The Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with the former mayor of an Indiana city accused of accepting a bribe in exchange for a towing contract, the latest decision in which the high court has weakened federal anti-corruption laws.
James Snyder, the former mayor of Portage, Indiana, was convicted of accepting $13,000 from a trucking company weeks after it was awarded a contract. Snyder argued the payment was an after-the-fact “gratuity” that wasn’t covered by the federal bribery statute.
Read more at CNN
Michigan has recently passed laws aimed at reducing gun violence, specifically related to extreme risk protection orders, the safe and secure storage act, universal background checks, and prohibition on gun ownership or possession for eight years for people convicted of domestic violence offenses.
Read more at Fox 17
After hearing public input about the proposed purchase of drones in 2023, city leaders landed on a policy outlining what drones can and can’t be used for.
Under the policy, drones can’t be used for “random or routine” surveillance, personal use or to “harass, intimidate or discriminate against any individual or group.” The drones can’t be equipped with weapons or facial recognition capabilities, and can’t use artificial intelligence. They can be flown up to 400 feet.
Jennifer Kalczuk, the GRPD public information officer, said drone usage by Grand Rapids police is “purpose-driven” and “drones are not operating without a very specific reason.”
Read more at The Rapidian
The U.S. Supreme Court preserved a tax on Americans who have invested in certain foreign corporations as constitutionally sound, ruling on Thursday against a challenge to it at a time when some Democratic lawmakers are seeking to impose a wealth tax on the super rich.
The justices, in a 7-2 ruling, upheld a lower court's decision against Charles and Kathleen Moore - a retired couple from Redmond, Washington - who challenged the tax imposed on foreign company earnings, even though those profits have not been distributed to shareholders.
Read more at Reuters via MSN
Industry experts have speculated that to save money, buyers may choose to buy homes without using an agent at all. Instead, they may use online real estate platforms, such as Zillow or Redfin, to find properties and then negotiate directly with the seller’s agent.
However, veteran buyer's agents say home buyers can’t afford to forgo an agent. Trying to navigate a competitive market and a complicated buying process leaves buyers vulnerable to missteps, exploitation, and remorse.
Read more at The Star
FTC ban on noncompetes raises confidentiality issues—and can it be enforced?
To keep data safe without the help of noncompete agreements, law firms may turn to other tools to protect their business interests, such as nonsolicitation agreements and trademarks. For information to be entitled to legal protection as a trade secret, the owner of the information must make efforts to protect it that are reasonable under the circumstances.
Read more at ABAJournal
