A religious liberty group, Christian schools, and families from those schools are challenging a Minnesota law that bans certain Christian colleges and universities from participating in the state's Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program. The law, passed in 2023, excludes religious institutions that require students to sign a faith statement, a ruling that Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing the plaintiffs, calls "disgraceful."
In a controversial decision just before Christmas, President Joe Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 men on federal death row, once again prioritizing convicted murderers over their victims. Among those granted mercy was Brandon Council, convicted of the brutal double murder of Donna Major and Katie Skeen during a robbery in 2017.
President-elect Donald Trump declared he would "vigorously pursue" the death penalty in January.
“As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department...
Prominent Democratic National Committee (DNC) fundraiser and strategist Lindy Li has announced her departure from the Democratic Party, referring to it as a "cult" after facing intense backlash for her criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris.
A recent survey by Economist/YouGov shows that a plurality of Americans view President Joe Biden's use of his presidential pardon powers as “inappropriate.” According to the survey, 46 percent of respondents believe Biden's pardons and commutations have been inappropriate, compared to 28 percent who find them appropriate. Around 26 percent of those surveyed remain undecided.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced in its annual report that the agency deported 271,484 individuals in fiscal year 2023, marking the highest number of deportations since 2015.
As North Carolinians prepare for the Christmas holiday, the price of unleaded gasoline is a few dimes lower than the national average, offering some relief to those hitting the road. On Friday morning, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in North Carolina stood at $2.83, compared to the national average of $3.05, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
Americans traveling during the holidays could face longer wait times at airports if a partial government shutdown happens, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) warned on Thursday.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, which killed 103 people and caused an estimated $53 billion in damages, North Carolina has received significant aid for recovery efforts, including over $1.1 billion in state relief and billions more in federal requests. The storm, considered the state’s worst natural disaster, has prompted both state and federal governments to take action, though criticism has followed regarding the adequacy of those efforts.
