Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) sent messages to all members of Congress terminating their positions, stating “Your performance has not been adequate to justify further employment.” All Democratic and independent members of Congress, as well as two Republicans, found themselves locked out of their offices after everything inside had been confiscated.   read more

The aim of soda tax has been to reduce consumption of sugary drinks, said to cause increases in obesity and diabetes. But the message has been a tough political sell. Soda tax proposals, fought by the soda industry as nanny-state excess, have failed. This new soda tax pitch isn’t for the nanny state; it’s for the needy state. Governments are starting to think of soda taxes as the next sin tax — an untapped source of revenue that could help with other things.   read more

The IRS says it prevented $24.2 billion in payments to identity thieves in 2013...but paid $5.8 billion in federal returns later determined to be fraudulent. The GAO study called such scams a "large, continually evolving threat that is costing taxpayers billions of dollars per year." Commissioner Dan Bork said he understands the public might find it frustrating that their returns could be delayed, but "we would rather protect their refund than have it end up in the hands of criminals."   read more

Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington are among the states with active "Fight for $15" efforts, and even economic experts who oppose the increased rate see it gaining momentum. "In the beginning, it looked impossible," said Alvin Major, a fast-food worker and leader of the Fight for $15 campaign. But now, "what happened in New York, in California, it's going to spread around the country."   read more

All 50 states had joined the FTC in a complaint against four cancer charities, saying they wasted and misused $187 million in charitable contributions. Each of the charities claimed to directly support people with cancer - saying donation dollars bought patients medications, transportation to doctors and hospice care. The government said none of the organizations provided any such services. Instead, they went to "fund someone's lavish lifestyle."   read more

When the three officials who oversee the Texas Railroad Commission were searching for a new executive director, they turned to a former oil and gas executive. And when they needed a new chief lawyer, they selected a former coal company counsel. The moves typify a well-worn path from the oil and gas industry to the highest levels of the Commission. Many former agency employees are even advocating for companies they once regulated. Not surprisingly perhaps, the ties are mirrored in policy.   read more

The highest-ranking naval official charged in a bribery scandal has been sentenced to 46 months in prison for sharing classified information in return for prostitutes and luxury gifts. "[Dusek's] betrayal is the most distressing because the Navy placed so much trust, power and authority in his hands. This is a fitting sentence for a man who was so valuable that his conspirators labeled him their 'golden asset,'" said attorney Duffy. The judge said he "potentially jeopardized national security."   read more

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that 500,000 to a million people will lose benefits this year. Many unemployed childless adults with low incomes, most between 18 and 49 years old, could be cut off, starting this month. Food policy expert Dorothy Rosenbaum said that people could be particularly hard hit in Southern and Southeastern states, including Arkansas, Florida and Mississippi. Food policy experts see no immediate prospect that Congress will extend any relief.   read more

The purchases totaling about 14,000 acres enable the Saudis to take advantage of farm-friendly U.S. water laws. The acquisitions have also rekindled debate over whether a patchwork of regulations and court rulings in the West favors farmers too heavily, especially those who grow thirsty, low-profit crops such as alfalfa at a time when cities are urging people to take shorter showers, skip car washes and tear out grass lawns.   read more

Concerns about corruption and child-trafficking have prompted the U.S. to suspend adoptions from several countries in recent years, including Vietnam and Cambodia. "The absolute reality is that unadopted children are the most likely to be trafficked," Johnson wrote. "There are tens of thousands of Americans...who want to open their hearts and homes to children... [Many countries] are begging the U.S. for help establishing intercountry adoption programs — and the U.S. has been slow to respond."   read more

The federal inquiry began in 2011 after allegations of police brutality and false arrests. Three years later, the Justice Dept issued a blistering 49-page report documenting findings including that 75% of pedestrian stops weren't justified and that minorities were stopped more often than whites. Additionally, the use of force by officers was underreported and revealed a pattern of theft of citizens’ property by officers in the narcotics, gangs and prisoner processing units.   read more

The decision also signals that the Obama administration remains committed to encouraging the spread of renewable energy, seen as a major component of reaching national goals on stemming climate change. Multiple companies are hoping to build high-voltage transmission lines to transport renewable energy produced by wind farms and hydroelectric plants to more populous regions of the country. The federal government said it could use eminent domain to acquire land if negotiations failed   read more

The report found veterans after 2001 were nearly twice as likely as Vietnam vets to be barred from benefits, and four times as likely as World War II vets. “It has gotten worse with every generation,” said Bradford Adams, an author of the report. The reason is largely due to the military’s increasing reliance on other-than-honorable discharges, used as a quick way to dismiss troubled men and women who might otherwise qualify for time-consuming and expensive medical discharges.   read more

The North Carolina governor's race has suddenly become a referendum on discrimination. Both campaigns are already using the law in fundraising pleas, and their supporters are reminding the public of each candidate's stand. With litigation expected to last months during this presidential election year, the fight is sure to rage on through November, touching on cultural and economic disputes as well as the pocketbooks of the swing state's voters.   read more

The plan to buy and modify the plane ended up costing four times as much as the agency's original $22 million estimate, in part because the DEA bought a model that didn't meet its technical needs and failed to keep the records necessary to guarantee a DOD subcontractor performed the right changes to the aircraft. The report called the program "an ineffective and wasteful use of government resources." A hangar in Afghanistan, specifically built to house the aircraft, has stood empty since 2013.   read more

Some of the country’s best-known corporations are nervously grappling with what role they should play at the Republican National Convention, given the likely nomination of Donald Trump, whose divisive candidacy has alienated many women, African-Americans and Hispanics. “I have talked to several people at companies who have said, ‘This year... we’re not going to sponsor any of the events going on,’” said Carla Eudy, a longtime Republican fundraising consultant.   read more

Many doctors in Utah and across the country worry that the requirement could increase the health risks to women by giving them unnecessary heavy sedation to protect a fetus from pain that it may or may not feel. Dr. Sean Esplin said anesthesia would need to go through the woman in order to reach the fetus. Doctors could give a woman general anesthesia, which would make her unconscious and likely require a breathing tube, or a heavy dose of narcotics.   read more