ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 14:35:42 +0000

Last week, Alabama banned judicial override in capital cases, Canada readied to legalize recreational marijuana, and China and South Korea teamed up against a nuclear North Korea. ICYMI, check out the best of the week from Law Street below!

Will Banning Judicial Override for Capital Cases Keep Alabama Out of Court?

As of April 11, Alabama no longer grants state judges the authority to override jury recommendations in capital cases. As one of her first acts as governor, Kay Ivey signed the SB16 bill into law and put an end to judicial override in capital cases in Alabama. The move was likely a preemptive response to shifting legal tides. Had Alabama not revised its laws, it would likely have faced fierce and ongoing battles in court.

Canada Set to Legalize Recreational Marijuana in July 2018

By the summer of 2018, recreational marijuana in Canada could be legal. Later this week, Parliament will take up a bill that would satisfy a popular campaign promise of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party: legalizing recreational marijuana in Canada. Medical marijuana is already legal in the country. But some government officials think the target date for legalization, July 1, is too ambitious, and implementation is more likely to begin in 2019.

Nuclear North Korea: Can China, South Korea, and the U.S. Unite?

As tensions on the Korean peninsula continue to heat up, Chinese and South Korean officials met in Seoul on Monday and agreed to strengthen sanctions on North Korea if the state continues to carry out nuclear tests. As the two parties finalized the agreement, South Korea had to respond to news that the United States Navy dispatched a strike group to the Korean peninsula. Many in the region, and throughout the world, fear the U.S. strike force might exacerbate an already fractious situation.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 14:36:33 +0000

ICYMI, it’s Women’s History Month! Last week women protested gender inequality on International Women’s Day by organizing a nationwide strike titled “A Day Without a Woman.” For that story and other top news from last week, check out Law Street’s best of the week below!

International Women’s Day: Scenes from Outside the Trump International Hotel

On International Women’s Day, women took to the streets of New York City (and other major cities) to protest gender inequality and highlight what a day without women would look like. Many women took the day off from work to symbolize how much they contribute to society, and many were dressed in red, which was chosen by the organizers to signify love and sacrifice. The nationwide initiative was organized by the same group that was behind the Women’s March on Washington.

The Debate Over “Wrongful Birth” in Texas

Texas lawmakers have been busy the last few weeks. Controversy surrounding a transgender bathroom bill in the mold of North Carolina’s HB2 law thrust the Texas Senate into the news after its Committee on State Affairs approved the measure with a 7-1 vote. Yet, while all of that was happening, another controversial bill flew slightly under the radar. Senate Bill 25, which was unanimously passed by the committee and will soon move on to the full senate for a vote, would protect doctors from “wrongful birth” lawsuits.

What is the “Day Without A Woman” Strike?

In honor of International Women’s Day, organizers of the Women’s March have declared March 8 “A Day Without a Woman.” Here’s what you need to know about the strike and how you can get involved.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 15:15:00 +0000

Happy Presidents Day! For those of you lucky enough to have the day off from school or work, grab a coffee, put your feet up, and catch up on Law Street’s best of the week below.

Jeff Sessions Signals Marijuana Enforcement Will Remain the Same

Marijuana advocates have been worried for months about the recently confirmed Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He once said “good people don’t smoke marijuana,” and he has joked that he thought the Ku Klux Klan “were OK until I found out they smoked pot.” But last week, Sessions spoke with Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones, and may have finally hinted at how he might enforce the federal marijuana ban as attorney general.

Oroville Dam Overflow: The Environment and Failing Infrastructure

Last week, nearly 200,000 Californians were asked to evacuate their homes after workers at the Oroville Dam noticed the emergency spillway was severely damaged. The spillway was activated in response to rapidly rising water levels in the Oroville reservoir. While the dam was never in danger of collapsing, the failure of a vital failsafe and the subsequent mass evacuation serves as a reminder of the dire state of American infrastructure.

New Mexico Senate Votes to Expand Medical Marijuana Program

A new law passed by the New Mexico Senate Monday is seeking to expand the state’s existing medical marijuana program to include more qualifying conditions following rising demand. New Mexico’s medical cannabis program was established in 2007. As the law stands, patients with qualifying conditions–such as HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, PTSD, arthritis, and more–can obtain a medical marijuana permit from their doctors. If the recently introduced law passes a vote by the House of Representatives, 14 more qualifying conditions would be added to the existing list. This would include patients who suffer from substance abuse disorders.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 14:30:53 +0000

President Trump has officially pulled the U.S. from the TPP and announced plans to renegotiate NAFTA, angering farmers. ICYMI, check out these top stories from Law Street below!

Trump Officially Pulls the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership

President Donald Trump made good on one of his campaign promises on last week, signing an executive order to pull the U.S. from negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal. The deal, a 12-nation free trade agreement molded by President Obama but never introduced to Congress, was a lightning rod for anti-trade rhetoric throughout the campaign.

What is the REINS Act?

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act. The bill, which passed with a vote largely along party lines by 237-187, would require certain executive regulations to be approved by a joint session in Congress. Republicans see the bill as a necessary check on the executive branch, while Democrats dismiss it as a way to gut much-needed regulations.

Will Trump’s Opposition to NAFTA Lose Him the Support of Farmers?

President Donald Trump began his first week in office by announcing plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico. The announcement itself is unsurprising. Trump railed against NAFTA throughout his campaign claiming it and other free trade agreements threatened American firms and workers. However, in fulfilling his campaign promise Trump runs the risk of alienating a support base that was particularly reliable during the election: farmers.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 14:30:17 +0000

ICYMI, last week we taught you how to fight revenge porn, a woman sued Chipotle after the company used her photo, and Sen. Jeff Sessions faced a pro-marijuana group during his confirmation hearing. Learn more about these trending stories below!

How Can We Fight Revenge Porn?

Online sexual harassment and revenge porn have become relatively commonplace. Here at Law Street, we’ve written a number of articles on the topic in the last couple of weeks alone. From the lawyer fighting revenge porn to the online harassment of journalist Lauren Duca, there are concerns that this kind of behavior has become the norm in America. In fact, in September, President-elect Donald Trump was accused of something revenge-porn-like himself, when he encouraged his Twitter followers to look for Alicia Machado’s sex tape. This is clearly something that we’re going to have to deal with in coming years. But what exactly is revenge porn? And what do you do if it happens to you?

California Woman Files $2 Billion Lawsuit Against Chipotle After Company Uses her Photo

A California woman is suing the popular fast-casual burrito chain Chipotle, alleging that the company used a photo of her in its advertisements, but that she never gave it permission to do so. Leah Caldwell, the plaintiff, is asking for over $2 billion, specifically $2,237,633,000, arguing that the company has made that much money off of the use of her photo that was taken in 2006.

Pro-Marijuana Group Gives Jeff Sessions an Earful Before Confirmation Hearing

Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, will face the Senate in a confirmation hearing on Tuesday. In an effort spearheaded by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), pro-marijuana groups are asking supporters to call their senators on Monday, and let them know that they will not stand for any aggressive enforcement actions taken by Sessions, who once said “good people don’t smoke marijuana.”

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 26 Dec 2016 14:30:18 +0000

ICYMI, 2016 saw a record number of jailed journalists in Turkey and a spike in celebrity deaths, as well as a legal dispute between songwriters and radio stations that could affect your favorite music. Start your week of right and catch up on these top stories from Law Street below!

1. Turkey Jailed Record Number of Journalists in 2016, CPJ Says

Freedom of speech is at an all-time low worldwide, according to an annual report from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). As of December 1, 2016, there are 259 journalists imprisoned internationally, with Turkey accounting for nearly a third of the global total–making 2016 the worst year for journalists since the watchdog group began in 1990. Read the full article here.

2. Radio Stations vs. Songwriters: Will Your Favorite Music Be Affected?

Grab your aux cord, because there’s a possibility that your favorite radio station is about to lose the rights to a lot of music. A legal dispute between music rights organization Global Music Rights (GMR), which represents songwriters for artists such as Pharrell, Drake, and The Beatles, and the Radio Music Licensing Committee (RMLC), a group that represents commercial radio stations in music licensing matters, could pull a lot of songs by major artists off of radio stations nationwide. Read the full article here.

3. Is it Just Us, or Were There a Lot of Celebrity Deaths in 2016?

It has become a common sentiment–2016 was awful. One frequent complaint: a bunch of celebrity deaths. It even felt bizarre at points–just how many legendary music stars and acting icons was the Grim Reaper going to take away from us at a time when we need them the most? Think about it: David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Leonard Cohen, Prince, Muhammad Ali, and Gene Wilder all passed away this year. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:30:52 +0000

Last week on Law Street scientists geared up climate change data in lieu of Trump, a woman impersonated her ex to send herself threats, and Israel’s drug agency recommended decriminalizing marijuana. ICYMI–check out these top stories from Law Street below!

1. Scientists Rush to Back Up Climate Data Before Trump Takes Office

The President-elect has been criticized because he claimed that climate change is a hoax invented by the Chinese. The new proposed head of the EPA is a climate change denier. And the new proposed Secretary of State is an oil company CEO with close ties to Russia. So, it’s no wonder that environmentalists across the globe are worrying. Now, American climate scientists are copying as much of their research and climate data as possible onto independent computer servers, in an attempt to protect the information from any political interference. Read the full article here.

2. Woman Impersonates Her Ex on Facebook, Sends Threats to Herself

Imagine being arrested for a crime you didn’t commit–let alone even know about. Now, imagine being arrested four times for crimes you didn’t commit. That was the reality for an Orange County, California man whose ex-girlfriend had been impersonating him online. She had been sending herself messages from an account she created on Facebook in his name threatening to harm and kill her, according to a statement from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Read the full article here.

3. Israel’s Drug Enforcement Body Recommends Decriminalizing Marijuana

Israel’s central drug enforcement body, the Israel Anti-Drug Authority (IADA), expressed its support of marijuana decriminalization during a Knesset special committee hearing on Monday. Eitan Gorani, chairman of IADA, said the authority “favors the Portugal model,” referencing Portugal’s focus on marijuana, and all other drugs for that matter, as a public health issue, not a criminal one. Portugal decriminalized all drugs, including marijuana, in 2000. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 14:30:19 +0000

Last week Sandy Hook families produced a spine-chilling PSA, marijuana-infused coffee became a thing, and presidential electors turn on Trump. ICYMI–Check out Law Street’s best of the week below!

1. Sandy Hook Families Release Chilling Anti-Gun Violence PSA

A chilling new public service announcement reveals how devastatingly easy it is to overlook the warning signs of gun violence. The eye-opening two and a half minute video was produced by Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit group founded by the families of Sandy Hook victims, as part of its “Know the Signs” campaign. Read the full article here.

2. The Latest Marijuana-Infused Products: Cannabis Coffee and THC Tea

Cannabis and caffeine lovers rejoice: San Diego-based BrewBudz will soon be debuting a coffee, tea, and cocoa pod product, fit for Keurig machines, that are infused with marijuana. According to the company’s tagline, the hybrid product will be “good for you” and “good for the earth.” Its pods will be made of 100 percent compostable material, including the caps, which are made of coffee beans. Read the full article here.

3. Presidential Electors and Lawyers Organize Against Trump

A presidential elector has officially announced that he will not be voting for Donald Trump on December 19. In an op-ed in the New York Times, Republican Christopher Suprun declared his opposition to Trump. He says that the President-elect’s lack of foreign policy experience and his demeanor make him unfit for the presidency: “He does not encourage civil discourse, but chooses to stoke fear and create outrage. This is unacceptable.” Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 14:30:25 +0000

Last week Sarah Palin sensed divine intervention, Donald Trump supported torture techniques, and Texas required women to cremate unborn fetuses. ICYMI–check out these top stories from Law Street below!

1. Sarah Palin Claims God Intervened and Helped Trump Win the Election

Sarah Palin likes Donald Trump, but doesn’t believe he made it all the way to the White House on his own. On the holiday edition of the Breitbart News Daily radio show she claimed that God was responsible for Trump’s win. In the show, she said she saw the role “divine providence” played on the campaign trail. She said people have been desperate for a change after the country’s deterioration and that his victory was due to people praying to God that the rest of the citizens would wake up. Read the full article here.

2. Trump Could Dismiss Lawsuit by CIA Torture Victims

In the years following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the CIA broadened its torture toolkit. Detainees were stuffed in boxes. They were forced to spend hours holding uncomfortable positions, sometimes barred from sleeping for days at a time. And of course, there was waterboarding. In October 2015, two men who were subjected to the CIA’s interrogations at secret prisons in Afghanistan filed lawsuits against the two CIA contractors who sculpted the agency’s torture program. Read the full article here.

3. New Rules in Texas Will Require Burial or Cremation of Fetal Remains

Texas established new rules preventing health care facilities from disposing of fetal remains following an abortion or any miscarriage that requires a medical procedure–instead, the state will now require women to pay for the burial or cremation of those remains. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 16:39:19 +0000

"Istanbul" Courtesy of Pedro Szekel: License: (CC BY-SA 2.0)

ICYMI, last week we covered child marriage, marijuana bans, and suspicious chorizo burritos. Check out Law Street’s top trending stories below!

1. Public Uproar: Turkey Moves Ahead With Child Marriage Law

It is hard to believe that in 2016 in a European country, a government could propose a new law that would make child marriage legal, and also protect rapists from being punished by the law as long as they marry their victim. But that is exactly what is happening in Turkey. The new bill was approved on Thursday and is scheduled to undergo a final vote on Tuesday. If it passes, it will take away the punishment for sexual assault if there is no force or if the victim and perpetrator are married. This would include girls under the age of 18. So how could sexual assault without force be criminalized, and how could sexual violence in marriages be punished? Put simply: they likely couldn’t be. Read the full article here.

2. Will Trump’s Attorney General Pick Enforce the Federal Ban on Marijuana?

Days after eight states voted to legalize marijuana in some form or to expand existing laws, President-elect Donald Trump picked Sen. Jeff Sessions, a vocal critic of legalization, to head the Justice Department as the new attorney general. With the disparate marijuana laws between the federal government and states, marijuana and criminal justice advocacy groups, not to mention users and regulated sellers, are expressing concerns about how the Trump Administration would affect the state-level legal market. Read the full article here.

3. Duped by ‘300-Calorie’ Burrito, Chipotle Customers File Lawsuit

Three Chipotle customers in Los Angeles got more than they were hoping for when trying out the chain’s new Chorizo Burrito–well, more calories that is. In a class action lawsuit filed last week, the diners allege that they were “lulled into a false belief” that Chipotle’s new burrito is much healthier than it really is, due to misleading nutritional information. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 16:13:40 +0000

Post-election coverage dominated the news cycle last week. In our top stories, we looked at who could run for president in 2020, why women are rushing to get IUDs after the election, and what Donald Trump has planned for his first 100 days in office. ICYMI–check out the top stories from Law Street below!

1. Fast Forward: Who Could Run for President in 2020?

It can be hard to focus on things other than the election results right now, but there are already speculations brewing about who will run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. Read the full article here.

2. Why I Frantically Started Researching IUDs the Day After the Election

The day after the election was rough to say the least. Not only had I overconfidently assumed that I’d be spending the day celebrating a woman finally breaking through the top political glass ceiling, but I hadn’t even allowed myself–up until that point–to imagine a reality where Donald Trump actually wins the 2016 presidential election. Sleep deprived and legitimately scared for my life, I then began to mentally run through all the things that could now happen under a Trump presidency.

Read the full article here.

3. Here is What Donald Trump Says He Plans to Do in His First 100 Days

Today President-elect Donald Trump met with President Obama in the Oval Office to discuss plans for the hand-off between presidencies and the peaceful transfer of power. While the meeting seems to have been cordial, it had to have been a little awkward given that Obama and Trump are bitter political rivals and Trump plans to “cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama” on his first day in office–that’s if Trump’s plan for his first 100 days in office is to be believed. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 17:15:39 +0000

Happy Monday Law Streeters! It’s the day before the presidential election, and we have a roundup of some of the top political stories you may have missed last week. Sitting at the top spot was “The State of Weed,” the Cannabis in America team’s comprehensive analysis of marijuana legalization state by state. It was followed by Melania Trump’s speaking out against cyberbullying, and Donald Trump’s child rape accuser canceling her first public appearance. ICYMI–check out the top stories from Law Street below.

1. The State of Weed: Marijuana Legalization State by State

In recent decades, marijuana legalization has continuously evolved in the United States, as opposition against the drug continues to wane amidst new research on the drug’s effects and criticism of the U.S.’s handling of the “War on Drugs.” The following slide show contains information on each states’ marijuana laws in regards to possessing, selling, and cultivating weed, although please note that this is intended as a basic resource and does not include the entirety of provisions in any given state. This is the “State of Weed.” Read the full article here.

2. Melania Trump Wants to Fight Cyberbullying, but Forgot Who She Married

Melania Trump gave a rare speech in Pennsylvania on Thursday, in which she expressed her concerns about people being mean on the internet, causing many to ask: does she even know her husband? Read the full article here.

3. Donald Trump’s Child Rape Accuser Cancels Public Appearance

A woman who filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump for allegedly raping her as a child, pulled out of a press conference where she was expected to reveal her identity moments before it began. The accuser, known by the pseudonym Jane Doe, was expected to reveal her identity before media outlets in her lawyer’s Los Angeles office on Wednesday. Her attorney, Lisa Bloom, cancelled the event due to fears surrounding her client’s safety–citing death threats. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 15:09:04 +0000

Happy Halloween Law Streeters! Hopefully you survived the gangs of ghosts, ghouls, and goblins this weekend. But if you missed out on any killer articles last week while prepping for your halloween costume, don’t worry we’ve got you covered. ICYMI–check out the top stories from last week below!

1. The World Health Organization Deems Single People Disabled, For a Good Cause

The World Health Organization, one of the world’s leading voices on health policy, is making an interesting change. WHO is set to announce that “single” people who don’t have a child but want one are to be classified as “infertile”–which is defined as a disability. And that may sound strange, but it’s actually coming from a place of progressive good. By doing so, WHO is granting everyone the “right to reproduce” and this move will help heterosexual single men and women, as well as same-sex couples, get equal access to in vitro fertilization. Read the full article here.

2. Haiti’s History of Disappointments: Intervention, Exploitation, and NGOs

Communities in southwestern Haiti were devastated when Hurricane Matthew struck the Tiburon Peninsula on October 4, 2016. Accompanied by rapid winds, heavy rainfall, and subsequent flooding, the Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale killed at least 1,000 people, destroyed countless homes, and displaced thousands. Approximately 2.1 million people have been affected, 1.4 million need humanitarian aid, 750,000 need urgent help, and 806,000 are at an extreme level of food insecurity. Haiti, which is roughly the size of South Carolina, was ill-equipped to withstand another natural disaster. For the past six years this Caribbean country has been trying to recuperate from the 2010 earthquake that left more than 200,000 dead (according to Haitian government figures) and wreacked havoc upon a preexisting weak infrastructure. Now history seems to be repeating itself. Read the full article here.

3. Florida Man Sues After Police Mistake Donut Icing for Meth

Donuts can be addictive–but they’re not drugs. That seems like common sense, but unfortunately an Orlando man named Daniel Rushing was arrested late last year because local police mistook dried Krispy Kreme donut icing in his car for meth. Now, Rushing is suing the city for $15,000 in damages due to that arrest, as well as the roadside drug test manufacturer that the police officer used. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 14:04:59 +0000

Offensive Halloween costumes, online abortion pills, and surplus cheese; that’s just a taste of some the trending stories you may have missed last week. ICYMI–check out the top stories from Law Street below!

1. University of Florida to Offer Halloween Counseling to Offended Students

Halloween is a frightening time of the year, although it does not normally send university students to counseling. The University of Florida said in a statement last week that it will be offering counseling students to students who are offended by Halloween costumes. Read the full article here.

2. How Irish Women Buy Pills Online To Get Around Abortion Laws

It may be hard to imagine that in 2016 having an abortion is still illegal in a country as developed as Ireland. As a traditionally Catholic country, it has strict laws regulating abortion, with the exception of instances in which the procedure would save the mother’s life. New data illustrates the way in which many Irish women seek abortions despite the country’s particularly restrictive laws. .

3. What Is America Going To Do With 1.2 Billion Pounds Of Surplus Cheese?

The U.S. has a humongous surplus of cheese. So big that every man, woman, and child in the country would have to grab an extra three pounds and finish that before the end of the year to work through it. The 1.2 billion pounds of cheese sitting in storage are not even the issue. Surplus meat, poultry, milk, and other dairy products are flooding the food market. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 14:31:51 +0000

ICYMI–check out Law Street’s best of the week. Our top stories include Texas A&M’s use of technology in legal education, President Obama’s historic sexual assault bill, and the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration mistake.

1. 7 Ways Texas A&M is Using the Digital Era to Change Legal Education

Chocolate and sea salt, Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, legal education and technology…these are all pairings that at first glance don’t seem like they mix together too well, but truly are the perfect combinations. And while legal education has traditionally been a field that hasn’t necessarily embraced the latest offerings in technology, one school in particular has broken away from the pack, and has begun offering innovative programs to students that embrace the power of technology. Texas A&M University School of Law has designed four programs–an LL.M. in Risk Management, an M.Jur in Risk Management, an LL.M in Wealth Management, and an M.Jur in Wealth Management–that use technology to bring innovative legal education to both lawyers and non-lawyers looking to expand their educations and skill sets. Read the full article here.

2. President Obama Signs Historic Sexual Assault Bill into Law

On Friday October 7 President Obama signed the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights; the most comprehensive sexual assault legislation to date. The new bill is a combination of existing laws from different states and will help make sure that rape survivors always know where their evidence is located, whether it has been tested, and the results. Previously, the legislation around rape and the handling of rape kits–the kit with materials and instructions for gathering evidence following a rape–has been unclear and repeatedly criticized. Read the full article here.

3. How Did the DHS Mistakenly Grant Citizenship to 858 Immigrants?

An Associated Press report released in September revealed that the Department of Homeland Security had “erroneously” granted at least 858 immigrants American citizenship. Typically, in any presidential election season, political parties would seize on a report like this, and would try to spin it to win the election. An issue concerning immigration is a political match to be lit, and the reactions could be explosive. Considering immigration reform has been one of the top priorities for legislators, the report may be especially relevant. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 14:19:16 +0000

Happy Monday Law Streeters! Catch up on what you missed last week with Law Streets’s top stories. An innocent man seeks a new trial after Gov. Mike Pence declined to pardon him, Crime in America has release the top ten most dangerous cities under 200,000, and an NSA contractor has been arrested for stealing and leaking classified codes. ICYMI–Check out these top stories below!

1. Innocent Man Seeks New Trial After Governor Mike Pence Declined Pardon

Republican Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence is being criticized for his response to a controversial case in which a man was wrongfully convicted. Now the man is asking to go back to court for another trial since Pence, as Indiana’s Governor, won’t grant him a pardon until he has tried all other judicial options. Read the full article here.

2. Crime in America 2017: Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities Under 200,000

Rockford, Illinois, is the most dangerous city in the U.S. with a population between 100,000-200,000 people, displacing Little Rock, Arkansas, which now ranks as #2. Tallahassee, Florida moved onto the list at #8 after just missing the cut at #12 last year; Odessa, Texas also moved from #11 to #9. Many of the rest of the positions held steady and only saw small increases or decreases in their violent crime rates. Read the full article here.

3. NSA Contractor Arrested For Stealing and Leaking Classified Codes

The FBI secretly arrested a National Security Agency contractor suspected of stealing and leaking highly classified material that is used for hacking foreign governments’ networks. The suspect, Harold Thomas Martin, has been in custody since August and worked for the same firm as famous whistleblower Edward Snowden, Booz Allen Hamilton. This firm is responsible for some of the most secretive and sensitive operations of the NSA. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 14:34:33 +0000

Find out what’s buzzing on Law Street by catching up on the best stories from last week. Our 2017 rankings for “Crime in America” are out, so check out the top ten safest and most dangerous cities over 200,000. Also, learn more about Instagram’s censoring of legal medical marijuana posts. ICYMI–Check out the top stories below!

1. Crime in America 2017: Top 10 Safest Cities Over 200,000

Irvine, California, and Gilbert, Arizona, remained the two safest cities in the United States with populations over 200,000 for the fourth year in a row. Newcomers to this year’s list included Glendale, California, which previously wasn’t included because its population was below the 200,000 person threshold, and Scottsdale, Arizona, which was not included in the FBI’s statistics last year. While the overall rate of violent crime rose by a small margin in the United States–roughly 3 percent–the safest cities were a mixed bag, with both notable increases and decreases in violent crime rates. Read the full article here.

2. Instagram is Censoring Accounts With Pictures of Legal Weed

Instagram has been deleting accounts that contain pictures of marijuana, even if the location where the account is based has legalized the drug in some form. Two companies in Canada, where medical marijuana is legal, recently had their accounts shut down by the social media giant after featuring pictures of legal weed. Read the full article here.

3. Crime in America 2017: Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities Under 200,000

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 14:41:42 +0000

Happy Monday Law Streeters! Start your week of right with Law Street’s top stories from last week, which include everything you need to know going into tonight’s first presidential debate, Instagram censoring medical marijuana posts, and a Tulsa officer charged in Terence Crutcher’s Death. ICYMI–check out the top stories below!

1. What You Need to Know About the First Presidential Debate

On Monday September 26, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will go head-to-head in the first presidential debate. The debate starts at 9 p.m. EST and will air on all major news networks and stream live on Twitter. Make sure you’re following Law Street on Twitter and Facebook for live debate coverage and commentary. For everything you need to know heading into round one, read the full article here.

2. Instagram is Censoring Accounts With Pictures of Legal Weed

3. Tulsa Officer Charged With Manslaughter in Terence Crutcher’s Death

Betty Shelby, the police officer who shot Terence Crutcher on a highway in Tulsa, Oklahoma last week, was formally charged with manslaughter. Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler announced on Thursday that he had charged officer Shelby with first-degree manslaughter, which would amount to a minimum of four years in prison if convicted. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 13:30:46 +0000

The rumors surrounding Hillary Clinton’s health won’t stop, Walmart bought Jet.com, and Finnish baby boxes are saving lives. ICYMI, learn about all that and more this Monday with Law Street’s best of the week!

1. Clinton’s Pneumonia: A Post-Speech Scare, a Body Double, and a Tame Trump

The facts are thin, and the story even thinner: Hillary Clinton has pneumonia. That’s pretty much it. But of course, that raises some very intriguing questions–especially if you’re a conspiracy theorist: Has she been harboring the disease, shielding her failing health from the media since she was Secretary of State? Did she contract it while delivering a contracted speech to Goldman Sachs? And given the very fact that Clinton has spent her entire career tag teaming with a body double–in speeches, in meetings with now-deposed Middle East dictators, at a dinner date with Bill–has she already moved on from not only this election season, but this life? Read the full article here.

2. What Walmart’s Purchase of Jet.com Says About the Retail Industry

In August, Walmart purchased the online-only retail website Jet.com for $3 billion. Before the sale, Jet.com forecasted that it would be losing money until at least 2020, as it attempts to establish itself prior to becoming profitable. That raises the question of why the world’s largest retailer, with an online presence of its own, would decide to buy a fledgling retail site that didn’t plan on making money for several years. Read on to find the answer to that question and how it is influenced by the changing retail marketplace, where online presence is more important than brick and mortar stores and is necessary to compete against online behemoths like Amazon and Alibaba. Read the full article here.

3. Thinking Inside the Box: How Finland Makes Parents and Babies Happy and Healthy

Washington, D.C. has the highest infant mortality risk of all the world’s high-income capitals–7.9 deaths for every 1,000 births. But the infant mortality rate in Finland is much lower, and one of the reasons for this is the simple but effective Finnish baby box. All new parents in Finland are eligible to receive a box from the government to help them through the early stages of their child’s birth. Inside the box, there are essential items for raising an infant such as clothes and, because it is Finland, a snowsuit. The box itself doubles as a crib, reducing the risk of accidental death during sleep. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 13:30:41 +0000

Last week’s top stories on Law Street covered Marco Gutierrez’s “taco truck” omen, debunking LSAT myths, and Chicago’s rising violence. ICYMI–check out the best of the week below!

1. The Best ‘Taco Trucks on Every Corner’ Responses

Late last week, one of Trump’s surrogates, Marco Gutierrez, made a bizarre comment about how “taco trucks will be on every corner” if we don’t do something to fix immigration issues in the United States. But tacos are excellent, so most people didn’t have a problem with this concept. Read the full article here.

2. Studying for the LSAT: Myths vs. Facts

The next Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is scheduled for September 24, 2016. Studying for the LSAT can be challenging, and there’s a lot of misinformation out there. So, Law Street has teamed up with TestMax, the creator of leading test prep apps LSATMax and BarMax to debunk some common LSAT myths. Read the full article here.

3. Chicago Records 500th Homicide of the Year Over Labor Day Weekend

One of the deadliest cities in America, Chicago, recorded its 500th homicide over Labor Day weekend, making 2016–with four months yet to pass–the deadliest year in a decade in a city where gang-related violence has ruptured in recent years. By the close of the weekend, according to Chicago Tribune data, 512 people in Chicago had been killed this year. Most of the violence occurred from Monday morning into dawn on Tuesday, as all 13 victims died from gunshot wounds. Last weekend, 65 people were shot in total. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 13:07:36 +0000

If you missed Law Street’s top headlines last week, here’s what you need to know: France’s burkini ban is getting out of control, space law is still cool, and Big Pharma took a hit after EpiPen makers were called out for the allergy med’s outrageous price hike. ICYMI–check out the top stories below!

1. Burkini Ban: Enforcement Starts in Nice and Cannes

Armed police officers forced a Muslim woman to take off her burkini at the beach in Nice, France. In Cannes, another woman was fined for wearing a headscarf and leggings. These are some of the first known examples of enforcement of a controversial ban on certain beachwear since the ban was implemented in several French towns earlier this month. Read the full article here.

2. Looking to Launch a Career in Space Law? Nebraska Law is Here to Help

Space law. It’s a concept that, to some of us, sounds ripped out of the movie “Xenon, Girl of the 21st Century,” “Interstellar,” or possibly “Gravity.” But I want you to think back to the last time you used your smartphone as a GPS. How about the last time you flew on a plane? Or the last time you checked the weather for your area. Or the last time you streamed an episode of your favorite Netflix original show. All of those activities are in some way governed by space law, and how it intersects with the distinct but related fields of cyber and telecommunications law. But what is space law, why does it matter, and how does it affect the education of law school students right now? Read the full article here.

3. EpiPen CEO Heather Bresch is Giving Us Major Martin Shkreli Vibes

Remember Martin Shkreli? He was the hedge fund manager who bought a life-saving AIDS drug and then raised its price overnight by more than 5,500 percent. Yeah, that dude. Well he’s not the only one giving Big Pharma a bad name. Mylan CEO Heather Bresch is the newest pharmaceutical exec to face similar criticism after she struggled to justify hiking the price of the EpiPen by more than 400 percent in the past decade. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 13:52:29 +0000

Happy Monday everyone! Ease back into the work week by catching up on some of Law Street’s top articles from last week. Our top story reported on the gathering of thousands of Ahmadi Muslims in England to reject ISIS’ violence and extremism. It was followed by an in-depth look into University of Nebraska College of Law’s space law program, and the banning of Muslim’s burkinis in Cannes. ICYMI–check out the top stories below!

1. 30,000 Ahmadi Muslims Gather to Reject Violence and Extremism

More than 30,000 Ahmadi Muslims from around the world came together in Hampshire, England over the weekend to reject the violence committed by ISIS and other terrorist groups. The three-day convention, called Jalsa Salana, is a 50-year long tradition for members of the Ahmadiyya Islamic movement. Read the full story here.

2. Looking to Launch a Career in Space Law? Nebraska Law is Here to Help

3. Muslim Women Can No Longer Wear Burkinis to the Beach in Cannes

The Mayor of Cannes, in Southern France, has banned the “burkini” from its beaches. He claims it is a threat to public order and a symbol of radical Islam. A “burkini” is simply a garment that some Muslim women wear to the beach; it covers a wearer’s whole body and hair, but not her face. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 15:55:58 +0000

Last week’s top stories on Law Street featured the top schools for tax law programs, social media reporting the officer-involved shooting death of Leek Moss, and the banning of burkinis from Cannes beaches. ICYMI–Check out the top stories from Law Street below!

1. Top Schools for Tax Law Programs 2016

Law Street concluded its annual rankings of law school specialty programs last week with tax law. For a list of the top ten schools and honorable mentions, check out the infographic here.

2. Leek Moss: Social Media Reports Black Teen Killed by Officer in PA

This morning, I opened up social media to discover news about yet another Black man dead after an officer-involved shooting. Although details are still incredibly fuzzy, according to a few different accounts, last night a man named Leek Moss was shot and killed by Harrisburg, Pennsylvania police. Read the full article here.

3. Muslim Women Can No Longer Wear Burkinis to the Beach in Cannes

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 14:32:36 +0000

Last week’s top stories on Law Street included Yelp users getting sued for negative reviews, RantCrush’s top five controversial stories from August 1, and North Korea continuing to test missiles. ICYMI–Check out the top stories from Law Street below!

1. Yelp Users Getting Sued for Negative Reviews

Do you love to bash bad companies and restaurants on Yelp? You’d better be careful, because now you could be sued for posting a negative review online. Over the past few months there has been a surge in businesses suing Yelp reviewers for nasty reviews. In February, a Texas couple was sued for leaving a negative review of a pet sitting company. Read the full article here.

2. RantCrush Top 5: August 1, 2016

The top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy last week included Donald Trump’s controversial stance on Crimea, suspicions that Hillary Clinton’s emails were hacked by Russian spies have been confirmed, The Satanic Temple seeks after school programs in public elementary schools, and more. Read the full article here.

3. North Korea Continues to Test Missiles; Emergency U.N. Meeting Called

With its recent series of missile tests and blustery rhetoric, North Korea is cultivating an atmosphere of paranoia in the Pacific and prompting America to collaborate more closely with its Pacific allies. The nuclear nation’s latest provocation came at dawn on Wednesday, when two Rodong missiles launched from a province in the west toward the Sea of Japan in the east. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 14:58:11 +0000

Last week’s top stories on Law Street included North Korea possibly declaring war on the U.S., Sanders supporters taking over the DNC media tent to protest Clinton’s nomination, and a recent study showing a rise in cases of children ingesting edibles since Colorado legalized marijuana. ICYMI–Check out the top stories from Law Street below!

1. Did North Korea Just Declare War on the U.S.?

The annual joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea usually elicit ominous threats of retaliation from North Korea. But in an interview on Thursday with the Associated Press, Han Song Ryol, the North’s only diplomatic tether to the United States, effectively declared war, referencing sanctions targeting Kim Jong Un as crossing “the red line.” Read the full article here.

2. Sanders Supporters Take Over DNC Media Tent to Protest Clinton’s Nomination

Here at the DNC, there’s a cushy little area for the press. Giant tents, creature comforts like snacks and water, and (most importantly) enough charging stations for our phones/laptops/tablets/obscene amount of technology we lug around. The DNC media tent is, for many, a peaceful workspace, and a quiet respite from the complete and utter craziness that is the Democratic National Convention. Tonight it was a little less peaceful. Sanders supporters walked out of the convention in protest after Hillary Clinton became the official Democratic nominee, and ended up staging a sit in inside and around the media tent. Read the full article here.

3. Since Legalizing Marijuana, More Colorado Children Are Ingesting Edibles

A new study shows a link between recreational marijuana legalization in Colorado and the incidence of children who need medical treatment for ingesting the drug. The study, released Monday by pediatricians at Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHC) in Aurora, retroactively reviewed 163 cases involving marijuana treatment in toddlers ages zero to nine. The cases spanned between 2009 and 2015. Recreational marijuana was legalized in Colorado in 2014. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:52:00 +0000

The top stories on Law Street last week included coverage of our law school specialty rankings for real estate law and immigration law, as well as news on the U.S. approving direct flights from 10 cities to Havana. ICYMI–Check out the top stories from Law Street below.

1. Top Schools for Real Estate Law 2016

Law Street released its second set of law school specialty rankings last week. This time we ranked 44 law schools’ real estate law programs based on six categories–classes, jobs, networking, extracurriculars, location, and other ranking–and Columbia Law School came out on top. Read the full article here.

2. Top 10 Law Schools for Immigration Law: #4 Stanford Law School

Stanford Law School ranked fourth in Law Street’s top 10 schools for immigration law, with a score of 75 points out of a possible 100. Read the full article here.

3. U.S. Approves Direct Flights From 10 Cities to Havana

About a year after resuming the diplomatic relationship with Cuba, the U.S. government has just approved direct commercial flights from 10 American cities to Havana. This is yet another step toward thawing a relationship that has been icy since 1961. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:10:13 +0000

"Hillary in Sepia" Courtesy of [Alan C. via Flickr]

Last week’s top stories on Law Street included a collection of the best tweets from the trending hashtag #MoreTurstedThanHillary, a rundown of everything you need to know about the recent Dallas police shooting, and a report critiquing former U.K. Prime Minster Tony Blair’s decision to join the invasion of Iraq. ICYMI–Check out these top stories below.

1. #MoreTrustedThanHillary Trend Takes Twitter by Storm

In the wake of the FBI announcement recommending that Hillary Clinton not be charged for her use of a personal email server during her time as secretary of state, people are outraged. To express their frustration, many have taken to twitter, tweeting nasty messages about Clinton and her race to the White House. The biggest trend right now is a hashtag that has people asking what untrustworthy things are more trustworthy than the presumptive democratic nominee. From cartoon conch shells to burns of political figures, the jokes on twitter will have you either cringing at their crude nature or crying tears of laughter. Without further ado, here are the top tweets following the trend of asking what really is #moretrustedthanhillary? Read the full article here.

2. Nightmare in Dallas: What You Need to Know

It has been a long, bloody week in America. Following the killing of two black men by police in Louisiana and Minnesota earlier this week, protests sprung up across the country. In Dallas on Thursday night, a peaceful protest turned violent when shots rang out at about 8:45 pm. As a fuller picture of what happened develops over the coming days, read on for details on what we know, what we don’t know, and how Thursday’s tragic episode fits into a larger historical perspective. Read the full article here.

3. Report Blasts Tony Blair, UK Government’s Handling of Iraq War

A report conducted by a five-member panel concluded that while the U.K.’s policy on the Iraq War was erroneous and costly, it was not illegal. The Iraq Inquiry, a seven year undertaking, was launched in 2009 by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The 6,000 page report sought to determine if the Iraq invasion was “right and necessary” and “whether the U.K. could–and should–have been better prepared for what followed,” according to a statement by Sir John Chilcot, the retired civil servant who spearheaded the effort. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Happy 4th of July Law Streeters! If you need help with your barbecue banter this Independence Day, look no further than Law Street’s top trending articles from last week. Beef up your small talk with facts on Britain’s historic Brexit vote, the integration of big data into women’s healthcare, and the Supreme Court’s decision to prevent domestic abusers from owning firearms. ICYMI–Check out the top stories below.

1. Brexit: What You Need to Know in the Aftermath of Britain’s Historic Vote

Britain voted on Thursday to end its 43-year membership in the European Union. The withdrawal process will be long–it will most likely be two years until Britain is entirely sovereign–and fraught with difficult decisions for the nation’s future, but the vote has sent tremors within the now-former EU member-state and beyond. Here is a briefing on Brexit and what it might mean for the future. Check out the full story here.

2. Big Data: A Revolution for Women’s Healthcare

Since 1990, the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR®) has been advocating for innovation in women’s healthcare. The organization is on the cutting edge of the newest research trends, and each year SWHR picks a different theme to highlight at its annual gala. At this year’s event, one message rang loud and true: we’re officially in the age of big data. Almost everything we do–from voting choices, to commercial purchases, to Netflix binge-watching, can be recorded and analyzed to glean patterns. But the incorporation of big data into healthcare is particularly exciting, and promises to revolutionize medical treatment for women. Read on for a sampling of how we’re now integrating big data into patient treatments, and what it means for women’s health. Check out the full story here.

3. Supreme Court Decision Prevents Domestic Abusers from Owning Firearms

The 6-2 ruling prevents anyone convicted of “reckless domestic assault” from being able to own firearms. This case involves two men from Maine, Stephen Voisine and William Armstrong III, who were convicted of unlawfully possessing firearms due to previous convictions for domestic assault. Under both state and federal law, anyone with a domestic violence conviction cannot possess firearms. Check out the full story here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 14:15:10 +0000

Last week’s top stories on Law Street included SCOTUS ruling that evidence obtained illegally can be used in court, new FAA rules for commercial drones, and RantCrush’s top stories from June 23. ICYMI, check out the top stories below.

1. Utah v. Strieff: SCOTUS Narrows Fourth Amendment Protections

A verdict in Utah v. Strieff was handed down by the Supreme Court yesterday, weighing in on how the Fourth Amendment applies to illegal searches. In a 5 to 3 decision, the Supreme Court reversed a ruling from the Utah Supreme Court, concluding that evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment can be used in court. Read the full article here.

2. FAA Issues New Rules for Commercial Drones

The U.S. government issued new rules on Tuesday regarding the flying of commercial drones, opening up a ton of business opportunities. Drones–small, unmanned aircraft–can be used for taking photos, to survey damage done by natural disasters, and plenty more. But using drones for delivering packages, as e-commerce giant Amazon plans on doing, will not be possible under the new rules. Read the full article here.

3. RantCrush Top 5: June 23, 2016

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 14:30:41 +0000

Last week’s top stories on Law Street discussed the livestock industry’s impact on the environment, allegations that Trump University was a scam, and whether or not occupational laws have gotten out of control. ICYMI, keep reading below for more on Law Street’s best of the week!

1. How Does the Livestock Industry Impact the Environment?

Globally, we eat more meat now than ever before. Cultures that traditionally held vegetarian diets have become steadily more meat-oriented. In many areas, meat is seen not only as a delicacy but also as a luxury expense and a symbol of status. As the production of meat has gone up in recent decades and the cost has steadily dropped, meat is now much more affordable than ever before. This has led to what is referred to as a “global meatification of our diets.”

However, this new trend carries with it a series of environmental burdens. The livestock industry creates enormous amounts of waste, generates pollution, and also releases large amounts of methane into the atmosphere. Read the full article here.

2. Was Trump University a Scam?

What do you get when you cross a get-rich-quick scheme with a for-profit college, while adding a healthy dose of reality TV megalomania? The answer is Trump University–a series of “classes” designed to teach aspiring young entrepreneurs the secrets of real estate passed on from the Donald himself.

Trump University, which Marco Rubio used as fodder for his attacks on Trump during last night’s Republican primary debate, did indeed exist, and many people are mad about it. Rubio was correct when he told the debate audience that there are pending lawsuits against Trump for his involvement with the organization. Read the full article here.

3. Have Occupational Licensing Laws Gotten Out Of Control?

Back in the day, entering into a profession could be very challenging for newcomers. This was particularly true in European countries during the Middle Ages when each profession developed its own organization for members to mutually assist each other and control entrance into the field. These organizations were called guilds and functioned as part union/part cartel. Those lucky enough to belong to a guild reaped benefits like a pension for his family and networking opportunities. This also regulated the quality of the services the profession had in a given locality, which benefitted consumers. For people who wanted to become part of a profession but were not born into a family that held a spot or were otherwise well-connected, guilds functioned as a barrier to entry. This kept competition tightly controlled and promoted the interests of existing members at the expense of customers and those seeking entry. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Tue, 31 May 2016 14:24:09 +0000

Last week’s top stories on Law Street covered the problems plaguing Washington D.C.’s Metro system, the evacuation of thousands of refugees from Greece, and allegations of sexual abuse and pedophilia in Hollywood. ICYMI, check out the top stories below.

1. Trouble Below: The Problems Plaguing the Washington D.C. Metro

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx recently promised to close the Washington D.C. Metro system unless it complied with safety requirements. How did it get to this point where the nation’s second-largest mass transit system is on the verge of being shuttered due to safety concerns and a series of mishaps? Read the full article here.

2. From Camp to Camp: Thousands of Migrants in Greece Evacuated

As the buses left the camp, the passengers were met with conflicting farewells: onlookers gently waved and blew them kisses; an olive green tarp on the side of the road read, in white spray paint, “Europe doesn’t care if you suffer.”

The buses–packed with refugees from Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa–were headed south from Idomeni, Greece, on the Macedonian border, where a camp that housed thousands of the refugees for months was being evacuated, per directions from the Greek government. The operation to clear all 8,400 people started on Tuesday and is expected to last for up to ten days, government officials said. Read the full article here.

3. Does Hollywood Have a Pedophilia and Sexual Abuse Problem?

In an interview on Sunday, actor Elijah Wood claimed that Hollywood has a pedophilia crisis. He said that the business has a history of scandals and abuse, and that such abuse is probably still happening among Hollywood’s elite. However, he later pointed out that he does not have any firsthand experience with it. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 23 May 2016 14:41:30 +0000

Last week’s top stories on Law Street included food stamps and a whole lot of Trump! Mary Kate Leahy weighed the pros and cons of selling food stamps for cash, Sean Simon critiqued Megyn Kelly’s soft interview with Donald Trump, and Alec Siegel opposed Trump’s crass response to EgyptAir’s downed plane. ICYMI, Check out the top stories from Law Street below.

1. Entrepreneurial Spirit?: Behind the Sale of Food Stamps

In an effort to both prevent hunger and to protect the American work ethic we reformed assistance programs to eliminate cash benefits and to tie receiving benefits to work or the search for work. It has led many recipients of SNAP assistance, more commonly referred to as food stamps, to sell their benefits for cash rather than using them for food. This is a crime and may carry fines, jail time, and a loss of benefits. One that we spend a lot of time and effort trying to eradicate. But should we? Or should we be turning a blind eye to, or maybe even encouraging, the sale of food stamps for cash? Read the full article here.

2. Donald Trump Interviewed by Megyn Kelly, Former “Bimbo”

Donald J. Trump makes enemies handily and frequently, dispensing insults more often than insight. It may be a smart publicity move–after all, nothing sells tickets like a historic feud. That’s why Trump’s incendiary comments about Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, paired with his refusal to participate in a Fox News debate, have garnered world-wide attention.

Kelly represented conservative media taking a stand against Trump’s hijacking of the Republican party, which is why it’s so disappointing to see the two kiss and make up after nearly no effort from Trump to reconcile his former behavior. Read the full article here.

3. When the World Sees Grief, Trump Sees Gain

Historically speaking, when a nation suffers a tragedy–a mass shooting, a terrible earthquake, a humanitarian disaster–world leaders offer condolences. They attempt, at the very least, to assuage fears, to pray, to be the sympathetic speak piece for their citizenry. In a time of calamity, presidents and prime ministers show solidarity with one another and with their respective peoples. Ironically, tragedies connect people, as people grieve for other people, no matter the flag they wave. Everyone recognizes loss.

Not so for Donald Trump. When disaster strikes a nation not named America, Trump preens his feathers–primarily on Twitter–asking rhetorical questions and subtly hinting that such things simply would not happen on his watch. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 16 May 2016 14:56:02 +0000

Last week on Law Street we shared findings from a new study that concluded immigrants take more in welfare than U.S. born, the trending hashtag #MaybeHeDoesntHitYou, and an in-depth look at drug courts. ICYMI– Check out these top stories below.

1. New CIS Study Shows Immigrants Take in More Welfare Than U.S. Born

A study published yesterday by the Center for Immigration Studies, or CIS, claims immigrant households collect $1,803 more in welfare benefits than native households–families headed by a U.S. born person–based on data collected in 2012. Read the full article here.

2. #MaybeHeDoesntHitYou: Hashtag Sheds Light on Non-Physical Abuse

Domestic abuse isn’t always physical, it doesn’t always leave bruises, and it’s not always visible to the naked eye. Abuse can be mental, emotional, and verbal–and Zahira Kelly wanted to call attention to that fact when she started the hashtag #MaybeHeDoesntHitYou. Read the full article here.

3. Are Drug Courts the Answer For Addicts Who Commit Crimes?

As of 2015, there were 2,800 drug courts in the United States and they were working with 120,000 defendants per year. The idea behind these courts is to use the criminal justice system to compel addicts to rehabilitate themselves. The ultimate goal is to reduce recidivism for drug use and the other crimes that often accompany drug addiction. In order to do this, drug courts use both a carrot and a stick approach with addicts. Courts promise to reduce or eliminate jail time in exchange for the successful completion of a drug treatment program–hopefully saving money for taxpayers along the way. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 09 May 2016 14:32:41 +0000

Last week’s top stories on Law Street covered Canadian anti-vaccine parents’ guilty verdict in son’s meningitis death, the best legal tweets of the week, and Colorado’s supreme court striking down Fort Collins’ five-year fracking moratorium. In case you missed it, check out the top stories below.

1. Anti-Vaccine Parents Found Guilty of Not Providing ‘Necessaries of Life’

The parents of 19-month-old Ezekiel Stephen were found guilty of letting their child die after he contracted bacterial meningitis in 2012. David Stephan, 32, and Collet Stephan, 36, who live in Lethbridge, Alberta in Canada, walked out of an emotional courtroom Tuesday after hearing their fate. They won’t, however, be held in custody, and will return to court in June for their sentencing hearing. Read the full article here.

2. Best Legal Tweets of the Week

Check out Law Street Media’s roundup of the best legal tweets of the week. Read the full article here.

3. Colorado’s High Court Deals Blow to Towns’ Efforts to Freeze Fracking

Beneath Colorado’s Front Range–a stretch of the Rocky Mountains in the center of the state–billions of cubic feet of natural gas have been bubbling for millions of years. Above ground, the state’s supreme court ruled on Monday to overturn measures put in place by Fort Collins and Longmont–two towns that sit atop the reserves–to prevent fracking within the limits of their municipalities. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 14:49:44 +0000

Image Courtesy of [Ted Eytan via Flickr]

Last week’s top stories covered controversial bathroom laws in North Carolina and Mississippi, the benefits of public interest law careers, and a new ridesharing company exclusively targeted to women. ICYMI, check out the top stories below.

1. North Carolina and Mississippi: States Face Consequences for Discriminatory Laws

It’s a sad time for LGBTQ rights in North Carolina and Mississippi, where discriminatory legislators have recently passed horrifyingly intolerant laws that specifically target members of the LGBT community. In response to these laws, companies, celebrities, and communities have begun to speak out for the rights of LGBTQ people and stand up for the repeal of hateful policies. Read the full article here.

2. Advocating with a Passion: Why a Career in Public Interest Law is Worth Considering

Public interest lawyers provide voices to the members of our society who are so often overlooked, help to save the environment, take on oppressive laws, and fight for fairness. If you are a changer-of-the world looking for meaningful work that will feed your desire to make real change, public interest law is a path you should consider. Lewis & Clark Law School, located in Portland, Oregon, has one of the leading Public Interest Law programs in the country, making it a great place for aspiring public interest lawyers to get their start. Read the full article here.

3. Chariot: A New Women-Only Ridesharing Company Could Have Legal Issues

Uber (and its competitors) have certainly disrupted and innovated the transportation industry. But the reviews haven’t all been stellar–there have been multiple instances in which drivers have been accused of sexual assault. So, a new ride sharing company,Chariot for Women, is launching, with both women drivers and for women passengers. However, legal experts are concerned that the company may face legal challenges early on, on the grounds of discrimination. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 15:02:11 +0000

ICYMI last week’s top stories on Law Street we’re pretty eclectic. Jillian Sequeira analyzed Israel’s efforts to dismantle cults, Sean Simon imagined the Republican party as an actual party, and Alexandra Simone reported on abortion activists phoning Governor Mike Pence to discuss their menstrual cycles. ICYMI keep reading to learn more about each of these top stories.

1. Israel’s Battle to Dismantle Cults: An Inspiration for the Rest of the World?

The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has recently introduced an anti-cult law designed to dismantle New Age sects of Judaism that are considered explosive forces within the country by the lawmakers trying to regulate them. Take a look at that situation in Israel and how other countries have handled cults in the past in comparison with the proposed Israeli law. Read the full article here.

2. If the Republican Party Was an Actual Party

You open up your email after getting to work on Friday morning, and you see that right above an email from Amazon asking you to finally buy the panini press that’s been sitting on your wish list for months, you have an email from Reince Priebus. Confused, you open the email, and you realize that it’s an evite. “Who uses evites anymore?” you wonder. Read the full article here.

3. Periods for Pence: Update Your Governor on Your Menstrual Cycle Today!

Women in Indiana are getting fired up about HEA 1337, a controversial abortion bill signed into law by Indiana Governor Mike Pence this past week. To stand up for what they believe is an infringement on women’s right to privacy, women from all over the state are calling the governor to inform him about their menstrual cycles. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:46:04 +0000

Happy Monday Law Streeters! Start your week off right and catch up on all of Law Street’s top stories that you may have missed from last week. ICYMI keep reading to learn more.

1. World Shocked by Terror Attacks in Brussels, Death Toll Still Rising

The city of Brussels, Belgium fell victim to a series of ISIS-claimed terror attacks during Tuesday’s morning rush hour at the Zaventem airport and downtown Maelbeek subway station. So far, at least 34 people have been reported dead, and the number of those injured is in the hundreds. Read the full article here.

2. Mental Health Care: Should We Be Treating the Mind the Same As The Body?

Every year 38,000 people in the United States kill themselves. In America, we have more people who are victims of suicide than are victims of homicide. Or car accidents. Or prostate cancer. Yet mental health care in the United States: how and whether it works, how it is funded, and the challenges it faces, is rarely discussed. It isn’t something that we like to talk about. Read the full article here.

3. Best Legal Tweets of the Week

Check out the top legal tweets of the week. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 15:55:38 +0000

Happy Monday everyone! If you’re looking for a good way to catch up on Law Street’s best stories from last week, look no further. In summary, web trolls got even nastier for the #TheTriggering, Donald Trump’s penis was unfortunately newsworthy, and underpaid NYC nail salon workers finally began being awarded back wages. Keep reading below for more on each top story.

1. Web Trolls & Men’s Rights Activists Step Up Hate for #TheTriggering

When I went on Twitter today to try to find something to write about for all of you, it didn’t take long before my eyes were assaulted by an onslaught of tweets filed under the trending hashtag #TheTriggering.

I mistakingly clicked on the hashtag’s title thinking that it was some kind of fan dialogue on the next lousy “Purge” movie or something, but quickly realized, no, its a bunch of men’s rights fanatics and internet trolls “back at it again with the bulls***t.” Read the full story here.

2. I’m so Sad I Have to Write About Donald Trump’s Penis

On Thursday night, something happened at the debate that deeply upset me. Donald Trump talked about his penis, and I realized I should probably write about it. Why, 2016 election cycle, must you make me contemplate things that I truly had no desire to think about? Why, Donald Trump, must you make insinuations about your dick size on national television? And why, America, must we be so enthralled with the borderline lunacy of this man that we then spend days talking about his penis? I am so very sad. Read the full story here.

3. NYC Nail Salons Ordered to Pay $1.1 Million in Back Wages to Workers

The investigation into the horrible working conditions of New York City nail salon workers seems to have finally followed through in awarding back wages to underpaid employees. In a follow up written by the New York Times, the paper reported that salon workers have been awarded $1.1 million in back wages and several hundred thousand dollars in damages. Read the full story here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 15:34:08 +0000

In case you missed it, a lot happened last week. Super Tuesday voting dominated most political conversations, but it was Chris Christie’s hostage-like facial expressions during Trump’s speech that became the talk of the night. All eyes were also on the Supreme Court, as pro-choice supporters rallied to #StoptheSham in lieu of Texas’ new controversial abortion laws. For more on Law Street’s best of the week keep reading below.

1. Is Chris Christie Okay?

Presidential hopeful Donald Trump addressed a crowd in Florida after garnering some lofty Super Tuesday wins. Former presidential hopeful and current governor of New Jersey Chris Christie introduced Trump, but it wasn’t the introduction that made observers concerned for Christie’s safety. Read the full story here.

2. #StoptheSham: Scenes from the Pro-Choice Rally at SCOTUS

Today, hundreds of pro-choice supporters rallied in front of the Supreme Court. Oral arguments will be heard today in Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt, a case that will cause the justices to weigh in on the constitutionality of Texas’s new controversial abortion laws. Given the high stakes nature of the case–it could set national precedent for abortion laws either way it goes–protestors set out for the Supreme Court this morning, and I headed over to check it out and grab some photos of the attendees. Read the full story here.

3. After Last Weekend, All Eyes are on Super Tuesday

Democrats in Nevada and Republicans in South Carolina took to the polls on Saturday to choose their parties’ nominee for President. When the dust settled, Donald Trump walked away with a commanding lead in the South Carolina primary while Hillary Clinton pulled out ahead in the Nevada primary. The recent contests help solidify the conventional wisdom about the election so far, but much of the analysis is still speculation. While many questions remain, we may soon have answers–Super Tuesday is approaching. Read the full story here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 14:15:08 +0000

It was a tough week for men last week on Law Street thanks to Republican resignations and domestic violence admissions. The top spot went to a story about Scott Walker’s withdrawal from the Republican presidential race. The number two story revealed “Empire” actor Terrence Howard’s history of domestic violence, and number three profiled John Boehner’s resignation from Congress. ICYMI check out all three below:

#1 Scott Walker Suspends Campaign, Gives Trump a Metaphorical Middle Finger

Scott Walker has officially dropped out of the race to become the 2016 Republican Presidential nominee. In such a crowded field, it’s not surprising that the herd is starting to thin itself, at least a little bit. But what is surprising is the reasoning that Walker gave–his announcement contained what was clearly a not-so-veiled jab against frontrunner Donald Trump. Read the full story here.

#2 Terrence Howard Reveals Domestic Violence: Do Black Men Support Black Women?

Earlier this week, “Empire” star Terrance Howard confessed that he hit his first ex-wife, describing that he “lost his mind” and “slapped her in front of the kids.” This confession isn’t exactly coming out of left field. Over the last couple of years in his various marriages, Howard has been accused of slapping, punching, and strangling his partners, living up the dark nature of his character on “Empire,” Lucious Lyon. Read the full story here.

#3 John Boehner Resigns: Another Establishment Republican Bites the Dust

News broke this morning that Speaker of the House John Boehner will be resigning from Congress at the end of October. While some are rejoicing that the congressman, perhaps best known for his slightly orange visage and very active tear ducts, is stepping down, it’s also indicative of the identity crisis that is threatening to consume the Republican Party. Read the full story here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Alexis Evans — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 14:52:31 +0000

ICYMI here are Law Street’s top trending stories from last week. The top spot went to a story about a 14-year-old boy from Texas who was arrested and accused of making a bomb after bringing a homemade clock to school. The number two story took a humorous look at the top moments from the second Republican debate, and number three covered a trend of suicide clusters in schools in both the United States and Japan. Check out all three below:

#1 #IStandWithAhmed: Because We Arrest 14-Year-Olds For Making Clocks Now

Ahmed Mohamed is a 14-year-old living in Irving, Texas. His hobby is inventing and creating things–but when he brought in a homemade clock on Monday, he was accused of making a bomb, suspended from school, interrogated by the police, arrested, and taken to a juvenile detention center. America: land of the brave, home of stamping out creativity in young people. Read the full story here.

#2 Top 10 Moments from the Second Republican Debate

The second Republican primary debate of the year was aired last night by CNN and took place at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. It was a three-hour debate that left me with more questions than answers–for example, did they really all go that entire stretch without having to use the bathroom? But, tradition dictates that we boil down those three hours into some gifable snapshots, so without further ado, check out the top ten moments from the second Republican debate. Read the full story here.

#3 Suicide Clusters: Collectivism vs. Individualism in Education

September 1 was just another day for most people around the world. For some students, it was the beginning of a new academic year. For others, it was just another Tuesday. In Japan, however, it marked a terrifying spike in suicides among young people. Seventeen-year-old Nanae Munemasa, who has struggled with bullying and resulting suicidal thoughts, credits this mysterious tragedy to the end of a jubilating summer break and a return to a school environment in which many students are emotionally and physically bullied. Read the full story here.

Alexis Evans

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Anneliese Mahoney — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 13:27:18 +0000

Law Street’s top stories last week included a look at some of the funniest gems in Hillary Clinton’s emails, some real talk about gender wage equality, and Donald Trump’s latest enemies. ICYMI, check out the best stories of the week from Law Street:

#1 Top Five Funniest Hillary Clinton Emails from the Recent Release

Hillary Clinton’s emails have become a weird point of contention in the 2016 Presidential primaries. After it was discovered that she had sent emails from a private email address while serving as Secretary of State, many critics clamored for her to release them. Slowly, they’ve been declassified, and we’ve truly gotten to see some gems along the way. Read the full story here.

#2 Seventy-Seven Cents: The Statistics on Wage Discrimination

We’ve all heard about the pay gap between men and women, but it seems that one specific statistic is used to illustrate this issue. Proponents of new equal pay laws claim that women make “77 cents for every dollar a man makes.” It’s a number that has been passed around for years by feminist groups, political organizations, and even many prominent politicians. Read the full story here.

#3 Donald Trump Continues to Piss off Hispanic Celebrities

The latest celebrity to jump into the political fray is probably one you wouldn’t expect–Ricky Martin. The Hispanic crooner wrote a pretty scathing op-ed about Donald Trump’s views on immigrants, published this week in Univision. But despite his unexpected entry into the conversation, Martin is just the latest celebrity to weigh in on what already has been an exhausting presidential primary season. Read the full story here.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Anneliese Mahoney — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 17:22:18 +0000

Last week’s top stories ran the gamut from cheating spouses to the best places to get a joint J.D./M.B.A degree. The top story of the week was a breakdown of the strangest arrests making the news, followed by a look at the Ashley Madison hack and the future of online privacy. The #3 story was the J.D./M.B.A. ranking for the University of California-Berkeley School of Law. ICYMI, check out the top posts from last week:

#1 Weird Arrests of the Week

It’s the end of the week, which means its time to relax and reflect on all the stupid things people have done this week. Specifically, some fantastically odd arrests. Check out the slideshow here.

#2 Ashley Madison Hack: The Future of Online Privacy Doesn’t Look Good

A few weeks ago, a group of hackers called the “Impact Team” threatened to expose the profiles of people who had accounts on Ashley Madison, a dating site specifically aimed at married people who are looking to cheat. The hackers threatened to “release customer records, including profiles with all the customers’ secret sexual fantasies and matching credit card transactions, real names and addresses, and employee documents and emails” if the site was not taken down. The parent company–Avid Life Media–did not comply, and now that data has been released to the public. Read the full story here.

#3 Top 10 Schools for J.D./M.B.A. Programs: #9 University of California-Berkeley School of Law

The legal industry is changing and law schools are no exception. Applications and enrollment are both down, and the value of the traditional legal education with its current price tag is the subject of continual debate. Law Street Specialty Rankings are a detailed resource for prospective law students as they consider the many law schools across the country. Law Street Specialty Rankings blend the quantitative and qualitative in a way that accurately highlights the top law schools based on specialty programs. Check out the University of California-Berkeley School of Law’s ranking here.

Anneliese Mahoney

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Anneliese Mahoney — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:17:57 +0000

Last week’s top posts at Law Street included a comedian getting down to business to prevent gun violence, a discussion on the sensationalization of gun self defense, and supermodel Naomi Campbell’s Italian legal troubles. ICYMI, check out the best stories of last week.

#1 The Schumers Are On It: Gun Violence Prevention Has a Few New Faces

You’ve probably heard the name Schumer before–but the question is whether politics and taxes on private equity managers or jokes about women’s sexuality and vaginas come to mind. Now, the two Schumers will be increasingly associated. Comedian, writer, and actress Amy Schumer and her cousin, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, publicly announced on Monday that they are teaming up to fight gun violence. Read full article here.

#2 We Need to Stop Sensationalizing Gun Self Defense

Last Sunday, an armed citizen named Patrick Ewing shot and injured a man who had drawn his weapon and fired at civilians. The story did not get a lot of media attention, but the coverage it did receive sensationalized the event, focusing on Ewing’s concealed carry permit. Some gun rights activists and conservative news sourcesdramatized and championed the what happened as proof of the benefit of concealed carry permits. Unfortunately, this event, like certain other gun-related incidents, was given disproportionate attention and used to defend simplistic approaches to gun laws. Read full article here.

#3 Will Naomi Campbell Be Walking the Runway in Italian Prison?

Celebrities are constantly in the spotlight, with cameras watching their every move. Magazines speculate over the details of celebrities’ lives like vultures, working to photograph every moment that they can. For those who enjoy following the lives of their favorite celebrities, the paparazzi can be seen as a good thing because they provide an inside look at our favorite stars. But the celebrities being followed often don’t agree. Over the years, celebrities have gotten very creative in the ways that they have tried to get rid of the paparazzi. Naomi Campbell definitely falls into that category, and she recently got into a lot of trouble in Italy for that creativity. Read full article here.

Anneliese Mahoney

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Anneliese Mahoney — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 20:10:51 +0000

Last week’s best stories include an offensive GoFundMe campaign, Women’s World Cup celebrations, and Donald Trump’s lies. Check them out below:

#1 Dylann Roof’s Sister Launches GoFundMe: Sympathetic or Offensive?

The sister of Dylann Roof launched an online campaign just a few days ago to raise money to pay for her wedding and honeymoon. Amber Roof’s wedding was abruptly cancelled after her brother massacred nine people in Charleston, South Carolina. The couple was to be married on June 21st, four days after Dylann Roof gunned down nine people at the historic Emanuel AME Church. Dylann Roof told officials that he wanted to start a “race war.” He has now been charged with nine counts of murder. His actions have been labeled an act of terrorism by some, and many are still trying to cope with the pain of this tragedy. However Amber Roof’s actions are coming across to many as more insensitive than sympathetic. Read full article here.

#2 Bittersweet Lesbian Kisses at the World Cup

I know, I know. I shouldn’t be so gleeful that so many lesbians were OUT and about (see what I did there?) at the World Cup this year. No, you don’t need to be super masculine to be amazing at sports. And no, you don’t need to be super masculine to be a lesbian (and yes, you can be super masculine and also somehow not be a lesbian). So no, I don’t want to celebrate just how much lesbiosity there was at this year’s World Cup because I don’t want to perpetuate this idea that masculinity = sports and masculinity = male, so male = sports, and if women are amazing at sports, then women must be masculine and must be lesbians (follow all that?!). None of that is true. I know. Read full article here.

#3 Donald Trump’s Top 3 Outrageous Comments So Far in the Presidential Race

Real estate mogul Donald Trump has recently become one of the most talked-about people on the internet. Trump has a long history of making highly arrogant, conceited, and disparaging comments on pretty much any topic. But, Trump is faring fairly well in some presidential primary polls–second only to Governor Jeb Bush. While candidates saying stupid things is not a new trend, some of Trump’s recent statements stand out as remarkably incorrect and foolish. Read full article here.

Anneliese Mahoney

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Anneliese Mahoney — Mon, 11 May 2015 18:58:28 +0000

The hotly anticipated fight between boxers Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao was one of the hottest conversation topics last week, and it also sparked the number one article on Law Street, written by Alexis Evans. The number two article, also by Alexis Evans, focused on a lawsuit filed by a Nebraska woman, suing all homosexuals in the United States. Rounding out the top three articles of the week was a piece by Lewis & Clark Law School that takes a look at the meaning of victims’ rights in the U.S. justice system. ICYMI, check out the best of the week from Law Street.

#1 Will Pacquaio’s Real “Fight of the Century” Be a Legal Battle?

Ever since Floyd “Money” Mayweather defeated Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao in the supposed “Fight of the Century,” boxing’s fans have wondered if Mayweather would squash retirement rumors for a future Pacquiao rematch. However, the Filipino welterweight might be facing perjury charges instead of a rematch, after news broke that he lied about an existing severe shoulder injury on his pre-fight medical questionnaire. Read full article here.

#2 Nebraska Woman Sues “All Homosexuals”

Last week I wrote about the Supreme Court beginning to hear arguments in a historic gay marriage case that could potentially lead to same-sex marriage being approved nationally. And while many rejoiced at the possibility of loving couples across the country finally being able to marry in all 50 states, others adamantly disapproved, turning to their keyboards to share their objections online. However, one Nebraska woman took her opposition to same-sex couples to new heights by deciding to sue all homosexuals. Yes, you read that correctly, the defendant in this case is listed as “Homosexuals.” Read full story here.

#3 Victims in the Justice System: What Are Their Rights?

An unfortunate reality of the world in which we live is that new crimes are perpetrated and new victims are created every day. There’s a firmly carved out space in our justice system–and by extension, our society–for offenders. But what about the victims of crimes? What spaces do they occupy in our justice system, and what rights do they have? Read full story here.

Anneliese Mahoney

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Anneliese Mahoney — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 14:20:05 +0000

The number one post on Law Street last week was written by Alexis Evans, who provided warnings about a secret TSA checklist for spotting terrorists. Check out her article if you want to avoid behaviors that could lead to some extra security scrutiny. The number two post, also written by Alexis Evans, discussed Jay Z’s new company–Tidal. Tidal may revolutionize the music industry, or it may end up pushing users back to pirating music. Finally, the number three post was written by Anneliese Mahoney about the banning of smart watches in college classrooms. Professors are concerned that they would help students cheat, and don’t want to see them brought in on test day. ICYMI, check out this week’s best of the week from Law Street.

#1 TSA Has Secret Checklist to Spot Terrorists. Hint: Don’t Yawn at Security

This checklist is part of a controversial TSA program to identify potential terrorists based on behaviors that “indicate stress or deception.” The program is known as the Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques, or SPOT. SPOT is operated by trained individuals known as ‘Behavior Detection Officers’ who observe and interact with passengers during screenings. Read the full article here.

#2 Tidal: Music Industry Revolution or Expensive Setback?

How would you feel about a music streaming service with CD quality sound, video and editorial content, full offline capabilities, and exclusive tracks from your favorite artists? Sounds amazing, right? But is it worth ditching your free Spotify account for a $20-a-month fee? Rapper and business mogul Jay Z thinks that it is, and has enlisted a crew of Illuminati grade artists to back him. Read the full article here.

#3 Smartwatch Scare: Will Schools Ban Watches to Prevent Cheating?

In a lot of ways it’s easier than ever for students to cheat on exams. Many students now have small handheld devices that we can use to access pretty much the whole of human knowledge–I’m talking about smartphones, of course. Smartphones have been banned from our classrooms, particularly during exam time, since they became popular. But now schools are trying to keep up by banning the latest form of mobile technology: smartwatches. For some schools, the easiest way to do that is to ban watches altogether. Read the full article here.

Anneliese Mahoney

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Anneliese Mahoney — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 18:20:47 +0000

It’s still the holiday season, and during this time of the year it’s easy to forget to check the news. Luckily, Law Street has you covered with this week’s edition of “In Case You Missed It.” Our top story last week covered the ongoing legal battle between Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma over Colorado’s legalization of recreational marijuana, written by Anneliese Mahoney. Our number two post, by Lexine DeLuc,a should help any Serial fans out there with their withdrawals–it’s a great collection of parodies inspired by the hit podcast. Finally, rounding out the list was a story from blogger Katherine Fabian on how to spot fake handbags during your holiday gift shopping. ICYMI: Check out what you missed on Law Street last week.

#1 Nebraska and Oklahoma Sue Colorado Over Marijuana Legalization

Colorado voted to legalize recreational marijuana in 2012, and officially started selling it in the beginning of this year. Now, almost a year later, Colorado is experiencing some backlash for its choice to legalize. Two of Colorado’s neighbors–Nebraska and Oklahoma–are suing the state because of the impact of legal marijuana within their borders. Read the full article here.

#2 Five Parodies to Get You Through Serial Withdrawal

Serial‘s first season has ended and if you’re feeling a little separation anxiety, here are the top five parodies to help fill that void. The list includes selections from Saturday Night Live, Funny or Die, SubmissionsOnlyTV, and even a few parodies with multiple episodes. Read the full article here.

#3 Holiday Gift Guide: How to Authenticate a Designer Handbag

It’s almost 2015 and there is now a plethora of consignment sites to get your second-hand designer goods. But as great as sites like Ebay, Amazon, and the new Alibaba are, sometimes sellers aren’t always honest when they claim their items are authentic. So to make sure that you don’t get duped (like my poor brother did when he ordered those fake Nikes from China) I’ve put together a handy guide on how to spot a fake. Read the full article here.

Anneliese Mahoney

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ICMYI: Best of the Week

Anneliese Mahoney — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 15:23:51 +0000

Even though the holidays are fast approaching and a lot of things are starting to slow down in anticipation, the news last week definitely didn’t. The beginning of the week saw the aftermath of a tragic hostage situation in Sydney, Australia, and the Sony hack continued to dominate the news cycle for the rest of the week. Our number one story this week was by Hannah R. Winsten, who wrote about Australia’s amazing response to the horrifying hostage crisis. The number two spot went to Ashley Shaw, with a piece on an off-duty cop arresting a man for stealing his parking spot. Finally, number three went to Anneliese Mahoney, who wrote about the continuing Sony Hacking scandal. ICYMI: check out what everyone was reading on Law Street last week.

#1 Australians School the World on How To Not Be Racist

This is a terrible, awful thing that happened in Sydney, and I think it’s safe to say that our hearts are collectively with the hostages and their families. However, the people of Sydney are handling this tragedy remarkably well. And I mean like, really, REALLY well. People of the United States—and actually, the whole rest of the world—take note. Read the full article here.

#2 Off-Duty Cop Arrests Man for Taking Parking Spot

Frank Maio saw what my sisters would tell you was Princess Parking out in front of a Deerfield Beach shoe store. (Princess Parking, as defined by Urban Dictionary, is “just like rock star parking or prime parking; when one finds the perfect parking spot, right next to or in front of the entrance to wherever he or she is going.”) But when he went to claim the spot, something horrible occurred: Clausel Pierre pulled into the spot first! Read the full article here.

#3 Disturbing New Developments in the Continuing Sony Hacking Scandal

Another day, another leak. It seems like the leaking of some information to do with Hollywood–whether it be nude photos, salaries, or emails–happens on pretty much a weekly basis now. However, this leak from entertainment super-company Sony is probably going to go down in history to top all others. And I don’t think it’s quite done spitting out Hollywood gossip and insider information. Read the full article here.

Anneliese Mahoney

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ICYMI: Best of the Week

Chelsey D. Goff — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 16:14:55 +0000

From the faux outrage over President Obama’s “latte salute,” to every worker’s fantasy coming true in Germany with a possible ban on after-hours work emails, to people getting arrested for buying cold meds — for an actual cold — there was a ton of interesting news last week. ICYMI, here are Law Street’s top three stories from last week.

#1 The “Latte Salute” is a Latte of Crap

Earlier this week President of the United States Barack Obama made a fatal error. He drank a cup of coffee and saluted our troops…with the same hand. This incited media coverage somewhere on par with a natural disaster, or maybe an assassination attempt. In fact, some members of the media covered what has now been dubbed the “latte salute” scandal as though it actually was an assassination — namely the assassination of American patriotism. (Read full article here.)

#2 Germany Considers Bans on After Hours Work Emails

I’m sort of a walking stereotype. I have my phone in my hand at all times, I sleep with it in my bed even though I know that’s bad, and I’m constantly checking my texts, social media, and email. And that’s never really bothered me — it seems normal to me. I am used to being accessible essentially 24/7. I think that’s a norm that a lot of us Americans have gotten used to, and I doubt that that’s going to change, but apparently some of our European friends have started rejecting the concept of 24/7 connectivity. (Read full article here.)

#3 Careful When Buying Water and Cold Meds, You Might Just Get Arrested

Every time I see a law enforcement officer in public — mall cop, fashion police, regular 5-0 — I have the irrational fear that they are out to get me. (This is especially true of the fashion police, but my fear of them might not be that irrational as anyone who has seen my clothing choices could attest.) I’m never doing anything I’m not supposed to be doing (or at the very least, I’m never doing anything I’m going to admit to you), but that doesn’t matter: I am sure I am about to be thrown in handcuffs and taken downtown. Little did I know, instead of fearing this, I should have been hoping for it. Just ask Elizabeth Daly or Mickey Lynn Goodson. (Read full article here.)

Chelsey D. Goff

Chelsey D. Goff was formerly Chief People Officer at Law Street. She is a Granite State Native who holds a Master of Public Policy in Urban Policy from the George Washington University. She’s passionate about social justice issues, politics — especially those in First in the Nation New Hampshire — and all things Bravo. Contact Chelsey at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

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In Case You Missed It – Law Street

ICYMI: Best of the Week

ICYMI: Best of the Week

ICYMI: Best of the Week

ICYMI: Best of the Week

ICYMI: Best of the Week

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. Turkey Jailed Record Number of Journalists in 2016, CPJ Says

2. Radio Stations vs. Songwriters: Will Your Favorite Music Be Affected?

3. Is it Just Us, or Were There a Lot of Celebrity Deaths in 2016?

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. Scientists Rush to Back Up Climate Data Before Trump Takes Office

2. Woman Impersonates Her Ex on Facebook, Sends Threats to Herself

3. Israel’s Drug Enforcement Body Recommends Decriminalizing Marijuana

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. Sandy Hook Families Release Chilling Anti-Gun Violence PSA

2. The Latest Marijuana-Infused Products: Cannabis Coffee and THC Tea

3. Presidential Electors and Lawyers Organize Against Trump

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. Sarah Palin Claims God Intervened and Helped Trump Win the Election

2. Trump Could Dismiss Lawsuit by CIA Torture Victims

3. New Rules in Texas Will Require Burial or Cremation of Fetal Remains

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. Public Uproar: Turkey Moves Ahead With Child Marriage Law

2. Will Trump’s Attorney General Pick Enforce the Federal Ban on Marijuana?

3. Duped by ‘300-Calorie’ Burrito, Chipotle Customers File Lawsuit

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. Fast Forward: Who Could Run for President in 2020?

2. Why I Frantically Started Researching IUDs the Day After the Election

3. Here is What Donald Trump Says He Plans to Do in His First 100 Days

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. The State of Weed: Marijuana Legalization State by State

2. Melania Trump Wants to Fight Cyberbullying, but Forgot Who She Married

3. Donald Trump’s Child Rape Accuser Cancels Public Appearance

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. The World Health Organization Deems Single People Disabled, For a Good Cause

2. Haiti’s History of Disappointments: Intervention, Exploitation, and NGOs

3. Florida Man Sues After Police Mistake Donut Icing for Meth

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. University of Florida to Offer Halloween Counseling to Offended Students

2. How Irish Women Buy Pills Online To Get Around Abortion Laws

3. What Is America Going To Do With 1.2 Billion Pounds Of Surplus Cheese?

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. 7 Ways Texas A&M is Using the Digital Era to Change Legal Education

2. President Obama Signs Historic Sexual Assault Bill into Law

3. How Did the DHS Mistakenly Grant Citizenship to 858 Immigrants?

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. Innocent Man Seeks New Trial After Governor Mike Pence Declined Pardon

2. Crime in America 2017: Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities Under 200,000

3. NSA Contractor Arrested For Stealing and Leaking Classified Codes

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. Crime in America 2017: Top 10 Safest Cities Over 200,000

2. Instagram is Censoring Accounts With Pictures of Legal Weed

3. Crime in America 2017: Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities Under 200,000

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. What You Need to Know About the First Presidential Debate

2. Instagram is Censoring Accounts With Pictures of Legal Weed

3. Tulsa Officer Charged With Manslaughter in Terence Crutcher’s Death

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. Clinton’s Pneumonia: A Post-Speech Scare, a Body Double, and a Tame Trump

2. What Walmart’s Purchase of Jet.com Says About the Retail Industry

3. Thinking Inside the Box: How Finland Makes Parents and Babies Happy and Healthy

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. The Best ‘Taco Trucks on Every Corner’ Responses

2. Studying for the LSAT: Myths vs. Facts

3. Chicago Records 500th Homicide of the Year Over Labor Day Weekend

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. Burkini Ban: Enforcement Starts in Nice and Cannes

2. Looking to Launch a Career in Space Law? Nebraska Law is Here to Help

3. EpiPen CEO Heather Bresch is Giving Us Major Martin Shkreli Vibes

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. 30,000 Ahmadi Muslims Gather to Reject Violence and Extremism

2. Looking to Launch a Career in Space Law? Nebraska Law is Here to Help

3. Muslim Women Can No Longer Wear Burkinis to the Beach in Cannes

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. Top Schools for Tax Law Programs 2016

2. Leek Moss: Social Media Reports Black Teen Killed by Officer in PA

3. Muslim Women Can No Longer Wear Burkinis to the Beach in Cannes

ICYMI: Best of the Week

1. Yelp Users Getting Sued for Negative Reviews