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Legislation

UMass Student, 21, Gunned Down While Interning On Capitol Hill: Teens Arrested In DC Murder UMass Student, 21, Gunned Down While Interning On Capitol Hill: Teens Arrested In DC Murder
UMass Student, 21, Gunned Down While Interning On Capitol Hill: Teens Arrested In DC Murder Two teens have been charged as adults in connection with the deadly shooting of a 21-year-old Massachusetts college student interning on Capitol Hill, authorities announced. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said that the teens are facing criminal charges for their alleged roles in the death of Granby, Massachusetts resident Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, who was interning for Kansas Congressman Ron Estes. The two reportedly had "prior juvenile records." A third person remains at large. “The DC Council thinks that these kids need to be protected. They don’t need to be protected," Pirro stated. "…
DJs, Dog Walkers, Uber Drivers: See Who May Qualify For 'No Tax On Tips' DJs, Dog Walkers, Uber Drivers: See Who May Qualify For 'No Tax On Tips'
DJs, Dog Walkers, Uber Drivers: See Who May Qualify For 'No Tax On Tips' From bartenders and cooks to podcast hosts and social media influencers, a wide range of jobs are included under a so-called "no tax on tips" rule. The Treasury Department has released a sweeping preliminary list of jobs that may not have to pay federal tax on tip income. The provision is part of the spending law previously named the "One Big Beautiful Bill" that Congressional Republicans passed in July. The draft includes restaurant servers and bartenders, hairdressers, taxi drivers, tour guides, and even digital content creators. To qualify, a job must have "customarily and regu…
Most US Ice Cream Makers Pledge To Remove Artificial Dyes Most US Ice Cream Makers Pledge To Remove Artificial Dyes
Most US Ice Cream Makers Pledge To Remove Artificial Dyes The vast majority of the nation's ice cream makers have agreed to make their treats without artificial food colorings by 2028. The International Dairy Foods Association has pledged to phase out the synthetic dyes by the end of 2027, the trade group announced on Monday, July 14. The IDFA represents dozens of companies that make more than 90% of the nation's ice cream products. The companies will phase out certified artificial colors from ice cream and frozen dairy desserts made with real milk. Those dyes include Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Y…
'Tool For Bribery': Sens. Blumenthal, Warren Want Rules For Trump’s Presidential Library Fund 'Tool For Bribery': Sens. Blumenthal, Warren Want Rules For Trump’s Presidential Library Fund
'Tool For Bribery': Sens. Blumenthal, Warren Want Rules For Trump’s Presidential Library Fund Two high-ranking Senate Democrats have introduced legislation to tighten the rules for how sitting presidents raise and use donations for their presidential libraries, citing practices linked to President Donald Trump. Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren are backing the bill alongside Reps. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), according to CBS News. “Donald Trump is using his presidential library as a tool for bribery while he is still in office,” Warren told CBS. She added, “Many of the donations to Trump's …
Medical Debt Returning To Americans' Credit Reports After Judge Reverses Biden-Era Rule Medical Debt Returning To Americans' Credit Reports After Judge Reverses Biden-Era Rule
Medical Debt Returning To Americans' Credit Reports After Judge Reverses Biden-Era Rule A federal judge in Texas has overturned a Biden-era rule that removed medical debt from Americans' credit reports. Judge Sean Jordan scrapped the regulation in a ruling on Friday, July 11. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized the rule on Tuesday, Jan. 7, about two weeks before former President Joe Biden left office. The decision came exactly a week after President Donald Trump signed the previously named "One Big Beautiful Bill" into law. Experts warn that the Republican-backed budget reconciliation legislation makes sweeping cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, while incr…
Nicotine Poisonings Surge Among Babies, Young Kids: Study Nicotine Poisonings Surge Among Babies, Young Kids: Study
Nicotine Poisonings Surge Among Babies, Young Kids: Study Poisonings among young children have risen sharply as products like nicotine pouches and vaping liquids become more popular, according to a new study. US poison control centers received 134,663 reports of kids six years old and younger ingesting nicotine from 2010 through 2023, according to the study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday, July 14. In a shorter timeframe, the researchers found that nicotine poisonings rose by more than 760% from 2020 to 2023. The study said that two children died from ingesting e-liquids and 39 suffered "major eff…
Here's How Many MA Families May Lose SNAP Benefits Under Trump's 'Big Beautiful' Law: Study Here's How Many MA Families May Lose SNAP Benefits Under Trump's 'Big Beautiful' Law: Study
Here's How Many MA Families May Lose SNAP Benefits Under Trump's 'Big Beautiful' Law: Study Northeast families are expected to be among the hardest hit under sweeping federal cuts to food benefits in the Republican-backed law previously named the "One Big Beautiful Bill," according to a new study. President Donald Trump signed the spending bill into law on Friday, July 4, after the GOP narrowly passed it through both chambers of Congress. Among many massive changes, the bill is forecasted to cut Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding by $186 billion through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The 20% reduction is the largest cut in the history of SNAP be…
M&M's, Skittles Reportedly Resisting Push To End Artificial Food Dye Use: Here's Why M&M's, Skittles Reportedly Resisting Push To End Artificial Food Dye Use: Here's Why
M&M's, Skittles Reportedly Resisting Push To End Artificial Food Dye Use: Here's Why One of the nation's largest candy makers is pushing back on a years-long effort to remove artificial food dyes from its products, according to reports. Mars, the McLean, Virginia-based company behind popular candies like M&M's, is resisting the federal government's effort to remove synthetic food colorings, The New York Times reported on Monday, July 7. This comes as more than a dozen food giants like Kraft Heinz, General Mills, PepsiCo, ConAgra, and Nestlé have agreed to eliminate the artificial dyes from their US products by the end of 2027. Federal agencies have tried for y…
Inside The Mansion Tax: Why Selling A House In New Jersey Just Got Way More Expensive Inside The Mansion Tax: Why Selling A House In New Jersey Just Got Way More Expensive
Inside The Mansion Tax: Why Selling A House In New Jersey Just Got Way More Expensive New Jersey’s luxury real estate market was thrown into turmoil after lawmakers passed a sweeping mansion tax bill on Monday, June 30, shifting the state’s high-end realty transfer fee from buyers to sellers and adding steep new tiers up to 3.5%. Under the new law, Assembly Bill 5804, sellers of homes over $1 million will absorb what had historically been a 1% buyer-paid fee, with significant increases for higher-value properties. The rates for sellers rises to: 2% over $2 million 2.5% over $2.5 million 3% over $3 million 3.5% over $3.5 million That means a seller of a $4 million home will …
Trump Threatens Elon Musk With Deportation After Billionaire Calls GOP 'Porky Pig Party' Trump Threatens Elon Musk With Deportation After Billionaire Calls GOP 'Porky Pig Party'
Trump Threatens Elon Musk With Deportation After Billionaire Calls GOP 'Porky Pig Party' What started as a political breakup has turned into a full-blown war of words, with President Donald Trump now suggesting deporting Elon Musk, the former leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Trump escalated his increasingly personal feud with Musk on Tuesday morning, July 1, hinting that the South African-born billionaire might face scrutiny — or even deportation — under a government agency Musk once led. “DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon,” Trump told reporters. He made the remark before boarding Marine One en route to Florida’s “Alligator Al…
'Want To Go Home': PA Sen. Fetterman Slammed After Complaint About Missed Beach Trip Goes Viral 'Want To Go Home': PA Sen. Fetterman Slammed After Complaint About Missed Beach Trip Goes Viral
'Want To Go Home': PA Sen. Fetterman Slammed After Complaint About Missed Beach Trip Goes Viral Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman apparently would rather be building sandcastles than slogging through Senate votes. As the US Senate trudged through a grueling voting marathon on President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending package, Fetterman went viral for saying what many might’ve been thinking. The Democratic lawmaker, while addressing reporters outside the Senate chamber on Monday, June 30, raised eyebrows when asked about possible timing on the bill: “Oh my God, I just want to go home,” Fetterman said, visibly frustrated during the vote-a-rama underway in Washington. “I’ve alrea…
NC Senator Won't Seek Re-Election After Clashing With Trump Over 'Big Beautiful Bill' NC Senator Won't Seek Re-Election After Clashing With Trump Over 'Big Beautiful Bill'
NC Senator Won't Seek Re-Election After Clashing With Trump Over 'Big Beautiful Bill' Sen. Thom Tillis announced he will not seek re-election just hours after voting against President Donald Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” The North Carolina Republican issued a lengthy statement following his vote against the measure, which passed 51-49. “In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,” Tillis said Sunday, June 29. “It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election.” Once a MAGA devotee, Til…
'Utterly Insane': Musk Reignites Trump Feud, Taking Aim At His 'Big Bill' In New Attack 'Utterly Insane': Musk Reignites Trump Feud, Taking Aim At His 'Big Bill' In New Attack
'Utterly Insane': Musk Reignites Trump Feud, Taking Aim At His 'Big Bill' In New Attack Elon Musk has reignited his feud with President Donald Trump after tensions had seemingly simmered, attacking his signature spending proposal just weeks after their public split over the same bill led to a blowout of their bromance. In a post published Saturday, June 28, on X, the 54-year-old billionaire entrepreneur warned that “The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!” Hours after the post went live, the Senate advanced the tax-and-spend package to general debate following a razor-thin late-night vote of 51-49. …
TikTok Ban Delayed Again Despite Doubts About Trump's Legal Power: Reports TikTok Ban Delayed Again Despite Doubts About Trump's Legal Power: Reports
TikTok Ban Delayed Again Despite Doubts About Trump's Legal Power: Reports TikTok will reportedly stay available in the US for at least three more months despite legal questions surrounding President Donald Trump's authority to keep delaying enforcement of the ban. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump will sign an executive order to extend a pause on the ban for 90 more days, CNBC reported. An extension would push the Thursday, June 19, deadline to Wednesday, Sept. 17. The divest-or-ban bill became law in April 2024. The ban's enforcement has been postponed for a third time under Trump, who once advocated for banning the popular video app. The …
Deaths Linked To Poppy Seeds, FDA Under Fire Over Hidden Danger In Your Pantry Deaths Linked To Poppy Seeds, FDA Under Fire Over Hidden Danger In Your Pantry
Deaths Linked To Poppy Seeds, FDA Under Fire Over Hidden Danger In Your Pantry Poppy seeds — a staple on bagels and in pastries — are at the center of a stunning public health scare that has already cost lives, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed on Tuesday, April 8. The FDA has extended the public comment period for its Request for Information about poppy seed contamination after reports of adverse events, including respiratory arrest and death, were linked to the presence of opiate alkaloids — toxic substances naturally found in the poppy plant but not supposed to contaminate seeds FDA RFI Extension. The danger is not theoretical: at least 19 death…
Mass College Student Secretly Filmed Semi-Nude Women: DA; Push On For Tougher Punishments Mass College Student Secretly Filmed Semi-Nude Women: DA; Push On For Tougher Punishments
Mass College Student Secretly Filmed Semi-Nude Women: DA; Push On For Tougher Punishments A Williams College student faces multiple charges after investigators said he used a hidden camera to film women without their knowledge, authorities said. Now, the Berkshire County District Attorney is joining an effort for harsher sentences.  Maxwell Hall is accused of using a hidden camera disguised as a USB stick to record 16 people without their knowledge over six hours, the Berkshire DA's office said. Williamstown police are handling the investigation.  Once called "upskirting," the practice is just a misdemeanor in Massachusetts.  Bershire District Attorney Timothy Sh…
Tesla Stock Rebounds As Trump-Musk Feud Hits New Lows Tesla Stock Rebounds As Trump-Musk Feud Hits New Lows
Tesla Stock Rebounds As Trump-Musk Feud Hits New Lows Tesla's stock is recovering after a public feud between CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump fueled a massive selloff. Shares for the electric vehicle giant opened about 5% higher on Friday, June 6. Tesla clawed back some of the 15% lost the day before when the feud between the two billionaires exploded online. The fallout began when Musk, 53, posted on his platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that Trump would have lost the 2024 election without Musk's financial backing.  "Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans …
Trump Hits Back At Musk For Bashing Tax Bill: 'I’m Very Disappointed In Elon' Trump Hits Back At Musk For Bashing Tax Bill: 'I’m Very Disappointed In Elon'
Trump Hits Back At Musk For Bashing Tax Bill: 'I’m Very Disappointed In Elon' Just days after presenting him with a golden key to the White House, President Donald Trump is now firing back after Elon Musk's social-media tirade against Trump's so-called "big, beautiful" tax-and-spending bill back by Trump and Republican lawmakers. Click here for a new, updated story - Gloves Off: Musk Says Trump's In Epstein Files, President Threatens To Cut SpaceX Funding The Tesla CEO and now-former head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) blasted Trump’s tax-and-spending package on social media. The bill would make the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, expand the…
All Aboard The Trump Train? Florida Rep Says Rename DC Metro Or Lose $150M All Aboard The Trump Train? Florida Rep Says Rename DC Metro Or Lose $150M
All Aboard The Trump Train? Florida Rep Says Rename DC Metro Or Lose $150M A Florida congressman wants to slap “Trump Train” on DC’s subway system — and he’s threatening to cut off $150 million in federal funding unless it happens. On Thursday, May 29, Republican Rep. Greg Steube introduced the Make Autorail Great Again Act, a bill that would block all federal funds to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) unless it changes its name and rebrands the Metrorail. Under the proposal, WMATA would become the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA) and the Metrorail system would be renamed the “Trump Train.” This is not a joke. …
Airline CEOs Urge Congress To Overhaul 'Outdated' Air Traffic Control Systems After Failures Airline CEOs Urge Congress To Overhaul 'Outdated' Air Traffic Control Systems After Failures
Airline CEOs Urge Congress To Overhaul 'Outdated' Air Traffic Control Systems After Failures Major airline CEOs are calling on Congressional lawmakers to upgrade the nation's air traffic control systems, especially after recent widespread issues at Newark Liberty International Airport. The top executives sent the open letter to Congress on Wednesday, May 21. The group showed its support for a federal modernization plan to replace decades-old technology and hire thousands of new air traffic controllers. The letter was signed by executives from Alaska Airlines, American, Atlas Air, Delta, FedEx, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and UPS, along with the industry group Airline…
This 'Over-The-Counter Medication' Will Soon Be Allowed In NJ Schools Without Doctor's Note This 'Over-The-Counter Medication' Will Soon Be Allowed In NJ Schools Without Doctor's Note
This 'Over-The-Counter Medication' Will Soon Be Allowed In NJ Schools Without Doctor's Note New Jersey students are finally allowed to use sunscreen, wear hats, and bring sunglasses to school—without needing a doctor’s note. On March 31, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law that requires school districts to permit students to use FDA-approved sunscreen and sun-protective clothing at school and during school-sponsored activities, as long as parents provide written permission, according to a press release from the governor’s office. Previously, sunscreen was classified as an over-the-counter medication, and many districts restricted its use without a medical note. The new law, sp…
Senate Joins House In Voting To Avert Government Shutdown Senate Joins House In Voting To Avert Government Shutdown
Senate Joins House In Voting To Avert Government Shutdown With just hours to spare before a midnight deadline, Congress passed a stopgap bill to fund the government through the fall, avoiding a shutdown. The Senate approved the measure early Friday evening, March 14, sending it to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it. The bill will keep the government funded through Tuesday, Sept. 30. The vote followed a tense week of negotiations, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and nine other Democrats crossing party lines in a key procedural vote to advance the legislation. The move came despite mounting pressure from within his own…
Steak Your Claim: Texas Wants To Rebrand New York Strip, NY Isn't Biting Steak Your Claim: Texas Wants To Rebrand New York Strip, NY Isn't Biting
Steak Your Claim: Texas Wants To Rebrand New York Strip, NY Isn't Biting A beef between Texas and New York is sizzling. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is pushing to rename the New York strip steak as the "Texas strip" steak. The Republican said the Texas senate will file a resolution to make the name change official for restaurants and supermarkets in the Lone Star State. Lt. Gov. Patrick argues that the large cattle industry in Texas deserves the credit. "Just because a New York restaurant named Texas beef a New York Strip in the 19th century doesn't mean we need to keep doing that," he said in a social media post on Friday, Feb. 28. New York City resta…
Melania Trump Leads Fight Against Revenge Porn: ‘Take It Down Act’ Explained Melania Trump Leads Fight Against Revenge Porn: ‘Take It Down Act’ Explained
Melania Trump Leads Fight Against Revenge Porn: ‘Take It Down Act’ Explained Melania Trump has a message for Congress: It’s time to act. The First Lady is taking a high-profile stand against deepfake pornography and online sexual exploitation, calling on lawmakers to pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a bipartisan bill that would criminalize the publication of non-consensual intimate images (NCII), including AI-generated content, according to Congressional records. Trump, alongside Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), hosted a bipartisan roundtable discussion Monday, March 3, where victims and advocates shared gut-wrenching stories about how AI-ge…
Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties
Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties Hundreds of music legends and rising stars are calling on Congress to make major radio companies equitably pay artists when their songs are played on air. Popular 90s R&B group Boyz II Men met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for the American Music Fairness Act, a bill aiming to require corporate radio stations to compensate performers while protecting small, local broadcasters. The meeting happened on Thursday, Feb. 13 to coincide with World Radio Day. The Philadelphia-based singers of the hit song "End of the Road" spoke with three leaders in the House of Represent…
Americans Will Get Federal Holiday Between Thanksgiving, Christmas Under New Proposal Americans Will Get Federal Holiday Between Thanksgiving, Christmas Under New Proposal
Americans Will Get Federal Holiday Between Thanksgiving, Christmas Under New Proposal With a brand-new federal holiday proposal, Americans could soon have an additional day off between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The day, December 1, would be in honor of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks has been proposed by Representative Terri Sewell of Alabama. Called "the mother of the civil rights movement," Parks invigorated the struggle for racial equality when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama, on Dec. 1, 1955. Sewell, Alabama's first Black congresswoman, introduced the bill on Tuesday, Feb. 4, which would have been Rosa Parks' 112th birthday.&n…
Bill To Deport Unauthorized Immigrants Charged With Minor Crimes Passes House Bill To Deport Unauthorized Immigrants Charged With Minor Crimes Passes House
Bill To Deport Unauthorized Immigrants Charged With Minor Crimes Passes House The House of Representatives passed its first bill of the year on Tuesday, Jan. 7, a border security measure requiring the detention and deportation of unauthorized immigrants charged with theft-related crimes, including shoplifting and burglary. Named the Laken Riley Act in honor of a 22-year-old Georgia college student killed in February, 2024 by a Venezuelan migrant, the legislation received bipartisan support, in a 264-159 vote.  All Republicans and 48 Democrats backed the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) stated that the Senate will consider the bill as early as Fr…
Drone Disruption Shuts Down Runways At NY Airport Drone Disruption Shuts Down Runways At NY Airport
Drone Disruption Shuts Down Runways At NY Airport Runways at a Hudson Valley airport were brought to a halt after drone activity disrupted operations for approximately an hour, prompting New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to escalate calls for immediate federal intervention. Click here for a new, updated story: New Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Airport To Shut Down Hochul said the incident happened in Orange County on Friday, Dec. 13, at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor. “This has gone too far,” Hochul stated, addressing growing concerns over unauthorized drones in sensitive airspace. The incident ma…
Euthanasia Of 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation Euthanasia Of 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation
Euthanasia Of 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation Outrage is swirling after New York wildlife officials seized and later euthanized beloved social media sensation “Peanut” the squirrel. Chemung County resident Mark Longo, of Elmira, took to Instagram Wednesday, Oct 30, telling his 581,000 followers that Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers had seized the animal, which he rescued in 2017 after its mother was struck by a car. “Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness,” he wrote. “To the people who called (DEC), there’s a special place in hell for you.” In a…
60 Bullets: Cambridge, Medford, Somerville Suffering Through Summer Of Shootings 60 Bullets: Cambridge, Medford, Somerville Suffering Through Summer Of Shootings
60 Bullets: Cambridge, Medford, Somerville Suffering Through Summer Of Shootings Middlesex County authorities said they have seen six shootings over the past month, with as many as 60 shots being fired, damaging homes and cars and seriously injuring one person.  “Every time a gun is illegally fired in our neighborhoods, it creates the risk of death or serious injury for innocent people," said Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan. "In these cases, officers recovered 60 shell casings resulting from the 60 shots fired in congested areas, this type of chaos creating violence simply cannot go unaddressed. I have assigned multiple prosecutors to work with our police pa…