US Supreme Court reverses affirmative action, ending race-conscious college admissions (www.npr.org)
NPR: Over $200 billion in pandemic business loans appear to be fraudulent, a watchdog says (www.npr.org)
The Office of Inspector General of the Small Business Administration has released a "landscape of fraud" report highlighting why 17% of PPP and other loans appear bogus.
'No kill' meat, grown from animal cells, is now approved for sale in the U.S. (www.npr.org)
Two U.S. food companies have received the go-ahead to sell chicken grown from cultivated animal cells in a production facility. It's the first time meat grown this way will be sold in the U.S.
US Supreme Court blocks student loan forgiveness plan (www.npr.org)
TIL During the 2000's, Google, Apple, Adobe, Intel, and several other mega corporations had a mutual agreement not to hire each other's employees in order to keep salaries low. This led to a 400 mil class action lawsuit. (www.npr.org)
The suit alleged Google, Apple Intel and Adobe agreed not to recruit each others employees in order to drive down wages.
A California store owner was shot and killed over a Pride flag displayed at her shop (www.npr.org)
Sheriff's deputies said the suspect was later killed in "a lethal force encounter" with authorities. Tributes continue to pour in honoring the victim, Lauri Carleton.
FDA approves Opill, the first daily birth control pill without a prescription (www.npr.org)
The Food and Drug Administration approved a daily oral contraceptive pill for use without a prescription on Thursday, a landmark event that comes as some U.S. states have sought to restrict access to birth control and abortion.
Kim Davis is ordered to pay $100,000 to same-sex couple she denied marriage license (www.npr.org)
The former clerk in Rowan County, Ky., was sued by two same-sex couples to whom she refused to grant marriage licenses, claiming it violated her religious beliefs. Her attorney says she will appeal.
The charges facing Trump in the Jan. 6 investigation, explained (www.npr.org)
The criminal charges against former President Donald Trump related to efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election are some of the most serious allegations facing him, one law professor told NPR.
'We're not just voting. We're also running.' David Hogg launches young candidate PAC (www.npr.org)
Yes, please! We need younger people running and getting involved. Don’t fall for the apathy and helplessness being shoved at us. (Who does it serve?)
Alabama's congressional map is struck down again for diluting Black voters' power (www.npr.org)
A panel of three federal judges has struck down Alabama’s latest map of congressional election districts for not following a court order to comply with the landmark Voting Rights Act....
Texas woman traumatized after being forced to carry an unviable pregnancy to term (www.npr.org)
Judge blocks a Florida law that would punish venues where kids can see drag shows (www.npr.org)
The ruling, in a case brought by a Hamburger Mary's restaurant, pauses enforcement of the state's new "Protection of Children" law, which prohibits admitting children to an "adult live performance."
Mitch McConnell appears to freeze again while talking to reporters in Kentucky (www.npr.org)
Sen. Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze momentarily at an event in Covington, Ky. McConnell also froze in July at a news conference on Capitol Hill, going silent before being escorted away.
Israel told Palestinians to evacuate to southern Gaza — and stepped up attacks there (www.npr.org)
Satellite imagery shows a steady increase in the number of buildings destroyed in middle and southern Gaza. Most damage appeared after Oct. 13, when Israel's military urged evacuation from the north.
This school board made news for banning books. Voters flipped it to majority Democrat (www.npr.org)
Meghan Budden’s family was considering moving if their Pennsylvania school district didn’t change course. She normally isn’t politically active, she said, but felt compelled to volunteer when a slate of Democrats launched bids to take back their school board in Central Bucks School District, just north of Philadelphia....
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has won reelection (www.npr.org)
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has beaten his Republican challenger. Beshear is a blue governor in a red state, and the race saw national politics as a primary issue.
Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro found guilty for defying Jan. 6 committee subpoena (www.npr.org)
The former White House adviser was found guilty on two counts of criminal contempt for refusing to cooperate with a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack.
Rudy Giuliani is liable for defaming 2 Georgia election workers, a judge says (www.npr.org)
Judge Beryl Howell's decision means that a trial will commence in this case to decide how much Rudy Giuliani must pay Ruby Freeman and Wandrea "Shaye" Moss.
Kansas newspaper says it investigated local police chief prior to newsroom raid (www.npr.org)
The Marion County Record had been looking into allegations of misconduct against the local police chief just months ago, according to the paper's publisher, raising concerns about their motives.
Democrat Suozzi wins special election to replace Santos in New York (www.npr.org)
Democrat Tom Suozzi has won the New York special election to the U.S. House, according to an AP race call. Suozzi will serve out the remainder of the term for former GOP Rep. George Santos, who was expelled from the House last year.
No charges filed after police shot an 11-year-old who called for help, officials say (www.npr.org)
The 15-minute city: It's a global climate solution — if it can get past conspiracy theories and NIMBYs (www.npr.org)
A police raid of a Kansas newsroom raises alarms about violations of press freedom (www.npr.org)
Law enforcement officers in Kansas raided the office of a local newspaper and a journalist’s home on Friday, prompting outrage over what First Amendment experts are calling a likely violation of federal law....
REI fostered a progressive reputation. Then its workers began to unionize (www.npr.org)
REI, the shopping mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, has balked at recognizing its newly unionized workers. They accuse the retailer of breaking labor laws, which the company denies.
