At Iowa’s Voter ID Law Trial, Lawyers Emphasize Unnecessary Hurdles and Election Integrity
There's Too Much Pot in Oregon ; Bear Finds Spot for Nap in Montana Home ; and More Picks
There's Too Much Pot in Oregon ; Bear Finds Spot for Nap in Montana Home ; and More Picks 6/26
One Trump Tax Cut Was Meant to Help the Poor. A Billionaire Ended Up Winning Big. (Gerry)
From ProPublica: “Opportunity zones are meant to spur new investment in poor areas. But Under Armour’s Kevin Plank is getting a tax break for investments that are not new and not in a poor tract. And Plank’s area was picked over neighborhoods that are actually poor.”
Oregon Has Too Much Cannabis (Chris)
The author writes, “Oregon’s lush climate and weed-tolerant culture have long resulted in large and potent harvests. Seeking to fold black market growers into its budding legal industry, the state has distributed licenses liberally, leaving Oregon saddled with an enormous surplus of legal cannabis — more than its small population of 4 million would ever be able to smoke. Now, Oregon lawmakers are hoping to tackle the problem, with two bills signed into law in the past week: one aimed at curbing excess production and the other seeking to establish new markets to funnel excess weed into.”
Cannabis Found Effective in Fighting Drug-Resistant Bacteria (Chris)
From Courthouse News: “An Australian researcher presented work Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology assessing anti-bacterial properties in cannabidiol, or CBD, a non-psychoactive compound naturally derived from marijuana. Researchers believe CBD could be used to treat common strains of Staphyloccocus aureus and Streptococcus pneumonia that are resistant to many drugs currently on the market.”
Texas Denies Compensation to Wrongfully Convicted Man (Reader Steve)
The author writes, “Even after a special prosecutor and a judge sided with Alfred Dewayne Brown in his quest for ‘actual innocence,’ the state comptroller this week in a surprise move denied the wrongfully convicted former death row prisoner compensation for the 12 years he spent behind bars. The decision comes almost two months after Harris County District Court Judge George Powell signed an amended judgment, formally declaring Brown innocent almost four years after he was freed.”
Bear Enters Montana Home, Settles In for Nap in Closet (Reader Steve)
The author writes, “Missoula County sheriff’s officials say the bear just yawned when deputies knocked on the window and unlocked the door in an attempt to coax it to leave Friday morning.”
