Local communities have the power to use local zoning laws to ban heavy industry, such as oil and gas production and fracking, according to New York’s Court of Appeals Monday. The state’s highest court ruled in a 5-2 decision that the towns of Dryden and Middlefield could ban such industry within municipal borders. “Today the Court stood with the people of Dryden and the people of New York to protect their right to self determination,” said Dryden Deputy Supervisor Jason Leifer. “It is clear that people, not corporations, have the right to decide how their community develops.” The ruling effects
US Law
Fracking Can Be Banned by Local Communities, Says New York’s Highest Court
Grandson of Faygo Soda Suing the Family Business Over Ageism
Two years after being terminated at Faygo, a soda pop company known for making old-fashioned soda, the grandson of founder Hugh Rosenthal is suing his grandfather’s company, claiming he was fired merely because of his age. Rosenthal was fired 2012 when he was marketing director and was 66. He was the third generation of Rosenthals to work at Faygo. He began as director of marketing in 1992. When Rosenthal was fired two years ago in July, he filed a discrimination charge the same day with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Last April, the EEOC granted Rosenthal the right to sue, and he filed suit in the
New York Votes to Not Drill or Frack
New York’s general assembly voted Monday on whether to drill or frack within the state. The majority voted in favor of a three-year ban on drilling and fracking. An 89-34 vote favored a three-year moratorium on oil and gas drilling permits. The moratorium is intended in part to allow time for study of the environmental impact of drilling and fracking. “We do not need to rush into this. The natural gas deposits within the Marcellus Shale are not going to go anywhere,” said New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. “We have heard from thousands of residents across the state about many
What Happens When Your Driverless Car Chooses Whether to Save Your Life or Others’ Lives in an Accident? Survey Results
Driverless cars are now legal in America, but what happens when your car has to decide whether to save your life or others’ in an accident? Recently, a survey was taken to find out what Americans thought should happen. The survey, conducted by the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) polled 196 participants. The survey asked, “Should your robot car sacrifice your life if it will save more lives?” The decision was split. Around one third chose each of three options: Yes, the car should prioritize its drivers life; No, the car should be programmed to save the maximum
Revenge Porn Case Will Go to Trial, Bollaert Faces Max. 22 Years
Kevin Bollaert, who was charged after allegedly posting pornographic photos of women and girls submitted by ex-boyfriends as revenge, then asking complaining women and girls for money in order to remove the photos, will go to trial on 31 felony counts. After Bollaert’s five-day preliminary hearing, the judge ruled that there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the trial. Bollaert is reported to have posted over 10,000 revenge porn images on his websites, including YouGotPosted.com. Bollaert also created a second site called changemyreputation.com for revenge-porn victims. Bollaert is charged with conspiracy, identity theft and extortion. There had also been allegations of child pornography,
One Little US Town Is Showing the World How a Small Community Can Stand Up to Big Oil and Gas and Stop Fracking
One little US town is showing the world how a small community can take on big oil and gas. Lafayette, Colo. (pop. 25,733) was unhappily facing fracking within their town area. The citizens banded together with environmental groups and amended their Community Bill of Rights to secure their right to clean air, pure water, and the rights of ecosystems to exist and flourish. Besides Lafayette’s stand, moratoriums and bans have been enacted in six small cities and towns with a combined total of more than 400,000 citizens. The Community Bill of Rights was amended on November 6, Election Day. The margin for the
Nation’s Largest Sex Offender Registry Finds Sex Offender Registry Does Not Work
California, which has the largest sex offender registry in the United States, has received the news from the California Sex Offender Management Board that their registry is not working. The board reported that the fast-growing registry included too many unnecessary people and that it did not help law enforcement or the public differentiate potentially risky offenders from those who would likely not reoffend. The board reported that about 95 percent of solved sex crimes are committed by people who are not on the registry, and said that the registry was created, in part, on assumptions that have since been proved
Facebook Beats Conservative Lawyer in Lawsuit Over Facebook Page Encouraging Muslims to Kill Jews
The DC Appeals Court sided with Facebook and founder Mark Zuckerberg Friday in a case over several pages on Facebook, such as “Third Palestinian Intifada,” which called for Muslims to rise up and kill Jews. The ruling was based on the protections given to all Americans using the internet under a section of a 1996 law. Three years ago, Klayman saw the Facebook page “Third Palestinian Intifada,” of which there were 360,000 members, as well as three similar, smaller pages, and complained to Facebook because the pages called for Muslims to rise up and kill Jews. After receiving a letter
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