LANSING, Mich - A new Michigan Supreme Court decision means that controversial pandemic-era emergency policies may never face a proper judicial review, and that government officials who issued them will escape accountability.
The court on Nov. 1 dismissed two important cases about the government’s use of emergency powers in response to Covid-19. The majority on the court declared these cases moot because the mandates in question — making children wear masks at school and forcing restaurants to close — are no longer in effect.
The rationale for dismissing these cases is weak. The court notes in its order that a case with “public significance that is likely to recur” should not be considered moot. It’s hard to imagine a public policy more significant to the public than these pandemic mandates. Many of them directly affected the daily lives of the entire state population.
But the Michigan Supreme Court thinks these orders are not likely to be issued again. Here’s hoping they’re correct, but predicting the future is hard. It is important to remember that there is nothing preventing government officials, if they wanted to, from issuing these exact orders tomorrow. There are virtually no restrictions in state law on when these emergency powers may be used. Click here to read more.
WASHINGTON D.C. - The Biden administration was roasted on Sunday after the Department of Health and Human Services celebrated “Pansexual and Panromantic Pride Day” in a social media post.
Republicans ripped into the agency for the post, saying that President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration could not come soon enough. Trump has promised to bring sweeping reform to the federal government and eliminate politically motivated bureaucrats.
“Today on Pansexual and Panromantic Pride Day, everyone deserves to feel seen, respected and supported—no matter who they love,” the HHS posted on X. “Create a world where everyone feels proud to be themselves!” Click here to read more.
DEL RIO, TX - In June, Victor Martinez-Hernandez was charged with the murder of Rachel Morin, a mother of five in Maryland. Police in Oklahoma tracked the accused repeat offender down with a sample of his DNA recovered from a Los Angeles home invasion in which a nine-year-old girl and her mother were assaulted. Police say he came to the U.S. illegally to escape prosecution for at least one other murder in his native El Salvador in December 2022.
“That should never have been allowed to happen,” said Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler, referring to the numerous missed red flags the case presented. His office apprehended Hernandez in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Like the member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua sentenced to life in prison last week for the murder of Laken Riley in Georgia, Hernandez’s case is shining a light on the federal government’s failure to properly vet and keep track of lawless migrants.
These gaps have led to broad claims that illegal immigrants have less involvement with the criminal justice system than native-born Americans. A review of the available data, however, shows that the criminal records of millions of migrants – the ones President-elect Trump vows to prioritize for deportation – remain unknown due to illegal crossings, lax enforcement, and lax data collection by federal and “sanctuary” jurisdictions. Click here to read more.
WASHINGTON D.C. - An ongoing war in Syria has suddenly ended with the overturning of the long-standing Syrian government, creating national security and humanitarian concerns but also threatening global oil markets.
“Russian oil and gas companies have operated in Syria for years adding to the world’s supply. The future of those operations is now in jeopardy,” Daniel Turner, executive director of the energy workers advocacy group, Power the Future, told The Center Square. “This could be a strategic blow for Putin, but these are global commodities, and we are not immune from the price fluctuations.”
So far, gas prices have remained relatively stable, however instability in the Middle East can cause price spikes. However, that instability may already be baked in given the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and Iran’s involvement via proxy terrorist groups.
The average price for a gallon of regular gas is about $3.00, according to AAA, much lower than the spike to $5 per gallon earlier in President Joe Biden’s term. AAA reported last week taht gas prices hit the lowest point in 3 years.
“The national average is tantalizingly close to falling below $3 a gallon, and it could happen in a few days,” Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, said in a statement. “But 32 states already have an average below or well below $3. Hockley County, Texas, appears to have the lowest county average, at $2.30. Click here to read more.
CHICAGO, IL - Illinois saw the third-highest rate of residents moving out in 2024 based on a survey by Atlas Van Lines. Jobs and taxes are among the top reasons people leave Illinois, which is also third in the nation for highest unemployment rate.
New numbers show more Illinoisans packed their bags for good in 2024.
Illinois is third in the nation for residents leaving by percentage, according to a survey by moving company Atlas Van Lines. Illinoisans packing up and finding a new state were 57% of total migration, the third-highest percentage behind California and Louisiana.
IRS data shows 56% of Illinoisans moving out make more than $100,000, the people with the greatest capacity to leave. And they also took $8.8 billion in income with them, too, usually to lower-tax states. A lot of the outmigration comes from Chicago, which is at its lowest population since 1920.
Illinoisans leaving the state don’t have to go far for lower-tax destinations. More than 20,000 of the residents migrating out of Illinois went to another midwest state, so they must be leaving for reasons besides the weather.
Illinois is also third in the nation for highest unemployment rate and total population loss. Illinois’ population shrunk by 87,311 people in 2022 based on the most recent IRS data. New data is expected this month for 2023.
Illinois also has the second-highest property tax rate, corporate income tax rate and gas tax rate on top of gloomy population patterns. Click here to read more.
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