A recent incident in Richland County has sparked a heated discussion about the need for a statewide hate crimes law in South Carolina. On July 17, a man named Jonathan Felkel allegedly shot at a Black neighbor in the Spring Valley neighborhood, and he was arrested under a new local hate intimidation ordinance. This ordinance makes hate intimidation a misdemeanor, pun...
In the wake of a shocking incident in Minnesota, federal lawmakers are taking a hard look at their safety. A man has been accused of killing a state representative and her husband, as well as injuring another lawmaker and his spouse. This event has sparked fresh worries about the safety of politicians, both in Washington and back home. The suspect had a long list of...
College sports is on the brink of big changes. A major settlement is almost finalized, and it's shaking things up. The focus now is on how to make sure everyone follows the new rules. This is a big deal because the penalties for breaking the rules could be harsh. Schools might face fines, suspensions, or even get kicked out of their conferences. The College Sports C...
A group of twelve states took a stand against the federal government. They filed a lawsuit. The reason? They believe the government is breaking the rules by raising taxes through tariffs. These tariffs were put in place using a law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This law gives the president power in times of crisis. But these states argue tha...
Opioids are still crucial for managing pain after major surgery. This is especially true for older adults who have had total joint replacements. More than 80% of these patients get at least one opioid prescription after their surgery. This is a significant number, considering the ongoing opioid crisis and the push to reduce opioid use. The opioid crisis has led many...
New York's governor has stepped in to prevent a doctor from being sent to Louisiana. This doctor is accused of sending abortion pills to a teenager in Louisiana. The governor's decision is a big deal because it sets up a potential legal fight. The fight will be about whether states that support abortion rights can protect doctors who help people in states where abort...
In a decisive move last week, a federal judge in Rhode Island commanded the federal government to lift all frozen funds immediately. The directive from Judge John J McConnell Jr came after he noticed that federal officials were not following his earlier instructions to unfreeze billions of taxpayer dollars. This was after a messy few months when the federal governmen...
Fed up with federal funding chaos? Picture this: A judge says that he might stop federal agencies from halting payments, even though a memo that ordered the freeze has been called off. Confusion continues to reign because of the administration's actions, and federal funds are still stuck in limbo. This all started on a Monday when the Office of Management and Budge...
2024 has brought significant shifts in abortion rights across the United States. After the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in 2022, many states moved to ban or restrict abortion access. As of the end of 2024, 12 states had total bans in place, while others limited access to early pregnancy weeks. On the flip side, 14 states strengthened abortion rights into their stat...
Ever wondered how a law starts in one state and then spreads across the entire country? In the U. S. , many national policies begin as state laws. But why do some state laws become national while others don't? Researchers have looked at where a law starts, what type it is, and even the wealth or political leanings of the state that passes it first. They wanted to see...