Blocks

Federal Trade Commission Blocks John Muir Health’s $142.5 Million Acquisition of San Ramon Regional Medical Center, Citing Competition Concerns

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San Ramon, California – John Muir Health has abandoned its plans to acquire Tenet Healthcare’s San Ramon Regional Medical Center after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit to block the move, citing concerns about competition in the area. The San Ramon Medical Center, a 123-bed acute care hospital located west of Oakland, sits just 14 miles away from another John Muir Health hospital. Federal regulators argue that the proposed acquisition would “substantially lessen competition for critical healthcare services” along the I-680 corridor, which spans parts of California’s Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. A … Read more

Judge Blocks Alabama Medical Marijuana Licenses Amid Legal Battle

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Montgomery, Alabama – A judge has issued a temporary restraining order preventing Alabama from granting licenses to medical marijuana facilities due to an ongoing legal dispute over the selection process. Montgomery Circuit Judge James Anderson halted the issuance of licenses for “integrated” facilities that handle the cultivation, transportation, and sale of medical marijuana. This decision comes as companies that were not chosen for the five available integrated licenses challenge the selection process, claiming that the commission violated its own rules. The commission has already attempted to award licenses three times, but the first two selections … Read more

Arkansas Judge Blocks Enforcement of Laws Weakening State Board’s Authority, Extending Temporary Restraining Order

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LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – In a significant victory for the state Board of Corrections, a judge extended her order on Thursday, further blocking the enforcement of two state laws that the board argued violated the Arkansas Constitution by undermining its authority. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Patricia James converted the initial temporary restraining order, issued on December 15, into a preliminary injunction, which will prohibit the enforcement of Act 185 and certain sections of Act 659 until the board’s lawsuit against the laws is resolved. The laws in question, enacted during last year’s Legislative session, aimed … Read more

Belarusian President Grants Himself Immunity and Blocks Exiled Opposition Leaders from Future Elections

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Minsk, Belarus – In a move to solidify his power and eliminate potential challengers in the upcoming presidential elections, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has signed a new law granting him lifelong immunity from criminal prosecution. The law also aims to prevent opposition leaders living in exile from running in future elections. This controversial legislation, which technically applies to any former president and their family members, is primarily targeted at Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for nearly three decades. With the next presidential election scheduled for 2025, the new law significantly tightens … Read more