Two SC legislators hired as consultants by City Manager
According to The State, City Manager Teresa Wilson has directly hired two state legislators to do consulting work for the city’s government. Democrats state Rep. Mia McLeod and state Sen. John Scott have been hired because of their expertise, not because of their positions in state government. McLeod and Scott’s businesses, McLeod Butler Communications and C&S Consulting Group, will each receive up to $49,500. The hiring of McLeod and Scott will allow the two consultants to advise the city on public relations and transportation matters. State law does not prohibit legislators from working for a city or county government. However if the lawmakers were to use their legislative powers to lobby for the city government, it could be a breach of ethical code.
Texas prohibits funding to Planned Parenthood clinics
Reuters.com reported Monday that Texas health officials announced in a letter that all funds from Medicaid given to Planned Parenthood clinics across the state will be cut. This comes in response to an anti-abortion group, the Center for Medical Progress, that released secret footage of the handling of aborted fetuses at several clinics. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement saying that the “barbaric practice” should not be allowed in his state. Just a few hours before that, U.S. District Judge John deGravelles stopped the state of Louisiana’s attempt to cut funding to Planned Parenthood for the next two weeks. Planned Parenthood Executive Vice President Dawn Laguens announced in a statement that the organization “will fight back against this outrageous, malicious, political attack in Texas with everything we’ve got.”
Indiana University student arrested after attacking Muslim woman
After being arrested for attacking a Muslim woman, 19-year-old Indiana University student Triceten Bickford is under serious scrutiny by the FBI according to NBC’s Bloomington, Indiana affiliate, WTHR. The institution initiated a “civil rights investigation" on the situation to determine if Bickford’s crime was a hate crime. On Saturday,Bloomington police responded to reports of an assault at a café. The police report states that Bickford shouted racial slurs and threats at a 47-year-old Muslim woman who was sitting at a table before he grabbed her by the neck and forced her head down toward the table. The report also states Bickford tried to remove the scarf on her head with his other hand which made her unable to breathe. The woman’s husband and a stranger pulled Bickford off of her. Bickford was arrested on six criminal charges and could face federal charges pending the FBI’s investigation. Federal involvement was initiated because Indiana state law does not include a hate crime statute.
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