November 28, 2017

House to use untested policy in sexual harassment inquiry of Rep. Shooter

A draft policy on sexual harassment is now the blueprint for an Arizona House investigation of allegations nine women have made against Rep. Don Shooter, R-Yuma.

The policy House Speaker J.D. Mesnard released on October 30 to solicit feedback is now being put through the ultimate test of its effectiveness.

The policy is by no means perfect. Mesnard, R-Chandler, acknowledged as much when he sent it to all House lawmakers and staff. But that leaves questions unanswered about the investigative process, the bulk of which will be conducted by outside counsel, attorney Craig Morgan.

Morgan has experience investigating legislative wrongdoing, having served as special counsel on a House Ethics Committee investigation into the behavior of former Rep. Daniel Patterson in 2012.

Read more: http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2017/11/24/house-to-use-untested-policy-in-sexual-harassment-inquiry-of-rep-shooter/

November 28, 2017

Parents of mentally ill plead for expanded services at Arizona State Hospital

Read more: http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2017/11/24/parents-of-mentally-ill-plead-for-expanded-services-at-arizona-state-hospital/

November 28, 2017

Wearing mask in public to become illegal under proposed law

Thinking of wearing a Trump mask to a political demonstration?

A chicken suit to a protest?

Or even fake nose and glasses to a public event?

A proposed new law could send you to prison for a year — and a dozen times longer if you or someone else at the event was involved in property damage.

Legislation crafted by Rep. Jay Lawrence, R-Scottsdale, would make it a felony to wear any sort of disguise to evade recognition or identification in the commission of any public offense.

But HB 2007 goes even farther. Masks and costumes also would be illegal at civil protests, political events or even any “public event.”

Read more: http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2017/11/27/wearing-mask-in-public-to-become-illegal-under-proposed-law/

November 28, 2017

Meghan McCain Marries Conservative Pundit Accused of Plagiarism

Meghan McCain officially tied the knot with conservative pundit Ben Domenech — a man known for getting tangled up in a plagiarism scandal.

People broke the news that the conservative The View co-host got hitched at the McCain family ranch in Sedona just before sunset on Tuesday. McCain's father, Senator John McCain, gave the bride away, according to the report.

Domenech, now 35, worked for three days as a conservative blogger for the Washington Post over 10 years ago. He quit before he could be fired after allegations of instances in which it appeared he'd lifted original passages of text from other authors, the Washington Post reported at the time.

One notable instance of this included a passage in the New York Press that looked to be copied from the Washington Post itself, the New York Times points out.

Read more: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/meghan-mccain-marries-conservative-pundit-accused-of-plagiarism-9893543

November 28, 2017

Federal Bitcoin Case Against Brain Scientist Peter Steinmetz Falls Apart

Federal prosecutors filed a motion last week to dismiss charges of illegal bitcoin trading against Tempe brain scientist and gun-rights activist Peter Steinmetz.

A judge is expected to approve the motion soon, which will have the effect of dropping the case and most of the forfeiture proceedings against Steinmetz, according to his lawyer, Lee Stein.

Prosecutors filed the motion a few weeks after Stein introduced evidence that showed Steinmetz had repeatedly told an undercover agent that he wasn't interested in doing anything illegal.

According to a transcript of a meeting between between Steinmetz and the agent posing as a Russian buyer, the negotiation went like this:

Read more: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-brain-scientist-beats-back-charges-of-illegal-bitcoin-sales-9889546

November 28, 2017

Dreamers Are Taking Bigger Risks to Get the Attention of Congress

The tug of war between Republicans and Democrats over the Clean Dream Act continues as nearly 28,000 Arizona Dreamers shout from the sidelines.

As the December 8 deadline nears, their voices are getting louder, their protests are getting larger and their actions may be getting riskier.

Advocates and Dreamers are asking Congress to pass a bipartisan Dream Act that would allow undocumented immigrants who entered the country before they were 18 and have lived in the U.S. for four years to apply for permanent legal status.

"I felt like my heart just led me to say you need to do this." — Belen Sisa

The catch is, Democrats and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) allies insist that this act cannot be muddled with spending for increased border control or funding to build Trump's infamous wall.

Read more: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/dreamers-are-taking-bigger-risks-to-get-the-attention-of-congress-9893435

November 27, 2017

UT opens new office in Mexico City, forms new partnership

UT expanded its international sphere of influence in Mexico earlier this month with the opening of an office in Mexico City as well as a new research partnership with a top Mexican university.

The new office and partnership are the latest in a long history of collaboration and shared research between UT and Mexican educational and scientific institutions. UT researchers have worked with those in Mexico on various projects for more than 50 years, according to a press release. The two additions were announced one day apart, on Nov. 16 and 17.

Working with scholars in Mexico will help UT researchers gain vital perspectives in attempts to tackle common issues, UT President Gregory Fenves said in a press release.

“For decades, UT has worked closely with Mexican scholars, as well as with public and private sector stakeholders on educational programs and research,” Fenves said. “By opening (the Mexico City office), the University plans to become an even closer partner with Mexico, building on existing relationships and developing new ones to expand opportunities in education and research.”

Read more: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2017/11/26/ut-opens-new-office-in-mexico-city-forms-new-partnership

November 27, 2017

Supreme Court won't take Texas case over student-led prayer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is leaving in place a court ruling that a Texas school board can open its meetings with student-led public prayers without running afoul of the Constitution's prohibition against government-established religion.

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to take a case challenging the ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans.

A three-judge panel of that court earlier this year said a lower court was correct to dismiss a lawsuit against the Birdville Independent School District over its practice of beginning meetings with a statement from a student that is usually a prayer.

The suit was filed by the American Humanist Association and a graduate of Birdville High School.

http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/valley/supreme-court-won-t-take-texas-case-over-student-led/article_d2a064de-d391-11e7-99cb-db63141ef783.html
(short article)

November 27, 2017

A&M's firing of football coach Kevin Sumlin means another big buyout for a Texas school

by Matthew Watkins, Texas Tribune

Texas A&M University football coach Kevin Sumlin may have had his pride wounded when he was fired this weekend. But financially, he'll be no worse off.

Thanks to a raise and contract extension awarded to him in 2013, Sumlin is still entitled to the $10 million he would have been paid if he hadn't been fired by A&M, according to his employment contract.

That means Sumlin will join the ranks of several other coaches from Texas who will be paid millions by state schools not to lead their teams anymore.

According to his contract, Sumlin earned a base salary of $5 million per year. His deal entitled him to all that pay through the end of his contract — Dec. 31, 2019 — unless he was fired "with cause" for some kind of criminal or NCAA rules violation. Sumlin was accused of no wrongdoing when he was dismissed; he simply didn't win enough games.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2017/11/27/texas-am-kevin-sumlin-entitled-10-million-buyout-after-his-firing/

November 27, 2017

Push to limit local control could hurt state colleges, leaders say

State college leaders say a bill aimed at reducing waste and duplication between Florida’s higher education institutions could hamstring their ability to meet local demands for graduates with bachelors degrees.

The proposal, which cleared a preliminary vote in a Senate subcommittee meeting last week, would cap the percentage of state college students enrolled in baccalaureate degree programs, transfer oversight to a community college board and rename the state colleges, which would once again be known as community colleges.

“It’s going to have a huge impact,” Seminole State President Ann McGee said. “One of our strengths has always been the local control piece, where we can meet local needs. If you have a state board that then has control over that, your ability to respond to local workforce needs is going to be very hindered.”

Higher education reform has been a priority of Senate President Joe Negron, who championed a bill during the last session that contained many of the same proposals. Gov. Rick Scott vetoed the bill, saying he thought it would “impede” progress at state colleges, partly because it limited their ability to offer four-year degrees.

Read more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-state-college-proposal-20171121-story.html