EIA: “Since reaching a high point in 2008, coal production in the United States has continued to decline. U.S. coal production in 2015 is expected to be about 900 million short tons (MMst), 10% lower than in 2014 and the lowest level since 1986. Regionally, production from the Appalachian Basin has fallen the most. Low natural gas prices, lower international coal demand, and environmental regulations have contributed to declining U.S. coal production.”
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Daily Archives: January 12, 2016
Redefining Reasonable Seizures
Gouldin, Lauryn P., Redefining Reasonable Seizures (January 11, 2016). Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2713931 “The government’s power to seize individuals who are suspected of crimes — by arresting, stopping, or otherwise detaining them — has expanded significantly in the twenty-first century. The Supreme Court’s gradual redefinition of what constitutes a reasonable Fourth Amendment seizure… Continue Reading
DHS IG Audit on Human Trafficking
ICE and USCIS Could Improve Data Quality and Exchange to Help Identify Potential Human Trafficking Cases – January 4, 2016 “Our match of ICE and USCIS data from 2005 to 2014 indicated that work and fiancé visas were the primary means by which 17 of 32 known traffickers brought victims into the United States. In… Continue Reading
U.S. Conference of Mayors Releases 22-City Survey on Hunger and Homelessness
U.S. Conference of Mayors Releases 2015 Hunger and Homelessness Survey: Press Release | Download the Report | “Sixty-six percent of the survey cities reported that the number of requests for emergency food assistance increased over the past year. Among people requesting emergency food assistance, 67 percent were persons in families, 42 percent were employed, 23… Continue Reading
Ultimate Ownership and Bank Competition
Azar, José and Raina, Sahil and Schmalz, Martin C., Ultimate Ownership and Bank Competition (January 8, 2016). Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2710252 “We document a secular increase of deposit account maintenance fees and fee thresholds with a new branch-level dataset, as well as substantial cross-sectional variation in these prices and in deposit rate spreads.… Continue Reading
SEC publishes 2016 priorities for Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations
“This document identifies selected 2016 examination priorities of the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE,” “we,” or “our”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”). In general, th priorities reflect certain practices and products that OCIE perceives to present potentially heightened risk to investors and/or the integrity of the U.S. capital markets.… Continue Reading
National Taxpayer Advocate Releases 2015 Annual Report to Congress
“The 2015 Annual Report to Congress analyzes the most serious problems facing taxpayers, recommends tax law changes to Congress, and presents original research studies into issues affecting taxpayers.” For the IRS to do its job well, it must start from the perspective of what government is about – namely, it is of the people, by… Continue Reading
Owner of Philadelphia Media Network transfers newspapers and website to nonprofit
Via Philly.com – “On Tuesday, in a meeting with employees and then at a news conference at the Constitution Center, H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest [sole owner of Inquirer and the Daily News] formally announced the details of a complicated transaction designed to ensure that quality journalism endures in Philadelphia for generations. The move places the region’s… Continue Reading
GAO Reports – Defense Infrastructure, National Security Cutter, Veterans Benefits Management System
Defense Infrastructure: DOD Efforts Regarding Net Zero Goals, GAO-16-153R: Published: Jan 12, 2016. Publicly Released: Jan 12, 2016. National Security Cutter: Enhanced Oversight Needed to Ensure Problems Discovered during Testing and Operations Are Addressed, GAO-16-148: Published: Jan 12, 2016. Publicly Released: Jan 12, 2016. Veterans Benefits Management System: Ongoing Efforts Can Be Improved; Goals Are… Continue Reading
Class action against Pacer claims inflated fees
Via Top Class Actions: “A class action lawsuit has been filed accusing the Public Access to Courts Electronic Records system (PACER)—the online database created and run by the U.S. government to allow access to federal court records—of systematically overcharging its customers. The PACER system normally charges 10 cents ($0.10) per page to view a document,… Continue Reading
