Civil rights nominee faces scrutiny over past legal work
When a Muslim woman sued Abercrombie & Fitch claiming she had not been hired because she wore a head scarf, the clothing retailer tapped Washington labor lawyer Eric Dreiband to defend it.
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Despite boost from Trump administration, coal faces rocky prospects
Coal is still king when it comes to power production in the Midwest, but despite a presidential cheerleader for the industry, changes in motion for years coupled with market forces are dimming the outlook for an ancient fossil fuel in sharp decline.
Trump administration opposes Chicago request for injunction
The Department of Justice has objected to Chicago’s request for a preliminary injunction barring the Trump administration from withholding public safety grants from so-called sanctuary cities that don’t comply with U.S. immigration laws.
HHS to reconsider reimbursement of loan to Randolph Co. hospital
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services must revisit the issue of reimbursement of a refinanced loan made to a Randolph County hospital after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals determined the federal agency failed to adequately explain why it rejected reimbursement that loan.
Ex-Serbian militiaman convicted of lying for US citizenship
Federal prosecutors say an Indiana man who was a former Serbian militia member charged with killing a Bosnian Muslim couple in 1994 faces up to 10 years in prison and loss of his U.S. citizenship after lying to obtain it.
Judge orders Durham to pay $1.3M, sides with SEC in 6-year-old suit
A federal judge on Friday ordered convicted Ponzi schemer Tim Durham to pay $1.3 million after siding with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a six-year-old lawsuit alleging massive securities fraud.
Trump to speed up public-works permits, drop climate order
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that’s designed to streamline the approval process for building roads, bridges and other infrastructure by establishing “one federal decision’’ for major projects and setting an average two-year goal for permitting.
Indiana prosecutors call for law-and-order approach to fighting opioids
The Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Inc. is using the state’s opiate plan to fault the 3-year-old criminal code reform which emphasizes treatment over prolonged incarceration.
Safety experts oppose scrapping train, truck driver sleep tests
U.S. officials are abandoning plans to require sleep apnea screening for truck drivers and train engineers, a decision that safety experts say puts millions of lives at risk.
Attorneys are anticipating the worst if internet regulations are rolled back
With the Federal Communications Commission poised to roll back net neutrality regulations and give internet service providers more control over their networks, the legal profession is uncertain how the change will impact lawyers. However, many are bracing for an internet that has slower speeds and higher costs.
DeVos offers a lifeline to for-profit law school that hired her former adviser
Early this year, Charlotte School of Law looked ready to collapse after losing access to federal student loans. Until Donald Trump took office.
‘Incredible shrinking airline seat’ gets US court rebuke
Aviation regulators were ordered by a federal appeals court on Friday to consider setting minimum standards for the space airlines give passengers as carriers have steadily shrunk the width of seats and the distance between rows.
Federal inmates sentenced to mandatory minimums dips
The push beginning in 2010 by Congress and the U.S. Department of Justice to reform sentencing is being linked to a downturn in the number of federal inmates convicted of a crime that carries a mandatory minimum penalty.
DOJ directive creates civil forfeiture loophole
As Indiana considers revamping its civil forfeiture law, the federal government has given state and local law enforcement a mechanism to potentially do an end-run around whatever reforms are made.
Lawyer: Russian developer’s staffer also at Trump Tower meet
A representative of the Russian developer who partnered with President Donald Trump to bring the Miss Universe pageant to Moscow was the eighth person at a Trump Tower meeting arranged by Donald Trump Jr. during the campaign, a lawyer for the developer said Tuesday.
Trump tests legal limits by delaying dozens of Obama’s rules
It typically takes years for presidents to kill federal regulations they dislike, but Donald Trump has found a shortcut: He’s just putting them on long-term hold.
Sessions said to target opioid care in crackdown on fraud
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is poised to announce a major law enforcement action this week targeting health-care fraud, focusing on opioid treatment programs exploiting Obamacare insurance plans, according to two people familiar with the matter.
FBI nominee Wray pledges the `impartial pursuit of justice’
Christopher Wray pledged “the impartial pursuit of justice” if confirmed as FBI director, as senators focused on his ability to pursue investigations independently against the backdrop of revelations about a meeting the president’s son held with a Russian lawyer during last year’s campaign.
Trump Jr. releases emails on Russian lawyer contacts
Donald Trump Jr. eagerly accepted help from what was described to him as a Russian government effort to aid his father’s campaign with damaging information about Hillary Clinton, according to emails he released publicly on Tuesday.
Feds probe Indianapolis police shooting of black driver
Federal investigators are going to review last month’s fatal shooting of unarmed black driver Aaron Bailey by Indianapolis police officers.