WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11360) on Sept. 5, 2025, by legislative attorney Whitney K. Novak: * * * Free Exercise of Religion at School: The Supreme Court's Mahmoud v. Taylor Ruling On June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case addressing the application of the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause in public schools. In Mahmoud, parents challenged school curri  more

ROANOKE, Virginia, Sept. 2 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia posted the following news release: * * * Martinsville Doctor Sentenced to 40 Years for Drug Distribution Dr. Joel Smithers was Convicted of 467 Counts Following a Jury Trial in December 2024 * ABINGDON, Va. - A Martinsville-based doctor, who was found guilty of more than 450 counts of multiple drug charges at the conclusion of a three-week jury trial in December 2024, was sentenced today in U.  more