Washington and Lee students want diplomas without pictures of university’s namesakes

A group of students at Washington and Lee University are demanding that images of the two historical figures after which the school was named—U.S. President George Washington and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee—be removed from the academic diplomas awarded to students upon … Continue reading Washington and Lee students want diplomas without pictures of university’s namesakes

Free speech watchdog says university discriminates against conservatives

The University of Scranton discriminates against conservative students, according to a nonpartisan watchdog group. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), a free-speech advocacy organization based in Philadelphia, says the Pennsylvania school’s student government engaged in viewpoint-based discrimination when … Continue reading Free speech watchdog says university discriminates against conservatives

Federal judge rules US must pay compensation for Hurricane Harvey intentional flooding

Houston-area victims may sue the federal government because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flooded their homes and businesses inside the Addicks and Barker reservoirs during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 in the belief that doing so would prevent worse flooding elsewhere, a … Continue reading Federal judge rules US must pay compensation for Hurricane Harvey intentional flooding

Freelance journalists challenge California law that restricts their work

Freelance journalists filed suit this week against California in federal court in hopes of striking down an unusually restrictive and possibly unconstitutional state employment law that outlaws independent contracting with very narrow exceptions. Layoffs blamed on the law, known as … Continue reading Freelance journalists challenge California law that restricts their work

Supreme Court allows lower court’s ruling overturning Boise vagrancy law

WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court turned away a legal appeal on Dec. 16 that aimed to restore Boise, Idaho’s laws banning homeless outdoor camping, which a lower court had struck down as violating the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The ruling, which … Continue reading Supreme Court allows lower court’s ruling overturning Boise vagrancy law

Georgia midwife sues for right to call herself ‘midwife’

A nationally prominent midwife is suing Georgia authorities, claiming they’re engaged in regulatory overreach as they violate her First Amendment rights by punishing her for accurately calling herself a midwife. Debbie Pulley (pictured above), who helped found the Georgia Midwifery Association, … Continue reading Georgia midwife sues for right to call herself ‘midwife’

Democrats election win in Virginia produces gun registration proposal

Virginia Democrats are proposing a mandatory state gun registration measure after widespread public outrage forced them to back off a more aggressive plan to confiscate so-called assault weapons, a designation that gun experts have long rejected as arbitrary. Gun-control advocates … Continue reading Democrats election win in Virginia produces gun registration proposal