A man had six classic cars stolen from him last Sunday. All have been recovered in separate locations, the last three in Woodbury. As of yet, no suspect has been identified and no charge has been issued.
https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/10/02/6-classic-cars-stolen-from-77-year-old-man-are-all-recovered/
MINNESOTA.CBSLOCAL.COM
6 Classic Cars Stolen From 77-Year-Old Man Are All Recovered
Effective Today, October 2, 2020, the USCIS has enacted changes in filing fees for multiple application types. The weighted increase in filing fees is by 20%. However, that does not mean that every fee has gone up by 20%, but only that the USCIS estimates that the total fees that are charged for every application filed together will be going up by 20%.
Please note that the reasoning for the USCIS charging fees is because the USCIS is a fee-run governmental organization. In fact, on the page linked below, the USCIS states that 97% of its operating costs come from fees alone. The current fees that the USCIS collects, if continued, would leave the USCIS underfunded by $1Billion.
https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-adjusts-fees-to-help-meet-operational-needs
USCIS.GOV
USCIS Adjusts Fees to Help Meet Operational Needs
An atheist activist group is suing the state of Alabama for religious freedom pertaining to voter registration. Alabama is the only state that requires that an oath in voter registration includes "so help me God", which the group claims is a violation of the first amendment.
https://apnews.com/article/alabama-lawsuits-voting-2020-f2cb7ad8b68bcfe8003d420fbf388be8
APNEWS.COM
Atheist advocacy group sues state over religious voter oath
A group of 20 immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are going on a campaign to garner support for keeping TPS going in the country. This event is the National TPS Alliance's "Road to Justice" tour, which began last week and will continue until the group has traveled in 32 states and 54 cities during the campaign.
TPS began in 1990, and the basic idea is to allow immigrants from certain countries to remain in the United States. This would protect those immigrants from being deported to potentially dangerous countries or areas. The Trump administration has taken actions to dismantle these protective measures against deportation, and some TPS designations will be expiring soon. This includes TPS for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua and Sudan, all of which have not been extended, and are ending as soon as March of 2021.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/coalition-backing-tps-starts-tour-slamming-trump-s-racist-end-n1240711
NBCNEWS.COM
Group backing TPS starts tour slamming Trump's 'racist' end to immigrant protections
The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a new rule that would expand the collection of biometric data for immigrants. Currently, the USCIS may request biometric data from: applicant, petitioner, sponsor, beneficiary, or individual filing a benefit request. The USCIS is expanding this ability to include people "associated with" those who are filing.
The USCIS is also removing age requirements for biometric data collection. Currently, applicants of certain ages are exempt from biometric data collection, which includes children under the age of 14. However, the USCIS is removing that exemption, saying that collecting biometric data on immigrant children will help to combat human trafficking.
https://discuss.ilw.com/articles/articles/395666-article-uscis-wants-to-increase-the-amount-of-biometric-data-it-collects-by-over-60-by-jorge-loweree
DISCUSS.ILW.COM
Article: USCIS Wants To Increase the Amount of Biometric Data It Collects by Over 60% By Jorge Loweree - ILW.COM Discussion Board
Jones Day law firm is now facing a lawsuit that its parental leave policy is discriminatory against biological fathers. The policy provides 18 weeks of paid parental leave to biological mothers and adoptive parents, but 10 weeks of parental leave to biological fathers. The parties are disagreeing over the interpretation of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, as well as the amount of leave that mothers are given, and whether or not that leave should be classified as a general disability.
https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/lawsuit-over-parental-leave-policy-to-continue-against-jones-day
ABAJOURNAL.COM
Lawsuit over parental leave policy will continue against Jones Day
Last night an armed robbery in Brooklyn Park led to residents jumping out of their window. The incident happened on Georgia Avenue at around 10:30PM. After the robbers rushed in to the home, the residents looked for an escape, and fled through the window. The robbers then allegedly fled by a vehicle. The police have yet to identify any suspects, but officials say that their home was specifically targeted by the robbers.
https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/10/09/residents-jump-out-window-after-armed-robbers-enter-brooklyn-park-home/
MINNESOTA.CBSLOCAL.COM
Residents Jump Out Window After Armed Robbers Enter Brooklyn Park Home
A lawsuit accusing the city of San Francisco Police Department of spying on protestors using tapped surveillance cameras has been filed. Plaintiffs cite the 2019 city-wide ban on surveillance technology without prior approval from the city. The police department claims that the use of the cameras was under "exigent circumstances", claiming that the crimes committed during the protests were reason for the police department to access and use the cameras.
https://apnews.com/article/san-francisco-lawsuits-crime-police-racial-injustice-80da6d72658fd15d1f796b043d6ce806
APNEWS.COM
Lawsuit: San Francisco police illegally spied on protesters
Last Thursday, judge Jeffrey White temporarily lifted a ban on H1B, H2B, J, and L visas. The ruling applies only to the parties who sued the Trump administration. These members include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Retailer Association, and the National Association of Manufacturers, among others. Judge White called the ban on work visas by the administration "monarchical".
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/judge-blocks-large-parts-temporary-work-visa-ban-n1241894
NBCNEWS.COM
Judge blocks large parts of temporary work visa ban
The New York Police Department has settled a lawsuit over forcing people who have been arrested to remove religious head covering for mugshots. The lawsuit was filed by two Muslim women who were forced to remove their hijabs for a photograph during booking. The change will take place within 60 days of the lifting of the state of emergency in New York.
https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-new-york-arrests-lawsuits-627fd8d9b4b87271b95dc85e1ee28e84
APNEWS.COM
NYPD to allow religious headgear in mug shots after lawsuit
17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, of Illinois, was charged with causing the shooting death of two protestors in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August. Rittenhouse is also charged with wounding a third person. He faces charges of homicide, attempted homicide, reckless endangerment, and minor possession of a firearm.
Rittenhouse's bail was set at $2 million. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger claims that Rittenhouse "won't come back" if released. John Huber, the father of one victim told the court that Rittenhouse believes he is "above the law". Huber stated that a legal defense fund for Rittenhouse has raised millions of dollars on Rittenhouse's behalf. Additionally, Huber alleges that Rittenhouse has support from multiple groups that may hide him from police if released.
https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-shootings-police-kenosha-illinois-47a83ba85fc45bbf6bbb016cbbdf7516
APNEWS.COM
Bail set at $2M for teen accused in Wisconsin shootings
Under the Trump administration, many Cameroonians seeking asylum were turned away and will be deported. The percentage of Cameroonian asylum cases that are approved has shifted from 80% to 54%. This change is brought about by a higher standard for an asylum claim coupled with new appointments to immigration judge seats. Lawyers who represent Cameroonian asylum seekers say that when Cameroonians are deported, they board "death planes" because of the almost certain death the asylum seekers face upon return to Cameroon.
A case study is included in the linked article, where 35-year-old Justice Bantar was denied asylum. Bantar's attorney says that there is an arrest warrant for him in Cameroon, which could lead to Bantar's execution.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/lawyers-say-deportees-cameroon-would-be-flying-death-planes-n1245565
NBCNEWS.COM
Lawyers say deportees to Cameroon would be flying on "death planes"
The state of Rhode Island has sued 21 fossil fuel companies over damages based on climate change. The suit was based on a Rhode Island law that allows the state to prevent pollution of public property. The state alleges that the fossil fuel companies did not properly inform consumers of the risks of their products. At least two of the companies--Shell and Exxon-Mobil--have argued that the case should be moved to federal court, but a federal appeals court judge ruled the case can continue in Rhode Island state court.
https://apnews.com/article/state-courts-rhode-island-climate-change-statutes-lawsuits-5c1343b44b2ff79dec50f7ae14d691e1
APNEWS.COM
Rhode Island climate change suit remains in state court
A group of 60 people have been charged as a result of a telemarketing scam. More than 150,000 people have been scammed out of about $300 million. The group attacked elderly and vulnerable adults specifically, selling false subscriptions to magazines and making false claims in telemarketing. The charges that were made to the victim's credit cards were an average of $39, but that was repeated over a period of time. Victims include those in Minnesota. If you have a vulnerable adult or senior citizen, be sure to keep them safe from such scams.
https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/10/28/60-charged-in-telemarketing-scam-that-got-300m-from-150000-vulnerable-people/
MINNESOTA.CBSLOCAL.COM
60 Charged In Telemarketing Scam That Got $300M From 150,000 Vulnerable People
This Vox article is a very comprehensive view on the failures of the Obama administration regarding his immigration policies, and how President Biden can improve upon them.
President Biden has acknowledged that he and President Obama "didn't do enough" about immigration in their time in the White House but, at least publicly, aims to correct that during his time in the Oval Office.
VOX.COM
What Biden can learn from Obama’s immigration mistakes
Despite a promise to set up a task force to reunite families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border "on day one," NBC has reported that the task force construction has been delayed.
Sources familiar with the project gave a few reasons, mostly to do with ironing out the details on what to do with immigrants under specific situations. In 2018, the ACLU estimated over 4,000 families were separated under the "zero-tolerance" policy.
NBCNEWS.COM
Biden likely to delay immigration task force and executive orders
In the ongoing legal battles over the death of George Floyd, some evidence has been denied by the judge for use as evidence.
The defense filed a motion to have Floyd's previous arrest admitted into evidence, which the judge denied. The prosecution filed a motion to admit eight of Derek Chauvin's prior acts, but only two were allowed by the judge.
Derek Chauvin is being charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, and his trial is set to begin on March 8th.
MINNESOTA.CBSLOCAL.COM
Judge Denies Motions To Admit Prior George Floyd Arrest As Evidence
It has been reported that two men involved in the Target arson that occurred in August have pleaded guilty.
24-year-old Shador Jackson, of Richfield, and 34-year-old Leroy Williams, of Minneapolis have both pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit arson in relation to the fire at Target's headquarters in Minneapolis last August. They are due to be sentenced in May.
MINNESOTA.CBSLOCAL.COM
2 Plead Guilty To Setting Fires In Target Headquarters During August Unrest In Downtown Minneapolis
In response to President Biden's freeze on immigration deportation for 100 days, the Texas Attorney General has sued the President, seeking a temporary restraining order.
Ken Paxton, the Texas AG, argues that the freeze violates the United States Constitution, arguing that "without emergency relief, Texas faces irreparable harm from having to provide costly educational, social, welfare, healthcare, and other services to illegal aliens who remain in Texas..."
https://www.axios.com/texas-ag-lawsuit-biden-dhs-deportation-immigrant-f1833f95-2e5c-4043-b4ed-f12f3516617e.html
AXIOS.COM
Texas attorney general sues Biden administration over deportation freeze
Vox reported that now-President Biden would send an bill that would involve comprehensive reform of the United States' immigration policies on his first full day in office.
The bill, among other things, outlines a plan to involve a "five-year plan" for undocumented immigrants, who will gain the ability to apply for temporary legal status, and a Green Card after five years of living in the United States, after passing background checks and paying their taxes.
It should be noted that this bill will have to go through committee before reaching a vote in the House of Representatives, and then will have to pass the Senate with a 60-40 vote, before President Biden will be able to sign this reform into law.
VOX.COM
Biden’s sweeping immigration bill, explained