by Jennifer Shutt, Georgia Recorder The Biden administration announced new initiatives Friday that could reduce health care costs, though none will take effect immediately. The changes include a proposed rule that would reduce the amount of time short-term health insurance plans can last and require companies that offer the plans to …

Casey Quinlan, Pennsylvania Capital-Star Although hiring inched down in June, the U.S. labor market is still showing signs of strength, with unemployment falling and earnings continuing to rise, the latest jobs report from the U.S. Department of Labor showed. The economy added 209,000 jobs as the unemployment rate fell to 3.6% from …

Michael Moline, Florida Phoenix The Florida Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for Sept. 8 in a test of whether the justices will respect their 1989 ruling finding protection for abortion access in the Florida Constitution’s Privacy Clause. In an order posted Friday, the court said arguments would begin at …

Among the dozens of Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ line-item vetoes for state Republicans’ two-year budget on Wednesday was a move to boost funding for public education for the next four centuries. The budget approved by Wisconsin lawmakers hiked the revenue limit for school districts—or how much they can raise …

The House Freedom Caucus recently voted to remove Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from their pro-Trump group. A member of the caucus confirmed this decision, stating that Greene’s conflict with Representative Lauren Boebert played a role in their reasoning. “A vote was taken to remove Marjorie Taylor Greene from the House …

Jennifer Shutt, Florida Phoenix President Joe Biden traveled Thursday to South Carolina — home of the first-in-the-nation 2024 Democratic presidential primary as well as two GOP presidential candidates — to rebuke Republicans for voting against bills in Congress that are now providing billions in federal dollars. “All those members of …

Ashley Murray, New Jersey Monitor Supporters of student loan debt cancellation are organizing to hold GOP lawmakers “accountable” in the 2024 election cycle following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling blocking President Joe Biden’s debt relief plan. The left-leaning Protect Borrowers Action will target 13 U.S. House districts across California, Colorado, …

The Biden administration has introduced a new initiative to address student loan debt after the Supreme Court blocked a plan to eliminate $10,000 to $20,000 in debt for borrowers. The Department of Education will implement a revised income-driven repayment (IDR) plan called “Saving on A Valuable Education” (SAVE), which aims …

Orion Rummler Originally published by The 19th More than 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been signed into law this year, but they are increasingly unable to hold up in court. In just the last two months, federal judges — including two appointed by former President Donald Trump — and one county circuit …

Kenny Stancil, Common Dreams A nonpartisan coalition on Wednesday submitted more than 700,000 signatures from Ohio residents across all 88 counties in a bid to qualify a referendum on whether to enshrine reproductive rights and abortion access in the state constitution. Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights, which is backed by …

A recent lab test has confirmed that the white substance discovered at the White House on Sunday is cocaine, according to an official familiar with the investigation. The substance, found in a small zippered bag in a frequently visited area of the West Wing, prompted a brief evacuation and was …

President Joe Biden has once again called for stricter gun restrictions in the wake of recent deadly shootings as the country observed Independence Day. “Today, Jill and I grieve for those who have lost their lives,” Biden said in a statement. “We pray for the day when our communities will …

Jason Hancock, Missouri Independent A federal judge on Tuesday prohibited Biden administration officials from communicating with social media platforms about “protected speech,” a ruling emerging from litigation originally filed by former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt. The ruling, by Judge Terry A. Doughty of the U.S. District Court for the …

Former Vice President Mike Pence has expressed his support for the Supreme Court’s decision to reduce affirmative action programs in colleges and universities nationwide. He believes that there is no longer racial inequality in America’s education system and that affirmative action is no longer necessary. “I really don’t believe there …

Jake Johnson, Common Dreams A federal judge on Monday blocked a provision of a recently enacted Florida law that the ACLU characterized as a “clear and brazen attack on civic participation in our democracy.” S.B. 7050, which Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law in May, would have imposed $50,000 …