Hearing on North Carolina ultrasound law to be held today

A judge in Greensboro will today hear a lawsuit filed against North Carolina’s ultrasound law.

Former congressman Tancredo solicits support for Alabama immigration law

As Alabama has supplanted Arizona as the state with the strictest immigration laws, it’s no surprise that it is also gathering supporters and opponents from all over the world. The latest out of state group to weigh in is Colorado’s Team America, led by former congressman Tom Tancredo.

Drug testing welfare recipients is a net loss for Florida

According to the latest numbers from Florida’s new welfare drug testing requirements, the state is currently spending more money on drug testing welfare applicants than it is saving money by denying benefits to those applicants who fail the test.

N.C. ultrasound law challenged by ACLU, Planned Parenthood

Last week a coalition of civil rights and reproductive rights advocates filed a lawsuit against the state of North Carolina’s law requiring abortion providers to show women an ultrasound and describe the images in detail four hours before having an abortion, even if the woman does not want to see More…

Florida’s new restrictions on judicial bypass for parental notification of abortion now in effect

Civil rights groups appeal Alabama immigration decision, effects of the law already underway

Civil and immigrant rights groups have expressed outrage about a federal judge’s decision to allow many of the provisions of Alabama’s new immigration enforcement law to go into effect. However, the groups have already filed an appeal with the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and expect a preliminary decision very More…

Gary Johnson, Ron Paul criticize killing of alleged terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki by U.S. drone attack

The drone attacks that killed Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen have sparked renewed talks of due process for U.S. born citizens alleged to have been involved in terrorist activity.

Awlaki was born in New Mexico, and two presidential candidates, along with a host of civil liberties writers, More…

Questions about Iowa Family Leader division’s use of taxpayer funds remain

The Iowa Family Policy Center, a division of The Family Leader, did not comply with federal-grant protocol when it relinquished the last year of federal funding it received for a controversial marriage-counseling program, according to documents obtained by The Independent under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

At More…

Judge rules in two of three lawsuits against Ala. immigration law, blocks some provisions

In response to two lawsuits, one of which was brought by the U.S. Justice Department, a federal judge has blocked parts of the Alabama immigration enforcement law, while letting other parts go into effect. A third lawsuit challenging the law, which was brought by the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law More…

Florida Catholic Conference’s ‘Offenses Against Unborn Children’ bill introduced in state Legislature

State legislators have introduced a new bill that has been popular among anti-abortion advocates for years. The bill would redefine the death of a “viable fetus” as the death of an “unborn child,” and would also change laws for vehicular manslaughter involving a pregnant woman.