All posts by Van Jones

Holland and Belgium, Follow US, and Freeze Funds to UNRWA

Holland and Belgium have taken the decision to freeze funding for the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees). There decision comes amid reports of major corruption within the organisation and claims of sexual misconduct.

Krähenbühl and other senior officials were involved in “sexual misconduct, nepotism, retaliation, discrimination and other abuses of authority, for personal gain, to suppress legitimate dissent, and to otherwise achieve their personal objectives,” a leaked internal report disclosed earlier Tuesday.

President Trump had already withdrawn funding for the UNRWA, and was criticised for doing so from the media. The US covered almost a third of the agencies billion dollar budget.

Read More: Legal Insurrection

Santa Barbara to See Largest Pot Farms in the World

The Santa Rita Hills of Santa Barbara County will soon see the largest cannabis farm in the world.  After heavy lobbying from the marijuana industry the county has opened its doors to big business pot farms.

However, not everyone is happy with the development. Residents and wine producers are concerned about the smell the plants produce. And avocado farmers are concerned they will be held liable if spraying their crops taints near by cannabis crops.

Some also have questions about the way the county has legislated the industry. After the marijuana companies and their lobbying groups won every significant measure the companies wanted. Including tax on the operations being decided on gross revenue instead of licensed square footage. So far revenues have been far less that consultants had predicted.

Read More: LA Times

SUPREMES BLOCK RULINGS ORDERING GOP TO REDRAW DISTRICT LINES IN TWO KEY SWING STATES

The Supreme Court temporarily blocked two decisions Friday requiring Republican-controlled legislatures in Michigan and Ohio to produce new legislative district lines ahead of the 2020 election.

There were no noted dissents from the Friday orders. The decision was not surprising, as the justices are currently deciding whether federal courts should even hear partisan gerrymandering disputes.

Read More