Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
AFP Cheers Passage of Volunteer Way Agenda Slate of Grassroots Bills Wins Support of Tennessee Lawmakers
ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 13 [Category: Sociological] -- Americans for Prosperity posted the following news release:
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AFP Cheers Passage of Volunteer Way Agenda Slate of Grassroots Bills Wins Support of Tennessee Lawmakers
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NASHVILLE - The Tennessee House of Representatives passed two bills strongly supporting by Americans for Prosperity, the state's premier grassroots organization with over 46,000 volunteers across Tennessee. Two bills passed with bipartisan support.
* Certificate of Need Repeal, House Bill 819 by Representative Johnny Garrett / Senate Bill 1369 by Senator Bo Watson,
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 13 [Category: Sociological] -- Americans for Prosperity posted the following news release:
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AFP Cheers Passage of Volunteer Way Agenda Slate of Grassroots Bills Wins Support of Tennessee Lawmakers
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NASHVILLE - The Tennessee House of Representatives passed two bills strongly supporting by Americans for Prosperity, the state's premier grassroots organization with over 46,000 volunteers across Tennessee. Two bills passed with bipartisan support.
* Certificate of Need Repeal, House Bill 819 by Representative Johnny Garrett / Senate Bill 1369 by Senator Bo Watson,which will repeal the government permission requirement to open new healthcare facilities. Vote counts 84:11:1 / 27:3:3. This legislation is fully passed and will head to the Governor for his signature.
* Regulatory Freedom Act, House bill 1913 by Representative Clark Boyd / Senate Bill 2199 by Senator Jack Johnson, this will give lawmakers more oversight on the most expensive ($1M+) rules and regulations, giving Tennesseans more representation from their elected officials. This bill passed the House of Representatives 77:16; it should be voted on in the Senate in the coming week(s).
AFP-TN State Director, Tori Venable released the following statement:
"We are elated to see so many of the policies our grassroots volunteers and coalition have worked on come up for passage. We thank the legislators, sponsors, and policy champions who've worked with us to enact the Volunteer Way agenda. By ridding Tennessee of Certificate of Need laws that hurt our sick and limit access to healthcare, to gutting burdensome red tape and regulations- the Volunteer State is delivering for its people!"
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Original text here: https://americansforprosperity.org/press-release/afp-cheers-passage-of-volunteer-way-agenda-slate-of-grassroots-bills-wins-support-of-tennessee-lawmakers/
'Ruff on Lyme' event raises awareness of disease prevention for canines and the positive impact of VCU research
RICHMOND, Virginia, April 13 [Category: Medical] -- VCU Health, an academic medical center on the forefront of health care, providing patients with treatments and medical technology available, issued the following news release:
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'Ruff on Lyme' event raises awareness of disease prevention for canines and the positive impact of VCU research
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By Olivia Trani
Partners from Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Medicine recently gathered to raise awareness of Lyme disease prevention and provide Dogs on Call therapy dogs with certificates for a free, federally-approved canine vaccine
... Show Full Article
RICHMOND, Virginia, April 13 [Category: Medical] -- VCU Health, an academic medical center on the forefront of health care, providing patients with treatments and medical technology available, issued the following news release:
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'Ruff on Lyme' event raises awareness of disease prevention for canines and the positive impact of VCU research
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By Olivia Trani
Partners from Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Medicine recently gathered to raise awareness of Lyme disease prevention and provide Dogs on Call therapy dogs with certificates for a free, federally-approved canine vaccinefor the disease. The innovation, developed by VCU researcher Richard T. Marconi, Ph.D., has provided dogs with broad protection against Lyme disease for more than 10 years. The event is a celebration of how VCU research is being directly put to practice to benefit a program that supports VCU Health patients and team members.
"Our researchers and clinicians are at the forefront of addressing emerging challenges and bringing new scientific solutions to make the world a better place," said Fadi N. Salloum, Ph.D., senior associate dean for research at the VCU School of Medicine. "This event is a recognition of the impact of VCU research for improving the lives for both humans and their pets."
crLyme, a Lyme disease vaccine for dogs developed by VCU's Richard T. Marconi, has been produced and distributed by global animal health company Zoetis since 2016. (Arda Athman, VCU School of Medicine)
With tick populations increasing and spreading across the United States, prevention and treatment of tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease is more important than ever. National estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest nearly 500,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease annually, which often causes fever, chills, chronic fatigue, muscle pain or worse symptoms if left untreated. The disease can also cause serious health issues for companion animals, and data from the Companion Animal Parasite Council show that about 1 in 20 dogs in Virginia tested positive for Lyme disease in 2025.
Marconi, a professor in School of Medicine's Department of Microbiology and Immunology, is a leading expert in developing vaccines and diagnostic tools for tick-borne diseases affecting humans and companion animals. One of the innovations created by Marconi's team, called crLyme, has been produced and distributed by global animal health company Zoetis since 2016 and is now the most widely used canine Lyme disease vaccine in North America.
Dogs on Call volunteer Susie and therapy dog Homer took part in the 'Ruff on Lyme' event. (Arda Athman, VCU School of Medicine) "Lyme disease is a growing health problem for both humans and companion animals, it can be difficult to diagnose and treatment requires several weeks of antibiotics. If not diagnosed early, the infection can be debilitating with long-term infection sequelae," Marconi said. "Preventive vaccines and improved diagnostic tests are central to combating this serious health concern. We are encouraged by the success of crLyme and the contribution it is making to improving canine health. We ultimately look forward to advancing new vaccine and diagnostic technologies for humans."
At today's event, Zoetis donated crLyme vaccination certificates to therapy dogs involved in VCU Health's Dogs on Call, who are on the front lines of providing people with clinical compassion.
The Dogs on Call therapy dog program, operated by the School of Medicine's Center for Human-Animal Interaction, has been enhancing the well-being of patients, visitors, team members and students across VCU Health and VCU's campuses since 2001. With more than 65 dog/handler teams, the program has delivered over 300,000 meaningful interactions in just the last five years.
There is a growing body of evidence that such interactions have a positive effect on human health and mental well-being, with studies showing that interactions with dogs can alleviate stress, loneliness, depression and anxiety in humans.
"Our research has consistently shown that there is something unique about therapy dogs for enhancing health and well-being outcomes for humans," said Nancy R. Gee, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction. "We are very grateful for the generous donation from Zoetis to help ensure that our Dogs on Call therapy dogs stay healthy and are able to continue making a positive impact to the VCU and VCU Health community."
Marconi and VCU receive royalties from the sale of the crLyme vaccine. Marconi is also a key opinion leader and paid speaker for Zoetis.
The Marconi Laboratory, headed by Richard Marconi, is developing a Lyme disease vaccine for people. Get an inside look at the research team's work at VCU.
Stay informed, stay healthy. Sign up for VCU Health's e-mail newsletter.
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Original text here: https://www.vcuhealth.org/news/ruff-on-lyme-event-raises-awareness-of-disease-prevention-for-canines-and-the-positive-impact-of-vcu-research-/
Cato Expert: GOP FISA Reauthorization Falls Short on Civil Liberties Safeguards
WASHINGTON, April 13 [Category: Sociological] -- Cato Institute issued the following news release:
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Cato Expert: GOP FISA Reauthorization Falls Short on Civil Liberties Safeguards
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Last week, House GOP leadership introduced its FISA Section 702 reauthorization bill that would extend the program through October 2027.
A new blog post from Patrick Eddington, a senior fellow in homeland security and civil liberties at the Cato Institute, details how the FISA reauthorization introduced by House Republicans does not prevent future abuses of this surveillance program, writing in part:
"Congress
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 13 [Category: Sociological] -- Cato Institute issued the following news release:
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Cato Expert: GOP FISA Reauthorization Falls Short on Civil Liberties Safeguards
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Last week, House GOP leadership introduced its FISA Section 702 reauthorization bill that would extend the program through October 2027.
A new blog post from Patrick Eddington, a senior fellow in homeland security and civil liberties at the Cato Institute, details how the FISA reauthorization introduced by House Republicans does not prevent future abuses of this surveillance program, writing in part:
"Congressis being asked to grant a clean 18-month reauthorization based on classified threat vignettes produced by the agencies seeking reauthorization, evaluated by an oversight board that has been politically gutted, with the internal compliance watchdog that would catch abuses abolished, in a context where sensitive FBI searches of Americans' communications tripled last year with no explanation, while a senator with an excellent predictive track record on surveillance abuses warns that the Section 702 program is operating under a secret legal interpretation that would "stun" the American public if declassified."
To speak with Eddington on FISA reauthorization, contact Christopher Tarvardian.
***
Original text here: https://www.cato.org/news-releases/cato-expert-gop-fisa-reauthorization-falls-short-civil-liberties-safeguards
America First Legal Urges U.S. Supreme Court to Stop Lower Courts' Attempt to Block TPS Terminations
WASHINGTON, April 13 [Category: Political] -- America First Legal, a civil rights organization, posted the following news release:
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America First Legal Urges U.S. Supreme Court to Stop Lower Courts' Attempt to Block TPS Terminations
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America First Legal (AFL), alongside co-counsel James R. Conde of Boyden Gray PLLC, has filed an amicus brief on behalf of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz in the U.S. Supreme Court in Markwayne Mullin, et al. v. Dahlia Doe, et al. and Donald J. Trump, et al. v. Fritz Emmanuel Lesly Miot, et al., urging the Court to reverse lower-court decisions that blocked Temporary
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 13 [Category: Political] -- America First Legal, a civil rights organization, posted the following news release:
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America First Legal Urges U.S. Supreme Court to Stop Lower Courts' Attempt to Block TPS Terminations
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America First Legal (AFL), alongside co-counsel James R. Conde of Boyden Gray PLLC, has filed an amicus brief on behalf of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz in the U.S. Supreme Court in Markwayne Mullin, et al. v. Dahlia Doe, et al. and Donald J. Trump, et al. v. Fritz Emmanuel Lesly Miot, et al., urging the Court to reverse lower-court decisions that blocked TemporaryProtected Status (TPS) terminations despite Congress's express bar on judicial review.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a program created by Congress that allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to determine that a country has an armed conflict, a natural disaster, or extraordinary conditions that prevent its citizens in the United States from returning home. TPS allows those aliens to remain and work lawfully in the United States -on a temporary, renewable basis -until the DHS Secretary deems it safe for them to return home. Importantly, Congress specifically wrote into the statute that "[t]here is no judicial review of any determination of the [Secretary of Homeland Security] with respect to the designation, or termination or extension of a designation" of TPS.
AFL's brief highlights how the lower courts overrode a clear limit imposed by Congress, inserted themselves into decisions belonging to the political branches, and exercised power that the law does not give them. Congress was explicit. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) states that there should be no judicial review of the executive's determination to designate, extend, or terminate TPS for a foreign state. But rather than abide by that limit, the lower courts did the opposite, ignoring the statute.
AFL further argues that plaintiffs cannot evade Congress's bar on judicial review by repackaging their challenge in constitutional terms. TPS determinations belong to the political branches, not to district courts, and they require executive judgments about foreign conditions, public safety, and the national interest, all areas where courts lack both a meaningful legal standard and a proper constitutional role.
"Lower courts do not get to ignore the clear letter of the law because they prefer a different outcome," said James Rogers, Senior Counsel at America First Legal. "This is exactly the kind of judicial overreach that corrodes the separation of powers and enables courts to govern from the bench. The Supreme Court must step in and put a stop to it."
America First Legal will continue fighting for the rule of law and the Constitution.
Read the full amicus brief here.
Find more of AFL's amicus briefs here.
Learn more about AFL's fight for common-sense immigration enforcement here.
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Original text here: https://aflegal.org/press-release/america-first-legal-urges-u-s-supreme-court-to-stop-lower-courts-attempt-to-block-tps-terminations/
America First Legal Exposes Impacts of California's Sanctuary State Law: Santa Clara County Released 529 Criminal Aliens ICE Sought to Detain
WASHINGTON, April 13 [Category: Political] -- America First Legal, a civil rights organization, posted the following news release:
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America First Legal Exposes Impacts of California's Sanctuary State Law: Santa Clara County Released 529 Criminal Aliens ICE Sought to Detain
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Today, America First Legal (AFL) released explosive public records from Santa Clara County's Office of the Sheriff, revealing that California's sanctuary state law, the "California Values Act," caused the County to not honor a single U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer from January 2025 through
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 13 [Category: Political] -- America First Legal, a civil rights organization, posted the following news release:
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America First Legal Exposes Impacts of California's Sanctuary State Law: Santa Clara County Released 529 Criminal Aliens ICE Sought to Detain
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Today, America First Legal (AFL) released explosive public records from Santa Clara County's Office of the Sheriff, revealing that California's sanctuary state law, the "California Values Act," caused the County to not honor a single U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer from January 2025 throughJanuary 2026 despite receiving 529 requests.
In response to AFL's public records request, the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office admitted: "Since January 1, 2025, the Sheriff's Office has received 529 detainer requests. None have been honored."
ICE detainers are requests from federal immigration authorities asking local law enforcement to hold individuals for up to 48 hours so they can be transferred into federal custody.
AFL also obtained an internal Training Bulletin from the Sheriff's Office, which states that the Trump Administration's mass deportation efforts have presented "new challenges," including "distinguishing between criminal warrants and civil or administrative immigration actions."
The bulletin's policy is crystal clear: "DO NOT ENFORCE" administrative immigration warrants.
The California Values Act severely restricts any cooperation with ICE. County personnel are instructed not to act on administrative warrants of arrest, warrants of removal, or "deported felon" notifications appearing in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Immigration Violator File. Holds are permitted for just 24 hours in only narrow circumstances involving individuals convicted of a serious or violent felony under specific conditions.
The policy also explicitly prohibits honoring ICE detainers for aliens under 18 years old and bans the use of any county resources to assist ICE in the absence of a criminal judicial warrant.
These policies are a direct result of California's statewide sanctuary mandate. AFL has sued Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta on behalf of Huntington Beach, California, and Sheriff Chad Bianco to end the state's sanctuary laws that subvert federal immigration law and prioritize illegal aliens over the safety of American citizens.
Sanctuary policies across the country have real effects on American communities where illegal aliens are free to evade federal immigration authorities -with help from liberal agitators running interference -and to commit more crimes against the American people.
America First Legal will continue fighting for the rule of law and the promise of public safety for all Americans.
"Gavin Newsom has enabled policies that make American communities less safe. The 'California Values Act' requires localities to value illegal aliens' freedom over Americans' safety," said Will Scolinos, Attorney at America First Legal. "The memo is out: California is a safe haven for illegal aliens. It is no surprise that Californians are fleeing crime-ridden coastal cities by the thousands to seek the safe, affordable, and free America they were promised."
Read the California Values Act here (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB54).
Read the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Policy 3.54 on Immigration Detainers here (https://media.aflegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/02164931/SCCO-Board-Policy-3.54-Immigration-Detainer.pdf).
Read the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office's official response to AFL's public records request here (https://media.aflegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/02164949/America-First-Legal-Mail-RE_-EXTERNAL-Public-Records-Request.pdf).
Read the May 2025 Santa Clara County Sheriff Training Bulletin here (https://media.aflegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/02164938/Training-Bulletin-2025-05-016-NCIC-Immigration-Warrant-Returns_Redacted-2.pdf).
Read the updated June 2025 Santa Clara County Sheriff Training Bulletin here (https://media.aflegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/02164943/Training-Bulletin-2025-05-016-NCIC-Immigration-Warrant-Returns-UPDATE_Redacted.pdf).
Read the Santa Clara County 2010 Resolution here (https://media.aflegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/02164952/SCCO-2010-Resolution.pdf).
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Original text here: https://aflegal.org/press-release/america-first-legal-exposes-impacts-of-californias-sanctuary-state-law-santa-clara-county-released-529-criminal-aliens-ice-sought-to-detain/
America First Legal and the State of Florida Call on the U.S. Census Bureau to Require Citizenship and Immigration Status Questions in the Decennial Census
WASHINGTON, April 13 [Category: Political] -- America First Legal, a civil rights organization, posted the following news release:
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America First Legal and the State of Florida Call on the U.S. Census Bureau to Require Citizenship and Immigration Status Questions in the Decennial Census
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America First Legal (AFL), alongside the State of Florida, has filed a petition for rulemaking urging the U.S. Census Bureau to adopt new rules for the decennial census. This filing builds on AFL's ongoing efforts for a fair, accurate Census.
AFL's petition urges the Census Bureau to incorporate citizenship
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 13 [Category: Political] -- America First Legal, a civil rights organization, posted the following news release:
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America First Legal and the State of Florida Call on the U.S. Census Bureau to Require Citizenship and Immigration Status Questions in the Decennial Census
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America First Legal (AFL), alongside the State of Florida, has filed a petition for rulemaking urging the U.S. Census Bureau to adopt new rules for the decennial census. This filing builds on AFL's ongoing efforts for a fair, accurate Census.
AFL's petition urges the Census Bureau to incorporate citizenshipand immigration status questions, make clear that only citizens and lawful permanent residents may be counted in the population used to allocate seats in the House of Representatives and Electoral College, and prohibit the unlawful use of statistical methods that distorted the 2020 Census.
Congressional representation must be based on an actual enumeration, not statistical guesswork or counts inflated by illegal or temporary aliens. In accordance with President Trump's Executive Order 14160, "Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship," AFL's petition argues that children born in the United States to parents who are unlawfully present should not be included in census apportionment because, under the plain meaning of the 14th Amendment, these children do not acquire U.S. citizenship upon birth.
AFL further urges the Bureau to prohibit the use of Group Quarters Imputation and Differential Privacy, two statistical methods that distorted the 2020 Census and harmed Florida. The petition highlights that the 2020 Census undercounted Floridians by approximately 3.48 percent, or roughly 761,000 people, costing the state representation in Congress and federal resources.
"The Constitution requires an actual enumeration, not statistical guesswork, inflated apportionment, or bureaucratic manipulation," said Gene Hamilton, President of America First Legal. "AFL and Florida are fighting to ensure the Census Bureau asks the right questions, counts the right people, and follows the law. Congressional apportionment must be based on lawful counts, not statistical fiction."
"The Census was designed to ensure equal representation for citizens of the United States, not those who are here illegally or temporarily," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "The way we count our population has a direct impact on how political power is distributed across the nation, and our state deserves an accurate count that ensures Floridians are represented fairly."
"Representation in the United States Congress belongs to the American people-citizens and those on the lawful path to citizenship-not to those who have defied our laws to be here," said James Rogers, Senior Counsel at America First Legal. "Every congressional seat awarded on the basis of illegal alien population is a seat taken from law-abiding Americans. The 2030 Census is an opportunity to get this right and conduct an actual enumeration of the American people as the Constitution demands, free of the distortions that come from counting those with no lawful claim to be here and free of statistical trickery. The reforms Florida and AFL have proposed in this petition for rulemaking are grounded in law, in history, and in common sense."
America First Legal will continue fighting to ensure that federal agencies follow the law and that the Census reflects a true, constitutional count of American citizens.
Read the full petition here.
***
Original text here: https://aflegal.org/press-release/america-first-legal-and-the-state-of-florida-call-on-u-s-census-bureau-to-require-citizenship-and-immigration-status-questions-in-the-decennial-census/
AFP-IN Issues Latest Round of State House Endorsements
ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 13 [Category: Sociological] -- Americans for Prosperity posted the following news release:
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AFP-IN Issues Latest Round of State House Endorsements
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Americans for Prosperity-Indiana (AFP-IN) released its latest round of three new endorsements for candidates in the State House. AFP-IN will be supporting these candidates ahead of next month's primaries as the best champions for the chapter's Crossroads of Prosperity policy agenda.
AFP-IN's new candidates for State House include:
* Rep. Tony Isa (HD-51)
* Rep. Ben Smaltz (HD-52)
* Rep.
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 13 [Category: Sociological] -- Americans for Prosperity posted the following news release:
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AFP-IN Issues Latest Round of State House Endorsements
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Americans for Prosperity-Indiana (AFP-IN) released its latest round of three new endorsements for candidates in the State House. AFP-IN will be supporting these candidates ahead of next month's primaries as the best champions for the chapter's Crossroads of Prosperity policy agenda.
AFP-IN's new candidates for State House include:
* Rep. Tony Isa (HD-51)
* Rep. Ben Smaltz (HD-52)
* Rep.Martin Carbaugh (HD-81)
AFP-IN Deputy State Director Cody White issued the following statement:
"Our goal is, and always has been, to advance an agenda in the legislature that will improve the life of every Hoosier through smart governance and pragmatic policies. We firmly believe these three candidates will help move that agenda forward in a meaningful way in the 2027 session, and we look forward to supporting them throughout the rest of the year."
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Original text here: https://americansforprosperity.org/press-release/afp-in-issues-latest-round-of-state-house-endorsements/
ISTH and EHA Announce Strategic Collaboration to Update Diagnostic Guidance on IPFDs
CARRBORO, North Carolina, April 11 -- The International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis issued the following news:
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The ISTH and EHA announce strategic collaboration to update diagnostic guidance on IPFDs
The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) and the European Hematology Association (EHA) are pleased to announce a formal partnership to develop updated clinical practice guidance for the diagnosis of inherited platelet function disorders (IPFDs). This joint initiative aims to standardize diagnostic pathways and integrate modern laboratory techniques to improve
... Show Full Article
CARRBORO, North Carolina, April 11 -- The International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis issued the following news:
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The ISTH and EHA announce strategic collaboration to update diagnostic guidance on IPFDs
The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) and the European Hematology Association (EHA) are pleased to announce a formal partnership to develop updated clinical practice guidance for the diagnosis of inherited platelet function disorders (IPFDs). This joint initiative aims to standardize diagnostic pathways and integrate modern laboratory techniques to improvepatient outcomes worldwide.
The joint task force, composed of internationally recognized experts from both organizations, recently convened and will soon begin developing research questions and conducting a literature review. The ISTH Guidelines and Guidance Committee will share a draft guidance for public comment when the manuscript becomes available. The final guidance document is expected to be released in 2027.
Learn more about ISTH guidance here (https://www.isth.org/page/GuidanceDocuments).
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Original text here: https://www.isth.org/news/725086/The-ISTH-and-EHA-announce-strategic-collaboration-to-update-diagnostic-guidance-on-IPFDs.htm
[Category: Medical]
Human Rights First: 'Risk and Response: Women Human Rights Defenders on Ukraine's Frontline'
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Human Rights First issued the following report on April 10, 2026 by Brian Dooley and Suchita Uppal entitled "Risk and Response: Women Human Rights Defenders on Ukraine's Frontline."
Here are excerpts:
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Women human rights defenders (WHRDS) are taking enormous daily risks to help vulnerable people living on the frontline of Russia's war on Ukraine. Some deliver humanitarian aid to those in desperate need of food and clothes, while others evacuate elderly and infirm re1sidents from communities under fire.
Some do this work full-time, others join these efforts when
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Human Rights First issued the following report on April 10, 2026 by Brian Dooley and Suchita Uppal entitled "Risk and Response: Women Human Rights Defenders on Ukraine's Frontline."
Here are excerpts:
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Women human rights defenders (WHRDS) are taking enormous daily risks to help vulnerable people living on the frontline of Russia's war on Ukraine. Some deliver humanitarian aid to those in desperate need of food and clothes, while others evacuate elderly and infirm re1sidents from communities under fire.
Some do this work full-time, others join these efforts whenthey can. Few had any experience of activism before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Human Rights First has regularly worked alongside women activists around the northeastern region of Kharkiv, and sometimes in the Donetsk region further south, and has seen firsthand the lifesaving work they do, and the risks involved.
Across the world, women - including women activists - experience war differently from men. In a 2023 report, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders described these environments as the "hypermasculinized context of war". In these contexts, the role of WHRDs becomes more essential even as they face additional challenges "because of [their] work and because of who they are."
WHRDs often face the same risks as their male counterparts, including restrictions on their rights, but also face additional and distinct risks shaped by entrenched stereotypes and expectations about women's roles. They are stigmatized and criticized for actions for which men are praised, frequently stereotyped not as agents of change, but as vulnerable individuals in need of protection.
These are not new prejudices. A 2019 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders also found that women defenders working in conflict and post-conflict are "particularly exposed to gender-based violence, including sexual violence," and are "more directly affected by breakdowns in health-care services." Their legitimacy as defenders continues to be challenged and they remain largely excluded from decision-making.
In Ukraine, WHRDs evacuate civilians, deliver humanitarian assistance, and document war crimes, often at significant physical and mental risk. Yet, they are excluded from effective decision-making spaces. In March 2022, UN special procedure mandate holders drew attention to the absence of Ukrainian women from peace negotiations, despite their central role in the humanitarian response.
Human Rights First has a long history of working with WHRDs in multiple countries, including in Bahrain, Poland, and Egypt, supporting those exposing corruption, delivering humanitarian aid, and assisting asylum seekers. Many face not only detention and legal harassment, but sustained efforts to discredit them and isolate them from their communities.
Human Rights First is also part of the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition , a global network supporting WHRDs facing harassment, threats, surveillance, arbitrary detention and other forms of retaliation. Through this coalition and our own Human Rights Defenders program, we promote the work of WHRDs and work toward their protection.
In 2022, Human Rights First supported the production of a guide for journalists on responsibly reporting war-related sexual violence, authored by three Ukrainian women experts in gender issues.
Human Rights First has worked alongside WHRDs in Ukraine since the Russian invasion of 2014. Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, the organization has made dozens of visits to the front-line region of Kharkiv. This has involved assisting WHRDs with evacuations from frontline areas, documenting war crimes, and reporting on the work of local activists providing humanitarian aid, countering corruption and disinformation, and those responding to the mental health crisis.
This report draws on interviews with WHRDs working in frontline areas of northeastern Ukraine, highlighting their work during the conflict, the risks they face, and the critical role they have played in sustaining communities under fire.
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Access the report at: https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/risk-and-response-women-human-rights-defenders-on-ukraines-frontline/
[Category: Sociological]
Human Rights First: 'A New Era of ICE Family Prisons'
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Human Rights First issued the following report on April 1, 2026 entitled "A New Era of ICE Family Prisons."
Here are excerpts:
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In early 2025, the second Trump administration began detaining immigrant families and children, and by April, the Dilley Immigration Processing Center ("Dilley") became the sole active family detention center in the United States. More than 5,600 people, including parents, children, toddlers, and newborn babies, have been imprisoned at Dilley between April 2025 and February 2026, according to our analysis of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Human Rights First issued the following report on April 1, 2026 entitled "A New Era of ICE Family Prisons."
Here are excerpts:
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In early 2025, the second Trump administration began detaining immigrant families and children, and by April, the Dilley Immigration Processing Center ("Dilley") became the sole active family detention center in the United States. More than 5,600 people, including parents, children, toddlers, and newborn babies, have been imprisoned at Dilley between April 2025 and February 2026, according to our analysis of Immigration and Customs Enforcementdata.
This report by Human Rights First and RAICES, based on in-depth interviews with families detained at Dilley, legal service provision, and desk research, exposes the profound harm incarceration at Dilley inflicts on families and children. It concludes that inhumane conditions, routine mistreatment, and due process violations experienced by families at Dilley are pervasive and systemic. In addition to the violation of constitutional and statutory legal protections, DHS's policy of family incarceration also violates international treaties and legal prohibitions on non-refoulement, arbitrary detention, and the detention of children.
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Access the report at: https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/a-new-era-of-ice-family-prisons/
[Category: Sociological]
Center for Global Development: 'Lead-Acid Battery Recycling in Selected African Settings: Status Quo and Considerations for Sector Policies'
WASHINGTON, April 11 (TNSres) -- The Center for Global Development issued the following policy paper on March 26, 2026 by Andreas Manhart and Fred Adjei entitled "Lead-Acid Battery Recycling in Selected African Settings: Status Quo and Considerations for Sector Policies".
Here is the abstract:
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Lead exposure presents a major public health challenge in many low- and middle-income countries, and unsafe recycling of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) is increasingly recognized as an important driver. This paper synthesizes over a decade of applied research and cooperation projects on ULAB recycling,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 (TNSres) -- The Center for Global Development issued the following policy paper on March 26, 2026 by Andreas Manhart and Fred Adjei entitled "Lead-Acid Battery Recycling in Selected African Settings: Status Quo and Considerations for Sector Policies".
Here is the abstract:
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Lead exposure presents a major public health challenge in many low- and middle-income countries, and unsafe recycling of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) is increasingly recognized as an important driver. This paper synthesizes over a decade of applied research and cooperation projects on ULAB recycling,particularly in sub-Sahara Africa. The paper specifically draws from recent assessments in Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania and describes collection and recycling patterns, including interlinks between informal and formal operators, plant set-ups and operational practices.
The researchers assert that collection is largely organized through informal networks that supply collected batteries to registered industrial recycling plants that commonly apply sub-standard processes. Key lead exposure pathways include manual or semi-automated battery breaking, uncontrolled electrolyte draining, insufficient capture of furnace and refining fumes, poor housekeeping and dust control, unsafe handling of filter dust, and inadequate management of lead-bearing slags. Regulatory frameworks exist and inspections occur, yet limited resources, gaps in technical specificity and capacity, and weak enforcement allow persistent non-compliance by formal plants.
Economic analysis and recent experience indicate that relatively high standard plants face higher investment and operating costs and may lose access to ULABs because low-standard operators can offer higher purchase prices. The paper concludes with policy implications focused on effective and consistent sanctions, market consolidation through stricter licensing, polluter pays principles, regional exchange, supply chain due diligence, improved monitoring, and international support that strengthens local ownership and capacities.
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The full policy paper is posted at: https://www.cgdev.org/publication/lead-acid-battery-recycling-selected-african-settings-status-quo-and-considerations
[Category: Sociological]
Center for Global Development: 'Better Debt Shock Absorbers for Poor Countries: A Proposal'
WASHINGTON, April 11 (TNSres) -- The Center for Global Development issued the following policy paper on April 7, 2026 by Nancy Lee, Liliana Rojas-Suarez, Samuel Matthews and James Reid entitled "Better Debt Shock Absorbers for Poor Countries: A Proposal".
Here is the abstract:
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Our analysis confirms that poor countries are subject to a broad range of exogenous shocks - not under their control and not just those that are climate-related - and that those shocks can have large consequences for growth, debt-carrying capacity, and liquidity. The current major global shock, the Iran war, is
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 (TNSres) -- The Center for Global Development issued the following policy paper on April 7, 2026 by Nancy Lee, Liliana Rojas-Suarez, Samuel Matthews and James Reid entitled "Better Debt Shock Absorbers for Poor Countries: A Proposal".
Here is the abstract:
* * *
Our analysis confirms that poor countries are subject to a broad range of exogenous shocks - not under their control and not just those that are climate-related - and that those shocks can have large consequences for growth, debt-carrying capacity, and liquidity. The current major global shock, the Iran war, isthe most recent example. Our proposal for the temporary suspension of external debt service payments would help prevent liquidity crises from escalating into solvency crises. By providing immediate fiscal space, it would allow low-income countries to avoid default and undertake countercyclical or reconstruction spending, thereby limiting long-term economic damage and preserving creditworthiness. The proposal has five distinctive features:
* Triggers for DSC activation focus on the magnitude of the shock, not the source.
* Benchmarks for clause activation are simple, standardized, and quantitative. The four-part activation test includes benchmarks for solvency, liquidity, debt service fiscal burden, and growth impact.
* Clause activation would not require creditor approval if triggers are met and verified.
* Clauses would apply to sovereign debt owed to both public and private creditors--to ensure comparable treatment amid the rising public creditor share of poor country debt stocks.
* The issuing country may spend the temporarily freed-up resources as it likes--different from debt for nature or debt for development swaps.
This proposal is meant to complement, not substitute for, ongoing work to deal with liquidity shortages, to make the debt restructuring process more efficient and to explore refinancing options for poor countries' current high-cost debt. The aim is better long-term solutions to strengthen the resilience of poor countries and to help avoid a recurrence of today's pervasive debt strains. We know these countries will continue to be subject to frequent exogenous shocks. A forward-looking approach of building better debt contracts for poor country sovereign borrowing should be a prominent part of the debt relief arsenal.
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The full policy paper is posted at: https://www.cgdev.org/publication/better-debt-shock-absorbers-poor-countries-proposal
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR-Texas Denounces Anti-Muslim Rhetoric at SBOE Hearing, Calls on Board to Reject Biased TEKS Revisions Amid Final Discussions Ahead of Vote
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 10, 2026:
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CAIR-Texas Denounces Anti-Muslim Rhetoric at SBOE Hearing, Calls on Board to Reject Biased TEKS Revisions Amid Final Discussions Ahead of Vote
The Texas office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) today called on the State Board of Education (SBOE) to reject proposed revisions to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) social studies standards that unfairly target the American Muslim community.
As the SBOE enters final discussions today ahead
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 10, 2026:
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CAIR-Texas Denounces Anti-Muslim Rhetoric at SBOE Hearing, Calls on Board to Reject Biased TEKS Revisions Amid Final Discussions Ahead of Vote
The Texas office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) today called on the State Board of Education (SBOE) to reject proposed revisions to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) social studies standards that unfairly target the American Muslim community.
As the SBOE enters final discussions today aheadof a preliminary vote on the first reading of the new curriculum standards, CAIR-Texas is sounding the alarm on a pattern of bias and misinformation that has characterized this process. During Tuesday's hearing, the board faced hours of testimony regarding proposed changes that tie Islam and Muslim historical figures disproportionately to terrorism while omitting significant contributions of the faith to world history and civilization.
Tuesday's proceedings were marred by a series of hostile actions from state leadership:
* State Senator Bob Hall testified that the curriculum was an attempt to "Islamify" schools yet failed to provide a single example of "Sharia law" when pressed by board members.
* SBOE Member Brandon Hall weaponized political rhetoric to interrogate CAIR leadership on baseless terrorism links.
* Member Julie Pickren and others reportedly exited the room during testimony from Muslim constituents, signaling a blatant disregard for the community's concerns.
The hearing was marked by inflammatory rhetoric from several public witnesses who used the platform to cast aspersions on the faith of millions of Texans. This follows recent national reporting highlighting concerns that the proposed curriculum shifts are being influenced by political ideologies rather than historical accuracy.
SEE: In Texas, a state hearing on social studies becomes a clash of religions (https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/04/09/texas-muslims-terrorism-education/)
SEE: Revised Social Studies Curriculum Shields Students from Complexity (https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/texas-social-studies-change-22155462.php)
In a statement, CAIR-Texas Civic Engagement Organizer Sameeha Rizvi said:
"What we witnessed on April 7th was a disturbing display of the very Anti-Muslim hate we are fighting to keep out of our children's classrooms. As we head into today's vote, the SBOE must decide if it will prioritize historical integrity or political pandering. Our students across Texas deserve a curriculum grounded in fact, not one that treats their faith as a subset of security studies. We urge the board to vote in favor of accuracy and fairness by rejecting these biased revisions."
Nicholas Little, Houston Branch NAACP Criminal Justice Chairman, added:
"I have been to Austin advocating on many occasions for many different reasons on the behalf of all communities. This past Tuesday at the State School Board meeting was frustrating, appalling, and may very well be the single thread that unravels our democracy. Attacks on our education system are running rampant and accountability is nowhere to be found. I was even more outraged by the hatred towards our Muslim brothers and sisters whether members of CAIR or just concerned citizens and advocates. Rest assured that injustice and prejudice will not be protected or shielded by people's choice to be ignorant or misinformed. The fight must continue, and together we will all fight for the entire community!"
CAIR-Texas and a coalition of educators, parents, and community leaders have consistently advocated for the SBOE to:
* Ensure Balanced Representation: Include the cultural, scientific, and social contributions of Muslim civilizations throughout history.
* Remove Biased Frameworks: Eliminate instructional requirements that link religious studies primarily to modern conflict and extremism.
* Uphold Professional Integrity: Prioritize the recommendations of non-partisan subject-matter experts over politically motivated testimonies.
The SBOE is expected to take its first formal vote on the proposed standards today. CAIR-Texas will continue to monitor the proceedings and advocate for a curriculum that reflects the true diversity and history of all Texans.
In the meantime, CAIR-Texas calls on interfaith leaders and concerned community members to push back against the anti-Muslim hate spreading across the nation by joining our collective call for support.
TAKE ACTION:Interfaith leaders call for support of the Muslim community nation-wide (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLUIxVqYVb2kR1qhRKsgA0ln_HdAcVCz_bhWIPNji7zkJrjQ/viewform?usp=header)
CAIR-Texas's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/breaking-cair-texas-denounces-anti-muslim-rhetoric-at-sboe-hearing-calls-on-board-to-reject-biased-teks-revisions-amid-final-discussions-ahead-of-vote/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR Calls for Resignation of Wisconsin Alderman Over Violent Anti-Muslim, Anti-Immigrant Comments
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 10, 2026:
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CAIR Calls for Resignation of Wisconsin Alderman Over Violent Anti-Muslim, Anti-Immigrant Comments
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the resignation of a Brookfield, Wisconsin, alderman following reports he allegedly posted violent anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant comments online.
Those posts by Alderman Kris Seals reportedly included referencing shooting Muslims with "Bacon
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 10, 2026:
* * *
CAIR Calls for Resignation of Wisconsin Alderman Over Violent Anti-Muslim, Anti-Immigrant Comments
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the resignation of a Brookfield, Wisconsin, alderman following reports he allegedly posted violent anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant comments online.
Those posts by Alderman Kris Seals reportedly included referencing shooting Muslims with "Baconrapped [sic] bullets." Another post reportedly stated: "It's time to wipe out the immigrants from Britain and all of the EU." There was also reportedly a post on his page about hanging former President Barack Obama.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw said:
"Public officials take an oath to serve all constituents, not to demonize them. Seals' violent and dehumanizing remarks targeting Muslims and immigrants are not just offensive, they are dangerous. This rhetoric fuels hate, legitimizes discrimination, and puts real people at risk. It is fundamentally incompatible with the responsibilities of public office.
"Seals is clearly unfit to serve and must resign immediately. There is no justification for an elected official who engages in this kind of hate to remain in office. If Seals refuses to step down, local leaders must act to remove him. Silence or inaction in the face of this rhetoric is complicity. The public deserves leadership that respects their dignity, not officials who incite fear and division."
Washington, D.C., based CAIR added that such comments contribute to a broader climate of intolerance that can lead to increased discrimination and bias incidents targeting marginalized communities.
Yesterday, CAIR's Greater Los Angeles Area office (CAIR-LA) condemned a recent hate incident targeting the Islamic Society of Simi Valley, as well as reports of other mosques in Claremont and La Mirada being targeted. CAIR-LA also urged local Muslim community leaders to heighten safety awareness as Islamophobia continues to rise nationwide.
According to CAIR's most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination have continued to rise nationwide, reflecting an ongoing pattern of Islamophobia impacting communities across the country.
SEE: 2026 Civil Rights Report: The Right to be Different (https://action.cair.com/a/the-right-to-be-different)
Anyone who experiences or witnesses a hate incident to report it to local authorities and civil rights organizations. GO TO: https://www.cair.com/report/
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-for-resignation-of-wisconsin-alderman-over-violent-anti-muslim-anti-immigrant-comments/
[Category: Sociological]
