Featured Stories
Virginia Joins Suit to Stop Trump Administration From Blocking Funding Addressing Homelessness
RICHMOND, Virginia, July 14 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Virginia Joins Suit to Stop Trump Administration from Blocking Funding Addressing Homelessness
Attorney General Jay Jones, along with a coalition of other attorneys general, filed a suit against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s unlawful funding changes. HUD is attempting yet again to unlawfully cap funding for permanent housing projects, in a move that would result in tens of thousands of people losing their homes, Virginia and a multistate
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RICHMOND, Virginia, July 14 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Virginia Joins Suit to Stop Trump Administration from Blocking Funding Addressing Homelessness
Attorney General Jay Jones, along with a coalition of other attorneys general, filed a suit against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s unlawful funding changes. HUD is attempting yet again to unlawfully cap funding for permanent housing projects, in a move that would result in tens of thousands of people losing their homes, Virginia and a multistatecoalition argued in a lawsuit filed in federal court today.
"Access to safe and affordable housing is the foundation of any successful family, because where you live impacts your health, education, employment, and access to opportunity," said Attorney General Jay Jones. "The Trump Administration's continued politicization of HUD is detrimental to our communities and family stability. My office is committed to fighting all forms of federal overreach in order to uphold equality of opportunity throughout the Commonwealth."
Just last month, a coalition of states won a separate case against HUD in federal court in Rhode Island regarding the agency's decision last year to impose illegal conditions on billions of dollars in funding for the Continuum of Care (CoC) program, which supports housing and other services for people experiencing housing instability or homelessness. Congress has prioritized stability in the way the funds are allocated, and the vast majority of CoC funds have traditionally supported permanent housing and other projects that have been shown to work.
On June 1, HUD sought again to re-implement a cap on funding for permanent housing and set other unlawful conditions on the funds. Without action by the court, HUD's actions mean CoC-funded permanent housing projects will lose funding or see it reduced, resulting in tens of thousands of people being evicted back to the streets, with states and local governments left to pick up the pieces.
For more than two decades, HUD has embraced a commitment to permanent housing programs and the so-called Housing First model, which prioritizes rapid placement in permanent housing without requiring people to first meet conditions such as sobriety or a minimum income threshold.
But the current federal administration has rejected the commitment to the Housing First model and undermined the CoC program. First, HUD published notices of funding opportunities last year that set a 30% cap on CoC funding that were subsequently found unlawful.
Now, HUD has issued the June 1 notice of funding opportunity that creates a $1.3 billion set-aside for new projects prioritizing such things as transitional housing, which results in a de facto cap on permanent housing. That shift threatens housing for at least 97,000 residents of CoC-funded permanent housing across the country according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
The states argue that HUD's actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act for, among other things, failing to proceed with notice-and-comment rulemaking and being arbitrary and capricious. They ask the court to declare that the challenged conditions are illegal and block HUD from implementing them.
Joining Attorney General Jay Jones in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
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Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/3074-virginia-joins-suit-to-stop-trump-administration-from-blocking-funding-addressing-homelessness
Va. A.G. Jones Announces $45 Million Multistate Settlement With Block Inc. Over Deceptive Practices on Cash App
RICHMOND, Virginia, July 14 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Announces $45 Million Multistate Settlement with Block Inc. Over Deceptive Practices on Cash App
Attorney General Jay Jones announced a $45 million multistate settlement with Block, Inc., the company behind the popular peer-to-peer payments app Cash App. The settlement resolves allegations that Block misled consumers about the safety of Cash App, failed to protect users from fraud on the platform, and didn't provide the fraud protection and
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RICHMOND, Virginia, July 14 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Announces $45 Million Multistate Settlement with Block Inc. Over Deceptive Practices on Cash App
Attorney General Jay Jones announced a $45 million multistate settlement with Block, Inc., the company behind the popular peer-to-peer payments app Cash App. The settlement resolves allegations that Block misled consumers about the safety of Cash App, failed to protect users from fraud on the platform, and didn't provide the fraud protection andresolution that it promised and that was required by law. In short, the company failed to help people when things went wrong. As a result of the settlement, Virginia will receive a $845,500 settlement payment, which the Attorney General can use for other efforts to protect consumers or other purposes permitted by state law.
"Virginians deserve to trust that the companies they do business with are acting legally and with integrity, and when a company acts outside the law or unethically, this office will hold them accountable," said Attorney General Jones. "When companies strategically omit information and foster fraudulent practices, it hurts consumers and shakes confidence in our institutions. I want to assure Virginians throughout the Commonwealth that the OAG is using all available tools to protect them."
Block told Cash App users their money was safe, implying that the app offered the same protections as a bank, which was not true. At the same time, Block knew fraud on its platform was rising sharply, and instead of warning users or strengthening protections, it doubled down on deceptive marketing practices.
For years, Block actively promoted direct deposits of paychecks and government benefits into Cash App. It made a particular push to reach unbanked and underbanked consumers, people who would often rely on Cash App as their primary financial account, and who were especially vulnerable to fraud. Block grew its user base without making sure it could support those users when problems arose.
Block's policies didn't just fail to stop fraud, and in several ways, they made it easier:
* Block's sign-up process was designed to be fast and frictionless, with minimal identity verification. That made it easy for fraudsters to create accounts, not just legitimate users.
* For years, Cash App had no phone support. Users who needed help could only message through the app or on social media. People who got locked out, or just wanted to talk to someone, searched online for a phone number and often ended up calling fake 1-800 numbers run by scammers posing as Cash App. Those scammers would then take over accounts or drain users' other financial accounts. Block knew this was happening and didn't warn users or set up a real phone line until years later.
* Block ran a social media promotion called Cash App Fridays, encouraging users to publicly post their $cashtag, a unique Cash App identifier, for a chance to win a weekly prize. Fraudsters would then contact those users, tell them they had won, and trick them into handing over their login information. Block knew about these scams and kept running the promotion anyway, for years.
Block's failure to provide adequate customer service and to fulfill its promise to protect users from fraud had real consequences for real people. Innocent users who experienced automated account locks for suspicious transactions were frequently locked out of their accounts for weeks without a way to access their money. Victims of fraud through the app were often left with no recourse, because delays made it impossible to get stolen money back from scammers and because Block failed to investigate unauthorized transactions and failed to issue refunds when required by law.
Under the settlement, Block has agreed to implement and maintain responsible practices to resolve these issues, including to:
* Maintain customer support that can resolve fraud complaints, account lockouts, and other problems.
* Offer live support 24 hours a day, with a human available by phone at least 13.5 hours a day and by live chat at least 18 hours a day.
* Stop making false or misleading claims about Cash App's safety and how it protects users from fraud.
* Discontinue marketing practices known to increase fraud on the platform.
* Directly educate consumers about common types of fraud.
* Fulfill its legal obligations to investigate fraud claims and reimburse users for unauthorized transactions.
The multistate settlement also reaffirms Block's commitment to distribute between $75 million and $120 million to compensate consumers nationwide as part of a settlement with the CFPB. Additional information regarding the CFPB's settlement is available at https://www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/actions/block-inc/ and https://cashappcfpbsettlement.com/.
Oregon and Texas led the investigation, securing relief for all 46 participating states. A copy of the Consent Judgment is available here. The Consent Judgment was filed on July 8, 2026 for approval and entry by the City of Richmond Circuit Court.
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Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/3073-attorney-general-jay-jones-announces-45-million-multistate-settlement-with-block-inc-over-deceptive-practices-on-cash-app
Okla. A.G. Drummond Reaches Nearly $44M Settlement Resolving 21-Year Poultry Litter Pollution Lawsuit
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, July 14 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Drummond reaches nearly $44M settlement resolving 21-year poultry litter pollution lawsuit
Attorney General Gentner Drummond today announced a nearly $44 million settlement resolving the State's 21-year lawsuit against six companies over poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River Watershed.
Oklahoma sued Tyson Foods, Cargill, George's, Peterson Farms, Cal-Maine and Simmons Foods in 2005. A federal judge found the companies liable in December 2025, then
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, July 14 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Drummond reaches nearly $44M settlement resolving 21-year poultry litter pollution lawsuit
Attorney General Gentner Drummond today announced a nearly $44 million settlement resolving the State's 21-year lawsuit against six companies over poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River Watershed.
Oklahoma sued Tyson Foods, Cargill, George's, Peterson Farms, Cal-Maine and Simmons Foods in 2005. A federal judge found the companies liable in December 2025, thenrejected a narrower settlement with four of the six companies this spring. Today's agreement resolves the case in full, covering all six companies.
"This agreement allows us to turn the page on a dispute that has gone on for far too long," Drummond said. "It protects Oklahoma's water, provides certainty for our poultry industry, and shows that difficult problems can be solved through persistence and good-faith negotiation. When the court asked us to strengthen the agreement, we went back to work and reached a better result. Every company has now made enforceable commitments with clear deadlines, creating a balanced solution that protects our natural resources while supporting one of Oklahoma's most important industries."
Under the settlement, the defendants will:
* Pay $41,671,000 into an Environmental Relief Fund for watershed stewardship and litigation costs to be transferred to the Oklahoma Conservation Commission;
* Pay a combined $420,000 in penalties to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Revolving Fund;
* Fund a combined $1.9 million Auditor Fund to pay for an agreed-upon independent compliance monitor;
* Progressively reduce how much poultry litter removed from poultry houses each year is applied to the land within the watershed -- from no more than 40% in years one and two, to no more than 30% in years three and four, down to no more than 20% in years five through seven -- and litter exported from the watershed to meet those limits many not be land-applied in any other nutrient-sensitive watershed in Oklahoma;
* Fund, or secure funding for, half the cost of installing vegetative buffers on qualifying poultry farms along Lake Tenkiller and the watershed's Scenic Rivers, which filter runoff before it reaches the water;
* Submit to annual compliance certifications and audits with financial penalties for any company that does not meet its litter-reduction commitments.
In exchange, the State will move to set aside the December 2025 court judgment and close out the lawsuit once the settlement is finalized. Payments to the Environmental Relief Fund are due within 30 days after the courts vacate the prior judgment and dismiss the case. The settlement runs for seven years, and companies must still follow all of Oklahoma's litter-management laws during and after that time.
"This settlement protects our water and Oklahoma's thriving poultry growers. Families in this watershed have waited 21 years for that outcome," Drummond said. "I'm glad all six companies came to the table to help us get there. This is what it looks like when everyone works together to make Oklahoma better."
Read the Settlement (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2026/july/2026.07.10%20IRW%20All%20Parties%20Settlement%20Agreement%20Fully-Executed.pdf)
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Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2026/july/drummond-reaches-nearly-44m-settlement-resolving-21-year-poultry-litter-pollution-lawsuit.html
N.J. A.G. Davenport and Multistate Coalition Challenge Paramount/Warner Bros. Merger
TRENTON, New Jersey, July 14 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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AG Davenport and Multistate Coalition Challenge Paramount/Warner Bros. Merger
Merger Would Result in Higher Prices, Reduced Content Choices for New Jerseyans
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Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (Warner Bros.) by Paramount Skydance Corporation (Paramount).
The proposed merger would combine two of Hollywood's five
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TRENTON, New Jersey, July 14 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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AG Davenport and Multistate Coalition Challenge Paramount/Warner Bros. Merger
Merger Would Result in Higher Prices, Reduced Content Choices for New Jerseyans
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Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (Warner Bros.) by Paramount Skydance Corporation (Paramount).
The proposed merger would combine two of Hollywood's fivemajor film distributors and two of the five major basic cable companies, extinguishing competition between Paramount and Warner Bros. and inflicting substantial harm on movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and, ultimately, consumers nationwide.
In the United States alone, if allowed to merge, the combined titan would control roughly one-third of theatrical motion pictures and nearly one-third of basic cable programming. The coalition has asked Warner Bros. and Paramount not to close the merger until after the judicial process concludes-and if the companies do not agree, the coalition will be filing an application for a temporary restraining order to prevent the merger from closing while the case proceeds in court.
"New Jersey is the birthplace of the American film industry, and the state is now a burgeoning hub for film and television production. Given our state's leadership in the film and television industry, we must protect our residents when corporate media monopolies threaten to upend the industry by raising prices and reducing content choices," said Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. "The proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery will hurt our state's residents, plain and simple. We will always stand up against corporate monopolists that seek to exploit hardworking New Jerseyans by driving up prices and turning a massive profit at their expense."
For more than a century, Warner Bros. and Paramount have stood as independent sources of creativity and competition in the film and television industry. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District for the Northen District of California, alleges that the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act, which holds that mergers that may substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly are illegal. The attorneys general allege that if Warner Bros. and Paramount are allowed to merge the merger would lessen competition in the areas of:
* Wide Release Theatrical Film Distribution, where Warner Bros. and Paramount are two of the five major film distributors and would combine for an around 27% share of the market. After the merger, only three distributors will control 75% of these films, and only four distributors (Defendants, Disney, Universal, and Sony) will control 86% of them.
* Anticipated Top-Grossing Theatrical Film Distribution, a submarket of theatrical film distribution focused on anticipated blockbuster films with wide audiences and large production budgets. After the merger, Defendants will control more than 30% of these films, and four distributors (Defendants, Disney, Universal, and Sony) will control more than 90% of them.
* Licensing Basic Cable Television Channels, or the market for distributing basic cable channels to cable and satellite providers. Warner Bros. is the second largest and Paramount is the third largest in this market, and they would combine for a 27% share.
Currently, Paramount and Warner Bros. compete fiercely to create and distribute new, different, and innovative film and television content to American viewers. To promote their films, they negotiate with thousands of movie theaters across the country and bargain with those theaters to secure the most coveted screens and calendar slots. Movie theaters rely on competition between Paramount and Warner Bros. to incentivize creativity and secure competitive prices and terms for themselves and for audiences.
Paramount and Warner Bros. also compete to market their basic cable channels. To acquire the rights to distribute that content to subscribers, distributors negotiate with Paramount, Warner Bros., and other cable channel owners. The availability of alternatives is essential in these negotiations. For example, if Paramount insists on onerous financial terms, the distributor can gain leverage by turning to Warner Bros. -- and vice versa. Distributors rely on competition between entertainment companies to secure low prices for themselves and for their subscribers, and to encourage programmers to invest in new and exciting content for television.
Paramount's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. will end this competition between the two merging companies, threatening viewers with higher prices, the decline of theatrical exhibition of films, and a reduction in the variety, quality, and amount of content distributed.
In filing today's lawsuit Attorney General Davenport joins the attorneys general of California, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Washington.
In New Jersey, the Attorney General is represented in the matter by Deputy Attorney General Anasemoun W. Robinson, under the supervision of Assistant Section Chief Laura E. Sedlak and Assistant Attorney General Brian McDonough within the Division of Law's Affirmative Civil Enforcement Practice Group.
View Complaint (http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-0713_Redacted-Paramount-Warner-complaint.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/ag-davenport-and-multistate-coalition-challenge-paramount-warner-bros-merger/
Maine A.G. Office: Federal Law Enforcement Fatal Use of Deadly Force in Biddeford, Maine, July 13, 2026
AUGUSTA, Maine, July 14 -- The Maine Attorney General Office issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Federal Law Enforcement Fatal Use of Deadly Force in Biddeford, Maine, July 13, 2026
The Office of the Attorney General is investigating a fatal use of deadly force that occurred this morning in Biddeford involving federal law enforcement. Biddeford, Saco, and the Maine State Police are assisting with the investigation as well as federal authorities.
Initial statements indicate an Enforcement Removal Operations Officer was conducting an enforcement operation related to a final
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AUGUSTA, Maine, July 14 -- The Maine Attorney General Office issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Federal Law Enforcement Fatal Use of Deadly Force in Biddeford, Maine, July 13, 2026
The Office of the Attorney General is investigating a fatal use of deadly force that occurred this morning in Biddeford involving federal law enforcement. Biddeford, Saco, and the Maine State Police are assisting with the investigation as well as federal authorities.
Initial statements indicate an Enforcement Removal Operations Officer was conducting an enforcement operation related to a finalorder of removal when the subject attempted to flee in a vehicle in the direction of the officer and was fatally shot.
The Attorney General's Office is actively investigating the incident and will remain on scene with various authorities to continue its investigation. The male subject is not being named until positive identification is made and family members are notified. The Enforcement Removal Operations Officer will be placed on leave as is standard protocol in police involved shootings.
We encourage any member of the public to come forward if they have information they feel would be helpful to the investigation. Please contact your local law enforcement agency.
We understand individuals may want to gather and make their voice(s) heard. We ask that people remain peaceful, be respectful of others, and follow the directions of local law enforcement officers who will be maintaining public order.
We also understand this is a matter of significant public interest and while we will strive for meaningful transparency and accountability, our primary focus in this moment is on a complete, thorough investigation. With this in mind, we will work to provide updates as appropriate.
Please direct further inquiries to the Office of the Maine Attorney General.
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Original text here: https://www.maine.gov/ag/news-and-library/press-releases/federal-law-enforcement-fatal-use-deadly-force-biddeford-maine-july
Ga. A.G. Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit Marks Four Years of Record Success
ATLANTA, Georgia, July 14 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit Marks Four Years of Record Success
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit is marking four years of record success, with more than 140 convictions secured across the state since its inception on July 1, 2022. The majority of these cases involve shootings, both fatal and non-fatal, with one victim as young as three years old.
"In just four years, our Gang Prosecution Unit has achieved historic results - taking down some of
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ATLANTA, Georgia, July 14 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit Marks Four Years of Record Success
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit is marking four years of record success, with more than 140 convictions secured across the state since its inception on July 1, 2022. The majority of these cases involve shootings, both fatal and non-fatal, with one victim as young as three years old.
"In just four years, our Gang Prosecution Unit has achieved historic results - taking down some ofthe most violent offenders in our state and removing deadly and dangerous drugs from our streets," said Attorney General Chris Carr. "It's exactly why we created this Unit in the first place, so we could bring strong cases that ultimately lead to safer communities. Behind every conviction is a family who has been impacted by gang violence or lost a loved one due to senseless crime. They're the reason we're fighting each day, and we will continue to send a strong message that gang activity won't be tolerated anywhere in Georgia."
"For the last four years, the Gang Prosecution Unit has taken the fight directly to violent criminals terrorizing communities across our state," said Governor Brian Kemp. "What started as a single unit in Metro Atlanta has now expanded to nearly every corner of the state, making it loud and clear that gang violence will not be tolerated in Georgia. I commend Attorney General Chris Carr, Chief Prosecutor Cara Convery, and their teams for their tireless commitment to ending gang violence and strengthening public safety in Georgia."
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Background
In July 2022, with the support of Governor Brian Kemp and members of the General Assembly, Attorney General Chris Carr created Georgia's first statewide Gang Prosecution Unit. The creation of the Unit was made possible by the passage of HB 1134, which provides the Attorney General's Office with concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute gang activity statewide, and initial funding provided in the State's FY 2023 budget.
The Gang Prosecution Unit started with the hire of just one Chief Prosecutor, Cara Convery, who leads the team and one main office in Atlanta. It has since expanded to include satellite offices in Albany, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Southeast Georgia and Savannah, with regional prosecutors and investigators who work with local, state, and federal law enforcement to build cases across the state.
The Gang Prosecution Unit is housed in the Attorney General's Prosecution Division, which also includes Carr's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, his Organized Retail Crime Unit, and his White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit.
Individual Case Highlights
Since it began its historic work, Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit has investigated and prosecuted cases in Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Bibb, Bryan, Chatham, Clayton, Cobb, Coffee, DeKalb, Dougherty, Fulton, Gwinnett, Laurens, Lowndes, Muscogee, Richmond, Spalding, Thomas, Upson and Washington counties.
This includes the following prosecutions:
* The conviction of 15 members of the Outcast Motorcycle Gang and the recovery of more than 100 firearms following a large-scale multi-agency investigation in Bryan County. This case marked the largest motorcycle gang indictment in state history, with additional evidence demonstrating that the defendants engaged in criminal activity in other jurisdictions, including Chatham County, Crisp County, Douglas County, Glynn County, Liberty County, McIntosh County, Richmond County, Colleton County (South Carolina), and Fort Bragg (North Carolina).
* The conviction of 16 members of the 1-8 Trey Gangster Bloods following a large-scale investigation into violent crimes, drug trafficking, and gang recruitment as directed from inside and outside of prison. This includes the conviction of Jamar Ramsay, the statewide leader of the gang who was already serving a life sentence at Hays State Prison in Georgia, and Brantavious Sims, who was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Lane Bullard in April 2022.
* The conviction of Kionta Parks, who was sentenced to life in prison plus five years for the murder of 11-year-old Asijah Jones, who was shot and killed while asleep in her bed in Spalding County on March 13, 2023.
* The indictment of 11 individuals in Macon-Bibb County following an extensive investigation into the sale and distribution of illicit drugs and firearms in the Middle Georgia area. The defendants are alleged to be members of the Macon Mafia, the largest criminal street gang in Macon. This investigation also resulted in the recovery of Cocaine, Meth, Fentanyl, several handguns, cash, and other drugs.
* The conviction of three members of PDE, a local criminal street gang in DeKalb County. The defendants engaged in criminal gang activity and committed various weapons offenses in furtherance of the gang. One of those convicted, Darius Scott, was sentenced to 95 years in prison.
Stats & Community Impact
Athens-Clarke County: Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit has partnered with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department to address a long running conflict between the Red Tape Gang (RTG) and Everybody Eats (EBE). This conflict dates back to 2021 and has claimed the lives of several individuals throughout the Athens community, including three-year-old Kyron Santino Zarco Smith, 19-year-old Brynarius Smith, 19-year-old Alijah Nelson, and 24-year-old Ja'Vanni McDavid. So far, Carr's team has secured 20 convictions in Athens alone, with several other individuals still facing charges. Murder and violent crime in Athens have since decreased dramatically, with total shootings down by more than 50 percent last year when compared to 2022.
Dougherty County: Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit has worked with the Albany Police Department to secure nearly 20 convictions in Dougherty County alone. This includes three men who were convicted for the murder of 30-year-old Kartavious Jones, who was shot and killed on Oct. 9, 2018. All three defendants were sentenced to life in prison. Carr is currently prosecuting one individual in connection with two shootings that took place at Albany State University's Homecoming festivities on Oct. 19, 2024. He is also separately prosecuting three individuals in connection with the death of 24-year-old Ricky Williams, who was beaten and passed away as a result of his injuries on Jan. 4, 2026.
Laurens County: Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit has worked with the Dublin Police Department, the Lauren's County Sheriff's Office, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to secure 13 convictions in Laurens County alone, all involving a local gang known as Money Power Loyalty (MPL). This includes the founder and three leaders of the gang. Two of those convicted were sentenced to life plus 410 years for the murder of 24-year-old Sacred Brown and 23-year-old Miyori Ellington.
Muscogee County: Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit has worked with the Columbus Police Department and the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office to secure five murder convictions and eight gang convictions in Columbus alone. This includes the convictions of Rodderick Glanton, Homer Upshaw and Terrance Upshaw, who were each sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 17-year-old Jesse Ransom and 18-year-old Saiveon Pugh. Both Ransom and Pugh were shot and killed during a drive-by on June 14, 2021. Carr is currently prosecuting seven individuals in connection with an assault that took place at the Muscogee County Jail on Oct. 4, 2025.
Richmond County: Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit has partnered with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office to prosecute more than 45 defendants in Richmond County alone. This includes a massive 333-count indictment charging 30 individuals in connection with the distribution of illegal drugs and other acts of violence that have occurred throughout the area. As part of this investigation, Carr's team worked with local, state, and federal law enforcement to seize 15 pounds of fentanyl - enough to kill 3.5 million Georgians.
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Original text here: https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-07-13/carrs-gang-prosecution-unit-marks-four-years-record-success
Ariz. A.G. Mayes Joins Coalition Challenging Paramount/Warner Bros. Merger
PHOENIX, Arizona, July 14 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Joins Coalition Challenging Paramount/Warner Bros. Merger
Attorney General Mayes today joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (Warner Bros.) by Paramount Skydance Corporation (Paramount). The proposed merger would combine two of Hollywood's five major film distributors and two of the five major basic cable companies, extinguishing competition between Paramount
... Show Full Article
PHOENIX, Arizona, July 14 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Joins Coalition Challenging Paramount/Warner Bros. Merger
Attorney General Mayes today joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (Warner Bros.) by Paramount Skydance Corporation (Paramount). The proposed merger would combine two of Hollywood's five major film distributors and two of the five major basic cable companies, extinguishing competition between Paramountand Warner Bros., and inflicting substantial harm on movie theaters, basic cable distributors and, ultimately, audiences nationwide.
If allowed to merge, in the U.S. alone the combined titan would control nearly one-third of theatrical motion pictures, and nearly one-third of basic cable programming. The coalition has asked Warner Bros. and Paramount not to close the merger until after the judicial process concludes, and if they do not agree, the coalition will be filing a temporary restraining order.
"If this merger goes through, Arizonans could face higher prices to see new movies and to access basic cable channels," said Attorney General Mayes. "Consolidation in industry after industry will only lead us in one direction: higher prices and degraded quality and service for Arizonans. We cannot let that happen."
For more than a century, Warner Bros. and Paramount have stood astride the film and television industry as independent sources of creativity and competition. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District for the Northern District of California, alleges that the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act, which holds that mergers that may substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly are illegal.
The attorneys general allege that if Warner Bros. and Paramount are allowed to merge it would lessen competition in the areas of:
* Wide Release Theatrical Film Distribution, where Warner Bros. and Paramount are two of the five major film distributors and would combine for around 27% share of the market. After the merger, only three distributors will control 75% of these films, and only four distributors (Defendants, Disney, Universal, and Sony) will control 86% of them.
* Anticipated Top-Grossing Theatrical Film Distribution, a submarket of theatrical film distribution focused on anticipated blockbuster films with wide audiences and large production budgets. After the merger, Defendants will control more than 30% of these films, and four distributors (Defendants, Disney, Universal, and Sony) will control more than 90% of them.
* Licensing Basic Cable Television Channels, or the market for distributing basic cable channels to cable and satellite providers. Warner Bros. is the second largest and Paramount is the third largest in this market, and they would combine for a 27% share.
Currently, Paramount and Warner Bros. compete fiercely to create and distribute new, different, and innovative film and television content to American viewers. To promote their films, they negotiate with thousands of movie theaters across the country and bargain with those theaters to secure the most coveted screens and calendar slots.
Movie theaters rely on competition between Paramount and Warner Bros. to incentivize creativity and secure competitive prices and terms for themselves and for audiences. Paramount and Warner Bros. also compete to market their basic cable channels. To acquire the rights to distribute that content to subscribers, distributors negotiate with Paramount, Warner Bros., and other cable channel owners.
Alternatives are essential in these negotiations as is the leverage that each entertainment company provides to distributors. For example, if Paramount insists on onerous financial terms, the distributor can gain leverage by turning to Warner Bros. -- and vice versa. Distributors rely on this competition to secure low prices for themselves and for their subscribers, and to encourage programmers to invest in new and exciting content for television.
Paramount's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. will end this competition, threatening viewers with higher prices, the decline of theatrical exhibition of films, and a reduction in the variety, quality, and amount of content distributed.
In filing today's lawsuit Attorney General Mayes joins the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Washington.
A copy of the complaint is available here 9https://mcusercontent.com/cc1fad182b6d6f8b1e352e206/files/605a4411-98ad-f2c5-37c5-6c2d57b6d24d/Redacted_Paramount_Warner_complaint_file_stamped.pdf).
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-joins-coalition-challenging-paramountwarner-bros-merger
