Allegations in FEC Contributions Case Hounds Buchanan
6/18/2011 Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Republican from Florida and a rising third-term member of the House, is facing public scrutiny over his previous ownership of a car dealership alleged to have made illegal contributions to his campaign. He plays a key role in the fundraising efforts for Republicans in Congress. Documents were filed by […]
Wineries Bill in Oregon Advances
6/18/2011 A bill that would give Oregon wineries more liberty to participate in some new commercial undertakings on land delineated for farm use was approved on Wednesday by the Senate, but only with the understanding that the measure still requires a number of amendments. In Lane County, the conflict over business activities on farmland […]
Farmers Getting Concerned About A National Clampdown on Illegal Workers
6/17/2011 Talks about a new immigration bill that could severely impact the workforce of local farms in Santa Maria are causing owners to be seriously concerned. The proposed measure would oblige all American businesses to have the names of their employees pass through e-verify. This verification program of the government checks to ensure that […]
Obama Administration Tells Third Appeals Court that Health-Care Law Must Stand
6/17/2011 The Obama administration legal team is scheduled to request a third federal appeals court to uphold the 2010 health-care statute in what may be the culminating legal battle over the controversial law before it reaches the United States Supreme Court. Government lawyers, in oral arguments today, will ask the three-judge panel of the […]
Law Enforcement Officers Attend Human Trafficking Conference in Salt Lake
6/16/2011 A group in Utah has declared war on a problem whose impact could very well exceed that of the global narcotics trade. It is the multi-billion dollar human slavery industry. According to Child Rescue, children are bought and sold for sex every day, not just in developing nations, but also in first world […]
Ban Gloomily Accepted by Fireworks Industry
6/16/2011 It looks like fireworks vendors would have to look for a plan B after the ban on pyrotechnics was approved last week by Midland County commissioners and Governor Rick Perry. Jan Johnson, TNT Fireworks vice president, said of the ban, “Obviously this is a devastating blow for the fireworks industry. It was, I’m […]
Legal Battle Won by Exploration Companies
6/15/ 2011 A key legal battle was won last week by exploration companies acting as the research-and-development arm of the mining industry in Nevada. Judge James E. Wilson Jr. of the Carson City District Court ruled that fees levied by the State Legislature on mining claims are unconstitutional. The ruling, which came only a […]
Password Sharing for Entertainment Criminalized by New Tennessee Law
6/15/2011 People living in Tennessee should think twice before sharing their Netflix password to friends. Governor Bill Haslam, on May 30, 2011, signed into law House Bill 1783/Senate Bill 1659. The new law, Public Chapter No. 348, makes it a criminal offense to use the login data of an account for any “entertainment subscription […]
For-Profit-Colleges to be tested by ‘Gainful-Employment’ Rule
6/11/2011 Federal education officials are strengthening their oversight powers on the thriving for-profit higher-education sector with its release of a new rule yesterday that will oblige career preparatory programs to produce “gainful employment.” The action concludes the protracted debate between for-profit college leaders and the Obama administration. A number of concessions that were meant […]
Murphy & McGonigle Joined by Senior Attorney from the Financial Services Industry
6/11/2011 Hannah Berkowitz has joined Murphy & McGonigle, P.C. as a partner in its New York City office. This was announced today by the Firm, adding that Ms. Berkowitz brings with her a considerable experience in defending difficult securities and commercial litigation issues that usually affect broker-dealers and financial services firms. James A. Murphy, […]