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Iowa Lawyer Champions Environmental Justice, Targets Pollution in Legal Battles for Clean Water Rights

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Iowa City, Iowa — As pollution continues to impact Iowa’s environmental landscape, seasoned lawyer Jim Larew, 70, has committed the remainder of his career to legal battles aiming to safeguard the state’s most vulnerable waters. At the heart of these efforts is a fledgling movement in Northeast Iowa, a region valued for its relatively pristine streams in an area known as the Driftless Region. This area, unique for its lack of glacial sediment drift, features terrain that, while picturesque with its spring-fed streams and caves, is particularly susceptible to surface pollution. In 2022, Larew and … Read more

New Jersey Town Agrees to $1.9 Million Settlement Over Costly Property Fees in Landmark Class-Action Suit

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In a legal action that is drawing attention across New Jersey, Franklin Township homeowners David and Aimee Cappolina have struck a preliminary $1.9 million settlement with their local government over a contentious property registration scheme. According to the lawsuit, the township’s “Vacant and Abandoned Property Registration Program” unfairly imposed hefty fees that could climb as high as $5,000 annually on properties classified as “vacant” or “abandoned.” This often occurred following mortgage delinquencies, burdening property owners with additional financial strains. Initiated in November 2021, the class-action lawsuit targets the fee program, arguing that it places an … Read more

Community Leader and Former Allen Parish Police Juror Buddy Farris Passes Away at 80

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Oakdale, LA — The community of Allen Parish is mourning the loss of a prominent public servant, Allie Marvin “Buddy” Farris, who died Tuesday at the age of 80. Farris, a longstanding member of the Allen Parish Police Jury and one-time president of the jury, was remembered for his devoted service spanning two decades. Farris’s tenure as a police juror was marked by significant contributions to the region, including his advocacy for local infrastructure projects such as the development of a reservoir, the construction of a new parish jail, and securing the establishment of the … Read more

Voters Rein in Honolulu City Council Pay Raises and Usher in New Amendments to Tackle Emergency Management and Climate Change

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Honolulu, Hawaii – A significant change in pay policy for Honolulu City Council members will take effect with the new year, following overwhelming voter support for a charter amendment that limits annual council raises to 5%. This decision comes after a controversial 64% salary increase approved in 2023, which propelled council salaries to over $113,000 from approximately $68,900. The approval for the charter amendment garnered an astonishing 90.6% of votes in the November general election. Under the new rules, any future raises for council members will now be aligned with the average salary increases of … Read more