COVID19

Louisiana Man Convicted of Gruesome 2020 Murder of Girlfriend Amid Alleged COVID-19 Accusation

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LACOMBE, La. — A Lacombe resident, Fernando Cortez, 30, was convicted of second-degree murder in the brutal killing of his girlfriend, Sandra Aldridge, in a case that shocked the community in April 2020. The verdict, reached after just 20 minutes of deliberations by a St. Tammany Parish jury, underlines a disturbing episode of domestic violence ending in a gruesome crime. In the early morning hours of April 17, 2020, Cortez made a chilling 911 call claiming both he and his wife were stabbed and near death. During police questioning, he confessed to killing Aldridge by … Read more

Bank of America Faces Lawsuit for Failing to Refund Overdraft Fees During COVID-19 Hardship

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Oakland, California – Bank of America is facing a lawsuit after allegedly failing to honor its commitment to provide refunds for overdraft fees to customers suffering financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, stating that they had valid claims that the bank deceived them with false promises of assistance. The bank had quietly discontinued its “Client Assistance Program” on August 31, 2020, despite continuing to promote relief from overdraft and insufficient fund fees on its website and mobile app. The program was initially … Read more

Kansas Senate Introduces Bill to Limit Health Officers’ Authority Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

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TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Senate is once again attempting to revise public health laws in response to criticism of the state’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, a bill to remove health officers’ authority to issue orders was passed, as was a bill guaranteeing visitation access to hospitalized family members. However, neither bill had enough votes to override a potential veto. In November 2021, backlash against the pandemic response prompted Republicans to call the state’s first special legislative session, leading to the passage of a bill targeting employer vaccine mandates. Democratic Governor Laura … Read more

Jury Awards $205,000 in Damages to Man Arrested for Zombie-Themed COVID-19 Joke on Facebook

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FOREST HILL, LOUISIANA – Waylon Bailey, a resident of Forest Hill, Louisiana, was arrested in March 2020 for a Facebook post in which he made a zombie-themed joke about COVID-19. The arrest, carried out with a SWAT-style raid by sheriff’s deputies, provoked controversy and raised questions about free speech. However, a federal jury recently awarded Bailey $205,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, recognizing the harm inflicted by the unconstitutional arrest. Bailey expressed his satisfaction with the jury’s decision, stating that it vindicated his post as satire and highlighted the importance of protecting speech rights. The … Read more