Texas inmates go on strike over slave-like conditions

‘Just like a plantation’: Texas inmates go on strike over slave-like conditionsClaiming that they are treated like slaves, inmates from up to five Texas prisons have orchestrated a historic workers’ strike. A lack of access to quality food and water, low wages, overcrowding, and poor working conditions were among their complaints. Striking inmates are refusing to leave their cells for work assigned by Texas Corrections Industries (TCI), a publicly traded company.

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TPP is the ‘worst trade deal ever,’ Nobel-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz says

TPP is the ‘worst trade deal ever,’ Nobel-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz saysNobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz says the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, could be the worst trade agreement ever negotiated in history. In an interview with CBC News, he recommended that the government of Canada insist on reworking it.

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Corporate Media Gatekeepers Protect Western 1% From Panama Leak

Corporate Media Gatekeepers Protect Western 1% From Panama LeakWhoever leaked the Mossack Fonseca papers appears motivated by a genuine desire to expose the system that enables the ultra wealthy to hide their massive stashes, often corruptly obtained and all involved in tax avoidance. These Panamanian lawyers hide the wealth of a significant proportion of the 1%, and the massive leak of their documents ought to be a wonderful thing.

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FDA sued over approval of genetically engineered ‘frankenfish’

FDA sued over approval of genetically engineered ‘frankenfish’The US Food and Drug Administration is being sued by a coalition of environmental, fishing and consumer groups for its approval of genetically engineered salmon – the first such animal to ever be sold for commercial consumption. The lawsuit announced Thursday challenges the FDA’s power to approve the salmon, which can be grown twice as quickly as natural salmon.

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Giant Leak of Offshore Financial Records Exposes Global Array of Crime and Corruption

Giant Leak of Offshore Financial Records Exposes Global Array of Crime and CorruptionA massive leak of documents exposes the offshore holdings of 12 current and former world leaders and reveals how associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin secretly shuffled as much as $2 billion through banks and shadow companies. The leak also provides details of the hidden financial dealings of 128 more politicians and public officials around the world.

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Bank of America accused of anti-competitive conduct

Bank of America, et al. accused of anti-competitive conductCHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – Several financial institutions are being sued over alleged anti-competitive conduct in the market for interest rate swaps (IRS). Harrison County, Mississippi, Magnolia Regional Health Center and Cullman Regional Medical Center, individually and for all others similarly situated, filed a class-action lawsuit Feb. 18 in U.S.

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Welcome To The Post-Work Economy

Welcome To The Post-Work EconomyIf the goal of the economy is to provide decent-paying work for everyone, that economy clearly isn’t doing a good job at the moment. Real wages for most Americans haven’t increased in 40 years. Real unemployment-which includes the “under-employed”-is above 10%. Many jobs are now part-time, flexi-time, or “gigs” with no benefits and few protections.

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Homeless sue Los Angeles for arrests and destroying their property

Homeless sue Los Angeles for arrests and destroying their propertyA group of homeless people are suing the City of Los Angeles and the police department for “criminalizing” their homelessness, violating their civil rights and destroying their possessions. “We brought this suit to prevent the city from engaging in a practice of unlawfully seizing and destroying homeless people’s property.

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DOJ warns courts about fining & jailing poor people

Stop eroding faith in gov’t: DOJ warns courts about fining & jailing poor peopleThe US Justice Department cautioned local courts that it is unconstitutional to jail someone for not paying fines without determining whether they are able to pay, and warned against using court fees to generate revenue for cities. The warnings came as part of an effort to reform court practices that “perpetuate poverty and result in unnecessary deprivations of liberty,” the Justice Department said.

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Bernie Sanders ‘censored’ by MSNBC while criticizing trade deal

Bernie Sanders ‘censored’ by MSNBC while criticizing trade dealDemocratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has been struggling with a media blackout throughout the campaign – and even during those rare moments when he is covered, he’s still being censored. US broadcaster MSNBC is facing criticism for cutting away from live coverage of a Sanders press conference, just as he was condemning the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.

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Scientists sue NY state police for forcing them to ‘customize’ DNA test results

Scientists sue NY state police for forcing them to ‘customize’ DNA test resultsThree scientists have filed a lawsuit against a New York State Police crime lab where they were employees, saying the administration retaliated against them after they discovered that staff were using outdated DNA evidence tests to get more convictions. Shannon Morris, Melissa Lee and Kevin Rafferty are seeking unspecified damages in federal court, AP reports.

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