Last Tuesday, President Trump used his presidential pardon power to grant seven pardons and four commutations to 11 individuals out of the 14,000 clemency petitions that currently sit unaddressed in the Justice Department. The clemency orders freed celebrity felons like Rod Blagojevic and Michael Milken. Each recipient had a personal connection to Trump or was promoted and discussed on Fox News, the President’s network of choice.
Read MoreThe World Trade Organization has argued that the Beitbridge OSBP project will reduce the transactional costs of trade, congestion at the border crossing, and enhance operational efficiency. The WTO has thus lauded the decision of the Southern African Development Community, of which South Africa and Zimbabwe are members, to sponsor the project and increase economic integration.
Read MoreRegardless of the causes, the effects of this regime change have been far-reaching. These controversies have intersected with ethnic, class, and religious divides in the country.
Read MoreThe pipeline is being built on land controlled by the Wet’suwet’en First Nation. Leaders of the Wet’suwet’en have largely opposed this construction on their land, but there is not universal agreement among Wet’suwet’en people in opposition to the pipeline. Across the country, numerous protests and blockades began in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en First Nation and to oppose the construction of the pipeline.
Read MoreFrom Dec. 29 to Feb. 16, ten inmates in the Mississippi system have died as a result of altercations between prisoners or of apparent suicides. Activists fear that the death toll will continue to rise without much needed reforms.
Read MoreSilent Sam, a statue of an armed Confederate soldier that once stood on UNC’s campus, has sparked anything but silence since August 2018, when students tore it down during a protest. Since then, the university has been indecisive on the next steps it should take regarding the statue’s remains, if it should continue to exist, and its final resting place, so to speak.
Read MoreAs of now, the race in North Carolina is looking quite competitive, making voting even more important. Polling data indicate a close three person race between Senator Bernie Sanders, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and former Vice President Joe Biden. For weeks, Biden held a commanding lead in the polls, but his popularity has recently dropped significantly, placing him slightly below Sanders and Bloomberg.
Read MoreIn 2016, a grasp of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter propelled Donald Trump to the highest office in the land. The president’s ability to genuinely connect with prospective voters shattered antiquated expectations of a neatly packaged, professional online campaign presence.
Read MoreThese critiques came to a head as what was already viewed by some as a flawed system showed signs of systematic failure. In an attempt to increase transparency, the Iowa Democratic Party allowed precincts to report to Democratic National Committee (DNC) Iowa headquarters in three ways: a now infamous smartphone app, a phone call to headquarters, and paper records to ensure accuracy.
Read MoreIn N.C., failure to pay court fees on time may result in additional fines, increased probation periods, or the suspension of a defendant’s driver’s license. These harsh penalties cause defendants extreme hardship in securing or maintaining employment, making it nearly impossible for them to resolve their debts.
Read MoreIn 2012, a high court’s ruling on states’ rights left millions of indigent people stranded without insurance. A single justice’s vote in favor of an individual mandate forced every citizen to purchase health insurance or pay hundreds of dollars in taxes. Nine unelected judges had the power to render an entire healthcare system plan obsolete with the stroke of a pen.
Read MoreThe Internal Revenue Code prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations from making political donations—and yet the Sons of Confederate Veterans have been doing just that for years, according to a series of articles published by the Daily Tar Heel.
Read MoreRecently, however, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Trump appointee Ben Carson, has been working diligently to strip away protections against discrimination ensured in the FHA. One protection, the “disparate impact” standard, which outlaws discriminatory policies even if there is no proof of explicit racist intent, has been attacked profusely.
Read MoreWhile the plan will need to be negotiated among all parties, it is being called by some a viable plan for establishing peace between Israel and Palestine. The mere fact that a large number of international figures are at least open to considering this plan demonstrates its contention for a real solution.
Read More“Early last week, state Superior Court Judge David Lee signed a court order declaring that the state is not doing enough to ensure that North Carolina students are receiving a sound and basic education. The order directed the state to “work expeditiously and without delay to take all necessary actions” to implement changes.”
Read MoreWith the Senate trial underway, North Carolinians look to see where Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr stand on impeachment. The two senators, both Republicans, are expected to ultimately vote against removing the president from office, but their approaches and attitudes toward the trial have differed thus far.
Read MoreAfter over two years of tariff increases and tense negotiations, a solution now comes into play, even if the solution purely pauses conflict. Phase one is underway, but it is purely a baby step to a long term solution.
Read MoreAs attempts to expand non-renewable energy sectors in North Carolina fail, the state has turned to the sky for a greener, more sustainable answer.
Read More“OK, boomer” stems from TikTok—a short-form video streaming service—in one video where an older man says, “[the] millennials and the Generation Z have the Peter Pan syndrome. They don’t ever want to grow up.” The response from the video’s creator is simple, “OK, boomer,” referring to the Baby Boomer generation.
Read More“Long regarded as the Queen City, it seems as if Charlotte has found itself a new king. With two professional sports teams at his command, a Pittsburgh native has been given the keys to one of the most important aspects of North Carolina’s economy.”
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