority to carry a gun on board was revoked. The incidents have revived debate about psychological screening, which relies largely on trusting pilots to volunteer information about their mental health. Ross Aimer, retired airline pilot and now CEO of an aviation consulting company, said screening for mental health is far less than for drug and alcohol use and needs to be improved. He said pilots are unlikely to volunteer information that could point to mental health problems. “If I mention something about having mental issues, I’m done" — a pilot's career can be over — Aimer said.

Persons: Jonathan J, Dunn, ” Dunn, “, Joseph David Emerson, Ross Aimer, — Aimer Organizations: Delta Air Lines, Transportation, Administration, TSA, Pilots, Attorney’s, Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air Locations: Utah, New Mexico, U.S, Salt Lake City, The U.S, midflight, Pleasant Hill , California, Portland , Oregon

☆ A Drop in American Gun Violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( German Lopez | More About German Lopez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The smaller thingsThe national conversation about gun violence focuses on big federal policy ideas. Activists and pundits often speak about the need for a federal law enacting universal background checks or banning assault weapons. “But the idea is these kinds of regulations accumulate.”After all, America’s gun problem is rooted in easy access to firearms. But when these problems turn violent, quick access to guns makes that violence much more likely to become lethal. Anything that adds barriers to picking up a firearm in such moments reduces deaths, whether it’s incremental state policies or broader federal laws.

Persons: Sharkey, Kang, “, ” Sharkey Locations: Canada, Europe, Japan, U.S, America

The justices are set to hear arguments in the agency's appeal of a lower court's decision that reversed its denial of attorney Steve Elster's trademark application for "Trump Too Small" - an irreverent criticism of former President Donald Trump - to use on T-shirts. Elster applied for the trademark in 2018, invoking an exchange between Trump and U.S. Elster said that "Trump Too Small" expressed his opinion about "the smallness of Donald Trump's overall approach to governing." The trademark office rejected Elster's application based on a 1946 federal law that bans the use of a person's name in a trademark without their permission. The Supreme Court in recent years has struck down two trademark laws, citing free speech concerns.

Persons: Donald Trump, Scott Morgan, Steve Elster's, Elster, Marco Rubio, Trump, Rubio, Marco, Donald Trump's, Joe Biden, Erik Brunetti, Joe, Hillary, Blake Brittain, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Rights, Supreme, U.S . Patent, Trump, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Sioux City , Iowa, U.S, California, America, Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — Another day, another Supreme Court case with a mention of former President Donald Trump. Government officials said the phrase “Trump too small” could still be used, just not trademarked because Trump had not consented to its use. But a federal appeals court said refusing trademark registration violated free speech rights. ... And you know what they say about men with small hands,” Rubio said. Are they small hands?

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden’s, Steve Elster, Marco Rubio . Rubio, Marco ”, “, ” Rubio, ” Trump, ”, shouldn't, Vidal v . Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Justice, Government, Trump, White, U.S . Capitol, Justice Department Locations: California, Florida, Vidal v, Vidal v . Elster

Political Cartoons View All 1230 ImagesThe Montana State Hospital violates those laws and its patients' constitutional rights to dignity and due process, the lawsuit states. DiMauro, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2012, was admitted to the Montana State Hospital in September 2020. Staff also failed to treat a wound on his forehead that he suffered in a fall, the lawsuit states. Patzoldt, then 75, was admitted to the Montana State Hospital on Oct. 19, 2021, after having behavioral disruptions at a memory care center. A review of his records found his heart medication was not given to him for nearly three weeks in November 2021, the lawsuit states.

Persons: HELENA, Lucio DiMauro, David Patzoldt, Lesley Jungers, Greg Gianforte, Patzoldt, cellulitis Organizations: —, Montana State Hospital, Department of Public Health, Human Services, The Montana State Hospital, Staff, Medicare, Services Locations: Mont, Butte, Spokespeople, COVID, Montana

☆ Biden’s ‘Junk Fee’ Crackdown Comes for Retirement Advice
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Anne Tergesen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The U.S. Labor Department on Tuesday proposed that financial advisers, brokers and insurance agents should be held to the fiduciary standard on rollover IRAs. Photo: Erin Scott/BloombergAmericans rolling over their money into an individual retirement account from a 401(k) will have more protections on the advice they get as part of a Labor Department proposal released Tuesday. Under a 1974 federal law that governs retirement accounts, employers have a duty to manage 401(k) plans in the best interest of employees, including to vet the investments and fees. Known as Erisa, the law also imposes this fiduciary standard on advisers to act in a client’s best interest when giving advice in 401(k)s.

Persons: Erin Scott Organizations: U.S . Labor Department, Bloomberg, Labor Department

Plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit have asked a judge to order changes in how the home-sale industry operates. Photo: Rich Pedroncelli/Associated PressKANSAS CITY, Mo.—A federal jury on Tuesday found the National Association of Realtors and large residential brokerages liable for about $1.8 billion in damages after determining they conspired to keep commissions for home sales artificially high. The verdict could lead to industrywide upheaval by changing decades-old rules that have helped lock in commission rates even as home prices have skyrocketed—which has allowed real-estate agents to collect ever-larger sums. It comes in the first of two antitrust lawsuits arguing that unlawful industry practices have left consumers unable to lower their costs even though internet-era innovations have allowed many buyers to find homes themselves online.

Persons: Rich Pedroncelli, — Organizations: Associated Press KANSAS CITY, National Association of Realtors Locations: Mo

Persons: Rich Pedroncelli, — Organizations: Associated Press KANSAS CITY, National Association of Realtors Locations: Mo

☆ Opinion | American Muslims Are in a Painful, Familiar Place
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Rozina Ali | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +10 min

Indeed, it’s been dizzying to witness the speed at which the same patterns we saw after Sept. 11, 2001, are playing out. In the United States, it’s as if the country has turned back the clock two decades, but not in the way that Mr. Biden suggests. For those who experienced waves of harassment and government surveillance in the years after Sept. 11, the president’s pledge of “unwavering” support for Israel set off alarm bells. Today, many Muslims in the United States fear a new outbreak of violence. Days after the attacks in Israel, the Biden administration announced that local and federal law enforcement officers across the United States are “closely monitoring” for connected threats.

Persons: Biden, it’s, Abu Ghraib, Donald Trump, — we’ve, we’ve, Wadea Al, Fayoume, Joseph Czuba, Czuba, “, Wadea, Imam Omar Suleiman, Trump, ” Abed Ayoub, —, Islam, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, George W, Bush, Mr, didn’t, We’ve Organizations: Civilian, West Bank, Israel, F.B.I, Islamic, Hamas, Companies, Rights Watch, Mr Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, United, Afghanistan, United States, U.S, America, hijabs, Illinois, Iraq, Islamic State, Syria, New York City, Qatar, N.Y.U

☆ New Biden target in junk fee crackdown: retirement advisers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The proposed Labor Department rules require retirement plan providers to only sell commodities and insurance products, such as annuities, to clients when doing so is in the customer's best interest. "Financial advisors should put savers best interest first, and not sell them lower returning products in order to maximize their own fees," Lael Brainard, director of the White House National Economic Council, said. "When a retirement saver pays for trusted advice that is actually not in their best interest and comes at a hidden cost to their lifetime savings, that's a junk fee," Brainard said. Taking on "junk fees" gives Biden and his allies fodder to show they are helping people tackle costs as many Americans are dissatisfied with his economic stewardship. The proposed rule would ensure that retirement advisers must provide advice in the saver’s best interest, regardless of whether they are recommending a security or insurance product and where they are giving advice, senior administration officials said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Biden, Lael Brainard, Brainard, doesn't, Jarrett Renshaw, Michael Perry Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, White, REUTERS, Labor Department, National Economic Council, Securities, Exchange Commission, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, IRAs

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