To the Governor: Alaska Passes Right to Try Act to Reject Some FDA Restrictions on Terminal Patients

JUNEAU, Alaska (April 26, 2018) – Yesterday, the Alaska Senate unanimously gave final approval to 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. Rep. Jason Grenn (I-Anchorage) introduced House Bill 43 (HB43) last year. The…

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Podcast: The Power to Make War

Under the Constitution, the president does not have the authority to launch offensive military actions. Not for 90 days. Not for 60 days. Not for one minute. And the War Powers Resolution of 1973 does not change that. In this episode of Thoughts from Maharrey Head, I talk about presidential war powers and explain why the…

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Social Media Now Being Used by Police, Intelligence to Collect Biometrics

"Police admitted to using a photo sent through WhatsApp to cull fingerprints for evidence that successfully led to the conviction of 11 individuals for drug crimes. The story further revealed that this was not just a special-use case."

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ICE officers storm farm without a warrant, handcuff farmer for filming

"John Collins was standing outside the milk house at his dairy farm this morning when he heard yelling coming from inside. He ran in, he says, and saw his worker, Marcial de Leon Aguilar, pinned up against the window by armed men."

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Tennessee Legislature Rejects Strict Restrictions on Asset Forfeiture, Keeps Federal Loophole Wide Open

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 25, 2018) – Last Thursday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill into law that modestly reforms the state’s asset forfeiture laws, but leaves a loophole in place allowing police to circumvent stricter state laws by passing cases off to the feds. Rep. Mike Carter (R-Ooltewah) introduced House Bill 2021 (HB2021) in January.…

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Illinois Senate Unanimously Passes Bill to Legalize Industrial Hemp Despite Federal Prohibition

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (April 25, 2018) – Yesterday, the Illinois Senate unanimously passed a bill that would legalize industrial hemp in the state and take a first step toward nullifying federal prohibition of the plant in effect. Sen. Tori Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) introduced Senate Bill 2298 (SB2298) in January. The legislation would legalize industrial hemp in…

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