Brunswick County Development Rules Hit Roadblock as State Law Restricts UDO Modernization Efforts

Brunswick County, North Carolina, is navigating a challenging landscape in its effort to modernize its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), a comprehensive set of regulations for land use and development that dates back to 2007. During a recent meeting on August 4, county commissioners reviewed the status of the project, which has been significantly impacted by new state legislation. The modernization process, initiated by the Board of Commissioners in early 2024, aims to update a document that has seen only one full revision since 2015. Local residents have raised concerns about ongoing development across the county, … Read more

Federal Judge Restricts Elon Musk’s Dogecoin from Obtaining Sensitive Treasury Documents

A federal judge recently imposed a blockade preventing DOGE, a digital currency typically associated with Elon Musk, from accessing sensitive documents held by the U.S. Treasury Department. This decision highlights escalating tensions between cryptocurrency promoters and regulatory bodies. The judge ruled that the Treasury’s concerns about the potential misuse of confidential financial data necessitated the restriction. The ruling underscores a broader debate regarding the oversight and regulation of digital currencies, which have been subject to increasing scrutiny from government entities globally. DOGE, which started as a meme-inspired cryptocurrency, has seen considerable backing from tech magnate … Read more

New Georgia Law Restricts Homeless Voters’ Registration Rights Starting Next Year

Atlanta, GA — Starting next year, Georgia’s homeless population will face new challenges in exercising their right to vote as legislators introduce measures that prevent them from registering using the addresses of shelters or places where they frequently stay. This move has sparked a debate about voter accessibility and the impacts of disenfranchisement among the state’s most vulnerable communities. The implications of the new legislation are significant, affecting not only where homeless individuals can register to vote but also how they participate in the democratic process. Advocates argue that by limiting the use of non-traditional … Read more

Supreme Court Restricts Nonconsensual Releases in Chapter 11 Bankruptcies, Impacting Mass Tort Litigation

Washington, D.C. – In a significant ruling that may transform the landscape of bankruptcy law, the U.S. Supreme Court has decisively limited the use of “nonconsensual third-party releases” in chapter 11 reorganization plans. This decision, falling on a narrow 5-4 margin, rejected these provisions, which previously allowed for the involuntary release of claims against nondebtors, such as the controversial inclusion of the Sackler family in Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy case. Delivering the majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, articulated that such releases improperly … Read more