Suevon Lee

Missouri Congressman’s Disavowed Remarks Torment Republicans

A Missouri congressman’s startling remarksabout “legitimate rape” and pregnancy have set off a torrent of criticism from his fellow Republicans as well as from Democrats. And the episode has made the abortion issue an unwelcome focus for GOP candidates nationwide. Key leaders in the Republican Party,including presidential candidate Mitt Romney, are urging Rep. Todd Akin to surrender the Republican nomination for […]

Suevon Lee
By Suevon Lee
This Aug. 10, 2012 file photo shows Todd Akin, Republican candidate for U.S. Senator from Missouri taking questions after speaking at the Missouri Farm Bureau candidate interview and endorsement meeting in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/St. Louis Pos-Dispatch, Christian Gooden)

A Missouri congressman's startling remarksabout "legitimate rape" and pregnancy have set off a torrent of criticism from his fellow Republicans as well as from Democrats. And the episode has made the abortion issue an unwelcome focus for GOP candidates nationwide. Key leaders in the Republican Party,including presidential candidate Mitt Romney,

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Pennsylvania Is Just The Latest Ruling Upholding Voter ID Law

On Wednesday, in a closely watched case, a state judge in Pennsylvania declined to block the state’s controversial voter ID law from taking effect. If the ruling is upheld onappeal, registered voters in the state will be required to show acceptable photo ID during the general election in November. There’s been a lot of attention on this lawsuit, given […]

Suevon Lee
By Suevon Lee
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue holds up a sample Voter ID after signing the bill into law at the Capitol in Atlanta, Jan. 26, 2006. Sen. Cecil Staton, R-Macon, sponsor of the Voter ID legislation in the Senate is seen in the background. (AP Photo/Ric Feld)

On Wednesday, in a closely watched case, a state judge in Pennsylvania declined to block the state’s controversial voter ID law from taking effect. If the ruling is upheld onappeal, registered voters in the state will be required to show acceptable photo ID during the general election in November. There’s been a lot of attention on this lawsuit,

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Despite Supreme Court Ruling, Many Minors May Stay In Prison For Life

When Dennis Epps learned in June that the Supreme Court had struck down mandatory life without parole sentences for kids convicted of murder, he was hopeful. His brother, David, was given such a sentence for home burglary-murder committed at 16 and has spent most of his 48 years behind bars. “I was thinking he was going to […]

Suevon Lee
By Suevon Lee
New prisoners at the Department of Youth Services Detention Center begin the intake process by being searched Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002. (AP Photo/Will Shilling)

When Dennis Epps learned in June that the Supreme Court had struck down mandatory life without parole sentences for kids convicted of murder, he was hopeful. His brother, David, was given such a sentence for home burglary-murder committed at 16 and has spent most of his 48 years behind bars. "I was thinking he was going to get some kind of

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Chesapeake Energy Cheat Sheet: What’s Been Uncovered So Far

The last four months have been rather bumpy for Chesapeake Energy Corp., the nation’s second-largest natural gas company behind Exxon Mobil. Starting in April, Reuters took aim at the company’s flamboyant chief executive, Aubrey McClendon, in a series of articles, prompting his ouster as company chairman (he remains CEO) last month at the behest of […]

Suevon Lee
By Suevon Lee
Over the past few months, Chesapeake Energy Corp. has been under fire after emails were released that showed secret agreements with a natural gaas company to supress the price of land leases in Michigan. (Photo by MyEyeSees via Flikr)

The last four months have been rather bumpy for Chesapeake Energy Corp., the nation’s second-largest natural gas company behind Exxon Mobil. Starting in April, Reuters took aim at the company’s flamboyant chief executive, Aubrey McClendon, in a series of articles, prompting his ouster as company chairman (he remains CEO) last month at the behest

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Obama’s Last Move On Illegal Immigrants Resulted In Little Change

Last week, the White House announced what could be a big shift in immigration policy, exempting many young illegal immigrants from deportation in the short run. But this wasn’t Obama’s first directive to extend protection to this group. A year ago, the administration ordered broader discretion in the prosecution of illegal immigrants. Among the factors to consider were […]

Suevon Lee
By Suevon Lee
President Barack Obama speaks at The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Annual Conference at the Walt Disney World Resort, Friday, June 22, 2012, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Last week, the White House announced what could be a big shift in immigration policy, exempting many young illegal immigrants from deportation in the short run. But this wasn’t Obama’s first directive to extend protection to this group. A year ago, the administration ordered broader discretion in the prosecution of illegal immigrants. Among the

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By The Numbers: The U.S.’s Growing For-Profit Detention Industry

The growth of the private detention industry has long been a subject of scrutiny. A recent eight-part series in the New Orleans Times-Picayune chronicled how more than half of Louisiana’s 40,000 inmates are housed in prisons run by sheriffs or private companies as part of a broader financial incentive scheme. The detention business goes beyond […]

Suevon Lee
By Suevon Lee
In this view looking out from the condemned inmate's holding cell at San Quentin State Prison in San Quentin, Calif., Thursday, June 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

The growth of the private detention industry has long been a subject of scrutiny. A recent eight-part series in the New Orleans Times-Picayune chronicled how more than half of Louisiana’s 40,000 inmates are housed in prisons run by sheriffs or private companies as part of a broader financial incentive scheme. The detention business goes beyond just

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Why The Feds Are Suing Florida For Allegedly Purging Voters

On Tuesday, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Florida over its voter purge program aimed at removing non-citizens from voter rolls. We’ve taken a closer look at the controversy surrounding the program and why the federal government has gotten involved:   So what is Florida doing and why is it so controversial? Florida has compiled […]

Suevon Lee
By Suevon Lee
Florida Gov. Rick Scott speaks with reporters of the Associated Press in Miami, Fla. Friday Aug. 19, 2011. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

On Tuesday, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Florida over its voter purge program aimed at removing non-citizens from voter rolls. We’ve taken a closer look at the controversy surrounding the program and why the federal government has gotten involved:   So what is Florida doing and why is it so controversial? Florida

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