Lifeline and Link Up Reform for Low-Income Digital Access

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a proposed rule to reform and modernize the Lifeline and Link Up programs, which provide subsidies for low-income consumers to access telecommunications services. The FCC seeks comment on ensuring program benefits reach eligible Americans, protecting funding from waste, fraud, and abuse, and streamlining compliance requirements for service providers. Comments are due May 4, 2026, with reply comments due June 2, 2026.

Consob blocks 32 illegal websites for financial services

CONSOB ordered the blocking of 32 websites offering illegal financial services in Italy—10 for unauthorized investment services and 22 for crypto-asset services. This brings the total to 1,654 websites blocked since July 2019, when the regulator was granted blocking authority. The enforcement action relies on the Decreto Crescita and EU MiCAR regulation.

Analysis of Trump Tariffs One Year After Liberation Day

The Tax Foundation published a podcast analysis examining the outcomes of the Trump administration's 'reciprocal' tariffs announced on April 2, 2025 (Liberation Day) one year later. The analysis evaluates whether the promised investment boom, revenue generation, debt reduction, and lower prices materialized. This is informational research content, not a regulatory action.

CFTC Sues States to Reaffirm Exclusive Jurisdiction Over Prediction Markets

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed lawsuits against Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois challenging state actions that restrict prediction market activities by CFTC-registered designated contract markets. The suits seek declaratory and injunctive relief to reaffirm CFTC's exclusive jurisdiction over event contracts under the Commodity Exchange Act. The CFTC is defending its regulatory authority against what it characterizes as overzealous state regulators attempting to impose inconsistent obligations on market participants.

Hedge Fund Manager Swap Valuation Fraud Enforcement

The CFTC obtained a federal court order granting summary judgment against James R. Velissaris, former hedge fund manager of Infinity Q Capital Management LLC, for a multi-year swap valuation fraud scheme. Velissaris was ordered to pay $2.2 million in civil monetary penalties and permanently barred from CFTC-regulated markets and trading. The scheme inflated fund net asset values through manual adjustments to independent pricing systems, resulting in over $125 million in excess fees to investors.

Marriage of Granquist - Divorce Property Division and Maintenance

The Colorado Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the district court's judgment in Granquist v. Granquist (No. 25CA0715), a dissolution of marriage proceeding. The appellate court reversed the property division and maintenance portions of the permanent orders and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with its opinion. Division VII issued the decision on April 2, 2026.

Peo v. Aragon - Second Degree Assault Conviction Reversed

The Colorado Court of Appeals reversed David Cristobal Aragon's second degree assault conviction and remanded for a new trial. The appellate court held the district court committed plain error by failing to define "harm" in the jury instructions under section 18-3-203(1)(h), C.R.S. Applying the Plemmons v. People standard, the court found sufficient evidence supported the convictions, so double jeopardy does not bar retrial.

Peo v. Toler-Anderson - Criminal Conviction Affirmed

The Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed the second degree murder conviction of Paris Toler-Anderson (Docket No. 23CA0176). Division VI rejected the defendant's claims of evidentiary error under CRE 404(b), prosecutorial misconduct, and cumulative trial errors. The defendant was residing at a community corrections facility when the underlying events occurred. The decision is non-precedential under C.A.R. 35(e).

Peo v. Albat - Criminal Postconviction Appeal

The Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of Corey Ray Albat's Crim. P. 35(c) motion for postconviction relief in his first-degree murder conviction. The defendant appealed the district court's decision, arguing ineffective assistance of counsel regarding trial strategy on self-defense and intoxication defenses.

Marriage of Scott - Divorce Property Division

The Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed the Weld County District Court's permanent orders in the dissolution of marriage proceeding between Toni Scott and Larry Scott (Case No. 25CA0440). The appellate court upheld the trial court's judgment regarding property division, including interests in the Rhoades Farm and associated mineral rights, following husband's appeal. Division V affirmed in a non-precedential opinion.