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Articles by Andrew Rice
Supreme Court takes up race based school admissions case
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a case challenging race-based admissions policies in Maryland schools. The high court agreed to hear Association for Education Fairness v. Montgomery County Board of Education, a case focused on a group of parents in Montgomery County who say four magnet middle schools discriminated on the basis of race in admissions policies.
Report: U.S. banks restricted customers over political, religious views
(The Center Square) – Nine of the largest U.S. banks dropped services for customers over political and religious views, according to a report from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released Wednesday. The OCC, within the Department of the Treasury, analyzed the practice of "debanking," where a financial institution may suddenly close a customer's bank account or terminate loans.
Crime, data centers, energy central in Tennessee U.S. House race
(The Center Square) - Energy prices, data centers and crime rates are central to a Tennessee U.S. House race that has captured national attention. The Tennessee Legislature adopted a new congressional map in May, following the U.S. Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision. The redrawn map carves up portions of the ninth congressional district where Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., is the only Democrat in the state. Rep. Cohen chose not to run for reelection following the map’s implementation. State Sen.
Taxes, gas prices key in Ohio congressional race
(The Center Square) – Candidates in Ohio’s ninth congressional district are divided on tax policies and gas prices as national attention continues to swirl around the critical race. The race between Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in Congress, and former State Rep. Derek Merrin shows differences in key policy priorities while also showing some overlap.
U.S. to build new domestic military base, no cost estimate provided
(The Center Square) – A new military base is coming to the United States, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Wednesday. Hegseth announced several programs the Pentagon will take on in the coming years in an effort to advance technology and increased deterrance. A location for the new base is yet to be determined, but he said the department will take suggestions.
Smith defends Trump prosecutions, phone call logs
(The Center Square) - Jack Smith, the formal special counsel who organized criminal prosecutions of President Donald Trump, defended his record and leadership on Tuesday. Lawmakers in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee grilled Smith over his handling of prosecutions against Trump while serving in the Department of Justice under President Joe Biden.
Alaska Senate candidates divide on taxes
(The Center Square) — One of the closest U.S. Senate races in the country is in Alaska between candidates who offer key similarities and differences in their tax policies. Incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, will face off against Democrat Mary Peltola in November with control of Congress on the line. Decision Desk Headquarters gives Peltola a slight edge in polling, with as much as a 52% chance of flipping the critical Senate seat.
Lawmakers, advocates protest China visit
(The Center Square) - Lawmakers and advocates rallied against Chinese President Xi Jinping outside the U.S. Capitol Building on Thursday. U.S. Reps. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and hundreds of others called for Xi and President Donald Trump to discuss the repression of Tibet by the Chinese Communist Party. On July 1, China enacted the “Ethnic Unity and Progress Law,” legislation designed to codify the integration of Chinese culture in Tibet through boarding schools.
Cook Report: U.S. Senate a 'True Tossup'
(The Center Square) – Cook Political Report, which conducts election forecasting in races across the country, shifted its prediction outcomes for the U.S. Senate to a “true toss up,” meaning either party has a chance of winning control of the body. The national political forecasting model shifted three new Senate races in the direction of Democrats. Previously, analysts said the race for overall control in the body was a toss up but over the last month, odds have increasingly favored Democrats.
Supreme Court rejects Missouri's redistricting map
(The Center Square) - The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Missouri congressional map set to favor Republicans ahead of the midterm elections. Justices on the high court affirmed a decision by the Missouri Supreme Court to hold a statewide vote on whether the new map could be adopted. The high court's ruling, ordered by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, would leave Missouri candidates who succeeded in the state's primary election under the new map to run under the 2022 version of the congressional map.
Cannabis industry faces tax, banking hurdles
(The Center Square) – Most financial institutions are wary of working alongside cannabis-related businesses despite widening acceptance, according to a new report. The U.S. Government Accountability Office analyzed data from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a federal agency that combats financial crimes, to determine how cannabis-related businesses operated alongside the financial industry.
Trump administration to end tax-exempt status over school discrimination
(The Center Square) — Private schools that discriminate on the basis of race could lose federal tax-exempt status, Trump administration officials announced on Thursday. The U.S. Treasury Department and IRS released new rules on Thursday that would move to end the tax-exempt status. The agencies estimated the rule would affect as many as 18,000 private schools across the country.
Advocates call for federal self-driving rules, manufacturing
(The Center Square) - U.S. lawmakers and industry leaders are pushing for a national framework to govern self-driving cars and increase domestic manufacturing. Leaders spoke at an event hosted by Axios in Washington, D.C., while drivers raced through the nation's capital during qualifying rounds for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. Rep.
Vast majority of Americans want public healthcare prices
(The Center Square) - The vast majority of Americans want hospitals and healthcare providers to publicly disclose prices before patients receive care, according to a new poll. The Center Square Voters Voice Poll, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights, found 88% of American voters said it was at least "somewhat important" for patients to have access to healthcare prices. The Voters Voice Poll, conducted Aug.
Supreme Court temporarily allows White House ballroom construction
(The Center Square) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday temporarily allowed continued construction on President Donald Trump's estimated $400 million White House ballroom. Chief Justice John Roberts issued a stay on Friday temporarily stopping a D.C. District Court's injunction against further construction on the ballroom. The D.C. court's injunction comes after a lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation urged an end to the ballroom's construction.
Report: Southern, rural states lead national highway deaths
(The Center Square) – Mississippi, Wyoming and Arkansas lead the nation in car crash fatalities, according to a new report The Welcome Law Firm, a personal injury and immigration legal clinic, analyzed fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration between 2020 and 2024 in order to determine which states recorded the highest number of fatal crashes across the country.
Trump nominates new FDA commissioner
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Save (The Center Square) — President Donald Trump announced he would nominate Heidi Overton to serve as the new Food and Drug Administration Commissioner. Overton is the deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and has worked on various health initiatives within Trump's administration.
Conflicts of interest swirl around Colorado climate case
(The Center Square) – More than two dozen organizations writing briefs for a pivotal U.S. Supreme Court case on the future of climate change had ties to fossil-fuel linked companies, according to a new report. Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit advocacy group based out of California, released a report on Monday drawing connections between 25 organizations that filed amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of arguments in Suncor v. Boulder County Commissioners.
Progressive Lawrence notches battleground challenge
(The Center Square) – Candidates across Michigan scored partisan victories in races that will determine the balance of Congress in November, while other races remained too close to call. The U.S. House of Representatives currently has a 218-212 split in favor of Republicans. Four vacancies remain the chamber due to three resignations and one death where candidates have yet to fill the positions.
Shah, Feely to face off in battleground House race
(The Center Square) - Amish Shah and Jay Feely will face off for Arizona's first congressional district seat in November. The race is seen as one of the most competitive across the country and could help determine the balance of power in Congress. Shah, a doctor and former Arizona state representative, landed on top of a crowded Democratic primary for the contentious district. He overcame a challenge from Marlene Galán-Woods, Jonathan Treble and Rick McCartney to secure the nomination.
Trump 'final dealmaker' on Saudi nuclear deal, Leavitt says
(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump is working on possible nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that would stand for three decades and involve U.S. companies, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday. The president announced a deal that would allow Saudi Arabia to develop a civilian nuclear program if it agreed to the Abraham Accords, a cooperation between Israel and majority-Muslim nations in the Middle East.
Lawmakers debate GLP-1 regulation, expansion
(The Center Square) - Lawmakers pushed for more regulations and safety standards on popular weight loss medications, including GLP-1 prescriptions, at an event in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Rep. Rudy Yakym, R-Ind., touted the Safe Drugs Act, legislation that would require compounding pharmacies to follow the same regulations as traditional drug manufacturers.
Senators advance healthcare price transparency bill
(The Center Square) - A bipartisan committee of senators advanced legislation on Wednesday that would require hospitals and insurance companies to display prices for provided services. Senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, in a 21-1 vote, advanced the legislation to be considered on the Senate floor. Sen. Paul Rand, R-Ky., voted against the bill and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, did not vote. The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, sponsored by Sens.
Report: Illinois commutes rated among America's safest
(The Center Square) - Illinois ranked among the top 10 safest states to commute in America despite recording one of the nation's highest average crash rates, according to a new report. Beck and Beck, a car accident law firm, analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine which states had the safest commutes in the country. The analysis reviewed rush-hour fatal crash data across all 50 U.S. states from 2020 to 2024.
U.S. Supreme Court to hear asylum, voting, pipeline cases next term
(The Center Square) - The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a slew of cases on Monday on issues including immigration, energy and voting rights as it prepares for the upcoming term. The nation’s highest court will hear arguments in cases for its next term beginning in October. Supreme Court terms typically run from October to June. Here is a look at a few of the cases the court granted on Monday. Asylum Termination The high court agreed to hear Wassily v.
Warsh shakes up Fed analysis, maintains interest rates
(The Center Square) - The central bank would implement new task forces to aid in deciding monetary policy, Kevin Warsh, the new chairman of the Federal Reserve, said Wednesday. The central bank also decided to keep interest rates at the same level of 3.5% to 3.75%. Members of the bank cited rising inflation from the U.S. conflict with Iran as a reason to keep interest rates at the same level.
Matchups not yet determined in redrawn congressional races
(The Center Square) - One week after polls closed in California, several matchups in redrawn congressional districts have yet to be determined. The passage of Proposition 50 in California altered several districts to favor Democrats in election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Despite that, several Republican incumbents have secured the lead in races and are projected to move on to the Nov. 3 general election, while their opponents have yet to be determined.
Lawmakers probe taxpayer savings in military contracts
(The Center Square) - Advocates urged lawmakers on Tuesday to implement legislation that will provide for greater accountability of taxpayer dollars in military contracts. The Department of War requested a historic $1.5 trillion in funding for fiscal 2027, a steep increase from previous years. Analysts said the department’s funding requests are not being backed up by responsible budgeting practices.
Supreme Court rules against Verizon, AT&T over privacy penalties
(The Center Square) - The U.S. Supreme Court, in an 8-1 decision on Thursday, ruled that the Federal Communication Commission did not need to involve a jury in multimillion dollar enforcement actions against Verizon and AT&T. The justices weighed in on FCC v. Verizon and FCC v. AT&T, cases where the communications agency handed down $57 million and $47 million penalties against the cell phone carriers, respectively.
Congressional candidates discuss agriculture, healthcare
Editor's note: This is the part of a series of stories that are appearing this week on the June 2 primary in California. The stories include comments from candidates who agreed to interviews with The Center Square. (The Center Square) - Residents of California’s newly redrawn 22nd Congressional District are considering issues such as healthcare and farming as the June 2 primary approaches.
Farmers call for fertilizer price transparency, domestic growth
(The Center Square) – Farmers and advocates on Tuesday called on Congress to implement transparency reporting requirements in fertilizer pricing. The U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee held a hearing with farmers and advocates from across the country on rising fertilizer prices and supply chain solutions for the industry. The advocates said farms have been struggling with fertilizer prices since before the U.S. conflict in Iran.
Trump confirms Makary out at FDA
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Save (The Center Square) - President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday that Marty Makary would be leaving his post atop the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. While speaking to reporters on the White House lawn Tuesday, Trump said Makary would be leaving. He said FDA deputy commissioner Kyle Diamantes will take over as the adminsitration seeks a new leader of the federal agency.
WATCH: Trump 'probably' considering pulling U.S. troops out of Italy, Spain
(The Center Square) - President Donald Trump on Thursday said he is considering removing U.S. military troops from Italy and Spain, due to the country's lack of assistance during the Iran military conflict. Trump, in the Oval Office, told The Center Square's Sarah Roderick-Fitch he was "probably" considering removing U.S. military troops. "Why shouldn't I?" Trump asked.
U.S. House extends Haiti TPS three years, sends to Senate
(The Center Square) - The U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure, 224-204, to extend temporary protected status to Haitian nationals living in the United States. Ten House Republicans joined House Democrats and one Independent in advancing the protected status for Haitian migrants. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, supported the extension measure as the administration has sought to terminate the protected status.
U.S. Supreme Court to examine birthright citizenship Wednesday
(The Center Square) - The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday in a case to determine to whom the United States can extend birthright citizenship. The case, Trump v. Barbara, centers around President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20, 2025, executive order that denies birthright citizenship to children born in the U.S. after Feb. 19, 2025, whose parents are either illegally present or temporary residents of the United States.
Many voters blame AI data centers for rising electricity costs
(The Center Square) - A significant number of American voters are blaming AI data centers for rising energy costs across the country, a new poll reveals. The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll found 15% of registered voters blame AI data centers for rising electricity costs across the country. Additionally, 22% of voters said companies are using AI data centers as an excuse to raise profits. Combine the two responses and 37% of voters blame rising electricity costs on data centers.
Illinois candidates win party nominations for U.S. House
(The Center Square) - Voters in all 17 of Illinois U.S. House districts went to the polls to vote in primary elections on Tuesday. The candidates will head to a general election on Nov. 3 to determine who will represent Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives. Here are those candidates. District 1 Republican candidates Christian Maxwell won the GOP nomination for Illinois' 1st Congressional district. She is a business consultant from Belleville.
SCOTUS decisions to be issued this week, what could be released
(The Center Square) - Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court announced several days in the next week where they may release decisions in certain cases. The high court said it may announce opinions on Feb. 20, Feb. 23, Feb. 24 and Feb. 25. It is possible for revisions or late changes to effect what, if any, decisions are released on a certain day but the justices rarely retract an opinion announcement. After justices hear oral arguments in a case, they hold a conference to vote on their decision.
SCOTUS to consider second election law case
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that an Illinois congressman had the right to sue the state over ballot counting after Election Day. The high court’s decision in Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections brought praise from election integrity advocates, including Jason Snead, director of the Honest Elections Project. Snead told The Center Square he has seen inequity of access to the courts for conservative candidates compared to liberal candidates.
2025 SCOTUS Review: Hormone therapy to universal injunctions
(The Center Square) — The U.S. Supreme Court issued consequential decisions in 2025 that displayed an adherence to an originalist interpretation of the Constitution, which could inform some of the high-profile issues the court is expected to issue decisions on in the coming year. The nation’s highest court limited nationwide injunctions, allowed states to prohibit hormone therapy for minors, allowed for restrictions on pornography access and upheld religious liberty.
Trump announces 'Golden Fleet' Navy battleships
(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump on Monday announced the United States would be building two new battleships to be part of the Navy's "Golden Fleet." Trump, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, War Secretary Peter Hegseth and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, announced the "Golden Fleet" of Navy ships. Trump said the U.S. would start building two ships, with the ultimate goal of having between 20 and 25 "Golden Fleet" ships total.
WATCH: House Democrats, Republicans spar over high college tuition costs
(The Center Square) – U.S. House Democrats and Republicans shared opposing viewpoints Wednesday on ways to address the rising costs of college tuition in the U.S. In a House subcommittee hearing, Republican and Democrat members questioned a panel of witnesses on antitrust policies of Ivy League institutions. U.S. Rep.
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