Funding Hurdles Stall Kentucky’s Kinship Care Law, Leaving Families in Limbo as Advocates Push for Action

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A year has passed since Kentucky’s Senate Bill 151 was enacted, yet many kinship caregivers are still without the promised resources. This legislation was designed to provide financial support to relatives, often grandparents or aunts and uncles, who step in to care for children. However, the bill has encountered significant delays due to ongoing funding disputes. Governor Andy Beshear introduced the “Kinship Bill” to address concerns that kinship caregivers deserve financial support comparable to that received by foster families. Despite the law receiving approval, the financial backing required to implement it is … Read more

UC Santa Cruz’s Ambitious Expansion Plans Stall Amid Legal Dispute Over Housing and Environmental Concerns

Santa Cruz, California — The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with local governmental bodies over a proposed significant expansion plan. A ruling by Judge Timothy Schmal determined that UCSC’s Long Range Development Plan (LRDP), which aims to increase student enrollment by 8,500 by 2040, inadequately addressed potential housing shortages and environmental issues resulting from this growth. The prolonged legal standoff has left the situation in limbo for over eight months. Following the October ruling, the university filed an appeal in December. Judge Schmal’s order mandated that the … Read more

Jersey City Clashes with J.P. Morgan Over Affordable Housing Project; Lawsuit Could Stall 300 New Homes

Jersey City, NJ — Jersey City officials are pushing back against a lawsuit by J.P. Morgan subsidiaries that is seen as an obstacle to the construction of a new affordable housing project on the city’s waterfront. The lawsuit disputes the approval of a site plan for a 300-unit tower in the Liberty Harbor North Redevelopment Area, which officials say is crucial for meeting the city’s housing needs. At the heart of the controversy is the allocation of 200 parking spaces, originally part of the Vantage luxury apartment buildings, also owned by J.P. Morgan-linked entities. The … Read more

NY Federal Judge Rejects Bid to Stall Congestion Pricing, Legal Battles Continue

New York, NY — A federal judge in New York City has ruled against issuing a preliminary injunction to halt the introduction of congestion pricing, slated to begin on Jan. 5. The decision was handed down on Monday following a series of legal challenges aiming to block the contentious plan. Judge Lewis Liman presided over the lawsuits involving various groups, including the Staten Island Borough President and the United Federation of Teachers, who argue that congestion pricing would pose an undue financial strain on commuters and negatively impact small businesses. During the hearings this past … Read more