Month: May 2023

Nevada GOP Gov. Joe Lombardo Signs Bill Protecting Out-of-State Abortion Visits

Republican Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, a self-described pro-life Catholic, has signed a bill enabling people to come from other states to get abortions. On Tuesday, Lombardo signed Senate Bill 131 into law. The bill bars state agencies from assisting in out-of-state investigations that could lead to the prosecution of abortion seekers who travel to Nevada….


Alex Murdaugh Pleads Not Guilty—for Now—to Federal Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Charges

CHARLESTON, S.C.—Alex Murdaugh was arraigned Wednesday on federal money laundering and wire fraud charges for indictments saying he stole money from his clients, and although he pleaded not guilty for now, his lawyer said that might change soon. Murdaugh is already serving a life sentence in a South Carolina state prison for killing his wife…


Real-World Nuclear Fusion: Startup Secures Over $7 Million for Energy Machine

A German Startup has secured millions in funding to develop a fusion energy machine that could potentially generate energy free of carbon emissions. The Munich-based startup Proxima Fusion designs fusion power plants based on the stellarator concept, with the first plant planned for sometime within the 2030s, the company said in a May 30 press release (pdf)….


West Virginia Boy, 16, Sentenced to 80 Years for Killing Mother, Sister

NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va.—A West Virginia teenager was sentenced to consecutive 40-year prison terms in the fatal shootings of his mother and sister after a judge rejected the defendant’s pleas for a lesser sentence. Connor Crowe pleaded guilty last November to second-degree murder after waiving his right to be tried in juvenile court or by a…


We Don’t Need to Become a Republic, We Are One

Commentary I wonder how long King Charles will reign over this realm of Australia. I am in favour of the King, but not particularly optimistic about his future here. In 1995, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who was at that time CEO of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy (ACM), asked me to set up a Tasmanian…


ANALYSIS: Texas Lt. Gov. Patrick Says Gov. Abbott ‘Misinformed’ on House’s Property Relief Plan

News Analysis Continued infighting among three of Texas’ top Republican lawmakers is sparking more tension in the state’s Capitol following the House’s impeachment of the attorney general. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick took to social media to call out Gov. Greg Abbott’s accolades for the House’s unanimous passage of its property tax cut bill, which…


New Housing Approvals Plummet to Decade Low, Deepening Australia’s Housing Crisis

New housing approvals across Australia continued to decline in April, plummeting to its lowest level in  11 years. The implications for housing supply deepen the concerns that the rental and affordability crisis would deteriorate further. The total number of dwellings approved nationally fell 8.1 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted 11,594, the lowest level…


Australian New Housing Approvals Plummeted to Decade Low, Deepening Housing Crisis Concerns

New housing approvals across Australia continued to decline in April, plummeting to its lowest level in  11 years. The implications for housing supply deepen the concerns that the rental and affordability crisis would deteriorate further. The total number of dwellings approved nationally fell 8.1 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted 11,594, the lowest level…


Australian Garlic Can Eliminate 99.9 Percent of COVID-19, Flu Cells: Scientists

Scientists in a “world first” study now say Australian garlic could be key to fighting COVID-19 infections and the flu. In a study by the Melbourne-based Peter Doherty Institute, researchers extracted a specific ingredient, the Proprietary Ingredient SupaG, from Australian-grown garlic varieties. “The results came as a world first, with the findings from specific garlic…


Public Service Rejects Governments 10.5 Percent Pay Rise Offer

The Australian public service union has rejected the federal government’s pay rise offer, labelling it as “not good enough!” The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) voted overwhelmingly to reject the offer, with 86 percent of the 15,000 members who voted in the ballot choosing to turn down the government’s first offer. They had called…