4 days ago
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday flatly refused to comment on a new report alleging that U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle engaged in improper and possibly illegal conduct before taking up her post.
Rubio told reporters that he would not discuss the allegations contained in a Wall Street Journal story that said Guilfoyle had asked a donor and supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump to pay a $100,000 credit card bill just before her confirmation hearing, promising him access to administration officials if he did.
He spoke before leaving Greece, where he delivered a speech calling for European countries to return to what he described as their civilizational roots.
Rubio said he was aware of The Wall Street Journal's report, which was published late Wednesday, but had no idea if it was true and he would not address it.
"You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something and you reported it, it's the gospel. It's not the gospel. It's not the gospel for me. That's not the way we do things," he said at the foot of his plane as Guilfoyle, who was there to see him depart Greece, looked on.
#rubio #told #secretary
Rubio told reporters that he would not discuss the allegations contained in a Wall Street Journal story that said Guilfoyle had asked a donor and supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump to pay a $100,000 credit card bill just before her confirmation hearing, promising him access to administration officials if he did.
He spoke before leaving Greece, where he delivered a speech calling for European countries to return to what he described as their civilizational roots.
Rubio said he was aware of The Wall Street Journal's report, which was published late Wednesday, but had no idea if it was true and he would not address it.
"You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something and you reported it, it's the gospel. It's not the gospel. It's not the gospel for me. That's not the way we do things," he said at the foot of his plane as Guilfoyle, who was there to see him depart Greece, looked on.
#rubio #told #secretary
5 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — A day after President Donald Trump said he would start paying for controversial taxpayer-funded ads with a campaign account, there's no sign he plans to refund the millions of federal dollars already spent on them.
Nearly $12 million worth of ads have already aired, according to AdImpact, as part of the $20 million the Department of Homeland Security tapped for the contract.
But Trump's plan to pay for the ads with MAGA Inc. doesn't mean there's any reimbursement coming, said a White House official who was not authorized to talk publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Trump said the ads were "really good" and "promotion for the country, done by many presidents before." Asked whether he'd repay the funds already spent, he said, "We'll decide."
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer slammed Trump for not committing to reimbursement and said he believes the president's plan for covering future costs represents illegal coordination with his super PAC.
#Trump #donald
Nearly $12 million worth of ads have already aired, according to AdImpact, as part of the $20 million the Department of Homeland Security tapped for the contract.
But Trump's plan to pay for the ads with MAGA Inc. doesn't mean there's any reimbursement coming, said a White House official who was not authorized to talk publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Trump said the ads were "really good" and "promotion for the country, done by many presidents before." Asked whether he'd repay the funds already spent, he said, "We'll decide."
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer slammed Trump for not committing to reimbursement and said he believes the president's plan for covering future costs represents illegal coordination with his super PAC.
#Trump #donald
5 days ago
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday evening temporarily allowing the use of red-dyed diesel on public roads and deferring the federal excise tax on that fuel through the end of the year, a move aimed at lowering costs for truckers and farmers facing record-high diesel prices.
Red-dyed diesel is chemically the same product as standard highway diesel, but carries a red dye to mark it as off-road fuel — meaning it is not subject to the 24.4-cent-per-gallon federal excise tax that applies to diesel sold at the pump for road use, such as for tractors and heavy machinery. Using it in highway vehicles has been illegal, carrying penalties for tax evasion, according to CNBC.
According to the White House, the order instructs the Treasury Secretary to hold off on collecting federal excise taxes on highway use of dyed diesel between October 5 and December 31, 2026, and to do so without charging interest or imposing penalties. The Treasury is also directed to direct the Internal Revenue Service not to impose penalties for on-road use of dyed diesel during that period. The order further instructs officials to explore pathways, including legislation, to eliminate the deferred tax obligations entirely.
The White House projected that a trucker who tops off an 18-wheeler's tank with 250 gallons stands to save over $100 on a single fill-up, provided the trucker's state suspends its own diesel tax as well. On top of the federal levy, each state levies its own diesel excise tax, and those state-level taxes average out to 35.5 cents per gallon, according to CNN.
The order also directs the Secretary of Agriculture to coordinate with agricultural cooperatives and rural fuel distributors to ensure adequate dyed diesel distribution in high-demand areas, and the Secretary of Transportation to engage with state governments and industry stakeholders. The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs was directed to encourage states to adopt corresponding policies.
#Diesel #federal #House #according
Red-dyed diesel is chemically the same product as standard highway diesel, but carries a red dye to mark it as off-road fuel — meaning it is not subject to the 24.4-cent-per-gallon federal excise tax that applies to diesel sold at the pump for road use, such as for tractors and heavy machinery. Using it in highway vehicles has been illegal, carrying penalties for tax evasion, according to CNBC.
According to the White House, the order instructs the Treasury Secretary to hold off on collecting federal excise taxes on highway use of dyed diesel between October 5 and December 31, 2026, and to do so without charging interest or imposing penalties. The Treasury is also directed to direct the Internal Revenue Service not to impose penalties for on-road use of dyed diesel during that period. The order further instructs officials to explore pathways, including legislation, to eliminate the deferred tax obligations entirely.
The White House projected that a trucker who tops off an 18-wheeler's tank with 250 gallons stands to save over $100 on a single fill-up, provided the trucker's state suspends its own diesel tax as well. On top of the federal levy, each state levies its own diesel excise tax, and those state-level taxes average out to 35.5 cents per gallon, according to CNN.
The order also directs the Secretary of Agriculture to coordinate with agricultural cooperatives and rural fuel distributors to ensure adequate dyed diesel distribution in high-demand areas, and the Secretary of Transportation to engage with state governments and industry stakeholders. The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs was directed to encourage states to adopt corresponding policies.
#Diesel #federal #House #according
6 days ago
William Shatner reportedly drew attention during a recent drive through Los Angeles after an eyewitness accused the 95-year-old actor of making several risky moves on the road.
The Star Trek alum drove his Porsche SUV through the San Fernando Valley when another motorist allegedly had to brake suddenly. Shatner continued with his errands afterward and spent time checking on his two Dobermans.
An eyewitness claimed William Shatner drove at high speeds and passed through several stop signs during the outing.
The witness also alleged that Shatner made an illegal turn while attempting to enter the freeway. According to the account, another driver slammed on the brakes before gesturing and shouting toward Shatner's vehicle.
Photos from the outing also showed Shatner holding a cellphone near his ear. However, the images did not establish whether he used the phone while the vehicle was moving.
#drove #vehicle #star
The Star Trek alum drove his Porsche SUV through the San Fernando Valley when another motorist allegedly had to brake suddenly. Shatner continued with his errands afterward and spent time checking on his two Dobermans.
An eyewitness claimed William Shatner drove at high speeds and passed through several stop signs during the outing.
The witness also alleged that Shatner made an illegal turn while attempting to enter the freeway. According to the account, another driver slammed on the brakes before gesturing and shouting toward Shatner's vehicle.
Photos from the outing also showed Shatner holding a cellphone near his ear. However, the images did not establish whether he used the phone while the vehicle was moving.
#drove #vehicle #star
8 days ago
Suspected kratom derivatives were found in the student's room, police said.
A father and son who worked at a Mississippi smoke shop were charged by federal prosecutors in connection with one of the two Ole Miss student deaths that took place last week.
U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary for the Northern District of Mississippi announced Friday that a criminal complaint was filed against Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Yahya Mosleh, 18, on charges with possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances in connection with the death of Aidan Hamilton.
The father and son, who were arrested last week, worked at the smoke shop that allegedly sold illegal substances to Hamilton, investigators allege.
Hamilton, a freshman from Englewood, Colorado, was found dead on campus on Sept. 21, and investigators found "packages, some with missing tablets, of suspected kratom derivatives," according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
#kratom #derivatives
A father and son who worked at a Mississippi smoke shop were charged by federal prosecutors in connection with one of the two Ole Miss student deaths that took place last week.
U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary for the Northern District of Mississippi announced Friday that a criminal complaint was filed against Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Yahya Mosleh, 18, on charges with possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances in connection with the death of Aidan Hamilton.
The father and son, who were arrested last week, worked at the smoke shop that allegedly sold illegal substances to Hamilton, investigators allege.
Hamilton, a freshman from Englewood, Colorado, was found dead on campus on Sept. 21, and investigators found "packages, some with missing tablets, of suspected kratom derivatives," according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
#kratom #derivatives
10 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to review a Trump administration policy denying bond hearings for immigrants as the government carries out a sweeping crackdown.
The justices will consider whether immigrants who have been living in the U.S. have a right to a hearing to determine if they should remain detained while challenging their possible deportation.
The case will test a key pillar of the Trump administration's hard-line immigration agenda.
Most appeals courts to have considered the issue have found that it violates federal law to detain immigrants, including those living in the U.S. illegally, without a bond hearing. Those decisions conflict with rulings by the 5th and 8th circuits, which held that immigrants accused of illegally entering and remaining in the U.S. must be detained while their deportation cases are pending.
The high court agreed to hear the case of Ricardo Aparecido Barbosa da Cunha, a citizen of Brazil. Authorities say he entered the United States illegally two decades ago and applied for asylum in 2016. He sought a bond hearing after an immigration judge determined that his detention was mandatory following his September 2025 arrest.
#Trump
The justices will consider whether immigrants who have been living in the U.S. have a right to a hearing to determine if they should remain detained while challenging their possible deportation.
The case will test a key pillar of the Trump administration's hard-line immigration agenda.
Most appeals courts to have considered the issue have found that it violates federal law to detain immigrants, including those living in the U.S. illegally, without a bond hearing. Those decisions conflict with rulings by the 5th and 8th circuits, which held that immigrants accused of illegally entering and remaining in the U.S. must be detained while their deportation cases are pending.
The high court agreed to hear the case of Ricardo Aparecido Barbosa da Cunha, a citizen of Brazil. Authorities say he entered the United States illegally two decades ago and applied for asylum in 2016. He sought a bond hearing after an immigration judge determined that his detention was mandatory following his September 2025 arrest.
#Trump
12 days ago
Former special counsel Jack Smith fielded insults from Republicans and questions about his prosecutorial decisions as he sat before lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has been a leading voice in scrutinizing Smith’s twin probes into President Trump, obtaining and releasing reams of documents about the investigations while criticizing his decision to subpoena some lawmakers’ call logs.
Smith defended his work, saying Trump faced criminal charges related to the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case and the case tied to the president’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol as a result of his own illegal conduct. He added that he would have brought charges against any president who committed such crimes.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), meanwhile, accused the GOP of “gaslighting” the American public about how damaging the Jan. 6 attack was to democracy.
But Smith largely served as a punching bag for the committee’s Republicans.
#president #lawmakers #documents #case
Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has been a leading voice in scrutinizing Smith’s twin probes into President Trump, obtaining and releasing reams of documents about the investigations while criticizing his decision to subpoena some lawmakers’ call logs.
Smith defended his work, saying Trump faced criminal charges related to the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case and the case tied to the president’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol as a result of his own illegal conduct. He added that he would have brought charges against any president who committed such crimes.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), meanwhile, accused the GOP of “gaslighting” the American public about how damaging the Jan. 6 attack was to democracy.
But Smith largely served as a punching bag for the committee’s Republicans.
#president #lawmakers #documents #case
12 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security has tapped $20 million to pay for the campaign-style ads glorifying President Donald Trump that have drawn widespread criticism from Republicans and Democrats as a blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars that likely runs afoul of anti-propaganda law.
In a letter Tuesday to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, two top Democratic senators said that the money is being drawn from Trump's so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill" and was supposed to go for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
"We should not have to remind you that using government funding to create or air political ads like the ones that have been running over the last few days is illegal and a shockingly corrupt misuse of taxpayer dollars," wrote Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee that handles Homeland Security funding.
The senators demanded answers within the next 48 hours about "how this president is literally stealing their tax dollars to air campaign ads celebrating himself."
They asked the secretary if the department plans to use additional federal funds to air these ads or create new ones, and if so to share contracting information with Congress. They also asked Mullin if he had spoken to Trump about using the taxpayer funds for the ads.
#democrat
In a letter Tuesday to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, two top Democratic senators said that the money is being drawn from Trump's so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill" and was supposed to go for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
"We should not have to remind you that using government funding to create or air political ads like the ones that have been running over the last few days is illegal and a shockingly corrupt misuse of taxpayer dollars," wrote Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee that handles Homeland Security funding.
The senators demanded answers within the next 48 hours about "how this president is literally stealing their tax dollars to air campaign ads celebrating himself."
They asked the secretary if the department plans to use additional federal funds to air these ads or create new ones, and if so to share contracting information with Congress. They also asked Mullin if he had spoken to Trump about using the taxpayer funds for the ads.
#democrat
23 days ago
AI companies Anthropic, OpenAI, ***** e XAI and Google are being sued over alleged collusion as pressure mounts to slow the rapid development of AI.
The complaint, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, points to a recent proposal from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who called for “industry-wide coordination” to “pace the frontier” as concerns mount over the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI.
“We must slow the ***** e in which we improve the capabilities of AI models,” Amodei wrote in a Sept. 12 essay.
The plaintiffs allege that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, ***** eXAI founder Elon Musk and Google DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis made an illegal business agreement among competitors by agreeing to slow the development of their AI systems, violating federal antitrust law.
Within hours of Amodei publishing his essay, Musk responded, saying “Dario is right,” while Altman also said he agreed with Amodei. Hassabis called the proposal “the right path forward,” according to the complaint.
#amodei
The complaint, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, points to a recent proposal from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who called for “industry-wide coordination” to “pace the frontier” as concerns mount over the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI.
“We must slow the ***** e in which we improve the capabilities of AI models,” Amodei wrote in a Sept. 12 essay.
The plaintiffs allege that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, ***** eXAI founder Elon Musk and Google DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis made an illegal business agreement among competitors by agreeing to slow the development of their AI systems, violating federal antitrust law.
Within hours of Amodei publishing his essay, Musk responded, saying “Dario is right,” while Altman also said he agreed with Amodei. Hassabis called the proposal “the right path forward,” according to the complaint.
#amodei
24 days ago
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Killing endangered animals while logging a forest or building a dam would not be considered illegal unless the animals were specifically targeted, under a new interpretation of the Endangered Species Act by President Donald Trump's administration that marks a sea change in how the landmark environmental law is enforced.
A directive sent to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees this week says imperiled animals or plants must be intentionally targeted for their killing to be considered illegal.
That's a sharp turnaround from past practice at the wildlife service, which historically held people liable even for accidentally harming protected species such as grizzly bears, manatees and spotted owls.
Experts said the change would allow timber companies to log forests in the Pacific Northwest even if they knew that doing so could kill imperiled birds nesting in the trees, or for developers to build a dam knowing it would kill salmon.
"This cuts against the entire history of the Endangered Species Act," said Dan Ashe, who led the Fish and Wildlife Service under former President Barack Obama.
#species #president #killing
A directive sent to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees this week says imperiled animals or plants must be intentionally targeted for their killing to be considered illegal.
That's a sharp turnaround from past practice at the wildlife service, which historically held people liable even for accidentally harming protected species such as grizzly bears, manatees and spotted owls.
Experts said the change would allow timber companies to log forests in the Pacific Northwest even if they knew that doing so could kill imperiled birds nesting in the trees, or for developers to build a dam knowing it would kill salmon.
"This cuts against the entire history of the Endangered Species Act," said Dan Ashe, who led the Fish and Wildlife Service under former President Barack Obama.
#species #president #killing
24 days ago
Top media leaders across print, digital and broadcast warned about AI's impacts on journalism at the inaugural Status Summit last week.
Why it matters: News publishers recognize that they need to embrace AI to survive the transition to an agentic web, but they refuse to broker deals with companies they feel are illegally scraping their content.
What they're saying: Speaking onstage to Status founder Oliver Darcy last Wednesday, New York Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien said large language model developers "as far as we see it ... have engaged in theft of intellectual property and creative expressive work on a scale that is unprecedented."
As it relates to the Times, they've "stolen our stuff," she said.
The Times, which has sued OpenAI and Microsoft in a landmark copyright lawsuit, has struck partnerships with AI firms, such as Amazon, when they believe terms are equitable.
#darcy #york
Why it matters: News publishers recognize that they need to embrace AI to survive the transition to an agentic web, but they refuse to broker deals with companies they feel are illegally scraping their content.
What they're saying: Speaking onstage to Status founder Oliver Darcy last Wednesday, New York Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien said large language model developers "as far as we see it ... have engaged in theft of intellectual property and creative expressive work on a scale that is unprecedented."
As it relates to the Times, they've "stolen our stuff," she said.
The Times, which has sued OpenAI and Microsoft in a landmark copyright lawsuit, has struck partnerships with AI firms, such as Amazon, when they believe terms are equitable.
#darcy #york
26 days ago
By Tom Hals
WILMINGTON, Delaware, Sept 15 (Reuters) - As U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to crack down on what he says is widespread illegal voting by noncitizens, several people charged with that crime are trying a novel strategy to get their cases dropped.
Five people being prosecuted in separate federal cases in Miami and Madison, Wisconsin, have argued for the first time in court that the 1996 law used to charge them is unconstitutional, according to a Reuters review of court filings.
A ruling for the defendants, which could come before the November 3 midterm elections, would raise questions about the federal government's authority to prosecute noncitizen voting cases. The Trump administration has pushed to deport noncitizen voters, raising the stakes for defendants who previously faced as little as a $150 fine if convicted.
The defendants were accused of violating the federal "Voting by Aliens" statute enacted three decades ago. The law makes it illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and violators can be fined up to $100,000 or imprisoned for up to a year.
#cases #people
WILMINGTON, Delaware, Sept 15 (Reuters) - As U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to crack down on what he says is widespread illegal voting by noncitizens, several people charged with that crime are trying a novel strategy to get their cases dropped.
Five people being prosecuted in separate federal cases in Miami and Madison, Wisconsin, have argued for the first time in court that the 1996 law used to charge them is unconstitutional, according to a Reuters review of court filings.
A ruling for the defendants, which could come before the November 3 midterm elections, would raise questions about the federal government's authority to prosecute noncitizen voting cases. The Trump administration has pushed to deport noncitizen voters, raising the stakes for defendants who previously faced as little as a $150 fine if convicted.
The defendants were accused of violating the federal "Voting by Aliens" statute enacted three decades ago. The law makes it illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and violators can be fined up to $100,000 or imprisoned for up to a year.
#cases #people
26 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is stripping tens of millions of dollars in U.S. military ******* istance from countries in Europe and the Middle East to support conservative-leaning governments in Central and South America.
The State Department on Tuesday notified Congress that it will reprogram $52 million in foreign military financing from Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Colombia, Ecuador and Peru last week and pledged to them additional support as the Trump administration has prioritized the Western Hemisphere in its foreign policy with an emphasis on combating drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
It is just the latest in a series of moves that have reduced either money or troop deployments to Europe in response to President Donald Trump's complaints about NATO allies not spending enough on their defense budgets and other matters. Both North Macedonia and Slovakia are NATO members.
But it also comes as the administration has put particular attention on the Western Hemisphere, aligning deeply with right-wing governments as Trump celebrates a renewal of the 19th century Monroe Doctrine establishing Washington's dominance in the Americas.
#Trump #Europe #slovakia
The State Department on Tuesday notified Congress that it will reprogram $52 million in foreign military financing from Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Colombia, Ecuador and Peru last week and pledged to them additional support as the Trump administration has prioritized the Western Hemisphere in its foreign policy with an emphasis on combating drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
It is just the latest in a series of moves that have reduced either money or troop deployments to Europe in response to President Donald Trump's complaints about NATO allies not spending enough on their defense budgets and other matters. Both North Macedonia and Slovakia are NATO members.
But it also comes as the administration has put particular attention on the Western Hemisphere, aligning deeply with right-wing governments as Trump celebrates a renewal of the 19th century Monroe Doctrine establishing Washington's dominance in the Americas.
#Trump #Europe #slovakia
26 days ago
EXCLUSIVE: A Haitian gang member and illegal alien who defiantly told Fox News cameras "I'm not going back to Haiti" and shouted "Biden forever" during his viral U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest has been deported to Haiti by the Trump administration after spending 19 months in federal custody.
Wisteguens Jean Quely Charles was deported on an ICE flight originating in Louisiana, the Department of Homeland Security (Dhs) confirmed to Fox News.
Sources told Fox News that Charles was extremely combative aboard the aircraft and made crude, profane and threatening remarks about President Donald Trump and his family during the deportation flight.
Dhs Chief Mullin Clashes With Tapper Over Haiti Deportations After Supreme Court Tps Ruling
Haitian illegal immigrant Wisteguens Jean Quely Charles is escorted by federal agents to a plane. Charles was deported by ICE.
#deported #wisteguens #illegal #told
Wisteguens Jean Quely Charles was deported on an ICE flight originating in Louisiana, the Department of Homeland Security (Dhs) confirmed to Fox News.
Sources told Fox News that Charles was extremely combative aboard the aircraft and made crude, profane and threatening remarks about President Donald Trump and his family during the deportation flight.
Dhs Chief Mullin Clashes With Tapper Over Haiti Deportations After Supreme Court Tps Ruling
Haitian illegal immigrant Wisteguens Jean Quely Charles is escorted by federal agents to a plane. Charles was deported by ICE.
#deported #wisteguens #illegal #told
27 days ago
Fourteen years ago, Ken Jouppi, who had operated a charter airplane business in Alaska since the 1970s, agreed to fly a passenger from Fairbanks to Beaver, one of the state's dry jurisdictions. The passenger's luggage included 72 cans of Budweiser and Bud Light, which she planned to share with her husband on his birthday. Although most of the beer was boxed, a six-pack "was packed only in a grocery bag and would have been in plain view to Jouppi as he was loading the airplane," the Alaska Supreme Court noted last year.
State troopers discovered the beer before the plane took off, and Jouppi was convicted of a misdemeanor. The trial court, which concluded that Jouppi had been "willfully blind" to the six-pack, sentenced him to three days in jail and a $1,500 fine. But state law mandated another punishment that was 63 times as severe: forfeiture of Jouppi's $95,000 airplane. Although that penalty seemed grossly disproportionate, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that it did not violate the Eighth Amendment's ban on excessive fines.
In July, responding to a petition filed by the Institute for Justice, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review that decision. It will hear oral argument in Jouppi v. Alaska on December 1. In a brief supporting Jouppi's appeal that it filed last week, the Cato Institute argues that the Alaska Supreme Court erred by failing to consider the gravity of his conduct and the financial consequences of the forfeiture. Both of those factors, Cato attorney Matthew Cavedon says, have been central to the common-law understanding of excessive fines for eight centuries.
"The Eighth Amendment was designed to prevent this kind of abuse by limiting excessive fines," Cavedon writes. "Long before the United States was founded, the common law protected people from extreme monetary penalties. But the Alaska Supreme Court's view is that challenges to excessive fines 'should rarely succeed.' This dismissive view led it to conclude that there is nothing excessive about the forfeiture of an airplane worth 'only 9.5 times the maximum fine'—and over 60 times the fine actually imposed. The decision below cannot be reconciled with this Court's precedent or the Excessive Fines Clause's original meaning."
In weighing the proportionality of the airplane forfeiture, the Alaska Supreme Court thought the relevant consideration was the harm caused by excessive drinking. "Alcohol abuse in rural Alaska leads to increased crime; disorders, such as alcoholism; conditions, such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder; and death, imposing substantial costs on public health and the administration of justice," Justice Jude Pate wrote in the majority opinion. "Within this context, it is clear that the illegal importation of even a six-pack of beer causes grave societal harm."
#court #excessive #jouppi
State troopers discovered the beer before the plane took off, and Jouppi was convicted of a misdemeanor. The trial court, which concluded that Jouppi had been "willfully blind" to the six-pack, sentenced him to three days in jail and a $1,500 fine. But state law mandated another punishment that was 63 times as severe: forfeiture of Jouppi's $95,000 airplane. Although that penalty seemed grossly disproportionate, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that it did not violate the Eighth Amendment's ban on excessive fines.
In July, responding to a petition filed by the Institute for Justice, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review that decision. It will hear oral argument in Jouppi v. Alaska on December 1. In a brief supporting Jouppi's appeal that it filed last week, the Cato Institute argues that the Alaska Supreme Court erred by failing to consider the gravity of his conduct and the financial consequences of the forfeiture. Both of those factors, Cato attorney Matthew Cavedon says, have been central to the common-law understanding of excessive fines for eight centuries.
"The Eighth Amendment was designed to prevent this kind of abuse by limiting excessive fines," Cavedon writes. "Long before the United States was founded, the common law protected people from extreme monetary penalties. But the Alaska Supreme Court's view is that challenges to excessive fines 'should rarely succeed.' This dismissive view led it to conclude that there is nothing excessive about the forfeiture of an airplane worth 'only 9.5 times the maximum fine'—and over 60 times the fine actually imposed. The decision below cannot be reconciled with this Court's precedent or the Excessive Fines Clause's original meaning."
In weighing the proportionality of the airplane forfeiture, the Alaska Supreme Court thought the relevant consideration was the harm caused by excessive drinking. "Alcohol abuse in rural Alaska leads to increased crime; disorders, such as alcoholism; conditions, such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder; and death, imposing substantial costs on public health and the administration of justice," Justice Jude Pate wrote in the majority opinion. "Within this context, it is clear that the illegal importation of even a six-pack of beer causes grave societal harm."
#court #excessive #jouppi
28 days ago
Josh Hokit wasted no time making his case for UFC gold after Tom Aspinall vacated the heavyweight ******* le Monday.
Aspinall relinquished his championship after suffering yet another setback in his ongoing recovery from the eye injuries he sustained against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 last October. The move clears the way for the UFC heavyweight division to resume it's usual activity; Gane defeated Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 in June to claim an interim ******* le, and will likely be formally upgraded to undisputed heavyweight champion in short order.
And Hokit wants the first crack.
"The fans deserve Me vs Gane. I'll give Ciryl what he has coming. If Alex can win 1 fight in my weight class, I'll give it to him too, early '27. I'll be the most active champ in the company."
Pereira has continued to campaign for an immediate rematch with Gane in the months since UFC Freedom 250, accusing the Frenchmen of using illegal strikes to the back of the head to defeat him in their battle on the White House's South Lawn. Hokit, though, has repeatedly dismissed the former two-division UFC champion, arguing that Pereira should have to earn his way back after being stopped by Gane in less than two rounds.
#pereira #title
Aspinall relinquished his championship after suffering yet another setback in his ongoing recovery from the eye injuries he sustained against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 last October. The move clears the way for the UFC heavyweight division to resume it's usual activity; Gane defeated Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 in June to claim an interim ******* le, and will likely be formally upgraded to undisputed heavyweight champion in short order.
And Hokit wants the first crack.
"The fans deserve Me vs Gane. I'll give Ciryl what he has coming. If Alex can win 1 fight in my weight class, I'll give it to him too, early '27. I'll be the most active champ in the company."
Pereira has continued to campaign for an immediate rematch with Gane in the months since UFC Freedom 250, accusing the Frenchmen of using illegal strikes to the back of the head to defeat him in their battle on the White House's South Lawn. Hokit, though, has repeatedly dismissed the former two-division UFC champion, arguing that Pereira should have to earn his way back after being stopped by Gane in less than two rounds.
#pereira #title
28 days ago
Hayden Panettiere reportedly took a pill believed to have contained oxycodone laced with fentanyl on the day she died.
In a new report from TMZ published on Monday, September 14, law enforcement sources claimed that the pill is what led to the Scream 4 star's death. However, official toxicology results are still pending.
The sources also told the outlet that Panettiere had a "long time drug dealer" in the Los Angeles area who provided the Nashville alum with illegal prescription drugs. She reportedly purchased the pill that allegedly led to her death, as well as other drugs, the morning before she died.
The DEA in Los Angeles is reportedly investigating Panettiere's relationship with her alleged drug dealer and working to determine whether the pill she took can be traced back to him.
As In Touch previously reported, Panettiere died at the age of 36 on Sunday, August 16. The day prior, she and her on-again off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, were spotted flying out of LAX to South Carolina.
#pill #dealer
In a new report from TMZ published on Monday, September 14, law enforcement sources claimed that the pill is what led to the Scream 4 star's death. However, official toxicology results are still pending.
The sources also told the outlet that Panettiere had a "long time drug dealer" in the Los Angeles area who provided the Nashville alum with illegal prescription drugs. She reportedly purchased the pill that allegedly led to her death, as well as other drugs, the morning before she died.
The DEA in Los Angeles is reportedly investigating Panettiere's relationship with her alleged drug dealer and working to determine whether the pill she took can be traced back to him.
As In Touch previously reported, Panettiere died at the age of 36 on Sunday, August 16. The day prior, she and her on-again off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, were spotted flying out of LAX to South Carolina.
#pill #dealer
29 days ago
The Iowa Hawkeyes flipped the script on the Cyclones, winning this year's CyHawk game on a late field goal to pull out a 16-13 win. It was a scrappy, ugly, sometimes dirty game that was pretty much in line to how this series has gone these last ten years. But the Hawkeyes exorcised the demons of the last two years with a Caden Burr field goal from 42 yards out with :15 seconds left to bring the CyHawk trophy back home to Iowa City.
After last week's performance against NIU and with a brand new regime in Ames, many expected this to be a much more comfortable game for the Hawkeyes, especially under the lights in Kinnick Stadium with a raucous crowd. But Iowa State put Iowa into an early 10-0 hole midway through the second quarter that had the black and gold faithful starting to get that "here we go again" familiar feeling. But the offense managed to come to life, thanks to a massive 56-yard bomb to Tony Diaz that set up a Hank Brown touchdown run late the first half. A huge 45-yard Buhr field goal right before halftime reset the score and setting up a grinding second half of football.
Neither team had a great first quarter. Iowa started with the ball but procedural penalties doomed their drive. Meanwhile the Hawkeye defense held the Cyclones to only six plays in the quarter. Iowa State managed to move the chains in the second quarter with drives of nine and ten plays that ended on a Kyle Konrardy field goal and 7-yard Jalen Raynor touchdown pass, respectively. Raynor's stat line tonight won't impress anyone: 10/19 for 117 yards, and no touchdowns with some crucial misfires on potential big plays. But aside from those misses he made no back breaking mistakes that allowed the Iowa defense to capitalize.
Hank Brown REACHES OUT for Iowa's first score.
📺 Big Ten Football on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/PJpKvvqkKt
Iowa State regained their momentum coming out of the break with an eight play drive that ended with another Konrardy field goal. Running back Aiden Flora had the play of the drive with a 34-yard scamper down to the Iowa 19, but holding and illegal substitution penalties stalled the drive leading to the Konrardy kick to put ISU up 13-10. Iowa's offense went in to hibernation as they could not get Kamari Moulton going on the ground, the Cyclones were clearly committed to stopping the run and it worked for much of the game. Iowa's first three drives of the second half went for only 21 yards (four plays), 8 yards (3 plays), and -5 yards (3 playes, not helped by a holding penalty on Dotzler). Woof.
#cyclones #game #state
After last week's performance against NIU and with a brand new regime in Ames, many expected this to be a much more comfortable game for the Hawkeyes, especially under the lights in Kinnick Stadium with a raucous crowd. But Iowa State put Iowa into an early 10-0 hole midway through the second quarter that had the black and gold faithful starting to get that "here we go again" familiar feeling. But the offense managed to come to life, thanks to a massive 56-yard bomb to Tony Diaz that set up a Hank Brown touchdown run late the first half. A huge 45-yard Buhr field goal right before halftime reset the score and setting up a grinding second half of football.
Neither team had a great first quarter. Iowa started with the ball but procedural penalties doomed their drive. Meanwhile the Hawkeye defense held the Cyclones to only six plays in the quarter. Iowa State managed to move the chains in the second quarter with drives of nine and ten plays that ended on a Kyle Konrardy field goal and 7-yard Jalen Raynor touchdown pass, respectively. Raynor's stat line tonight won't impress anyone: 10/19 for 117 yards, and no touchdowns with some crucial misfires on potential big plays. But aside from those misses he made no back breaking mistakes that allowed the Iowa defense to capitalize.
Hank Brown REACHES OUT for Iowa's first score.
📺 Big Ten Football on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/PJpKvvqkKt
Iowa State regained their momentum coming out of the break with an eight play drive that ended with another Konrardy field goal. Running back Aiden Flora had the play of the drive with a 34-yard scamper down to the Iowa 19, but holding and illegal substitution penalties stalled the drive leading to the Konrardy kick to put ISU up 13-10. Iowa's offense went in to hibernation as they could not get Kamari Moulton going on the ground, the Cyclones were clearly committed to stopping the run and it worked for much of the game. Iowa's first three drives of the second half went for only 21 yards (four plays), 8 yards (3 plays), and -5 yards (3 playes, not helped by a holding penalty on Dotzler). Woof.
#cyclones #game #state
29 days ago
On August 13, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD), upholding a preliminary injunction that bars the defendants from importing or facilitating the sale of foreign-market Gilead-branded medications in the US. The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit found that the differences between Gilead's HIV medication for the US market and the foreign versions being imported were "material, not theoretical." The controversy began in December 2024 when Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) filed suit against a number of companies, including third-party administrator Meritain Health, pharmacy benefit manager ProAct, and pharmacies Rx Valet and Advanced Pharmacy, alleging illegal imports of its best-selling HIV drug Biktarvy.
The dispute dates back to December 2024, when Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) sued a group of companies, including third-party administrator Meritain Health, pharmacy benefit manager ProAct, and pharmacies Rx Valet and Advanced Pharmacy, alleging illegal imports of its top-selling HIV drug Biktarvy. The lawsuit arose from a specific instance in which a patient in Maryland received the medicine in the mail from Turkey, with label instructions written in Turkish.
A federal district court in Baltimore ruled in Gilead's favor and ordered a preliminary injunction, determining that the company was likely to succeed on its Lanham Act trademark violation and unfair competition arguments. As the case continued, the injunction was increased to include new sellers like CanaRx, ElectRx, and ScriptSourcing. The defendants filed an appeal with the Fourth Circuit, and the district judge declined to suspend the injunction while the appeal was pending, thus the import restriction has been in effect the entire time. The recent ruling maintains the order rather than overturning it.
In court documents, Rx Valet stated that the Turkish-sourced Biktarvy was chemically identical to the US version, which was offered at a significantly higher price. Meritain, for its part, said that it has never supported getting non-FDA-approved pharmaceuticals from outside the US and denies the claims, despite being named as a defendant.
The Fourth Circuit rejected the defendants' main argument that the imported and domestic versions of Biktarvy are interchangeable. The court's judgment that the two versions differ materially, not just in packaging or labeling, but also in the quality-control protocols that each version goes through before reaching a patient, challenges the basic argument that these alternative funding programs have used to support their business model.
#gild
The dispute dates back to December 2024, when Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) sued a group of companies, including third-party administrator Meritain Health, pharmacy benefit manager ProAct, and pharmacies Rx Valet and Advanced Pharmacy, alleging illegal imports of its top-selling HIV drug Biktarvy. The lawsuit arose from a specific instance in which a patient in Maryland received the medicine in the mail from Turkey, with label instructions written in Turkish.
A federal district court in Baltimore ruled in Gilead's favor and ordered a preliminary injunction, determining that the company was likely to succeed on its Lanham Act trademark violation and unfair competition arguments. As the case continued, the injunction was increased to include new sellers like CanaRx, ElectRx, and ScriptSourcing. The defendants filed an appeal with the Fourth Circuit, and the district judge declined to suspend the injunction while the appeal was pending, thus the import restriction has been in effect the entire time. The recent ruling maintains the order rather than overturning it.
In court documents, Rx Valet stated that the Turkish-sourced Biktarvy was chemically identical to the US version, which was offered at a significantly higher price. Meritain, for its part, said that it has never supported getting non-FDA-approved pharmaceuticals from outside the US and denies the claims, despite being named as a defendant.
The Fourth Circuit rejected the defendants' main argument that the imported and domestic versions of Biktarvy are interchangeable. The court's judgment that the two versions differ materially, not just in packaging or labeling, but also in the quality-control protocols that each version goes through before reaching a patient, challenges the basic argument that these alternative funding programs have used to support their business model.
#gild
29 days ago
A Bahamian national who arrived in the U.S. during President Gerald Ford's administration and was living with a green card racked up a violent rap sheet before investigators found he voted illegally in the 2020 election, sparking the deportation process, officials say.
The case of Anthony Tyrone Higgs is only the latest in a slew of arrests connected to illegal votes cast in recent elections, as the Trump administration engages in a broader crackdown on election integrity-related crimes.
"This alien was a guest in our country who forfeited his right to be in the U.S. when he committed these violent crimes and voted in the 2020 election," White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis exclusively told Fox News Digital on Friday.
Ice Arrests Peruvian National Accused Of Illegally Voting In 2024 Election As Dhs Cites Similar Cases
ICE agents **** emble in Minnesota, left; Anthony Tyrone Higgs, inset right.
#national
The case of Anthony Tyrone Higgs is only the latest in a slew of arrests connected to illegal votes cast in recent elections, as the Trump administration engages in a broader crackdown on election integrity-related crimes.
"This alien was a guest in our country who forfeited his right to be in the U.S. when he committed these violent crimes and voted in the 2020 election," White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis exclusively told Fox News Digital on Friday.
Ice Arrests Peruvian National Accused Of Illegally Voting In 2024 Election As Dhs Cites Similar Cases
ICE agents **** emble in Minnesota, left; Anthony Tyrone Higgs, inset right.
#national
1 month ago
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., gave the cold shoulder when asked to weigh in on her son's home being raided by police after his convicted felon roommate was arrested.
Minneapolis police officers found while carrying out a search warrant on August 25 multiple weapons and ammunition in the shared home of Omar's son, Adnan Hirsi, 20, and his roommate Abdulrahman Abdi, 22. The warrant was obtained after Abdi was pulled over in a routine traffic stop and was found to have no driver's license or proof of insurance.
Abdi was released and the car was impounded, but a firearm was later found. As a convicted felon, it is illegal for Abdi to possess a firearm, so the property that he shares with Abdi was raided.
Caught On Camera: Squad Dem Squirms When Pressed On Vance Doj Fraud Probe
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is seeking another term in Minnesota's heavily Democratic 5th Congressional District.
#found
Minneapolis police officers found while carrying out a search warrant on August 25 multiple weapons and ammunition in the shared home of Omar's son, Adnan Hirsi, 20, and his roommate Abdulrahman Abdi, 22. The warrant was obtained after Abdi was pulled over in a routine traffic stop and was found to have no driver's license or proof of insurance.
Abdi was released and the car was impounded, but a firearm was later found. As a convicted felon, it is illegal for Abdi to possess a firearm, so the property that he shares with Abdi was raided.
Caught On Camera: Squad Dem Squirms When Pressed On Vance Doj Fraud Probe
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is seeking another term in Minnesota's heavily Democratic 5th Congressional District.
#found
1 month ago
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said a California woman was fatally shot outside a Sacramento County Panera Bread Tuesday by an illegal immigrant who had stalked her for months and was subject to a restraining order.
Shalini Thakur, 38, was standing near her car when Rohit Rohit, an illegal immigrant from India, approached her, chased her when she tried to flee and shot her in the head before getting in a car and driving away, DHS said.
Responding police officers caught up to him, but Rohit took his own life with a gun, according to authorities.
Biden Admin Released Illegal Immigrant Accused Of Fatally Stabbing Fairfax County Mother
Rohit Rohit, an illegal immigrant from India, stalked a California woman for months before fatally shooting her in a parking lot this week and taking his own life. Rohit entered the United States illegally through Arizona and was released by the Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security said.
#immigrant #department #India
Shalini Thakur, 38, was standing near her car when Rohit Rohit, an illegal immigrant from India, approached her, chased her when she tried to flee and shot her in the head before getting in a car and driving away, DHS said.
Responding police officers caught up to him, but Rohit took his own life with a gun, according to authorities.
Biden Admin Released Illegal Immigrant Accused Of Fatally Stabbing Fairfax County Mother
Rohit Rohit, an illegal immigrant from India, stalked a California woman for months before fatally shooting her in a parking lot this week and taking his own life. Rohit entered the United States illegally through Arizona and was released by the Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security said.
#immigrant #department #India
1 month ago
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas — who lost the Lone Star State GOP attorney general primary runoff in May and will depart the U.S. House of Representatives when his current term expires — said Republicans have "delivered significantly" but "need to finish the job."
"Well, we've done so much that frankly, it kinda gets lost in a lot of the noise," Roy told Fox News Digital during an interview on Wednesday, pointing to issues such as tax provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump last year.
The Texan pointed to the nation's border as the "biggest example" of Republicans' achievements, saying that "we've literally shut down the flow across the border" through enforcing the law.
He also pointed to the passage of the "Laken Riley Act," a measure named after the 22-year-old woman murdered in 2024 by Jose Ibarra, a man who, according to a 2024 statement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), had previously been "arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)" after illegally entering the U.S., but was "paroled and released for further processing."
Roy said Republicans "need to unite with a singular vision about where we wanna take the country if we wanna be... rewarded in November... and then frankly looking ahead to 2028."
#border #we 've #frankly #wanna
"Well, we've done so much that frankly, it kinda gets lost in a lot of the noise," Roy told Fox News Digital during an interview on Wednesday, pointing to issues such as tax provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump last year.
The Texan pointed to the nation's border as the "biggest example" of Republicans' achievements, saying that "we've literally shut down the flow across the border" through enforcing the law.
He also pointed to the passage of the "Laken Riley Act," a measure named after the 22-year-old woman murdered in 2024 by Jose Ibarra, a man who, according to a 2024 statement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), had previously been "arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)" after illegally entering the U.S., but was "paroled and released for further processing."
Roy said Republicans "need to unite with a singular vision about where we wanna take the country if we wanna be... rewarded in November... and then frankly looking ahead to 2028."
#border #we 've #frankly #wanna
1 month ago
By Andrew Osborn
MOSCOW, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Bone fragments from the sword hand of a medieval Russian prince who won a famous victory over the Mongols have been sent to the front in Ukraine to raise army morale in the Russian Orthodox Church's latest show of support for President Vladimir Putin's war.
The sarcophagus of Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy, who died in 1389 and is revered by Russian nationalists for defeating the Mongol Golden Horde at the 1380 Battle of Kulikovo, was uncovered this summer during restoration work at Moscow's Cathedral of the Archangel inside the Kremlin.
Putin personally inspected what experts said were the prince's well-preserved remains in August, hailing them as "an absolutely unique and marvellous discovery" which reinforced the foundations of Russian history.
The Russian Orthodox Church, which has backed Putin throughout the conflict, said it had dispatched a fragment of Donskoy's right hand to Donetsk, one of four Ukrainian regions Putin said he had incorporated into Russia in 2022, a move Kyiv rejected as an illegal land grab.
#prince #andrew #osborn #reuters
MOSCOW, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Bone fragments from the sword hand of a medieval Russian prince who won a famous victory over the Mongols have been sent to the front in Ukraine to raise army morale in the Russian Orthodox Church's latest show of support for President Vladimir Putin's war.
The sarcophagus of Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy, who died in 1389 and is revered by Russian nationalists for defeating the Mongol Golden Horde at the 1380 Battle of Kulikovo, was uncovered this summer during restoration work at Moscow's Cathedral of the Archangel inside the Kremlin.
Putin personally inspected what experts said were the prince's well-preserved remains in August, hailing them as "an absolutely unique and marvellous discovery" which reinforced the foundations of Russian history.
The Russian Orthodox Church, which has backed Putin throughout the conflict, said it had dispatched a fragment of Donskoy's right hand to Donetsk, one of four Ukrainian regions Putin said he had incorporated into Russia in 2022, a move Kyiv rejected as an illegal land grab.
#prince #andrew #osborn #reuters
1 month ago
FIRST ON FOX: Roy Cooper, the former North Carolina governor and a Democratic candidate for the Senate, believes his party should incorporate a big-tent approach to an emerging wave of socialist candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
When asked if he would sign the Promise to America, a repudiation of socialist stances put out by moderate Democrats, Cooper said he wouldn't.
"I don't see any need to," Cooper said in video footage obtained by Fox News Digital.
"I think the party needs a wide spectrum, particularly at a time when the Republican Party is shrinking and having all kinds of loyalty tests. I think we need to have all kinds of folks to be a part of our party."
Florida Board Votes To Ban Illegal Immigrants From Public College Admissions
#America #socialist #need #think
When asked if he would sign the Promise to America, a repudiation of socialist stances put out by moderate Democrats, Cooper said he wouldn't.
"I don't see any need to," Cooper said in video footage obtained by Fox News Digital.
"I think the party needs a wide spectrum, particularly at a time when the Republican Party is shrinking and having all kinds of loyalty tests. I think we need to have all kinds of folks to be a part of our party."
Florida Board Votes To Ban Illegal Immigrants From Public College Admissions
#America #socialist #need #think
1 month ago
More than a dozen states have begun distributing millions of free eggs across local food banks following a settlement with three major producers over alleged collusion, but legal experts say this "unusual" remedy faces a logistical hurdle of making sure those eggs reach the American people.
"There are huge administrative problems with making sure that a settlement of this nature goes according to plan," Katherine Speegle, an antitrust lawyer and partner at Duane Morris, told Fortune.
In June, the U.S. Justice Department and 17 states settled a lawsuit alleging three major egg producers—Cal-Maine Foods, Versova, and Hickman's Egg Ranch—illegally colluded to inflate the price of eggs, which reached record heights last year. The complaint claimed the companies coordinated on bids submitted to Urner Barry Publications, which runs an index key that reports prices for grocery stores and restaurants.
Soaring egg prices became a key metric for how American consumers have experienced five years of above-trend inflation — with this case raising the prospect of collusive behavior on the egg front. None of the producers admitted to wrongdoing and maintained they acted legally.
"When powerful corporations collude behind the scenes to raise prices, working families suffer the costs," New York Attorney General Letitia James, who helped lead the investigation, said in a statement at the time. "These egg producers manipulated the market to squeeze even more profit out of consumers and businesses."
#states
"There are huge administrative problems with making sure that a settlement of this nature goes according to plan," Katherine Speegle, an antitrust lawyer and partner at Duane Morris, told Fortune.
In June, the U.S. Justice Department and 17 states settled a lawsuit alleging three major egg producers—Cal-Maine Foods, Versova, and Hickman's Egg Ranch—illegally colluded to inflate the price of eggs, which reached record heights last year. The complaint claimed the companies coordinated on bids submitted to Urner Barry Publications, which runs an index key that reports prices for grocery stores and restaurants.
Soaring egg prices became a key metric for how American consumers have experienced five years of above-trend inflation — with this case raising the prospect of collusive behavior on the egg front. None of the producers admitted to wrongdoing and maintained they acted legally.
"When powerful corporations collude behind the scenes to raise prices, working families suffer the costs," New York Attorney General Letitia James, who helped lead the investigation, said in a statement at the time. "These egg producers manipulated the market to squeeze even more profit out of consumers and businesses."
#states
1 month ago
An illegal immigrant from El Salvador was returned to his home country this week after the Department of Homeland Security took him into custody in sanctuary Fairfax County, Virginia, where he had just served an abbreviated jail sentence, and deported him.
The case is the latest in a string of controversies involving illegal immigrants plaguing the Democrat-led county adjacent to Washington, D.C., where sanctuary policies run up against the Trump administration's heavy-handed approach to removing people who do not belong in the U.S.
"This groper is gone," an ICE spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Illegal Immigrant Israel Flores-ortiz Gets 360 Days For Groping Girls At Fairfax County Va. High School
A photo of the Fairfax High School campus in Fairfax, Va., from March 15, 2022. At right is a mugshot of Israel Flores-Ortiz, accused of groping girls at Fairfax High School, taken in March 2025.
#county #Israel #immigrant
The case is the latest in a string of controversies involving illegal immigrants plaguing the Democrat-led county adjacent to Washington, D.C., where sanctuary policies run up against the Trump administration's heavy-handed approach to removing people who do not belong in the U.S.
"This groper is gone," an ICE spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Illegal Immigrant Israel Flores-ortiz Gets 360 Days For Groping Girls At Fairfax County Va. High School
A photo of the Fairfax High School campus in Fairfax, Va., from March 15, 2022. At right is a mugshot of Israel Flores-Ortiz, accused of groping girls at Fairfax High School, taken in March 2025.
#county #Israel #immigrant
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1 month ago
Former NFL running back LeShon Johnson has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison after he was convicted of six felonies related to dog fighting.
Authorities seized 190 dogs from Johnson's property, the most dogs ever seized from any individual in a federal dog fighting investigation. This is Johnson's second dog fighting conviction; he was also convicted of state dog fighting charges in Oklahoma in 2004.
"LeShon Johnson continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct," said Deputy **** istant Attorney General Adam Gustafson. "We are grateful to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the FBI for partnering with ENRD to bring this repeat offender to justice and to the U.S. Marshals Service for executing the biggest rescue operation of its kind."
The Department of Justice says Johnson made hundreds of thousands of dollars through his dog fighting operation, selling dogs he described as fighting champions, selling puppies he said were bred to be fighting champions, and charging stud fees to other dog fighters so that his champion males could breed with their females.
The 55-year-old Johnson was a third-round pick of the Packers in 1994 and also played for the Cardinals and Giants before finishing his pro football career with the XFL's Chicago Enforcers.
#leshon #oklahoma #federal #seized
Authorities seized 190 dogs from Johnson's property, the most dogs ever seized from any individual in a federal dog fighting investigation. This is Johnson's second dog fighting conviction; he was also convicted of state dog fighting charges in Oklahoma in 2004.
"LeShon Johnson continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct," said Deputy **** istant Attorney General Adam Gustafson. "We are grateful to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the FBI for partnering with ENRD to bring this repeat offender to justice and to the U.S. Marshals Service for executing the biggest rescue operation of its kind."
The Department of Justice says Johnson made hundreds of thousands of dollars through his dog fighting operation, selling dogs he described as fighting champions, selling puppies he said were bred to be fighting champions, and charging stud fees to other dog fighters so that his champion males could breed with their females.
The 55-year-old Johnson was a third-round pick of the Packers in 1994 and also played for the Cardinals and Giants before finishing his pro football career with the XFL's Chicago Enforcers.
#leshon #oklahoma #federal #seized
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1 month ago
BOSTON (AP) — The highest court in Massachusetts on Thursday issued a public reprimand against a district court judge who was accused of allowing an immigrant to escape U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.
The case dates back to 2018 when Judge Shelley Joseph was accused of colluding with the immigrant's attorney and a court officer to allow him to escape out a back door of the courthouse after a hearing on charges that included drug possession.
The decision by the Supreme Judicial Court follows a recommendation for the reprimand by a hearing officer for the Commission on Judicial Conduct. It concluded that Joseph created the appearance of impropriety and failed to comply with the law.
"The respondent's statements during that conversation, including her proposal to detain (the immigrant) overnight in State custody, and her conduct in instructing the clerk to turn off the court room audio recording system, created an appearance of impropriety in violation of her duties," according to the Supreme Judicial Court ruling.
Joseph's attorney, Elizabeth Mulvey, argued at the commission hearing last year that the case had been distorted over time and that everyone had come to believe that her client "let an illegal immigrant out of the door" with half the public believing she should be jailed and the other half calling her a "folk hero."
#supreme #conduct #public
The case dates back to 2018 when Judge Shelley Joseph was accused of colluding with the immigrant's attorney and a court officer to allow him to escape out a back door of the courthouse after a hearing on charges that included drug possession.
The decision by the Supreme Judicial Court follows a recommendation for the reprimand by a hearing officer for the Commission on Judicial Conduct. It concluded that Joseph created the appearance of impropriety and failed to comply with the law.
"The respondent's statements during that conversation, including her proposal to detain (the immigrant) overnight in State custody, and her conduct in instructing the clerk to turn off the court room audio recording system, created an appearance of impropriety in violation of her duties," according to the Supreme Judicial Court ruling.
Joseph's attorney, Elizabeth Mulvey, argued at the commission hearing last year that the case had been distorted over time and that everyone had come to believe that her client "let an illegal immigrant out of the door" with half the public believing she should be jailed and the other half calling her a "folk hero."
#supreme #conduct #public
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1 month ago
By Julia Harte
Sept 9 (Reuters) - The Trump administration proposed on Wednesday changing the national census to include only U.S. citizens and permanent residents, a move that could significantly change how much political representation and federal funding each state receives.
The U.S. Census Bureau submitted the proposal just over a year after President Donald Trump ordered its parent agency to craft a new census that would block immigrants in the U.S. illegally from being counted. The bureau will conduct the next full census in 2030.
The proposed rule changes would exclude even more immigrants from the census, such as those in the U.S. on a temporary lawful basis. The proposed changes would also eliminate parts of the questionnaire that seek information on race or ethnicity, which have been included since the first census in 1790.
The proposal is open to public comment for 30 days.
#julia #harte
Sept 9 (Reuters) - The Trump administration proposed on Wednesday changing the national census to include only U.S. citizens and permanent residents, a move that could significantly change how much political representation and federal funding each state receives.
The U.S. Census Bureau submitted the proposal just over a year after President Donald Trump ordered its parent agency to craft a new census that would block immigrants in the U.S. illegally from being counted. The bureau will conduct the next full census in 2030.
The proposed rule changes would exclude even more immigrants from the census, such as those in the U.S. on a temporary lawful basis. The proposed changes would also eliminate parts of the questionnaire that seek information on race or ethnicity, which have been included since the first census in 1790.
The proposal is open to public comment for 30 days.
#julia #harte
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