Congress

Congress Passes Fair Sentencing Act; Lower Crack-Cocaine Disparity Heads to Obama for Signature

Here’s an incremental, but important victory for criminal justice, as the crack/powder cocaine sentencing disparity has shrunk: Congress has changed a quarter-century-old law that has sent tens of thousands of blacks to prison for crack cocaine convictions while giving far more lenient treatment to those, mainly whites, caught with the same amount of the drug in powder form [...]

New government law makes it legal to unlock your phone, load 3rd party apps on iPhone and Android

AP Reports: Owners of the iPhone will be able to legally break electronic locks on their devices in order to download software applications that haven't been approved by Apple Inc., according to new government rules announced Monday.

House Approves Cell Ban for All Prisoners

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved S. 1749, which makes it illegal for prisoners to have possession of a mobile phone or other other device that can access wireless services. The Senate approved the bill in April. It only needs to be signed by the President to become law. Cell phones are already banned at prisons, but this new law will make it a punishable crime.

Rahm Emanuel expected to quit White House

Washington insiders say he will quit within six to eight months in frustration at their unwillingness to "bang heads together" to get policy pushed through. Mr Emanuel, 50, enjoys a good working relationship with Mr Obama but they are understood to have reached an understanding that differences over style mean he will serve only half the full four-year term.

Obama Shot Back At Heckler

After the heckler's "move faster" shout at the San Francisco event, Obama shot back, "Good to see ya," and recalled a similar encounter in Los Angeles.