Open Newswire

PfISD is the latest school district to consider school closures as enrollment figures drop throughout Central Texas. The post Under new proposals, Pflugerville ISD could close as many as six schools appeared first on Austin Current.

As communities’ concerns grow over rising electricity prices and the environmental effects of data centers, some local and state officials want to halt development of the facilities. Lawmakers in at least 12 states — Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin — have introduced legislation this […]

(The Center Square) — A New York appeals court has stricken down a state law that bans discrimination against people who use government assistance to pay their rent. The state Supreme Court's Appellate Division, Third Department, ruled Thursday that a 2019 New York law prohibiting "source of income" discrimination against low-income tenants who use federal Section 8 vouchers violates the constitutional rights of property owners because it requires intrusive building safety inspections. In the nine-page ruling, the five judge panel said it "beyond dispute" that New York, like many states, faces a housing affordability crisis and that "there is no question" that the Section 8 housing choice voucher program — the largest rental assistance program in the nation —"is a critical tool in advancing the availability of affordable housing." "Nonetheless, as a consequence of this law, landlords are now forced to consent to governmental searches of their rental properties and records," they wrote. "Given that, for the reasons that follow, the source-of-income discrimination law violates landlords' Fourth Amendment rights to be free from unlawful searches, we are constrained to conclude that the law is unconstitutional on its face." The ruling is a blow to Attorney General Letitia James, who sued a Ithaca property owner and his companies in 2022 after a group of tenants claimed they were denied housing because they used Section 8 vouchers to pay rent. James had asked the court to force the property owner, Jason Fane, to pay $300,000 in civil penalties, update employee policies and training for his rental agents, and set aside 5% of his residential rental units exclusively for housing vouchers. Lawyers for Fane argued in court filings that his company, Ithaca Renting Company, chose not to participate in the Section 8 program because it would force him to consent to "unconstitutional" inspections of his buildings and company records by federal, state and local government officials. "Local agencies, HUD and the inspector general have no business in my personal affairs, and I do not consent to their inspections," Fane wrote in court filing. "My books and records are mine, not the governments. If I participated in Section 8, I would be forced ... to waive my Fourth Amendment rights and open myself up to inspection of my books, records and computers. I do not agree to do that." A state Superior Court Judge sided with Fane, ruling in July 2023 that the state's anti-discrimination law authorized "warrantless searches" of private property. James appealed the ruling. Under Section 8 program, low-income tenants who meet the state and federal requirements generally pay no more than 30% of their earnings toward rent, with the government issued voucher covering the remainder. Currently, more than 343,000 New Yorkers use the program to help pay rent, including 123,000 households in New York City, according to federal data. James issued a statement late Thursday saying her office is disappointed by the appellate court's decision and is considering an appeal. “Every New Yorker deserves access to safe and dignified housing regardless of their income or background" she said. "Housing vouchers help thousands of New Yorkers stay in their homes, make ends meet, and raise their families. My office has always fought to protect New Yorkers’ right to housing."

(The Center Square) — Maine Congressman Jared Golden is defending his support for ongoing military actions in Iran after breaking with fellow democrats to vote against a war powers resolution. The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday voted 212-219 to reject a proposal that would have restricted President Donald Trump from continuing the military campaign in the Middle Eastern country. Similar to a vote in the Senate, the measure failed largely along party lines with a majority of Democrats supporting the plan to reel in the operation, now in its seventh day. Members of Maine's congressional delegation were divided over the resolution, Golden, one of only four Democrats to vote with Republicans, said while the president "has not provided sufficient clarity for why this action was necessary" members of the U.S. military "are actively engaged in hostilities, our allies are under attack and the Iranian regime is more desperate than ever to reassert its power." "While I do not believe that an abrupt about-face is a good course of action given the reality on the ground, that should not be construed as my approval," he said. "While conflict requires that we remain flexible to shifting circumstances, at this time I would not support Congressional authorization or funding for sustained combat operations." Trump ordered strikes on Tehran last weekend and called for the overthrow of the Islamic regime. The military operation has intensified into regional conflict with neighboring countries being targeted by Iranian missiles and drones. The president has vowed to continue the military operation. Golden said Trump "has so far acted within the authorities given to him by Congress" through the War Powers Act. The president has been briefing Congress, Golden said, and he has 60 days to make his case for ongoing operations. He joined with Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-NJ, to sponsor a resolution that would give Trump 30 days to end military action and prohibit the deployment of ground troops without explicit congressional authority. But the measure didn't pass. “A month is plenty of time for the president to make his case to the American people — and for Congress to weigh in,” Golden said. "This is not an illegal war — but it could become one." If approved, the resolution would block additional U.S. military action in Iran without congressional approval under the 1973 War Powers Resolution. The law was passed by Congress during the Vietnam War as a legislative check on executive war authority. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said the war powers resolution "plays right into the hands of the enemy" and argued the Iran operation is "necessary, lawful and effective, and reversing it now would weaken America." "Congress has a constitutional right to exercise its oversight authority, and we will, but we also have a duty and obligation not to undercut our own national security," Johnson said. In the Senate, Republican Susan Collins of Maine voted against the war powers resolution, siding with the Trump administration, while Independent Sen. Angus King joined Democrats in voting for it. Maine’s other House member, Rep. Chellie Pingree, also voted for the war powers resolution. She said Congress needed to act to "reclaim its role" in authorizing military action. “Some are suggesting that, while the president should have consulted Congress before launching these attacks, now that the war has begun, there’s no way to pull back,” Pingree said in a statement on social media. "I firmly reject this sentiment."

Washington — Serok Donald Trump roja Înê got ku Amerîka bi hezaran welatîyan ji Rojhilata Navîn vediguhêze, li vê dema ku operasyonên leşkerî li dijî rejîma Îranê dikevin roja xwe ya heftan. Di peyamekê de li ser Truth Social, Trump got ku valakirin "bi bêdengî, lê bêkêmasî tên kirin", û pesnê Wezareta Derve û Wezîr Marco Rubio da ji bo pêşengîya hewildanan. Wezaretê Derve roja Înê ragihand ku nêzîkî 24,000 welatîyên Amerîkayî bi ewlekarî ji herêmê vegerîyane Amerîkayê ji 28'ê Sibatê ve,...

Ранее ее обвиняли в конфиденциальном сотрудничестве с иностранным государством

(The Center Square) – A bill that would end tax breaks for data centers and keep ratepayers from footing the energy bills, made it through the Georgia Senate on Friday. Senate Bill 410 would not allow new data centers to receive the two tax breaks, but would allow companies currently receiving them to continue receiving them until the tax cut expires. Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, said the fiscal impact of the two tax credits on equipment needed for the data centers has increased based on new information from the Department of Revenue. Speaking of tax credit impact, Hufstetler said, "These data centers when the last bill was around and the last bill was voted on, was about $100 million. Now it's about $2.5 billion for these two credits. The money for the state portion that these data centers are getting is more than an entire month of the total income taxes that the state of Georgia collects. My preference would be that they don't go until 2032." Only 30% of Georgia's data center boom can be attributed to the 2018 tax break intended to support the industry, according to a December report from the State Department of Audits and Accounts. The report, conducted by the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government, contradicted the university's 2022 study estimating 90% of Georgia's data center activity was due to the tax break. While the bill includes tax breaks, it uses different language regarding consumer protection than Senate Bill 34 proposed by Hufstetler. SB34 never made it to a floor vote. Sen. Matt Brass, R-Newnan, the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 410, said SB34 would have gotten into "rate making," which is the responsibility of the Public Service Commission. The revised bill requires contracts between data centers and utilities to include language that would "protect residential and retail electricity customers from costs associated with serving new large load customers." "So by addressing contracts, we also included the intent, to ensure ratepayers will not pay the tab, will not pay for the cost for upgrades in our infrastructure due to data centers," Brass said. Hufstetler said he would vote for the bill, but it doesn't provide citizens with the protection they need. "What it doesn't answer is when a 14 gigawatts of power are built, and this guy uses 100 megawatts and this guy uses 500 megawatts and they add up to less than five gigawatts, then who pays for the other nine gigawatts?" Hufstetler said. "There is no protection for the consumers in that situation." The Georgia Public Service Commission unanimously greenlighted a plan from Georgia Power that allows the utility to add nearly 10,000 megawatts of power during its December 2025 meeting. The utility said it would ensure that $556 million in annual revenue from large load customers when the company makes its next rate case in 2028, and put downward pressure on rates. Atlanta Democrat Elena Parent said the rule has "more holes than you could drive a truck through," when speaking in opposition to the bill. "This is embarrassing," Parent said. "The public understands what's going on here and we are giving them a middle finger." The bill passed by a vote of 32-21 with all Democrats voting against it. The House of Representatives passed a similar bill on Feb. 17.

(The Center Square) – Virginians can begin casting ballots Friday in a special election that could affect how congressional districts are redrawn in the commonwealth, even as the legality of the referendum itself remains under review by the state Supreme Court. Early voting began for a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the Virginia General Assembly to redraw congressional districts before the next census under limited circumstances. Election Day for the referendum is April 21. Virginia’s congressional districts are drawn once every decade through a redistricting process created by a constitutional amendment voters approved in 2020. The state’s districts were adopted in 2021 and are scheduled to remain in place until the next redistricting cycle following the 2030 census. The amendment on the ballot would temporarily allow lawmakers to redraw one or more congressional districts before 2031 if another state redraws its districts mid-decade without a court order. That authority would expire Oct. 31, 2030. Supporters say the proposal would allow Virginia to respond if other states alter congressional maps between census cycles. Opponents say the measure weakens the independent redistricting system voters approved just a few years ago. The referendum has also triggered multiple legal challenges. Republican groups and lawmakers filed lawsuits questioning whether the General Assembly followed the constitutional process required to place the amendment on the ballot. One case filed in Tazewell County Circuit Court led Judge Jack Hurley Jr. to order state and local election officials to stop preparing for the referendum in that county. The Virginia Supreme Court later intervened, pausing the lower court’s order and allowing the referendum to proceed statewide while legal challenges continue. The ruling cleared the way for early voting to begin across Virginia. The issue has also drawn national political attention. Former President Barack Obama released a video message this week urging Virginians to support the amendment, arguing it would counter mid-decade redistricting efforts in other states. “This amendment gives you the power to level the playing field in the midterms this fall,” Obama said in the video. Virginia House Speaker Don Scott also voiced support, thanking Obama on social media for backing the measure and encouraging voters to approve the referendum. Republicans, meanwhile, have organized a statewide campaign opposing the proposal. U.S. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., announced the launch of a grassroots effort called “Stop the Gerrymander,” aimed at persuading voters to reject the amendment. In a statement, Cline said the referendum is an attempt to create a congressional map that favors Democrats and undermines the bipartisan redistricting system voters approved in 2020. “This illegal, partisan power grab must be stopped,” Cline said. The political debate comes as courts continue reviewing whether the referendum itself was placed on the ballot properly. The Virginia Supreme Court has indicated it will address those legal questions after voters cast ballots. For now, election officials across Virginia have begun administering early voting ahead of the April 21 statewide vote. If voters approve the amendment and courts ultimately uphold the process, lawmakers could redraw congressional districts before the next census. If the amendment fails or courts invalidate the process, Virginia’s current congressional map would remain in place.

Era segunda-feira, 14h, e eu aguardava atendimento na consulta de Planejamento Familiar da UBS Jardim Coimbra, no distrito do Jardim Ângela, zona sul de São Paulo. Na sala, éramos apenas três mulheres. Todas ali pelo mesmo motivo: nenhuma pretendia ter filhos novamente. O ambiente era silencioso, quase burocrático. Em uma mesa redonda, dois médicos observavam […] O post Elas por elas: uma reflexão sobre a solidão que atravessa a maternidade nas periferias apareceu primeiro em Agência Mural.

Here are the bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week. House SB 202, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, increases the Montgomery Sheriff’s expense allowance from $20,000 to $70,000 per year, to expire at the end of the current term of the sheriff, and increases their salary from $175,000 to $225,000 per year after […]

Seminário reuniu especialistas, ativistas e a deputada federal Maria do Rosário para discutir o aumento da violência de gênero no Rio Grande do Sul Fonte

That voluntary-payment bump is part of a new town-gown deal announced by Mayor Justin Elicker and Yale President Maurie McInnis Friday.

The Mississippi House is trying to revive efforts to pass a teacher pay raise, with Speaker Jason White says his chamber is listening to educators. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann says he's glad the House is willing to engage in "real negotiations."

La gripe sigue causando millones de contagios cada año pese a las vacunas. Científicos trabajan en una solución universal que proteja frente a variantes futuras y reduzca la necesidad de actualizaciones constantes.

Ադրբեջանի պետական անվտանգության ծառայությունը պնդում է, որ կանխել է Իրանի Իսլամական հեղափոխության պահապանների կորպուսի (ԻՀՊԿ) կողմից կազմակերպված մի շարք «պլանավորված ահաբեկչական, դիվերսիոն և հետախուզական գործողություններ»։ Ըստ ադրբեջանական ԶԼՄ-ների տարածած հաղորդագրությունների՝ գործողությունների թիրախում էին Ադրբեջանի կարևորագույն ենթակառուցվածքները և բարձրաստիճան պաշտոնյաները։ Նպատակակետերի թվում էին «Բաքու-Թբիլիսի-Ջեյհան նավթատարը, Բաքվում Իսրայելի դեսպանատունը», սինագոգը և այլն: Նշվում...

Presidentja e Kosovës, Vjosa Osmani nxori dekret për shpërndarje të Kuvendit, pasi ky institucion dështoi ta zgjidhte presidentin e ri deri më 5 mars. Lëvizja Vetëvendosje tha se vendimin e presidentes do ta çojë në Kushtetuese, raporton Radio Evropa e Lirë. Kryeministri Albin Kurti tha se dekreti është “jokushtetues” dhe se vendi ka kohë 60 […]

O ministro das Relações Exteriores iraniano, Abbas Araghchi, enfatizou na quinta-feira (05/03) que o Irã está pronto para responder a uma invasão terrestre. “Nossas forças estão preparadas para qualquer cenário e sabemos que somos capazes”, disse durante uma entrevista à NBC News. O chanceler ainda reafirmou que a nação persa não teme uma invasão terrestre, […] Fonte

This article was originally published by Public Health Watch, a nonprofit investigative news organization. Find out more at publichealthwatch.org. More than a decade after the accident, a sudden noise can still thrust Gus Rodriguez right back into the asphalt plant in San Antonio. Rodriguez, a welder, was working to repair the conveyor system at the […] The post Workplace Amputations Are on the Rise in Texas and Nationwide appeared first on The Texas Observer.

Семеро граждан Украины — сотрудники украинского государственного Ощадбанка — освобождены после задержания в Венгрии, сообщил глава МИД Украины Андрей Сибига.

City leaders keep pushing revenue measures that don't respond to what resident concerns. A tax that solves Balboa Park's problems will.