North

Inside North Lake: Attorneys Share Insights on New ICE Detention Center’s Conditions and Access

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Baldwin, Michigan — Three months have passed since the North Lake Correctional Facility began operating as an immigration detention center. This new role has focused on processing detainees for deportation, while their attorneys maintain a critical connection with them throughout their confinement. Opened in mid-June, the North Lake facility is a former prison located in Lake County and is now under the jurisdiction of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Attorneys working with detainees emphasize the significance of maintaining access for legal counsel within the facility. Richard Kessler, an immigration attorney based in Grand Rapids, has … Read more

Spain Names Oliver Laxe’s “Sirât” as Official Oscar Contender, Join the Race with Cannes Acclaim and North American Distribution

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Madrid, Spain — Director Oliver Laxe’s ambitious film “Sirât” has been chosen as Spain’s official submission for the best international feature film category at the 98th Academy Awards. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Pablo Berger, who received an animated feature nomination last year for “Robot Dreams.” The selection follows a thorough voting process by the members of Spain’s Academy of the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who evaluated several films over the summer before narrowing it down to three finalists: “Sirât,” Carla Simon’s “Romería,” and Eva Libertad’s “Deaf.” “Sirât,” which delivers an intense … Read more

Death Penalty Case Set to Begin: Jury Selection Kicks Off in Trial for Slaying of North Kansas City Officer

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NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The trial of Joshua Rocha, charged with the capital murder of North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez, will begin next week with jury selection set to commence. This case has garnered significant attention as Clay County prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty, marking the first time in nearly three decades that this course of action has been taken in the region. Officer Vasquez was fatally shot in July 2022 during a traffic stop involving a vehicle with expired temporary tags. Rocha faces serious charges in connection with this tragic … Read more

Fourth Circuit Strikes Down North Carolina’s Felon Voting Restrictions as Unconstitutional

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A federal appeals court has ruled that North Carolina’s law prohibiting felons from voting is unconstitutional. The decision by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, announced recently, signifies a major shift in the landscape of voting rights within the state. The ruling stems from a case brought forth by a group of individuals who were formerly incarcerated. Their legal challenge argued that the law unjustly disenfranchised a significant portion of the population. The court found that the law disproportionately affects African American voters and violates constitutional protections against discriminatory practices. The implications … Read more