Open Newswire

COLUMBIA — Small farmers say they’re in trouble, and legislators want to help. On Thursday, senators added a clause to the state budget that would collectively give farmers $35 million in financial assistance. And representatives proposed their own, separate legislation that upped the total aid to $50 million. The Senate’s budget clause, which is part […]

(The Center Square) – A federal appeals court ruling upholding a Texas law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms is setting up a potential challenge before the U.S. Supreme Court over the role of religion in public education. In a decision issued this week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit upheld Senate Bill 10, which mandates that public schools “shall” display the Ten Commandments in classrooms across the state. Opponents of the law said they plan to appeal the ruling to the nation’s highest court. The case is Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District. David Hacker, vice president of legal services and senior counsel at First Liberty Institute, told The Center Square that the decision means schools must comply with the requirement as written in the law. Hacker noted that the Ten Commandments have educational value. They are “a foundational moral, literary and historical text. Their influence on Western legal traditions is widely acknowledged and needs to be part of any complete education,” Hacker told The Center Square. Hacker said the 5th Circuit ruling makes clear that the establishments of religion “historically involved coercion: mandatory church attendance, enforced religious taxes and legal penalties for noncompliance. “By contrast, simply displaying a religious text on a classroom wall bears no resemblance to these practices,” he added. The defendants include the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. In a joint statement, the defendants said they were “extremely disappointed” in the ruling, arguing it conflicts with First Amendment protections and longstanding Supreme Court precedent. They said the decision undermines the separation of church and state and interferes with families’ rights to decide how their children receive religious instruction. The Center Square reached out for comment to all of these organizations, but did not receive a response from any of them but the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the foundation, criticized the ruling, noting the narrow margin of the court’s decision and calling it inconsistent with established precedent. "We take a little solace in the fact that, despite its being the most conservative appeals court, the vote was so close, 9-8. It is nevertheless shocking that an appeals court would presume to do what only the Supreme Court itself can do and overturn long-standing precedent,” Gaylor told The Center Square. The organizations said it plans to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court “to reverse this decision and uphold the religious-freedom rights of children and parents,” and expressed confidence the court will reaffirm its decision in Stone v. Graham, a 1980 case addressing religious displays in public schools. The state of Texas has also discussed potential changes to how social studies is taught under the state’s Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for K-12 social studies curriculum, including references to biblical texts. At the federal level, the Trump administration has expressed support for expanding religious expression in schools and earlier this year issued guidance regarding prayer in public education.

നെട്ടയത്ത് നാട്ടുകാർക്കെതിരെ നടന്ന ആക്രമണക്കേസിലെ മുഖ്യപ്രതികളായ ആർഎസ്‌എസ്‌–ബിജെപിക്കാർ ഒളിവിൽ തുടരുന്നു

വർക്കല മംഗലപുരത്ത്‌ പതിനേഴുകാരിക്കും വർക്കലയിൽ ആശാവർക്കർക്കും വ്യാഴാഴ്‌ച പാമ്പു കടിയേറ്റു. മംഗലപുരത്ത്‌ ദിക്ഷൽവേങ്ങോട് അശ്വതി ഭവനിൽ ദുർഗയ്‌ക്കാണ് പാമ്പുകടിയേറ്റത്

ത്തശ്ശിക്കൊപ്പം ഉറങ്ങുകയായിരുന്ന എട്ടുവയസ്സുകാരൻ പാമ്പുകടിയേറ്റു മരിച്ചു. അഴൂർ ക്ഷേത്രത്തിനുസമീപം മൂലയിൽവീട്ടിൽ ദിലീപ്–-അനു ദമ്പതികളുടെ മകൻ ദിക്ഷലാണ് മരിച്ചത്

جزیره خارک و پیامدهای تعطیلی اجباری

زندگی در سایه خاموشی | وقتی اینترنت نیست، نان هم نیست

El presidente estadounidense anuncia una prórroga de tres semanas del alto el fuego entre Israel y Líbano tras una reunión en la Casa Blanca. La decisión llega en medio de nuevos ataques y con el conflicto lejos de resolverse.

هزاران خانواده در ایران پس از آسیب‌دیدن خانه‌هایشان در نزدیکی انفجارها، با نبود حمایت مالی مستقیم و سیاست‌های مبهم بازسازی، در شرایطی از بلاتکلیفی و فشار اقتصادی و روانی قرار گرفته‌اند

A policial militar Yasmin Ferreira foi suspensa de sua função pública por decisão judicial. A agente atirou e matou a Thawanna Salmázio, no dia 3 de abril. Com a decisão, a agente de segurança não poderá portar arma de fogo, manter contato com testemunhas e parentes da vítima, nem deixar a comarca sem autorização judicial […] Fonte

Los magistrados autorizaron una extensión de la prisión preventiva contra los exdirectivos de los 48 Cantones sin considerar que han pasado 12 meses en prisión preventiva, sin un juez para su caso y una recomendación de la Cámara Penal sobre el abuso de esta medida.  Por Alexander Valdéz  Los magistrados de la Sala Tercera de ... Read more The post Sala extiende la prisión preventiva contra Luis Pacheco y Héctor Chaclán appeared first on Prensa Comunitaria.

A federal proposal to revamp Canada’s economic immigration selection system would place greater emphasis on Canadian work experience and high-wage occupations, while potentially reducing or removing points tied to siblings or a spouse in Canada, education in Canada and French proficiency. The post Ottawa weighing major overhaul of Express Entry appeared first on New Canadian Media.

Margareth Dalcolmo explica os danos para adolescentes na faixa dos 17 anos: 'Ficam adictos em cinco dias' Fonte

(The Center Square) – Gov. Josh Shapiro thinks the Trump administration took an “important step” on Thursday after it redefined how the federal government classifies medical marijuana. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche issued an order immediately placing both FDA-approved marijuana products and marijuana regulated by state medical licenses in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. "Governor Shapiro has made clear that we need to catch up — practically every one of our neighbors has legalized marijuana and is benefiting from hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity and revenue — and this important step by the federal government only adds support to the Governor’s proposal,” Governor Shapiro spokesperson Rosie Lapowsky told The Center Square. “The Shapiro Administration stands ready to work with the General Assembly to take advantage of this opportunity to legalize marijuana and make our Commonwealth more competitive and more just." Since 1970, marijuana, alongside heroin, LSD and ecstasy, has been classified as a Schedule I drug. That designation defined those as drugs with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule III drugs are defined as having moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Some examples of Schedule III drugs are products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone. The decision by the Trump administration on Thursday moves medical marijuana from one of the most restricted drug classifications to a less regulated category and delivers a tax break to cannabis businesses. However, it stops short of federal legalization. In April 2016, then-Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation making Pennsylvania the 24th state to create a medical marijuana program. Shapiro announced his support for the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2019, while he was serving his first term as the state’s attorney general. Since being elected governor in 2022, he’s called on lawmakers to approve an adult-use program – even including the purported tax revenues in all of his budget plans. If enacted July 1, the administration believes legalization would rake in $729 million. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. has been a vocal advocate of marijuana legalization and celebrated the decision made by the Trump administration. “John has been for legal weed forever,” a Fetterman spokesperson told The Center Square. “This is a good step forward and he supports it.” NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, has given Shapiro and Fetterman “A+” grades for their stated support of marijuana legalization. However, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., has seen things differently in the past. In December, he signed a joint letter with 21 of his Republican Senate colleagues to the Trump administration opposing reclassifying the drug. “Rescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III drug will undermine your strong efforts to Make America Great Again and to usher in America’s next economic Golden Age,” the senators write in the letter to the Trump administration. “The only winners from rescheduling will be bad actors such as Communist China, while Americans will be left paying the bill.” During a telephone town hall that same month, McCormick referred to himself as a “big advocate of the use of medical marijuana” but said at that time he was “opposed to rescheduling Marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.” However, McCormick did not respond to a request for comment from The Center Square on Thursday regarding his thoughts on the latest move by the Trump administration. Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor, also did not respond to a request for comment from The Center Square. FOX43 reported in August 2025 that Garrity said she did not have a firm policy position on the issue, but cautioned lawmakers who touted its financial benefits. “The money that they had in the budget, I would say that it's way, way overstated,” Garrity said, according to FOX43. “I don't have a policy position on it, but I will tell you that if they pass the legislation, I'll make sure that it's banked appropriately.” Outside organizations in Pennsylvania and beyond have also weighed in on the latest move from the Trump administration. “Today’s order marks a historical reversal in federal cannabis policy,” said NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano. “It validates the experiences of tens of millions of Americans, as well as those of tens of thousands of physicians, who have long recognized that cannabis possesses legitimate medical utility, as well as the legitimacy of the longstanding medical cannabis access programs available in the majority of US states.” “It wasn’t long ago that federal officials were denying that cannabis possessed any legitimate medical utility, threatening to seize doctors’ medical licenses for discussing medical cannabis with their patients, and shutting down state-licensed marijuana dispensaries,” he added. “Now the government is seeking to integrate these programs into the existing federal and international framework for regulating substances with accepted medical value.” The PA Family Institute sees the matter differently. They said they were disappointed with the Trump administration's decision. “PA Family Institute is disappointed in the Trump Administration’s decision to give the marijuana industry significant tax breaks and prop up this addiction-for-profit industry,” said Dan Bartkowiak, Chief Strategy Officer at the Pennsylvania Family Institute. “Big Marijuana should not be allowed to more easily target new consumers with harmful marijuana products.” “In Pennsylvania, the recreational use of marijuana remains illegal, a policy maintained thus far by sensible leaders in the PA Senate. Maintaining that people-first policy helps to avoid many public health and safety challenges seen in other states,” he added. “Evidence continues to link marijuana use, especially among young people, to increased emergency room visits, mental health concerns, and negative impacts on families and communities.” A majority of Pennsylvanians believe that the government should go further, according to at least one survey. A recent poll conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research showed that 72% of Democrats, 67% of Republicans, and 64% of independents support the legalization of recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania. However, because of the latest decision by the Trump administration, any marijuana not sold through a state medical program or approved by the FDA remains Schedule I. Forty states have adopted medical marijuana programs, while 24 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized adult recreational use.

Two months before the World Cup, Sheriff Bill Waybourn addressed human trafficking in Tarrant County.

House and Senate Republicans have reached a budget agreement for fiscal year 2027, leaders said Thursday, but have not yet bridged differences on property tax legislation. Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh held a news conference Thursday to share details of a budget target agreement reached between the House and Senate majority parties. Iowa lawmakers passed […]

La capacidad de la palabra para poner orden, racionalidad y sentido vuelve a poner en valor el relato bíblico de la Torre de Babel.

ഒരുകോടി രൂപ നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടിട്ടും അയാൾ തന്റെ കാമുകിക്കായി കാത്തിരുന്നു. മധുരഭാഷണത്തിലൂടെ മനസ്സ്‌ കീഴടക്കിയ ‘സുന്ദരിയെ’ അറുപത്തെട്ടുകാരൻ അത്രയധികം സ്‌നേഹിച്ചു. പലപ്പോഴായി കാമുകിക്ക്‌ കൈമാറിയത്‌ ഒരുകോടിയോളം രൂപ. പിന്നീട്‌ ഫോൺ എടുക്കാതായി

Una mujer fue detenida cuando intentó ingresar al Centro de Cumplimiento Penitenciario de Temuco con más de 400 gramos de...

La diplomacia corporativa gana terreno en España y América Latina como una herramienta estratégica que trasciende la responsabilidad social tradicional y sitúa a las empresas en el centro del diálogo con la sociedad.