Property rights are one of the most fundamental constitutional provisions that protect Americans against government abuse. Unfortunately, these rights are regularly under assault by state and local tax collectors who aggressively target homeowners who have fallen behind on their property tax payments. Constant vigilance is necessary to protect property owners against any government encroachments on…
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“As California Goes, So Goes the Nation, Alas.” That was a headline from a Los Angeles Times opinion column from April 1989, which noted that, even though “Californians have long considered their state the cutting edge of social and political change… [it] no longer seems the vanguard of political innovation. Other states rarely look to…
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — flagrantly violating that country’s sovereignty and the rights of its people — has many wondering: Does Russia belong on the United Nations’ Security Council, or in the UN at all? There’s debate over whether the UN Charter could allow for Russia’s expulsion. Technically, a member can be expelled by a…
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Have you caught Wordle fever? This clever daily word puzzle in the New York Times became a fad very quickly. It is fun and easy and requires an open mind in order to see the possibilities for the daily word. Keeping a flexible mind is not always easy. Author Robert Ludlum wrote, “Blessed are the flexible…
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Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is eminently qualified for the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is heavy now with academics and court of appeals judges: what it misses is the eight years as a trial judge that Judge Jackson provides. The experience of seeing cases actually tried is especially important in criminal law. The…
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The budget that Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed in January totals $286.5 billion — big money by anyone’s measure — and likely to grow because state revenues continue to surpass expectations. However, as large as the budget may be, it still understates the full extent of state spending because it excludes an under-the-table way of spending…
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LOS ANGELES — For the first time in two years, the Academy Awards are rolling out the red carpet at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre for what the film academy hopes will be a back-to-normal Oscars. Except for all the stuff that’s changed. The telecast for the 94th Academy Awards will begin, as usual, at 5…
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Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office released a preliminary “forensic medical study” Saturday following the death of Foo Fighters’ drummer Taylor Hawkins. The report said a urine toxicology test was carried out on Hawkins and 10 substances were found, including THC, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opioids. It added, “The National Institute of Forensic Medicine continues the medical…
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As a veteran point guard, Kyle Lowry was added by the Miami Heat in the offseason to put people in the right places. Now, with seven games remaining in the regular season, he routinely finds himself attempting to put the team’s struggles into perspective. And just like his team’s three shot-clock violations in Saturday night’s…
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By The Associated Press LVIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law restricting the reporting on troop and military equipment movement unless such information has been announced or approved by the military general staff. The state news agency Ukrinform reported Sunday that the law calls for potential prison terms of three to…
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