Clearing the Air: The Need for Federal Limits on Private Jet Usage

Posted on November 6, 2024Categories environmental regulation, Transportation

As the planet grapples with the alarming effects of climate change, a glaring disparity emerges: while everyday Americans are held accountable for their environmental impact, the ultra-wealthy continue to fly under the radar in their private jets. This contradiction highlights the urgent need for change in the approach to private air travel and its contribution to global warming. If society truly cares about the planet’s future, regulatory bodies need to stop turning a blind eye and hold those who are contributing to the same standard.
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Have a Safe Trip: How Psychedelic Therapy in Oregon and Colorado Could Guide National Legalization

Posted on November 1, 2024Categories Drugs & Devices

As the mental health crisis continues to challenge the United States, the need for innovative treatments is becoming increasingly evident. Psychedelic therapy, using substances like psilocybin and MDMA, is gaining attention as a promising approach to treating conditions such as post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Oregon and Colorado have pioneered the movement toward legalizing psychedelics for therapeutic use, and their progressive policies have the potential to provide a roadmap for the rest of the country. The question arises: should the entire U.S. follow in their footsteps? Oregon and Colorado’s frameworks could serve as a model for other states seeking to legalize psychedelics in therapeutic settings.
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Chicago’s One System Initiative: Merging the Homelessness and Forced Migration Response Services

Posted on November 1, 2024Categories Compliance Spotlight

Since August 2022, Chicago has seen a record influx of new arrivals, with nearly 47,000 individuals seeking asylum in Illinois from the southern U.S. border. In response to this surge of new Chicagoans, the city and state launched the One System Initiative, an ambitious effort to integrate the systems serving Chicagoans experiencing homelessness and new arrivals. By aligning resources and streamlining services, the initiative aims to enhance the city’s overall homeless response system. Such integration must also comply with various federal, state, and local regulations concerning eligibility requirements, funding restrictions, and documentation demands.
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The End of the ‘No Fund League’: NFL Allows Private Equity Fund Team Ownership

Posted on October 31, 2024Categories Athletic Regulation, Sports

On August 22, 2024, the owners of the National Football League (NFL) teams voted to allow private equity funds to purchase ownership in the teams with 31 out of the 32 team owners voting in favor of the change. Critics of the change raise concerns that private equity investments will cause teams to more aggressively prioritize profit over quality, leading to a poorer fan experience. However, the league has drafted the change with appropriate safeguards to limit the influence of private equity owners while still achieving the goal of increasing funds available to teams to promote stability and growth throughout the league.
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How America’s Drinking Water Crisis Impacts Chicagoans

Posted on October 31, 2024Categories EPA, health

The movement to remove and replace lead pipes is nothing new in the United States. For decades, parts of the country have been working to get rid of lead pipes and replace them with alternatives that are much safer for human health. Progress, however, has generally been slow and lead pipes remain widely in use in many American cities. Earlier this month, President Biden announced the final deadline as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, giving the whole country ten years to expedite the process of removing and replacing all lead pipes.

Bars and Barriers: DHS Proposed Rule Permits Application of Mandatory Bars During Credible Fear Screenings

Posted on October 30, 2024Categories Regulation

On May 13, 2024 the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking which would allow asylum officers (“AOs”) to consider the applicability of certain mandatory bars to asylum and statutory withholding of removal during credible fear screenings. The proposed rule has garnered significant support and opposition from several groups and organizations, but it marks an unprecedented change to the asylum-seeking process that could create additional barriers to relief for asylum seekers. 
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Upcoming SEC Turmoil: What It Means for the Cryptocurrency Industry

Posted on October 25, 2024Categories Cryptocurrency, SEC

The early October resignation of Gurbir Grewal, the Director of the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sent ripples of (false) hope through the cryptocurrency industry. Grewal played a key role in shaping the SEC’s enforcement agenda; although his departure will likely not alter the SEC’s approach to digital assets, the upcoming election may affect the cryptocurrency industry’s interests.
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Will Chicago’s Northwest Side Ordinance Protect Affordable Housing Along “The 606”?

Posted on October 24, 2024Categories Regulation

On September 19th, 2024, the Chicago City Council passed the Northwest Side Housing Preservation Ordinance “Northwest Side Ordinance” by a vote of 44-3. The ordinance is designed to fight gentrification and preserve affordable housing in a set area near “The 606” recreation trail that includes parts of the Avondale, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Logan Square and West Town neighborhoods. The DePaul Institute for Housing Studies found that, between 2013 and 2018, communities on the western end of The 606 lost almost 60% of their two to six flat buildings. To address this, Chicago City Council passed two ordinances in 2021 that changed zoning regulations to reduce displacement in both Pilsen and communities near The 606. These regulations proved to be very successful in slowing demolitions and deconversions within the boundaries of the study area and resulted in the permanent Northwest Side ordinance passed by City Council last month.
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$47 for the 47th Presidency: Musk Tests Super PAC Limits with Payouts for Swing State Voter Referrals

Posted on October 23, 2024Categories Elections

On October 7, 2024, Elon Musk’s pro-Trump Super PAC, America PAC, announced it would disburse $47 payments to residents of certain swing states who refer other swing state voters to sign a petition pledging support for the First and Second Amendments. Musk said on his social media platform, X, “ For every person you refer who is a swing state voter, you get $47! Easy money.” Eligibility is limited to registered voters in seven key battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Musk’s goal is to reach 1 million signatures, which would amount to $47 million in payments to signatories.
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Regulatory Framework for Airline Mergers: Recent Scrutiny by Regulators Leads to Splitting Antitrust Decisions by the DOJ and DOT

Posted on October 23, 2024Categories Antitrust, Transportation

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines’ proposed $1.9 billion merger has survived litigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) following recent scrutiny of airlines by regulators. Earlier this year, a federal judge blocked the $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines by JetBlue due to antitrust concerns. The DOJ successfully blocked the acquisition by arguing it would stifle competition and raise prices for consumers. The Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger managed to survive an inquiry by the DOT leading to split decisions by regulators.
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