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National

Federal Judge In Detroit Orders Bond Hearings For Hundreds Of Detained Iraqis

4:55pm January 03, 2018

by Rick Pluta

A federal judge in Detroit has ordered bond hearings for hundreds of Iraqis detained by the Department of Homeland Security while they fight deportation. The decision says holding people who don't pose a serious flight risk is unconstitutional.

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National

A Look At The Legal Consequences Of Swatting After Police Shoot Innocent Man

5:54pm January 02, 2018

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Neal Katyal, professor of law at Georgetown University, and former acting solicitor general of the U.S., about the legal issues surrounding the swatting case which resulted in an innocent man being shot to death in Wichita, Kan., in response to a fake 911 call that came from the Los Angeles area.

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A customer buys marijuana at Harborside dispensary in Oakland, Calif., on Monday.

National

What's New In 2018? Here's A Brief Tour Of State Laws Now In Effect

6:35pm January 01, 2018

by Colin Dwyer

The new year brought more than just new resolutions. It also brought hundreds of new state laws Monday. Here are a few notables — from marijuana legalization to house calls from hair cutters.

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What Congress Accomplished And Didn't Accomplish In 2017

4:49pm December 29, 2017

by Kelsey Snell

It was a messy year in Congress. Despite control of the House and Senate — and a president willing to sign legislation — Congressional Republicans spent much of the year fighting amongst themselves. But at both the start and the finish of the year, they scored some important wins.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb is head of the Food and Drug Administration. Federal investigators reviewed 30 of 1,557 food recalls between 2012 and 2015. They found that the FDA did not always evaluate food-borne hazards fast enough or ensure that companies initiate

National

FDA Takes Too Long To Recall Tainted Food, Federal Investigators Say

10:55am December 28, 2017

by Doreen McCallister

The inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services raised significant concerns regarding the Food and Drug Administration's removal of tainted food from store shelves.

President Trump talks with journalists at the White House after signing the tax overhaul into law on Friday.

The Tax Law's New Way Of Measuring Inflation Could Take A Toll On Taxpayers

5:29pm December 27, 2017

by Jim Zarroli

The tax overhaul uses an alternative measure of inflation that will show less upward pressure on prices. That means tax brackets will adjust upward less often, making many people pay more.

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National

In Practice, Police Accountability Is Not The Main Function Of Body Cameras

8:24am December 24, 2017

by Martin Kaste

Police departments across the country have adopted body cameras to counter claims of abuse. But as they become more routine, cameras are turning into key tools for prosecutors.

This holiday season, shoppers will buy nearly 1.6 million drones, up 31 percent from last year, according to the Consumer Technology Association.

The Drone Under Your Tree Can't Fly High Until Registered With The FAA

1:20pm December 23, 2017

by Emily Sullivan

Drones will be placed under many Christmas trees this year. But before they can be flown above the treetops, they must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration for a $5 fee.

Congress Averts Government Shutdown, Postponing Tough Legislation Decisions

7:38pm December 21, 2017

by Kelsey Snell

Congress has passed a spending bill to temporarily avert a government shutdown on Friday, pushing off hard decisions on immigration, defense spending and health care until next year.

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This statue of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest was removed from a park in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday night, following the sale of the park to a nonprofit group.

Finding A Legal Loophole, Memphis Takes Down Its Confederate Statues

4:50pm December 21, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

To skirt a state law prohibiting the monuments' removal, the city sold two of its parks to a new nonprofit. "In all of my life in Memphis, I've never seen such solidarity," said Mayor Jim Strickland.