Tag: news event
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Two Cabinet-level positions remain unfilled in Biden admin
All 15 of President Joe Biden’s (D) main Cabinet secretary nominees were confirmed 61 days after he took office. At this point in President Barack Obama’s (D) presidency—82 days after his inauguration—he still had one vacant secretary post for the Department of Health and Human Services. President Donald Trump (R) had two: the secretaries of…
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SCOTUS issues opinion, accepts case
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) on April 5 issued an opinion in the case Google LLC v. Oracle America Inc. and accepted Brown v. Davenport for argument in October 2021. In Google LLC v. Oracle America Inc., the court reversed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s ruling and remanded…
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Federal Register weekly update: One new significant final rule on drug listing regulations
The Federal Register is a daily journal of federal government activity that includes presidential documents, proposed and final rules, and public notices. It is a common measure of an administration’s regulatory activity. From March 29 through April 2—the eleventh week of the Biden administration—the Federal Register grew by 1,210 pages for a year-to-date total of…
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Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee nominates Providence City Council President Sabina Matos as lieutenant governor
Gov. Daniel McKee (D) nominated Providence City Council President Sabina Matos as lieutenant governor on March 31. McKee was responsible for choosing a new lieutenant governor after leaving the position to be sworn in as governor on March 2. McKee replaced Gina Raimondo (D) as governor when she resigned to become U.S. secretary of commerce.…
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Georgia legislature sends two measures to the 2022 ballot during its 2021 session
The Georgia State Legislature adjourned its 2021 legislative session on April 1, 2021. The legislature passed two measures requiring voter approval at the general election in 2022: a constitutional amendment to suspend compensation for certain public officials while they are suspended from office due to a felony indictment and a measure to expand a property…
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OIRA reviewed 28 significant rules in March
The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviewed a total of 28 significant regulatory actions issued by federal agencies in March 2021. The agency approved three rules without changes and approved the intent of 25 rules while recommending changes to their content. OIRA reviewed 41 significant regulatory actions in March 2020, 27…
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Unanimous U.S. Supreme Court rules that FCC changes to broadcast ownership regulations passed the arbitrary-or-capricious test
On April 1, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion in _FCC v. Prometheus Radio Project_, a case about how courts should review the actions administrative agencies take. The court ruled unanimously that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) did not violate the Administrative Procedure Act’s (APA) arbitrary-or-capricious test and that the agency properly considered the…
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Special election to be held in Oklahoma Senate district
A special election is being held on April 6 for District 22 of the Oklahoma State Senate. Molly Ooten (D) and Jake Merrick (R) are running in the general election. The seat became vacant after Stephanie Bice (R) was elected to represent Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District on Nov. 3, 2020. Bice had represented the district…
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U.S. Supreme Court issues rulings in three cases
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued opinions in three cases argued during the 2020-2021 term on April 1. Florida v. Georgia The case came to the court under its original jurisdiction over disputes between states and concerned the apportionment of waters of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. In 2013, Florida filed a complaint…
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New York becomes third state to legalize recreational marijuana through legislative action instead of a ballot measure
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed a bill on March 31 legalizing recreational marijuana and allowing resentencing for those convicted of certain marijuana-related charges. Both chambers of the legislature passed the bill (Assembly Bill 1248/Senate Bill 854) on March 30. New York became the 15th state to legalize recreational marijuana. In addition, South Dakota…