A federal appeals court has approved a deal granting immunity to the Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, from civil claims related to the opioid crisis. The plan will see Purdue Pharma become a new company, Knoa, with profits going to a fund to prevent and treat addiction. The family will contribute $5.5-$6 billion in cash over time, or around half of their collective fortune. This settlement is the latest development in the opioid crisis, and is hoped to help fund much-needed addiction programs.
Posts published in “US”
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is attempting to pass a debt ceiling plan to strengthen the GOP's negotiating power with President Biden. The plan has yet to be finalized and is facing opposition from both Republicans and Democrats. If it passes, it could open the door for further policy provisions in the future.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed a bill into law that bans transgender women from playing on female sports teams in college, expanding the state's existing 2021 ban on transgender athletes on K-12 sports teams. The bill has been met with criticism from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and the NCAA, who have argued that it is discriminatory and dangerous. It is the latest in a series of restrictions on transgender people in Alabama, including a bill that would make it a crime for doctors to provide gender-affirming care to transgender minors.
Key takeaways: The Texas Senate is set to begin a historic impeachment trial in August to determine whether Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton should be…
The California Court of Appeals has ruled that Leslie Van Houten, convicted of two killings in 1969 at the direction of Charles Manson, should be released on parole. This overturns the decision made by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2020 to deny Van Houten parole, which was the fifth recommendation for parole since 2016. Governor Newsom's office has referred requests for comment to the California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who could petition the California Supreme Court to stop Van Houten's release.
On Sunday night, 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton was fatally shot in the back by 58-year-old Rick Chow, a convenience store owner who had mistaken him for shoplifting. Chow has been arrested and charged with murder, and the incident has sparked outrage in the community. An investigation is ongoing and authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward.
An 11-year-old boy in Mississippi has been shot by a police officer while trying to call the police for help in a domestic disturbance situation. The family has filed a $5 million lawsuit against the city of Indianola and the police officer, alleging excessive force and negligence. The lawsuit is meant to send a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is facing criticism from members of the House Freedom Caucus over a budget deal he struck with President Joe Biden. Members of the group are considering using a motion to vacate the chair, which would allow any member of Congress to force a vote to remove the speaker, as a way to pressure McCarthy to allow members to amend the bill. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said Tuesday that "there's going to be a reckoning" about the deal, and Bishop suggested the motion is inescapable.