Spain suspends Catalan parliament, threatens ‘greater harm’

"The Madrid government has refused to rule out invoking article 155 of the constitution. The article, which has never been used, makes provision for the central government to step in and take control of an autonomous region if it 'does not fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws, or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain'."

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Now in Effect: Two Montana Laws Take on Warrantless Electronic Data Collection

HELENA, Mont. (Oct 5, 2017) – On Sunday, two Montana laws went into effect that work together to ban warrantless collection of cell phone data in most situations. These laws not only increase privacy protections in the state, they also hinder one practical impact of federal surveillance programs. Rep. Daniel Zolnikov sponsored both House Bill 147 (HB147)…

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A.T.F. Spent Millions Unchecked From Cigarette Smuggling Slush Fund

"Thousands of pages of newly unsealed records reveal a widespread scheme — a highly unorthodox merger of an undercover law enforcement operation and a legitimate business. What began as a way to catch black-market cigarette dealers quickly transformed into a nearly untraceable A.T.F. slush fund that agents from around the country could tap."

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DEA Agents Sold Opioids, Stole Cash, and Falsely Identified Drug Suspects

"DEA operatives face federal corruption and conspiracy charges after allegedly engaging in all sorts of shady behavior, from selling drugs themselves to lying under oath, falsifying records, falsely identifying drug suspects, accepting bribes, and stealing cash and other property from the people they arrested. In at least one instance, their behavior led to someone being wrongly imprisoned for more than two years."

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Pennsylvania Senate Unanimously Passes Right to Try Act

HARRISBURG, Pa. (Oct. 4, 2017) – On Monday, the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously passed a bill that would set the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. Spondored by Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Hatfield) and nearly 40 cosponsors, House Bill 45 (HB45)…

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Pennsylvania House Unanimously Passes Bill to Expand Healthcare Freedom

HARRISBURG, Pa. (Oct. 3, 2017) – Last week, the Pennsylvania House unanimously passed bill to help facilitate healthcare freedom outside of government regulatory schemes. Rep. Matthew Baker (R-Wellsboro) introduced House Bill 1739 (HB1739) along with 12 co-sponsors on Aug. 24. The legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical retainer agreements) do not…

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