Protect

New Anti-Hazing Legislation Enacted in Wake of Tragic University Incident, Aims to Protect Students Nationwide

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Minneapolis — A new federal law, designated to counteract the perils of hazing on college campuses, was enacted this week by President Joe Biden. Named the Stop Campus Hazing Act, this legislation mandates higher education institutions to report hazing incidents and educate students on its dangers. The law traces its inception to a tragic incident in 2021 involving Danny Santulli, an 18-year-old from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Santulli suffered severe brain damage as a result of hazing rituals while pledging to the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at the University of Missouri. Subsequently, Danny lost his ability … Read more

Alabama Community and Church Groups File Lawsuit to Protect Endangered Snails Against Quarry Development

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BELLE MINA, Ala. — A local congregation and environmentalists have launched a legal battle seeking to block a limestone quarry project in Limestone County, fearing it could spell disaster for endangered wildlife and disrupt the community. Filed in Limestone County Circuit Court late Monday, the lawsuit aims to protect three endangered snail species that it argues would be jeopardized by the quarry operations. The legal filing lists both Stoned LLC and Grayson Carter & Son, Inc. as defendants. This action follows a warning issued by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), which had previously granted … Read more

Constitution vs. Coercion: The Urgent Need for a Federal Shield Law to Protect Journalists and Their Sources

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Washington, D.C. – As freedom of the press continues to be a cornerstone of American democracy, enshrined in the First Amendment, debates intensify over the necessity of federal legislation to protect journalists. Despite the constitutional safeguard that prohibits Congress from abridging press freedom, there currently exists no federal law that extends similar protections to reporters on a national level, which many argue leaves a significant vulnerability in the journalistic profession. The absence of a federal shield law means that reporters’ ability to protect their sources is not uniformly protected across the country. While 49 states … Read more

Judge Keeps Murder Case Details Under Wraps to Protect Integrity of Ongoing Investigation in Beaverton Nurse’s Death

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PORTLAND, Ore. — In the suburb of Beaverton, the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of a local nurse have prompted a Washington County judge to seal key court documents, stirring contention among media outlets demanding transparency. The sealed records include crucial details about the case against Bryce Schubert, 27, who faces charges of murder, kidnapping, and abuse of a corpse in the alleged killing of Melissa Jubane. Jubane, also from Beaverton, was a nurse at Providence St. Vincent. Her disappearance on September 4, sparked widespread concern after she failed to report for her nursing shift. … Read more