Items

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  2022-06-01

  Little Rock and Relief

  This article details the $19 million dollars in aid Arkansas' capital received from the federal government. As part of the American Rescue Plan, many larger cities are receiving direct aid from the federal government and Little Rock previously received $18.8 million in May of 2021. The city has decided to allocate much of the funds to improving public works, renovations, and policing. It is interesting to see just how excessively covid impacted cities and the extreme necessity of federal aid. It is particularly beneficial when state legislatures have failed to provide money for needed refurbishment. However, payouts such as this begs the question: who will pay?
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  2021-10-07

  Exposing Systemic Racism in all Areas

  While some believed the pandemic aid solved food insecurity, that couldn't be further from the truth in black neighborhoods.
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  2021-03-13

  On the Fence

  South Carolina legislation and its residents have always been on the fence about COVID but when senator Lindsey Graham caught it back in March of this year, reality started to settle in. This was a wake up call to southerns and South Carolinians alike to start taking COVID mandates more seriously. I empathized with Graham but also was somewhat grateful that his sickness would be a lesson to others.
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  2021-04-06

  News Article: Gov. Ducey signs COVID-19 liability shield

  By Associated Press Originally Published: April 6, 2021 10:11 a.m. PHOENIX – Gov. Doug Ducey on Monday signed legislation giving businesses, nursing homes and others a broad shield from lawsuits related to COVID-19, making Arizona the latest state to limit liability after the pandemic. Republican lawmakers approved the legislation in party-line votes in the House and Senate last week, saying businesses struggled during the pandemic and shouldn’t have to worry about frivolous lawsuits. The measure was opposed by consumer advocates, who say it will reward bad actors who flouted health guidance and endangered their workers or the public. They say there’s been no deluge of COVID-19 lawsuits. Business and medical groups have pushed hard for a liability shield since the start of the pandemic. The Arizona bill is one of dozens introduced across the country and in Congress. Ducey called for the measure in his State of the State address in January. The bill raises the bar for winning a pandemic-related lawsuits against businesses, health care providers, nursing homes, nonprofits, governments, churches and schools. Instead of proving negligence by a preponderance of the evidence, plaintiffs would have to prove “gross negligence” or “willful misconduct” by clear and convincing evidence.
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  2020-07-02

  "Coronavirus Relief Fund Reporting and Record Retention Requirements"

  "Title VI of the Social Security Act, as amended by Title V of Division A of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 115-136), provides that the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for monitoring and oversight of the receipt, disbursement, and use of Coronavirus Relief Fund payments. Treasury OIG also has authority to recover funds in the event that it is determined a recipient of a Coronavirus Relief Fund payment failed to comply with requirements of subsection 601(d) of the Social Security Act, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 801(d))."
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  2020-05-16

  "Relief Payment Information"

  "The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council has declared a one-time, COVID-19 relief payment will be distributed to all enrolled, exclusive Keetoowah tribal members from the $24 million give to us through the CARES Act. Below are all the forms and steps required to complete the step by step guide to receiving funds."
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  2020-05-15

  "The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes to Provide Tax-Free Emergency Relief to Tribal Members in Response to the COVID-19 pandemic."

  "The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes intends to provide some much needed emergency relief to tribal members in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tribe's Executive Committee adopted a series of laws establishing new oversight infrastructure for its various benefits programs and approving emergency relief payments for tribal members and their families devastated by the COVID-19 crisis."
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  2020-06-24

  Congresswoman DeGette Press Release, Funding for Covid research, bipartisan

  Excerpt from press release: WASHINGTON, D.C. – While coronavirus-related research is now in overdrive, most other research has been slowed down or stopped altogether due to pandemic-induced closures of campuses and laboratories. Now, tens of thousands of graduate students, postdocs, principal investigators and other technical support staff are at risk of losing their employment and their work without federal relief. Additionally, with this research stopped, America may lose the benefits that come with new technologies and scientific insights.
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  2020-06-18

  States Quietly Criminalizing Oil Protests During Covid

  It is infuriating to see so many instances of government taking advantage of Covid-19 in order to enact laws that will backtrack any progress made against fossil fuel industry. But honestly, they have done this before and it wont be the last time.
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  2020-05-27

  Mississippi Band of Choctaws Criminalize Violation of Quarantine to Help Curb Infection

  “The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has amended its Tribal Code to criminalize the act of defying COVID-19 quarantine orders or knowingly exposing fellow citizens in an effort to curb rising statistics on the Reservation. As of Tuesday, there were 307 cases among the Native American community in Neshoba County, representing 57 percent of the total cases here. The Tribe announced late last week that its leaders had amended two existing codes and crafted one new law in an effort to slow the spread. First, the Tribe amended Tribal Code Section 3-3-32 — which made it a crime to knowingly expose someone to tuberculosis — to include COVID-19. That crime carries a penalty of up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $500.”
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  2020-05-29

  Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Council Extends Social Distancing Order

  “The Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Council recognizes continued public health conditions caused by the COVID-19 virus, a communicable disease, require the development of “new normal” conditions until there is a vaccine and/or other measures to bring the disease under control. Additionally, it recognizes an orderly transition from self-isolation requirements to this new normal is in the best interests of the community as it will allow the Tribe to pivot more efficiently for increases in the number of infections based on the re-opening of operations… This order is granted under the Tribal Council’s inherent authority as a native sovereign nation, as well as the authority identified in its Public Health State of Emergency delegation on March 15, 2020, Resolution #044-20, and Chapter 26-A of Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Law, Communicable Disease, Vaccination, and Quarantine Ordinance.” Order expires June 13, 2020.
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  2020-05-25

  Southern Africa: Open letter to SADC: Restrictive COVID-19 regulations presenting concerning ramifications for enjoyment of human rights, including livelihoods

  "Amnesty International in collaboration with Advancing Rights in Southern Africa (ARISA), Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN), Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) are writing this letter to bring to your attention the worrying restrictive COVID-19 regulations presenting concerning ramifications for enjoyment of human rights, including livelihoods. "
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  2020-05-13

  A’uwẽ-Xavante Leaders Denounce Bogus Consultations Regarding 3 Hydroelectric Dams, Demand halt to Commercial Transport on Federal Highways during COVID

  "The lives and cultures of A’uwẽ-Xavante and Boe-Bororo depend on the river’s vitality as well as on the flora and fauna that are also sustained by a healthy river. For this reason, the leaders demand their right to autonomy and independence in constructing the consultation process"
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  2020-05-26

  After a Recent Victory, Indigenous Peoples Face Many Legal Battles in Brazil

  "Their victories include the subsequent demarcation of nearly half of their lands; enactment of Law 11,645 of 2008 which mandates inclusion of Indigenous culture and history in the national educational curriculum; acknowledgment of Indigenous Peoples’ rights to primary education in their native languages; and the growing awareness of Indigenous rights "
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  2020-05-10

  Kansas Politics During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  This pamphlet details both the COVID and non-COVID issues facing the state of Kansas during the global pandemic. Distributed in the spring of 2020 by the office of the Kansas State House Majority Leader, the updates highlight the steps taken by the Kansas legislature to ameliorate the virus's economic effects and includes a questionnaire attempting to gauge voters' opinions on legal marijuana, Medicaid expansion, the virus-induced state budget shortfall, and COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Northeastern JOTPY
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  2020-03-26

  Legislation in Process

  Email from Marriott Owners and Franchise Services aimed at employees of the hospitality industry to inform them of new financial relief packages underway via federal legislation.