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by Michael Moline, Florida Phoenix May 13, 2022 A state trial judge has rejected Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ demand to dismantle Congressional District 5, a sprawling, Black-access congressional district in North Florida, citing language in the state Constitution forbidding diminishment of minority voting strength. Instead, Circuit Judge Layne Smith, sitting in …

by Kira Lerner, Florida Phoenix April 29, 2022 Florida authorities arrested a Black man while he was staying in a homeless shelter and charged him with voting illegally in a case tied to Republicans’ drive to root out election fraud. But Kelvin Bolton’s arrest raises questions about the rollout of …

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it has begun the process of banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. “Banning menthol — the last allowable flavor — in cigarettes and banning all flavors in cigars will help save lives, particularly among those disproportionately affected by these deadly products. With these …

by Jacob Fischler, Idaho Capital Sun April 26, 2022 The U.S. House cleared a bill Tuesday that would expand the Kansas site honoring the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning school segregation, adding National Park Service sites in other states to commemorate their roles in the decision as well. The bill …

By Uriel J. García, The Texas Tribune April 26, 2022 The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday morning on whether the Biden administration can scrap a Trump-era policy that forces asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico as their cases make their way through U.S. immigration courts. During two hours of arguments, …

After hearing arguments on Monday, Judge Arthur Engoron of the New York County State Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump is in contempt of court for failing to comply with his previous orders to provide documents to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and imposed a $10,000 fine on Trump for …

Former President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has been ordered to pay nearly $1.3 million in legal fees to former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman by a New York court arbitrator. The award comes after Trump filed a complaint against Manigault Newman over her 2018 book, “Unhinged: An Insider’s Account …

by Diane Rado, Florida Phoenix April 22, 2022 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 7 into law on Friday, an “Intellectual Freedom” measure also referred to as the “Stop WOKE” act. Among critics, it caused immediate condemnation across Florida and states elsewhere. “We believe in education, not indoctrination,” said DeSantis, …

A Florida man pleaded guilty Tuesday to sending death threats to U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn). David Hannon, 67, of Sarasota, entered a guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher P. Tuite to an information charging him with one count of threatening a federal official. In July 2019, Hannon sent …

Dozens of federal agencies launched action plans last week that focus on minority groups and other underserved communities, meant to increase equity in government by opening federal programs to more people and reduce racial disparities caused by government decisions. The plans come in response to an executive order President Joe …

Shefali Luthra Originally published by The 19th Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a law Tuesday criminalizing all abortions with narrow exceptions to save the pregnant person’s life. Under the law, medical providers who perform abortions could be punished with up to 10 years in prison. “We want Oklahoma to be …

By James Barragán, The Texas Tribune April 6, 2022 Responding to the recent announcement that the Biden administration will lift a pandemic-era immigration policy that allows authorities to turn away migrants, Gov. Greg Abbott promised drastic, “unprecedented” action to curb what is expected to be a significant influx of migrants …

Former President Barack Obama joined President Joe Biden on Tuesday at the White House to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare. During the event, President Biden signed an executive order to close the so-called “family glitch,” a loophole in the Affordable Care Act that limits coverage …

The White House has announced that Academy Award-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson and 12-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul are among those President Joe Biden has appointed to the President’s Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The Board of Directors is tasked with advancing the goals of the HBCU …

by Jacob Fischler, Missouri Independent March 28, 2022 The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee reopened partisan disagreements Monday as members scheduled a vote for April 4 on Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Republicans’ criticisms of Jackson’s record and responses were either untrue or …