Penn Renewables, LLC v. PA PUC - Administrative Law

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania affirmed a Public Utility Commission order approving a modified default service plan for UGI Utilities, Inc. The court reviewed the commission's adoption of a recommended decision that authorized a settlement for UGI's default service plan, impacting electricity supply procurement and rate design.

R.M. Heiligman v. PA Dept. of Ag. - RTKL Opinion

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania affirmed a Final Determination by the Office of Open Records denying a Right-to-Know Law request. The request sought necropsy records for animals from the Brandywine Zoo, which the Department of Agriculture had partially denied.

Allegheny County v. W. Towne - Election Ballot Access

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that voted absentee and mail-in ballots are public records accessible under the Right-to-Know Law. This decision reverses a lower court's order that had limited access to ballots from the 2022 primary election.

NY Health Urges Colorectal Cancer Screening for Adults Under 50

The New York State Department of Health is urging adults aged 45 and older to undergo colorectal cancer screening, as it is now a leading cause of cancer death for those under 50. The department highlights that screening can prevent or detect the cancer early, and aims to improve current screening rates.

USTR Launches Section 301 Investigations on Forced Labor Imports

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has initiated Section 301 investigations into 60 major trading partners to determine if they are effectively banning imports of goods produced with forced labor. The USTR is seeking public comment and will hold hearings on the matter.

US Drafts AI Chip Export Controls

The US is reportedly drafting new export control regulations for AI chips, which would implement a tiered licensing system based on computing power. These draft rules aim to position the US as a gatekeeper for the global AI industry and could impose significant pre-clearance requirements for high-volume exports.

Iowa Supreme Court Opinion on Fictive Kin Placement

The Iowa Supreme Court vacated a lower court decision regarding the placement of a minor child with fictive kin. The court ruled that the fictive-kin relationship must predate the child's removal from parental custody, reversing a prior judgment that allowed placement with respite caregivers who did not meet this criterion.

Iowa Supreme Court Rules on Minor Child Placement with Respite Providers

The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's decision to place a minor child with respite care providers identified as fictive kin, rather than with relatives. The court also upheld the respite providers' intervention in the proceedings. This ruling clarifies placement decisions in child-in-need-of-assistance cases.

State of Iowa v. Christopher Joseph Hidlebaugh - Sentence Vacated

The Iowa Supreme Court vacated the sentence of Christopher Joseph Hidlebaugh, remanding the case for resentencing. The court found that the defendant's imprisonment, resulting from his inability to meet a financial obligation in a plea agreement despite good faith efforts, rendered his sentence unconstitutional.

State of Iowa v. Christopher Joseph Hidlebaugh - Sex Offender Registry Violation

The Iowa Supreme Court denied further review in the case of State of Iowa v. Christopher Joseph Hidlebaugh, concerning a sex offender registry violation. The appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeals for lack of jurisdiction.