The Future of Our Private Prisons

The Future of Our Private Prisons by Jim Caton http://photos.gograph.com/thumbs/CSP/CSP992/k12902504.jpg Hillary Clinton’s recent vow to end privatized prisons and immigrant detention centers and her renunciation of contributions from firms such as GEO Group and Corrections Corporation of America amount to yet another insult added to the fatal injuries long since sustained by American liberalism. The


FDA Delays Review of Collegium’s Abuse-Deterrent Opioid Xtampza

Despite the dosing concerns, however, the advisory panel voted 23-0 in favor of recommending Xtampza for approval. The FDA generally follows the advice of advisory panels, although it is not obligated to do so. While the FDA stated days prior to the panel meeting that Collegium’s packaging should contain a clearer warning about the dosing issue, it did not explicitly state that approval was contingent on labeling improvements.


6th Circuit Issues Major Setback for EPA’s Clean Water Rule

The 2-1 panel decision in favor of the attorneys general of 18 states follows a similar ruling issued in late August in North Dakota federal court in a separate lawsuit involving 13 states. That stay was ordered a day before the rule was to have gone into effect. The most recent ruling, which was a consolidated appeal of four separate lawsuits by the states and other interest groups, greatly expands the geographically-limited North Dakota decision and instead blocks the majority of the country from the Obama-led initiative.


Will Outcry over Iran’s Conviction of Jason Rezaian Move Obama to Act?

Despite the grim news, the conviction may actually increase the odds for a diplomatic solution. Late last month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani strongly indicated the desire for a prisoner swap. Currently, 19 Iranians are being held within the U.S. for violating its sanctions policy against Iran. In an interview with CNN’s Christine Amanpour, Rouhani said “If the Americans take the appropriate steps and set them [Iranians held in the U.S.] free, certainly the right environment will be open and the right circumstances will be created for us to do everything within our power and our purview to bring about the swiftest freedom for the Americans held in Iran as well.” Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters Sunday night “I have yet to hear directly from the Iranians on anything direct,” adding that, “We’ve had some conversations but … we’ll wait and see where we are.”


User Groups, Congressman push E-Free Act to Revoke PMA Status for Bayer’s Essure

Congressman Fitzpatrick’s law simply reads: “Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 8 of this Act, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall issue an order under section 515(e) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360e(e)) withdrawing approval for Essure System.” Essure Problems is also asking others who have experienced complications from the device to also send their Representatives this letter (which is provided in Word Doc. Format at the bottom of the page).


Is it Paul Ryan or Bust for House Speaker?

It appears that there is no viable candidate that could possibly satisfy the 42-member far-right Freedom Caucus or the Tea Party, and still garner the 218 votes needed for election without requiring the help of Democrat votes. The Freedom Caucus, who backed conservative Floridian Daniel Webster, essentially pushed McCarthy to drop out of consideration. There is one ‘non-candidate,’ however, who looks poised to deliver the GOP from its internal division, having the consensus support of nearly the entire Republican Party: former vice-presidential nominee and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI).


Former Chicago Public School CEO to Plead Guilty on Bribery Charges

In addition to the offending parties, the investigation, which is still ongoing, raises questions into the conduct of the Emanuel administration. Speaking of the charges Thursday following and awards banquet, the mayor said that he was “both disappointed (and) saddened by the details around the charges.” Emanuel added, “I think when people serve the public, they should uphold the trust the public puts in them. At least based on the details around the charges, that wasn’t the case here.” Nobody from the administration was subpoenaed during the investigation according to spokesperson Kelly Quinn; but given the connection between Solomon, who also helped recommend Jean-Claude Brizard, who Byrd-Bennett succeeded, as Emanuel’s first CPS CEO in 2011, speculation of foreknowledge remains high.


CFPB to Propose Forced Arbitration Changes

The proposed regulation would not completely ban the practice in its entirety, but instead force to add a section that states that the arbitration procedures do not apply if a complaint has been certified by a judge for class-action litigation. Codrary said about the provision, “Under this proposed approach, consumers would again get their day in court to hold companies accountable for potential wrongdoing. We think that’s quite important.” The rule would also require companies to publicly post which claims have been brought to arbitration and the awards issued.



Fantasy Football ‘Brothels’ Exposed!

The scandal erupted on September 27th after Draft Kings mid-level content manager Ethan Haskell inadvertently revealed data regarding what players were on many of the site’s participants’ rosters. The next day, Haskell finished second in a million-dollar FanDuel contest, netting $350,000. Although both companies released a joint statement insisting that they both have strict fraud control mechanisms to prevent impropriety by employees, the companies will continue to investigate the matter. Draft Kings released a statement to Forbes late Monday saying that Mr. Haskell’s FanDuel fantasy picks were locked in at 1:00pm on the 27th, meaning he could not edit his roster, and that the data breach occurred at 1:40, meaning that the data could not have influenced his picks.