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Florida Legislature approves growler law fix

April 30, 2015 | By MARK MILLER

In the last two weeks, the Florida State Senate and House of Representatives both unanimously approved a bill to legalize the 64-ounce growler.  The Legislature made this move after years of failing to fix the law; that ongoing failure hurt the small businesses that make up the exploding craft beer industry. The Legislature finally took action a ...

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Teachers' unions sued for violating First Amendment rights

April 29, 2015 | By MERIEM L. HUBBARD

California teachers’ unions spend millions of dollars on political candidates and initiatives.  That is no secret.   Those dollars, which come from union members’ dues, support democratic candidates and liberal causes, whether or not individual teachers approve of the way the money is spent.  This month, four California teacher ...

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City snaps "ripeness trap" on puppy store’s takings claim

April 29, 2015 | By J. DAVID BREEMER

Most people like golden retriever and other pure-breed puppies. As children, many of us went to pet stores just to view and pet such pups.   But the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, is different.  It has totally banned pet stores, and as a result, it is now embroiled in a constitutional “takings” lawsuit with one store destr ...

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Will the Supreme Court's second Horne decision undermine Williamson County ripeness?

April 29, 2015 | By CHRIS KIESER

One issue that has received little attention following the oral argument in Horne v. United States Department of Agriculture is the question of what the Hornes’ remedy should be if they prevail. Readers will recall that the Supreme Court last Wednesday considered a depression-era law requiring raisin farmers, like plaintiffs Marvin and Laura ...

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EEOC suffers minor setback

April 29, 2015 | By RALPH KASARDA

Today’s Supreme Court decision in Mach Mining, LLC v Equal Employment Opportunity Commission appears to be another minor setback for the EEOC. The EEOC has a statutory duty under Title VII to attempt to eliminate a violation by informal means before it resorts to a lawsuit.  The question in this case was whether a court may review … ...

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Federal Land Action Group launched

April 28, 2015 | By JAMES BURLING

There’s a new push from some of the western members of Congress to de-federalize parts of the West.  Here’s today’s press release from Congressman Bishop and Stewart on the launching of the Federal Land Action Group: … ...

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Requiring professional-looking haircuts is not racial discrimination

April 28, 2015 | By JOSHUA THOMPSON

Think about the following scenario.  A job seeker sees an ad for a sales job.  She has all the correct qualifications.  Her interview goes great.  The business says they want to hire her, but because she will be selling the business to the public, she must get a professional-looking haircut.  The job seeker refuses.  Instead, … ...

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Upcoming PLF-Heritage public event on unconstitutional “Waters of the U.S.” rule

April 28, 2015 | By TODD GAZIANO

On Thursday, Pacific Legal Foundation and The Heritage Foundation are co-sponsoring a panel discussion on a draft regulation that would vastly expand the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ jurisdiction to regulate the nation’s water and land. PLF’s Reed Hopper is one of the panelists. As ...

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Another vote for school choice

April 28, 2015 | By ETHAN BLEVINS

Imagine that your state creates a government-run grocery store chain because food is essential to survival. You don’t pay for your groceries, but your taxes skyrocket. The stores don’t need to compete for profit, so they don’t bother to win you over. Thus, the stench of slimy produce embraces you as you enter, and the milk ...