Law

The Senate on Monday approved a bill to allow states to collect sales taxes from online retailers. Proponents say sellers will get help navigating tax collection, but many retailers says complying will be burdensome and opens the door for unforeseen probl

Some Net Retailers Aren't Buying Online Sales Tax Proposal

9:00pm May 06, 2013

by Yuki Noguchi

Proponents of the bill, currently before Congress, say collecting taxes from online sales should be relatively simple for retailers. But with close to 10,000 tax jurisdictions around the country, some online businesses say collecting the taxes and navigating potential problems will be a costly burden.

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Employers using the E-Verify program are required to post an E-Verify Participation Poster, shown here in a handout photo. A Senate bill would make participation in the system, used to check employees' immigration status, mandatory for all employers.

National

Bill Would Put Immigration Verification System To The Test

5:27pm May 02, 2013

by Ted Robbins

The Senate's immigration bill would require all U.S. employers to use E-Verify, a federal database that checks a worker's immigration status instantly. While businesses have had difficulty using the system in the past, officials say its results are now accurate 98 percent of the time.

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Vice President Joe Biden, holds a background check form last week in Washington, as he calls on Congress to pass legislation aimed at reducing gun violence.

Background Check Battle: More Prosecution Or More Checks?

1:54pm May 01, 2013

by Ailsa Chang

Some gun rights supporters point out that only a tiny fraction of people caught trying to buy a gun illegally are ever prosecuted. They say the government should focus on enforcing current law, not expanding background checks. But gun control supporters say that argument misses the point.

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Criminologist Believes Violent Behavior Is Biological

1:22pm May 01, 2013

In a new book, The Anatomy of Violence, Adrian Raine argues that violent behavior has a biological basis just like depression or schizophrenia. This raises questions about treatment, accountability and punishment, including the death penalty.

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J.C. Penney Wins Legal Fight Over Martha Stewart

10:51am May 01, 2013

by Sonari Glinton

An appeals court in New York will allow J.C. Penney to continue selling a new line of housewares designed by Martha Stewart. The ruling nixes an attempt by Macy's to obtain an order that would block Penney from selling the collection. In other Martha Stewart news, she has joined the dating site Match.com in search of romantic adventure.

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National

On California Prisons, It's The Governor Vs. The Courts

5:32pm April 30, 2013

by Richard Gonzales

California Gov. Jerry Brown is trying to end federal oversight of his state's prison system, with little success. Legal experts have compared his position to those of Southern governors who defied court orders to integrate public facilities in the 1950s.

National

With Or Without Overhaul, Immigration Lawyers In Short Supply

5:48pm April 29, 2013

by Sandhya Dirks

If and when immigration reform passes in Washington, thousands of immigrants are going to need trained immigration lawyers. But advocates say there's a dearth of them even now, leaving a void for untrained or unscrupulous attorneys to mislead clients seeking to navigate the system.

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The Miami-based Cat Network operates a program that traps, neuters and releases feral cats back to their colonies. A bill before the Florida Legislature would offer legal protection to those programs.

National

As Florida Bill Looks To Aid Feral Cats, Opponents Claw Back

6:59pm April 26, 2013

by Greg Allen

Lawmakers are considering a measure that would offer legal protection to groups that trap, sterilize and return feral cats to their colonies. But wildlife groups and some homeowners say the cats are a threat to public health — and to other animals.

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Politics & Government

When Conscience Conflicts With Constituents

2:13pm April 24, 2013

Last week, the Senate voted against a proposal for background checks on gun buyers. Several senators from states with strong pro-gun constituencies cast votes supporting the checks despite voter polls. On divisive issues, politicians may often face a choice between personal and public opinion.

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People On Terrorism Watch List Not Blocked From Buying Guns

8:49am April 24, 2013

by Ailsa Chang

Under current laws, if a background check shows your name is on the national terror watch list, you can still purchase a gun. Government data show that people on terrorism watch lists were able to buy guns or explosives after a background check more than 1,300 times between 2004 and 2010.

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