The Great Grift: More than $200 billion in COVID-19 aid may have been stolen, federal watchdog says
More than $200 billion may have been stolen from two large COVID-19 relief initiatives, according to new estimates from a federal watchdog.
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DOJ correct in refusing employee depositions, 7th Circuit affirms
The Department of Justice’s refusal to allow Ascension Medical Group to depose a Drug Enforcement Agency agent and a federal prosecutor in state court was reasonable and in line with federal regulations, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Thursday.
Amazon to pay $30M to settle privacy issues over Alexa, Ring cameras
Amazon will pay more than $30 million to settle alleged privacy violations involving its voice assistant Alexa and its doorbell camera Ring.
Supreme Court to decide important case on government power
The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday it will decide whether to jettison a decades-old decision that has been a frequent target of conservatives and, if overruled, could make it harder to sustain governmental regulations.
Supreme Court lets challenges to federal agencies go forward
The Supreme Court is allowing challenges to the structure of two federal agencies to go forward in federal court.
IRS mandatory presidential audit policy goes under spotlight
An IRS policy governing the audits of tax returns filed by U.S. presidents is under new scrutiny after a report found the agency failed to perform the mandatory inspection of Donald Trump’s returns until Congress pressed for information about the process.
Federal, local defendants file motions to dismiss Clay County Jail lawsuit
Federal and local defendants in a case brought by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees at the Clay County Jail are asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the jail’s relationship with federal immigration authorities.
7th Circuit reverses for fired federal employee on retaliation claims
A jury could determinate that retaliatory animus influenced a woman’s decision-making and ultimately caused the termination of her co-worker, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a Thursday reversal.
DOJ: Immigration court coming to Indianapolis in 2023
A new immigration court with 40 employees including judges will be opened in Indianapolis in 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed with Indiana Lawyer.
Biden administration officially withdraws vaccine rule
The Biden administration has officially withdrawn a rule that would have required workers at big companies to get vaccinated or face regular COVID testing requirements.
Workers at federal prisons are committing some of the crimes
More than 100 federal prison workers have been arrested, convicted or sentenced for crimes since the start of 2019, including a warden indicted for sexual abuse, an associate warden charged with murder, guards taking cash to smuggle drugs and weapons, and supervisors stealing property such as tires and tractors.
US says Guantanamo detainee can pen letter about torture
The Biden administration says it will allow a Guantanamo Bay detainee to provide information to Polish officials about his torture in CIA custody following the 9/11 attacks.
FDA panel endorses lower-dose Moderna COVID shot for booster
U.S. health advisers said Thursday that some Americans who received Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago should get a half-dose booster to rev up protection against the coronavirus.
FDA backs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters for seniors, high-risk
The U.S. moved a step closer Wednesday to offering booster doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to senior citizens and others at high risk from the virus as the Food and Drug Administration signed off on the targeted use of extra shots.
Biden requiring federal workers to get COVID shot
President Joe Biden on Thursday is toughening COVID-19 vaccine requirements for federal workers and contractors as he aims to boost vaccinations and curb the surging delta variant that is killing thousands each week and jeopardizing the nation’s economic recovery.
Feds report most rental assistance has still not gone out
States and localities have only distributed 11% of the tens of billions of dollars in federal rental assistance, the Treasury Department said Wednesday, the latest sign the program is struggling to reach the millions of tenants at risk of eviction.
Report details mishandling of police emergency system on 1/6
U.S. Capitol Police didn’t adequately respond to frantic calls for help from officers when they pressed panic buttons on their radios seeking immediate backup as scores of rioters beat officers with bats, poles and other weapons, an inspector general’s report found.
US regulators give full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, a milestone that may help lift public confidence in the shots as the nation battles the most contagious coronavirus mutant yet. The vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech now carries the strongest endorsement from the Food and Drug Administration, which has never before had so much evidence to judge a shot’s safety.
Federal judiciary seeks public comment on proposed changes to emergency rules
How can the judiciary better respond to future declared emergencies that impair federal court operations? That’s a question the U.S. Courts are hoping members of the public are willing to offer their opinions on.
Legal workload expected to increase in ‘return to work world’
With offices reopening and employees relearning how to conduct themselves in a professional workspace, in-house attorneys and human resources leaders are not expecting the transition to a pre-pandemic normal to be easy. Decision-makers anticipate a rise in administrative claims and lawsuits related to labor and employment matters over the next year.