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☆ Meta has managed to get 33 US states to agree on something
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

See here: More than three dozen states are suing the parent company of Instagram and Facebook over fears that its platforms’ “addictive” features are harming teens’ mental health. In a federal lawsuit filed in California, 33 attorneys general allege that Meta’s products have harmed minors and contributed to a mental health crisis in the United States. Eight additional attorneys general sued Meta in state courts, making similar claims. And the state of Florida sued the company in its own federal lawsuit alleging it misled users about potential health risks. The federal complaint filed in California calls for court orders prohibiting Meta from violating the law and, in the case of many states, unspecified financial penalties.

Persons: CNN Business ’, New York CNN —, Brian Fung, Frances Haugen, Meta, Jonathan Skrmetti, ”, “ We’re, Haugen, didn’t, can’t, Phil Weiser, Meta’s, you’ll Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Meta, Facebook, Big Tech, Wall Street, ” Colorado, Google Locations: New York, California, United States, Florida, Tennessee

The largest was in cases where defendants plotted violent attacks that ultimately failed or were foiled, where international defendants received an average prison sentence of 11.2 years, compared with 1.6 years for domestic defendants. For violent cases that led to injuries, domestic defendants received on average 8.6 years, versus 34.6 for international defendants. The disparity was smaller, but still significant, in violent fatal attacks with domestic cases at about 28.8 years and international cases at about 39.2 years. People charged in violent domestic cases also often faced less serious charges not often associated with crimes of terror, like illegal possession of firearms, the study found. “These domestic terrorists are being treated more like run-of-the-mill criminal defendants and receiving sentences far below those of international terrorism defendants,” he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, America ”, ”, Shirin Sinnar, Jan, START’s Michael Jensen, —, Pete Simi, “, Simi, Sinnar, ” Sinnar, George Varghese, Timothy Kelly, Proud, Enrique Tarrio, Zachary Rehl, Kelly, Rehl, Jensen, ___, Jason Dearen, Michelle R, Smith Organizations: University of Maryland, Associated Press, Boys, Stanford Law School, AP, University of Maryland's National Consortium, Center, Health and Homeland Security, U.S, Chapman University, State Department, National Guard, United Locations: America, U.S, radicalizing, York, jdearen@ap.org, Investigative@ap.org

☆ States Sue Meta Alleging Harm to Young People on Instagram, Facebook
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jeff Horwitz | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The headquarters of Meta Platforms. Lawsuits say the company misled the public about the dangers of its platforms for young people. Photo: CARLOS BARRIA/REUTERSA coalition of 41 states and the District of Columbia are filing lawsuits alleging that Meta Platforms has intentionally built its products with addictive features that harm young users of its Facebook and Instagram services. The lawsuits, in federal and state courts, say Meta misled the public about the dangers of its platforms for young people. The states are seeking to force Meta to change product features that they say pose dangers to young users.

Persons: CARLOS BARRIA, Meta Organizations: Meta, REUTERS, District of Columbia, Facebook

☆ Senate Confirms Biden’s Nominee to Lead the F.A.A.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Mark Walker | More About Mark Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Michael G. Whitaker, a former Obama administration official, to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, filling a key vacancy that had persisted for more than 18 months. His swift bipartisan confirmation underscored the desire of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to install a permanent administrator atop the nation’s aviation regulator. Mr. Whitaker now faces the challenge of stabilizing an agency that has been in turmoil and providing the flying public with the confidence that the country’s air travel system is safe and reliable. A system outage grounded flights nationwide in January, and a series of near collisions at airports around the country have raised fears about whether the air travel system is being stressed to the point of danger. has been without a permanent leader since Stephen Dickson, a former Delta Air Lines executive and an appointee of President Donald J. Trump, stepped down last year.

Persons: Michael G, Whitaker, Obama, Biden’s, Stephen Dickson, Donald J, Trump, Polly Trottenberg Organizations: Federal Aviation Administration, Delta Air Lines

☆ Apple lines up to support nationwide right-to-repair legislation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Apple said on Tuesday that it supports nationwide right-to-repair regulation that would make iPhone parts and tools available to customers, the latest sign of the company's shift toward supporting independent repair. Apple said it sees "real value" in a national law at a White House event on Tuesday. In a short talk, Apple service VP Brian Naumann said that Apple makes parts, tools, and manuals available to independent repair stores in the U.S., highlighting the company's current policy under its self-service repair program. The recent endorsement of the California law and the pending national bill is a shift from Apple, which previously opposed right-to-repair laws. But Apple has relaxed its position in recent years, introducing a program to rent tools and buy parts in 2021.

Persons: Apple, Biden, Lael Brainard, Brainard, Apple's, Brian Naumann, Naumann Organizations: Apple, National Economic, Microsoft, House Locations: U.S, California , Colorado , Minnesota, New York, California

A group of 33 states including California and New York are suing Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people’s mental health and contributing the youth mental health crisis by knowingly designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. “Kids and teenagers are suffering from record levels of poor mental health and social media companies like Meta are to blame,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. Political Cartoons View All 1215 ImagesThe use of social media among teens is nearly universal in the U.S. and many other parts of the world. Up to 95% of youth ages 13 to 17 in the U.S. report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center. Other measures social platforms have taken to address concerns about children’s mental health are also easily circumvented.

Persons: ”, Letitia James, “ Meta, Instagram, Frances Haugen, TikTok, Vivek Murthy Organizations: Meta Platforms Inc, Facebook, Meta, New, The Wall Street, Associated Press, Pew Research Center, U.S Locations: California, New York, California , Florida , Kentucky , Massachusetts , Nebraska , New Jersey , Tennessee, Vermont, British, U.S

Its motive is profit, and in seeking to maximize its financial gains, Meta has repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its social media platforms,” the complaint says. Almost all teens ages 13 to 17 in the U.S. report using a social media platform, with about a third saying they use social media “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center. Other measures social platforms have taken to address concerns about children’s mental health are also easily circumvented. TikTok, Snapchat and other social platforms that have also been blamed for contributing to the youth mental health crisis are not part of Tuesday’s lawsuit. “They’re the worst of the worst when it comes to using technology to addict teenagers to social media, all in the furtherance of putting profits over people.”In May, U.S.

Persons: Meta, ”, Letitia James, “ Meta, ” “ We’re, Instagram, Frances Haugen, Rob Bonta, TikTok, Brian Schwalb, they’re, “, Vivek Murthy, Press Writers Michael Casey, Michael Goldberg, Susan Haigh, Maysoon Khan, Ashraf Khalil Organizations: Meta Platforms Inc, Facebook, Meta, D.C, “, New, The Wall Street, Associated Press, Pew Research Center, Washington D.C, U.S, Press Writers Locations: California, New York, Washington, California , Florida , Kentucky , Massachusetts , Nebraska , New Jersey , Tennessee, Vermont, British, U.S

☆ 23andMe notifies customers of data breach into its 'DNA Relatives' feature
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Zeba Siddiqui | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Genetics testing company 23andMe (ME.O) on Tuesday sent emails to several customers to inform them of a breach into the "DNA Relatives" feature that allowed them to compare ancestry information with users worldwide. In the new emails, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, 23andMe told customers there was a breach of one or more accounts connected to theirs through the "DNA Relatives" feature. "There was unauthorized access to one or more 23andMe accounts that were connected to you through DNA Relatives," the company told customers in the email on Tuesday. "As a result, the DNA Relatives profile information you provided in this feature was exposed to the threat actor." loadingEarlier, the company had said hackers may have used credentials leaked from other websites to breach 23andMe accounts - a technique known as 'credential stuffing'.

Persons: 23andMe, Katie Watson, Alexandra Ulmer, David Gregorio Our Organizations: FRANCISCO, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S, San Francisco

What’s going to stop that?” said Jon Loffi, a longtime law enforcement officer who teaches aviation security at Oklahoma State University and wrote a paper on identifying insider threats. The Federal Aviation Administration says its approved medical examiners are trained to gauge a pilot's mental health. The Horizon close call could result in the re-examination of the practice of letting off-duty pilots or other airline employees sit in the cockpit jump seat. Security experts say it would be difficult if not impossible to stop every determined criminal or terrorist who targets aviation. The off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who was arrested Sunday joined Horizon as a first officer or co-pilot in 2001.

Persons: We’re, ”, Jon Loffi, It's, Joseph David Emerson, Emerson, Jeffrey Price, “, Ross Aimer, ” Price, ” Loffi, Loffi, Pete Buttigieg, Karen Yee, ” Allen Scott, ___ Claire Rush Organizations: Alaska Airlines, Oklahoma State University, FAA, FBI, Federal Aviation Administration, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Oklahoma State, FedEx, Pacific Southwest Airlines, Security, Transportation Security Administration, Sunday, Virgin America, Mercury, San Francisco Chronicle Locations: U.S, Oklahoma, French, California, Alaska, Multnomah County , Oregon, Portland, Pleasant Hill , California, San Francisco, Jose, Portland , Oregon

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit challenging Tennessee's aggravated prostitution statute, arguing that the law stems from the decades-old AIDS scare and discriminates against HIV-positive people. The law was later reclassified in 2010 as a “violent sexual offense," requiring those convicted to face lifetime sex offender registration. Another plaintiff has struggled for years to find housing that complies with Tennessee's sex offender registry requirements. A separate plaintiff is currently incarcerated for violating a sex offender registry requirement and has chosen not to seek parole despite being eligible because complying with registry requirements has become so onerous. According to the complaint, 83 people are currently registered for aggravated prostitution in Tennessee.

Persons: ”, Molly Quinn, OUTMemphis, Bill Lee, Jonathan Skrmetti, David Rausch, Frank Strada, —, Jane Doe Organizations: American Civil Liberties Union, Transgender Law Center, ”, of, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, Memphis Police, Unit Locations: Tenn, Tennessee, United States, U.S, Memphis, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Shelby County

☆ Meta sued by 33 US states in lawsuit accusing it of damaging young people's mental health with addictive Facebook and Instagram features
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Thirty-three states sued Meta, alleging potential harm to young people's mental health. The states accuse Meta of designing Instagram and Facebook features that addict children to the platforms. The lawsuit followed an investigation by a coalition of attorneys general. In addition to the 33 states, nine other attorneys general are filing in their respective states, bringing the total number of states taking action to 42. The broad-ranging suit is the result of an investigation led by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Vermont.

Persons: —, Meta, Letitia James, Instagram Organizations: Meta, Service, Meta Platforms Inc, Facebook, New, Wall Street Locations: California, New York, California , Florida , Kentucky , Massachusetts , Nebraska , New Jersey , Tennessee, Vermont

☆ Meta's harmful effects on children is one issue that unites Republicans and Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

While Republican and Democratic lawmakers appear more incapable than ever of working together to pass legislation, they largely agree on one thing: Meta's negative impact on children and teens. Another nine attorneys general are also filing lawsuits in their respective states. "Meta has profited from children's pain by intentionally designing its platforms with manipulative features that make children addicted to their platforms while lowering their self-esteem. Meanwhile, Tennessee's Republican Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti noted that polarization in politics is unlike anything this country has seen "since the Civil War." Yet Skrmetti is firmly in James's camp when it comes to Meta.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Chuck Schumer, Faceboook's, Letitia James, Meta, Jonathan Skrmetti, Skrmetti, Matt Gaetz, California's Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden Organizations: Facebook, Intelligence, Senate, U.S, Capitol, Washington , D.C, Republican, Democratic, Meta, Representatives, Republicans, GOP Locations: Washington ,, Florida

☆ States sue Instagram-parent Meta over 'addictive' features and youth mental health harms
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Dozens of states sued Instagram-parent Meta on Tuesday, accusing the social media giant of harming young users’ mental health through allegedly addictive features such as infinite news feeds and frequent notifications that demand users’ constant attention. In a federal lawsuit filed in California by 33 attorneys general, the states allege that Meta’s products have harmed minors and contributed to a mental health crisis in the United States. “Social media companies, including Meta, have contributed to a national youth mental health crisis and they must be held accountable. Battle lines renewedTuesday’s multipronged legal assault marks the newest attempt by states to rein in large tech platforms over fears that social media companies are fueling a spike in youth depression and suicidal ideation. In some cases, the tech industry has challenged those laws in court — for example, by claiming that Arkansas’ social media law violates residents’ First Amendment rights to access information.

Persons: Instagram, Meta, ”, Letitia James, Brian Schwalb, ” Meta, “ We’re, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers Organizations: CNN, “ Social, Meta, District of Columbia, Google Locations: California, United States, New York, Arkansas, Louisiana, District, Colorado , Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii , Idaho , Illinois , Indiana , Kansas , Kentucky, Maine , Maryland , Michigan, Minnesota , Missouri , Nebraska , New Jersey , New York, North Carolina , North Dakota , Ohio , Oregon , Pennsylvania, Rhode Island , South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, District of Columbia , Massachusetts , Mississippi , New Hampshire , Oklahoma , Tennessee , Utah, Vermont

The Labor Day tragedy in 2019 spurred changes to maritime regulations, congressional reform and civil lawsuits. At the time of the fire, no owner, operator or charterer had been cited or fined for failure to post a roving patrol since 1991, Coast Guard records showed. The NTSB faulted the Coast Guard for not enforcing that requirement and recommended it develop a program to ensure boats with overnight passengers actually have the watchman. The Coast Guard has since enacted new regulations regarding fire detection systems, extinguishers, escape routes and other safety measures as mandated by Congress. Victims' families have sued the Coast Guard in one of several ongoing civil suits.

Persons: Jerry Boylan, It's, ”, Kathleen McIlvain, Charles, Boylan, who’d, George Wu, Prosecutors, Wu, they’ve, ’, we’ll, ” McIlvain, Dana Fritzler Organizations: ANGELES, Labor, Transportation Safety, District, Associated Press, U.S, Attorney's, Los Angeles Times, Bureau, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Coast Guard, NTSB, Congress, Inc, Court Locations: Southern California, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Antarctica, U.S

(AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday proposed banning the cancer-causing chemical trichloroethylene, which can be found in consumer products including automobile brake cleaners, furniture care and arts and crafts spray coating. “Today, EPA is taking a major step to protect people from exposure to this cancer-causing chemical.”Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey, who has led the effort to ban TCE, welcomed the move. Political Cartoons View All 1215 Images“With this rule, we can see a future where we will no longer be manufacturing, processing and distributing a chemical known to be deadly,” Markey said. The chemical presents an “unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment” in 52 of 54 uses in industrial and consumer products, the EPA has found. The 2016 law required the EPA to evaluate chemicals and put in place protections against unreasonable risks.

Persons: TCE, Michal Freedhoff, Massachusetts Sen, Edward Markey, ” Markey, “, Anne Anderson, Jimmy, Anne, ” Anderson, Frank, Matthew Daly Organizations: Environmental Protection Agency, of Chemical Safety, “, EPA, Woburn, Andersons, Chemical, Press Locations: WOBURN, Mass, U.S, United States, Massachusetts, Woburn ., America, Woburn, Washington

“Partial-birth abortion” is a non-medical term for a procedure known as dilation and extraction, or D&X, which is already federally prohibited. “It would allow a partial-birth abortion,” Ohio Gov. “If the federal law prohibits a particular technique, then that’s going to prevail over a state law that might be inconsistent,” he said. DeWine was serving in the U.S. Senate when the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act was passed in 2003. “‘Partial-birth abortion’ is a made-up term that only serves to create confusion and stigmatize abortion later in pregnancy,” she said.

Persons: hasn't, ”, Mike DeWine, we’ve, —, Dan Kobil, Jonathan Entin, DeWine, George W, Bush, Dan Tierney, Kobil, it’s “, Dave Yost, “, he’s, Kelsey Pritchard, Susan B, Anthony Pro, Amy Natoce, ” Mae Winchester, “ ‘, ’, “ It’s, it’s, Martin Haskell, Haskell, Mike Gonidakis, ” Haskell, Kellie Copeland, ” Ohio hasn’t, Pritchard, Christine Fernando Organizations: Republicans, ”, ” Ohio Gov, Capital University, Constitution, Case Western State University, “, Supreme, U.S . Senate, U.S, Republican, The Ohio, America, Biden Administration, Protect Women, Ohio, Ohioans United, Reproductive Rights, Health Department, Associated Press Locations: COLUMBUS , Ohio, Ohio, U.S, ” Ohio, Columbus, U.S ., The, Protect Women Ohio, Cleveland, Chicago

☆ These redistricting fights could determine which party controls the House
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Before the court action, Alabama – which is 27% Black – had only one Black-majority congressional district out of seven seats. The case is expected to land before the all-Republican state Supreme Court, where DeSantis appointees hold most seats. A separate federal case in Georgia challenges the congressional map on constitutional grounds and is slated to go to trial next month. UtahThe state Supreme Court, in a case it heard in July, is considering whether it even has the authority to weigh in on map-drawing decisions by the GOP-controlled state legislature. Advocacy groups and a handful of voters are challenging a congressional map that further carved up Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County between four decidedly Republican districts.

Persons: “, ”, David Wasserman, Amy Walter, Wasserman, Adam Kincaid, Kincaid, it’s, Nick Seabrook, –, John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, Ron DeSantis, Al Lawson, Steve Jones, Jones preliminarily, Andy Barr, Amy McGrath, Barr, Kareem Crayton, Brennan, Gabe Vasquez –, Chris Cooper, Jeff Jackson, Wiley Nickel, Kathy Manning, Don Davis, Valerie Foushee –, Davis, Roy Cooper, Nancy Mace, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Republicans, The, Republican, Black, National Republican Redistricting Trust, University of North, House, US, Gov, Black Democrat, Georgia Republicans, – Democratic, Congressional, Republican –, GOP, Louisiana Republicans, Appeals, Brennan Center for Justice . New, Brennan Center for Justice . New Mexico Republicans, New, New York Republicans, North Carolina, Democrats, Western Carolina University, Foushee, North, Democratic Gov, Supreme, Republican Rep, House GOP Locations: North Carolina, New York , Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, New York, University of North Florida, America, Louisiana, Florida, Black, North Florida, Atlanta, Peach, . Kentucky, Kentucky, Frankfort, Democratic, Brennan Center for Justice . New Mexico, New Mexico, Mexico, Empire, “, Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, state’s, Carolina, Charleston, Utah, Salt Lake County, Salt, Texas, Tennessee

(AP) — A manhunt for a suspect in the fatal shooting of a Maryland judge continued for a fourth day Sunday as authorities completed their search of an area where the suspect's SUV was found. Officials said Pedro Argote, 49, is suspected of gunning down Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson in his driveway on Thursday, hours after Wilkinson ruled against him in a divorce case. On Sunday, the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post that authorities have concluded their search of the Williamsport area. “No further information indicates that Argote is still in the immediate area,” the sheriff's office said. Wilkinson, 52, was shot the same day he awarded custody of Argote’s children to his wife.

Persons: Pedro Argote, gunning, Andrew Wilkinson, Wilkinson, Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert, Albert, Argote, Joe Biden, Roe, Wade Organizations: Sheriff’s, Washington County Sheriff, U.S . Marshals Service, Marshals Service, U.S, Supreme Locations: HAGERSTOWN, Md, Maryland, Washington, Williamsport, Hagerstown, Washington County, Brooklyn, Long, , New York, Tampa, Clearwater , Florida, Columbus , Indiana, North Carolina

The pleas are a stark display of the reality that the Georgia case against Trump and his co-defendants is getting stronger. For two prominent Trump co-defendants – Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro – the looming five-month trial, potentially resulting in a yearslong prison sentence, appears to have spurred them into flipping. Chesebro directly implicated Trump in a criminal conspiracy, and his plea establishes for the first time that the fake electors plot was illegal. Trump is the only person charged thus far in the federal case, but both Chesebro and Powell are unindicted co-conspirators. Sadow brushed off the threat of possible testimony from Chesebro and Powell at Trump’s eventual trial on the Georgia election subversion charges.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Trump, – Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro –, Trump Chesebro, Chesebro, Powell, Powell’s, Steve Sadow, Trump’s, Chesebro’s, ”, “, Fani Willis, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Sadow, ” Sadow Organizations: CNN, Trump, Justice, White, Prosecutors, Justice Department Locations: Fulton County , Georgia, Georgia, “, Coffee County , Georgia, Fulton, New York, Chesebro

☆ Baltimore to pay $48 million after wrongful convictions, imprisonment of Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins, Andrew Stewart
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Jay Croft | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Baltimore has agreed to pay $48 million to three men who were wrongfully convicted of murder as teenagers and spent 36 years in prison. Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins and Andrew Stewart were 16 when they were arrested on Thanksgiving Day 1983, according to the federal lawsuit they filed after being freed. Mary Stewart, left, walks with her son, Andrew Stewart and her daughter, Ulonda Stewart, after his release. Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesBut they were declared innocent decades later, after Chestnut filed a public records request. Investigators “ignored eyewitness evidence and physical evidence that contradicted their chosen narrative, including evidence pointing to a different suspect.

Persons: Justin Conroy, Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins, Andrew Stewart, DeWitt Duckett, Mary Stewart, Ulonda Stewart, Matt McClain, Chestnut, John Doe ”, DeWitt, “, Marilyn Mosby, ”, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, ” Scott, Nick Mosby Organizations: CNN, Baltimore, ” Baltimore Police Department, city’s, Washington, State of, Baltimore City, Baltimore Mayor, Baltimore Police Department, City Locations: State of Maryland

☆ Powerful Mexican oil union boss who became symbol of corruption dies at 79
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Dave Graham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Local media reported that Romero Deschamps died of a heart attack on Thursday. Days earlier, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that Romero Deschamps was under criminal investigation for corruption, allegations which he denied and was never prosecuted for. Romero Deschamps was included in a list of the "10 Most Corrupt Mexicans" published by Forbes in 2013. He, however, rode out scandals even as other top Mexican union leaders fell foul of the law, including the former boss of the powerful teachers' union, Elba Esther Gordillo, who was arrested on fraud charges early in 2013. While a government audit later revealed anomalies covering 2.3 billion pesos ($188.97 million) in the so-called Pemexgate scandal, Romero Deschamps himself escaped unscathed.

Persons: Carlos Romero Deschamps, Petroleos, Edgard Garrido, Romero Deschamps, Pemex, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Enrique Pena Nieto, Elba Esther Gordillo, Francisco Labastida, Paulina, Jose Carlos, Ferrari Enzo, Lopez Obrador, Dave Graham, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Local, Institutional Revolutionary Party, Senate, Pemex, Forbes, Reforma, Thomson Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, MEXICO, Latin America, Mexico's, Tampico, Tamaulipas, Hidalgo, Cancun, Europe, Miami

☆ Supreme Court blocks restrictions on Biden administration efforts to remove contentious social media posts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lawrence Hurley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday blocked in full a lower court ruling that would have curbed the Biden administration's ability to communicate with social media companies about contentious content on such issues as Covid-19. Donald Trump was president at the time, but the district court ruling focused on actions taken by the government after President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. But the appeals court still required the White House, the FBI and top health officials not to "coerce or significantly encourage" social media companies to remove content the Biden administration considers misinformation. The administration turned to the Supreme Court hoping to freeze Doughty's ruling in full. The district court ruling was on hold while the Supreme Court decided what steps to take.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Alito, Jim Hoft, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Terry Doughty, Biden, White, Karine Jean, Pierre, Vivek Murthy, Elizabeth Prelogar, Prelogar Organizations: Biden, U.S, Trump, Circuit, FBI, Supreme Locations: Louisiana, Missouri

☆ From town hall prep to disaster predictions: Mayors descend on Washington to learn how they can use generative AI in their cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

More than 100 mayors attended Bloomberg CityLab's Mayors Innovation Studio to learn about using artificial intelligence in city government. James Anderson, head of government innovation programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies, introduces mayors to the Mayors Innovation Studio on AI. The focus of Wednesday's session was primarily on how generative AI may streamline processes for cities or offer new insights to make them safer or more efficient. More than 100 mayors attended Bloomberg CityLab's Mayors Innovation Studio to learn about using artificial intelligence in city government. The event sought to give mayors a starting point for how to think about implementing generative AI into their processes.

Persons: Bloomberg Philanthropies, they're, James Anderson, Anderson, Mitch Weiss, Weiss, ChatGPT, chatbot, they've, Breda, Santiago Garces, Garces, Tim Kelly, Kelly, Andrew Ginther, Ginther, we're, Breed Organizations: Bloomberg CityLab's, Innovation, Bloomberg, Congress, Harvard Business School, Boston, CNBC, Center for Government Excellence, Johns Hopkins University, AI, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, YouTube Locations: Washington ,, Washington, Boston, New York City, York, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Chattanooga , Tennessee, Columbus , Ohio, coders, India

ATLANTA (AP) — Jury selection is set to begin Friday for the first defendant to go to trial in the Georgia case that accuses former President Donald Trump and others of illegally scheming to overturn the 2020 election in the state. CHESEBRO WILL BE TRIED BY HIMSELFUntil Thursday morning, Chesebro was set to go on trial alongside Powell after each filed a demand for a speedy trial. On Monday, prospective jurors will be called in groups of 14 for individual questioning. Then the prosecution and the defense attorneys will have one hour per group of 14 prospective jurors to ask questions. McAfee recently said he would tell prospective jurors during jury selection that it's likely to take up to five months.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, Chesebro —, Fani Willis, he's, Chesebro, “, Trump, it's, CHESEBRO WILL, Powell, Racketeer, Rudy Giuliani, Chesebro's, ”, Scott McAfee, McAfee Organizations: ATLANTA, Trump, TRUMP, ”, CHESEBRO, Georgia Republicans, New York, Act Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta

☆ Justices Reject, for Now, Missouri’s Effort to Override Federal Gun Laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Adam Liptak | More About Adam Liptak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Supreme Court refused on Friday to reinstate an expansive Missouri law that restricted state and local law enforcement agencies from enforcing federal gun laws and allowed private lawsuits against law enforcement agencies that violated the state’s understanding of the Second Amendment. The court’s brief order gave no reasons, which is typical when the justices act on emergency applications asking them to intervene in an early stage of litigation. An appeal of a judge’s ruling striking down the law will proceed, and the case could again reach the Supreme Court after that appeal is decided. The Missouri law, the Second Amendment Preservation Act, was enacted in 2021 and had several unusual provisions. One declared various kinds of federal laws — including ones requiring the registration of weapons and making gun dealers keep records — to be “infringements on the people’s right to keep and bear arms.”A second provision prohibited the state from hiring former federal employees who had enforced such laws or given “material aid and support” to efforts to enforce them.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, ” Locations: Missouri

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