News

News

State Bar Fee on the Rise: Lawyers to Face $553 Annual Licensing Cost in 2020

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In a recent decision that will impact legal professionals across the state, legislators have approved an increment in the annual licensing fees for practicing attorneys. By 2025, lawyers can expect to pay $553 for their annual licenses, following a $88 increase. This decision materialized during the latest deliberations held by the Senate Judiciary Committee this Tuesday. The resolution to raise fees comes after much negotiation between lawmakers and bar trustees. Originally, bar officials had proposed a $125 increase, aiming predominantly to address salary increments for bar employees amidst rising operational costs. Lawmakers had initially countered … Read more

Alabama Medical Cannabis License Saga Advances: Judge Greenlights Commission’s Investigative Hearings

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A significant development unfolded in Alabama’s capital on Tuesday as legal representatives of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission and various license applicants convened for a pivotal hearing. The focus: moving forward with the distribution of medical cannabis licenses that have been stalled by ongoing legal challenges. Up until now, the commission has been unable to issue the awarded licenses due to a series of legal injunctions, leaving applicants in a state of uncertainty. However, recent decisions by Judge James Anderson have paved the way for the commission to proceed with investigatory hearings. … Read more

Veterans Affairs Employee Sues Over Allegedly Inaccessible Electronic Health Records System

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WASHINGTON — A lawsuit has been filed by Laurette Santos, a Department of Veterans Affairs employee, against the VA concerning its implementation of a new electronic health record system which she claims is not accessible to users with disabilities, particularly affecting employees and veterans who are visually impaired. The litigation, initiated last month in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, centers on the system’s failure to integrate with screen readers and other assistive technologies. Santos, who has served as a licensed social worker at the VA for over a decade, currently works … Read more

Grand Jury Exposes Governance Flaws in Antioch, Urges Leadership to Respect Boundaries and Fill Staff Vacancies

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Antioch, CA — A recent investigation by the Contra Costa County Grand Jury into Antioch’s City Council activities under Mayor Lamar Thorpe has unveiled significant operational and managerial issues. The findings revealed probable violations of the Brown Act, which mandates transparency in public agency meetings, and inappropriate interventions in hiring and other administrative functions typically reserved for the City Manager. The turmoil includes a notably high turnover among city managers and an alarming 21.6% vacancy rate in city employment as of February 2024, starkly contrasting the national average of 5.3% for local and state government … Read more