Lingering

Decade After Deepwater Horizon Disaster, Lingering Damage and New Discoveries Highlight Stakes in Gulf

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New Orleans, LA – More than a decade after the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which unleashed approximately 134 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, the repercussions continue to resonate through ecological, legal, and community spheres. The incident, marked as the nation’s most severe offshore oil disaster, occurred when an oil rig exploded, claiming the lives of 11 individuals. Since that devastating event, BP, the oil company at the center of the disaster, has paid out billions in damages to support numerous coastal restoration initiatives across five states. Despite these efforts, … Read more

Seattle Jury Awards $21 Million in Landmark Racial Discrimination Case Against Hospital, Former Clinic Director Speaks on Lingering Wounds of Racism

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Seattle, WA — In a landmark legal decision, a Washington jury ruled in favor of Dr. Benjamin Danielson, awarding him $21 million in a discrimination lawsuit against Seattle Children’s Hospital. Danielson, who had served over two decades as the director of the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic—a subsidiary focused on serving low-income, marginalized communities—alleged systemic racism and negligence in addressing his complaints by the hospital administration. Reflecting on the verdict, Danielson expressed a mix of surprise and gratitude, acknowledging the broad community support that underpinned his journey through the legal process. Despite the significant financial compensation, … Read more

The Lingering Shadow of the Comstock Act: A Relic of Free Speech Suppression

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WASHINGTON (AP) — In the ongoing debate over expanded access to the abortion pill, mifepristone, the applicability of the Comstock Act has emerged as a chilling concern for advocates of free speech. This 151-year-old law was originally intended to ban the mailing of materials deemed “obscene, lewd, [or] lascivious,” including contraception and pornography. However, the Act’s connection to the availability of mifepristone is hotly contested and unlikely to gain traction in the Supreme Court. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, while outliers on this issue, have raised the Act’s relevance in the recent oral arguments. … Read more

The Lingering Effects of Infant Formula Shortages: How Policy Response Falls Short for American Families

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AUSTIN, Texas – In February 2022, babies were born across the country, unaware of the challenges their families would face. The shortage of infant formula during that time caused distress for parents, with bottles disappearing from store shelves. However, as these babies approach their second birthday, a new wave of families is experiencing similar struggles. According to the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, 1.4 million people reported difficulty obtaining infant formula in the previous month. A recent recall of a formula designed for children with allergies further exacerbates the issue. This ongoing pattern of formula … Read more