Why Did Congress Defund Public Media?

According to the National Safety Council, approximately 62 million Americans sought medical treatment for preventable injuries in 2023. Unexpected accidents can happen anytime, anywhere, with consequences ranging from minor injuries to life-altering harm. In many cases, the immediate and long-term impact of an unexpected accident can extend into just about every facet of a person’s life and result in ongoing physical, mental and emotional stress. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation to help offset the ramifications of your accident. But how exactly does a personal injury claim work? Whether you’re dealing with a car crash, slip and fall or other type of personal injury, it’s important to understand the legal process involved in fighting for compensation. Here’s a step-by-step overview of the personal injury claim process for accident victims in Chicago and the surrounding areas. What is a…

The widespread use of AI has hit higher ed hard. First the teachers complained about students using ChatGPT on their assignments. Then the punishments came. Plagiarism software was updated to account for its use and students could face serious consequences for outsourcing their thinking to AI. It didn’t take long for the tables to turn: students began to complain about how often teachers were using AI! Some teachers are transparent with the process — Ithaca’s Diane Gayeski runs her student’s papers through ChatGPT for suggestions on how they should be graded and she suggests that students do the same to their work as a way to proofread. But are these fringe uses or signs of how ubiquitous AI usage will be in the classroom. The University of Michigan Law School is interested in that answer and they want applicants to get some contributions from AI when they answer it. ABA Journal was able to grab the text of a new question on the application, here it is: …

Florida Investment Advisor Andrew Jacobus Arrested for Alleged $94 Million Ponzi Scheme The White Law Group is currently investigating potential securities claims involving former Florida investment advisor Andrew Hamilton Jacobus, following serious fraud allegations and recent criminal charges. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Jacobus was arrested on July 18, 2025, after being indicted on multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors allege that Jacobus defrauded dozens of investors—including elderly Venezuelan nationals and Catholic dioceses—out of more than $94 million. Ponzi-Like Scheme Through Multiple Firms The indictment claims Jacobus operated a long-running Ponzi-like scheme through several entities he controlled, including: Finser International Corporation Kronus Management Kronus Financial Corp. Serfincorp Asset Management These firms were based in Miami and allegedly used to solicit…

The following is a guest post by foreign law intern, Yuri Rattanaboonsen. Yuri works with Foreign Law Specialist, Sayuri Umeda, in the Global Legal Research Directorate in the Law Library of Congress.  In Thailand, surnames are generally unique to family lines, and more often than not, we rarely meet a stranger who has the same surname if he or she is not a distant relative. Before the enactment of the Thai Nationality Act in 1913, which is also known as the Surname Act, surnames were uncommon for the general public. This law required all Thai citizens and permanent residents to register a family surname for the first time. As a result, many families had to create a new surname. One important feature of the law was that each family’s surname had to be unique. (Thai Nationality Act sec.12(5).) If a name was already registered, the family would have to register a different one. Currently, the Person’s Name Act B.E. 2505 (1962), as amended by…

On June 3, 2025, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed HB 2008 into law to amend the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act,[1] the state’s comprehensive data privacy law. Among other items, effective January 1, 2026, the “sale” of two categories of personal data will be prohibited Precise geolocation information that can pinpoint an individual or device with a 1,750-foot radius, absent some specific communications or utility-related exceptions Personal data of anyone under sixteen years of age, provided that the data controller “has actual knowledge that, or willfully disregards whether, the consumer is under 16 years of age”[2] The location data provision echoes a similar prohibition that was passed in Maryland last year.[3]  Location data is considered “sensitive” because it can be readily collected from mobile devices or web browsing activities and can reveal a great deal about an individual’s habits, interests and movements.…

Legal professionals are struggling to evaluate the rapidly evolving landscape of generative artificial intelligence tools for legal research, according to experts who spoke at a panel discussion during the American Association of Law Libraries annual conference in Portland, Ore., this week. The panel, titled “AI in Legal Research: Measuring What Matters with Benchmarks and Rubrics,” […]

Truck and motorcycle accidents in Missouri can cause serious injuries and complex legal situations. These cases often involve multiple parties and require in-depth knowledge of both traffic laws and personal injury regulations. A skilled truck motorcycle crash lawyer in Missouri can help injured victims fight for fair compensation and protect their legal rights after an accident. Many factors make truck and motorcycle crashes different from other accidents, such as the size of trucks and the vulnerability of motorcyclists. The right attorney understands these details and can guide victims through the process of filing claims, dealing with insurance companies, and pursuing maximum compensation. This support is crucial in a state where serious injuries and fatalities often result from these crashes. Knowing what to do immediately after an accident and working with experienced legal counsel can make a big difference in the outcome of a case. Victims should act quickly to protect…

Understanding Louisiana Estate Law with Bloom Legal Network When a loved one passes away in Louisiana, their assets don’t automatically transfer to family members. Instead, those assets go through a legal process called a succession, what many other states refer to as “probate.”  If you live in New Orleans, Metairie, […] The post What Is a Succession and How Does It Work? appeared first on Bloom Legal Network.

Supreme Court of Canada Decision: R. v. I.M. [Criminal law]

On 31 July 2024, the German Higher Regional Court of Munich (OLG München) delivered a judgment providing key insights into the repercussions board members may encounter for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Although the primary legal question centered around the legality of an executive’s dismissal under German corporate and employment law, the court’s decision was heavily influenced by its determination that the executive had prompted the company to engage in unlawful data processing, thereby breaching the GDPR. This blog post highlights the essential facts of the case and the court’s findings regarding the data protection issues involved. Background The case involved a board member of a German corporation who, over several months, systematically forwarded internal business emails to his private email account by adding his personal address in the CC field. These emails contained personal data and confidential information…

LAUREL, Md. — A young boy is in critical condition following a townhouse fire Monday afternoon that was started by an indoor s’mores kit. The incident happened in the 8500 block of Crooked Tree Lane, where flames had engulfed the second floor of a three-story townhouse. The fire left a 9-year-old boy with severe burns to his face. He was transported by ambulance to the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Burn Center in Baltimore with life-threatening injuries. One of the child’s parents also sustained burns to their hands but was treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization. The fire was traced to a home-use s’mores kit, designed to roast marshmallows indoors. Families affected by dangerous tabletop fire pits deserve answers and justice How devastating. A device meant to create sweet family moments turned into a source of tragedy in an instant. Even more troubling is that these indoor fire kits continue to make their way into homes, where families trust…

One in 35 Americans will be in a car crash in the next twelve months. What is your chance of being in a car crash in the next twelve months? One in a million Americans will be struck by lightning in the next twelve months. What is your chance of being struck by lightning? The answer to both is that you have no idea. Whether you are in a car crash depends on how careful you are—especially how well you avoid distractions—the condition of your car, how many miles you drive, where you drive, when you drive, and the weather you drive in. Whether you are struck by lightning, likewise, depends on your behavior. If you like playing golf in the rain, your chances increase. If you live in a city, they decrease. You know that the statistics don’t predict what will happen to you, much less the things that you can control. The Court of Criminal Appeals grants about 7% of the petitions for discretionary review filed in a year. What are your chances it will grant…

Human Rights Watch (HRW) classified Kazakhstan Foreign Affairs Ministry’s withholding of accreditation from 16 Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty Kazakh service journalists as a “blatant” attack on independent media on Tuesday. Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch Hugh Walliamson expressed concern about the evident escalation of stifled independent voices in Kazakhstan, identifying the rejected accreditations as a warning shot. HRW connected the current accreditation frictions with a systematic pattern of “administrative harassment aimed at curtailing independent media in Kazakhstan.” Since 2022, authorities repeatedly withheld accreditation from Radio Azattyq reporters. The decisions were reversed as a result of a legal challenge and international pressure. HRW pointed out that Kazakh authorities are violating international law through ongoing restrictions. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to…

Hat tip to Jim Burns at Latham for sending word of an update on this one: “‘Little Is Gained by Disqualification,’ Law Firm Concedes in Related Efforts Against GM’s Counsel” — “Following a magistrate judge’s ruling this week that denied a boutique Chicago law firm’s efforts to disqualify Fish & Richardson from representing General Motors Co. in a patent dispute, attorneys with Irwin IP withdrew similar attempts in a related but separate case.” “Attorneys from Irwin IP, a Chicago litigation firm, represent LKQ Corp. and its subsidiary, Keystone Automotive Industries, in patent disputes against GM. In one matter pending before U.S. District Judge Jorge Alonso of the Northern District of Illinois, the plaintiffs’ attorneys accused Fish & Richardson of poaching one of its former paralegals, Gloria Rios. Rios oversaw all LKQ matters, including the present adverse suit against GM, and is now working for…

 Pix credit hereI was delighted to have been able to sit for an online interview with Payman Yazdani for the Tabnak News Service (Iran).  The interview revolved around six questions:Pix credit here1. The US says it aims to facilitate peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. What are the real goals of the US? 2. What can be the advantages and possible disadvantages of the US proposal for Baku and Yerevan?3. How can this affect China's one road- one belt project? and basically what are the possible security and economic threats of the US proposal to China?4. The EU has supported the US proposal; can this create any possible security or economic threats to Russia's interest in the region?5.Armenia had announced that it would not hand over the control of the corridor to a third party but to push Armenia, Turkey has told Yerevan that the new developments have been against Iran. Do you think that Yerevan will finally accept the US…

If you’re working in Ontario or just starting a new job, there are major changes to the Employment Standards Act (ESA) that could affect your rights. These new rules, effective as of July 1, 2025, are part of the province’s broader push to modernize workplace protections under its Working for Workers legislative initiative. From onboarding documentation to long-term illness leave and cleaner workspaces, these updates place more responsibility on employers and provide Ontario workers with more transparency and legal protection. If you’re unsure how these new laws apply to your situation, now is the time to learn what you’re entitled to and how to protect your rights at work. New Job? You Must Now Receive Basic Information in Writing Under the ESA changes now in force, employers with 25 or more employees are legally required to give new hires a written document outlining specific job details. This must be provided ideally before the first day of…

In Dissent is a recurring series by Anastasia Boden on Supreme Court dissents that have shaped (or reshaped) our country.  Please note that the views of outside contributors do not reflect the official opinions of SCOTUSblog or its staff. Many dissents take decades to become law, if ever. Justice Harlan Fiske Stone’s dissent in Minersville School District v. Gobitis took just three years. In Gobitis, the majority upheld a school board’s policy of expelling students who refused to salute the flag – including Jehovah’s Witnesses, who objected on religious grounds. The resulting outbreak of mob violence against Witnesses, combined with a rapidly changing court, led to one of the fastest reversals in Supreme Court history. Compelled unity In the fall of 1935, 10-year-old William and 12-year-old Lillian Gobitas were attending their school in Minersville, Pennsylvania, when their teachers asked them to rise and say the Pledge of…

The climate crisis is an “emergency,” which can only be “adequately addressed through urgent, effective, and coordinated actions,” the Inter-American Court of Human Rights declared on July 3. The international court, established by the Organization of American States in 1979, made this pronouncement in its Advisory Opinion on Human Rights and the Climate Emergency, legal analysis requested by Chile and Colombia. It offers authoritative guidance on the scope of countries’ obligations to address climate change and is the most comprehensive overview of the intersection between human rights law and climate change in the Americas. The advisory opinion represents a landmark moment for the climate justice movement, following similar initiatives before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. An advisory opinion from the ICJ on States…