Georgia Governor Brian Kemp suspended an anti-mask statute Tuesday that made obtaining masks difficult. “We’ve issued guidance and orders to protect ,” said Kemp, “and we’ve taken measured steps to shield them from harm.” The law (OC GA 16-11-38) was enacted in 1951 to prevent public wearing of Ku Klux Klan hoods and other head [...]

Federal appeals courts on Tuesday affirmed temporary lower court blocks on abortion bans issued in Oklahoma and Texas amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit blocked surgical abortions, but allowed medical abortions to continue in Texas. The US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit held similarly, denying the [...]

The Ministerial Meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC countries concluded on Sunday with an agreement to cut oil production and raise prices in an attempt to stabilize the global oil market, which has seen significant fluctuation in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement calls for significant reductions in production. ll Participating Countries agreed to [...]

Rutgers University announced on Monday that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to Rutgers RUCDR Infinite Biologics and its collaborators for a new saliva-based COVID-19 test. Andrew Brooks, chief operating officer and director of technology development at RUCDR, believes that the new method will allow for broader population [...]

Virginia after Governor Ralph Northam signed numerous landmark bills into law Sunday, including multiple criminal justice reform bills. House Bill 972 decriminalizes simple possession of marijuana and creates a $25 civil penalty but removes the current criminal offense classification as a misdemeanor. This will take effect July 1 if the General Assembly agrees to technical amendments [...]

Planned Parenthood and abortion providers in Texas on Sunday appealed a federal court decision to the US Supreme Court, asking the court to allow medication abortions pending a full appeal. This case arises from a March 22 executive order by Texas Governor Greg Abbott that prohibits elective surgeries and medical procedures until April 21. The [...]

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed a number of bills into law Sunday to expand voter access and repeal the state’s voter ID law. House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 111 expand access to early voting 45 days prior to an election without any reason; House Bill 19 and Senate Bill 65 remove the requirement that [...]

The US Supreme Court announced Monday that it will hear oral arguments postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic through telephone conference conference between May 4 and May 13. A number of cases scheduled to be heard in March and April were postponed due to the pandemic, but now telephone conference availability of counsel has been confirmed [...]

Having passed through the state Senate and House, the Virginia Clean Economy Act was signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam on Sunday. This act requires energy efficiency measures, sets deadlines for the state to become carbon free and amends the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act that requires Virginia to join the Regional Greenhouse [...]

Canada gave royal assent to an emergency wage bill Saturday evening, giving relief to many Canadian workers and businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The $73 billion package enables private companies, non-profits, and charities to apply for government assistance to subsidize paychecks to employees. To qualify, entities must prove a reduction of revenue of [...]