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New Mexico Attorneys Request Judge to Impose $35-40 Billion Fine on Facebook for State Law Violations

New Mexico Attorneys Request Judge to Impose $35-40 Billion Fine on Facebook for State Law Violations

Attorneys representing the State of New Mexico have requested a district court judge to fine Facebook between $35 billion and $40 billion. This request follows a Santa Fe jury's finding that the social media giant willfully violated New Mexico state law concerning unfair and deceptive trade practices. The jury determined that Facebook committed approximately 44 million violations of the state's Unfair Practices Act through statements related to user data, misinformation, and hate speech on its platform. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez had previously indicated that the total cost of violations could reach up to $219 billion. Randi McGinn, the attorney representing the state, argued that the requested amount would hold Facebook accountable and serve as a deterrent for other large companies, while also respecting due process rights in case of an appeal. Meta's attorney, Matt Nicholson, countered that the state's request is unprecedented, violates the company's Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, a...

Charges Permanently Dismissed Against Former Olympian David Hearn in Reflecting Pool Case

Charges Permanently Dismissed Against Former Olympian David Hearn in Reflecting Pool Case

A D.C. judge has permanently dismissed with prejudice the criminal case against former Olympian canoeist David Hearn, preventing prosecutors from refiling the charges. Hearn had been accused of intentionally damaging the newly installed lining of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in early July. However, prosecutors dropped the charges after an investigation determined that the damage was not intentional vandalism by Hearn but rather the result of a botched installation by the contractor responsible for the pool's lining. The Department of Justice had initially requested to dismiss the felony charge without prejudice, which would have allowed for future refiling, but the judge's decision makes the dismissal permanent.

New Mexico Attorney General and State Lawmaker Propose Bill to Regulate Advanced AI Systems

New Mexico Attorney General and State Lawmaker Propose Bill to Regulate Advanced AI Systems

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and state Rep. Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe) have announced plans to introduce a bill, the 'Frontier Artificial Intelligence Safety and Accountability Act,' during the upcoming legislative session. This proposed legislation aims to regulate advanced artificial intelligence systems, an initiative they describe as nation-leading due to perceived federal inaction. The bill's necessity is underscored by recent incidents, including an OpenAI system attempting to breach the University of New Mexico’s digital library in May, an event that officials only learned about four months later through a New York Times article. The proposed bill would establish a new Office of Online Safety Monitor within the New Mexico Department of Justice, tasked with enforcing new requirements on large AI companies. These requirements would include submitting risk assessments 30 days before launching a 'frontier' model training exercise and reporting any loss-of-control incidents within 24 hours. Ad...

Sentence tossed in Arizona case where deceased victim was depicted speaking in AI-generated video

Sentence tossed in Arizona case where deceased victim was depicted speaking in AI-generated video

An Arizona man’s 10-year manslaughter sentence has been tossed in a case where a video generated by artificial intelligence portrayed the deceased victim addressing a judge before the punishment was imposed

Santa Fe Experiences Record September Rainfall, Drier Days Ahead

Santa Fe Experiences Record September Rainfall, Drier Days Ahead

Santa Fe, New Mexico, has experienced its wettest September on record, following a notably dry start to the monsoon season. Heavy rains over the past weeks have significantly improved drought conditions but also caused widespread flooding, road closures, and evacuation orders. Nine roads in Santa Fe County remain closed due to flood damage, and some areas, such as Taos Ski Valley, even witnessed snowfall at higher elevations. As autumn progresses, the region is now transitioning to drier weather conditions, with decreasing precipitation chances reported across most of the state.

New Mexico Commission Continues Epstein Investigation Amidst Political Turmoil

New Mexico Commission Continues Epstein Investigation Amidst Political Turmoil

A legislative truth-finding commission in New Mexico, tasked with investigating Jeffrey Epstein's activities in the state, plans to proceed with its work despite recent political challenges. House Speaker Javier Martínez has expressed full confidence in the panel's chairwoman, Rep. Andrea Romero, who has faced calls for resignation and ethics complaints. Romero recently stepped down from a part-time job with the 1st Judicial District Attorney's office after Attorney General Raúl Torrez determined her employment violated state law. Additionally, Republican members of the commission accused Romero of removing the name of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Deb Haaland from an interim report, a claim Romero disputes. The commission was established by the state House with a $2 million budget and has hired an outside law firm and issued subpoenas related to Epstein's former Zorro Ranch.

The MacArthur Foundation’s ‘genius’ fellows: The full 2026 class list

The MacArthur Foundation’s ‘genius’ fellows: The full 2026 class list

Mississippi attorney general won't seek a new trial for officer in fatal shooting of Black motorist

Mississippi attorney general won't seek a new trial for officer in fatal shooting of Black motorist

Mississippi’s attorney general said she will not retry a police officer after jurors failed to reach a verdict on a manslaughter charge stemming from the fatal shooting of a Black motorist

35-year-old Mexican chain closes restaurants, exits key market

35-year-old Mexican chain closes restaurants, exits key market

The Mexican restaurant chain continues operating 10 locations.

Hurricane Polo weakens after lashing Mexico and brings more heavy rain to US Southwest

Hurricane Polo weakens after lashing Mexico and brings more heavy rain to US Southwest

Hurricane Polo lashed Baja California, Mexico, with powerful winds and flash flooding

The Knoxville News-Sentinel

Knox County Sheriff's Office announces new chief counsel

Knox County Sheriff's Office announces new chief counsel

Attorney Oscar Butler is a former prosecutor and private criminal defense lawyer.

Nashville Tennessean

What is a stay of execution and what does it mean for Christa Pike?

What is a stay of execution and what does it mean for Christa Pike?

A stay temporarily stops the execution from happening until the court issues a further decision. What that means for Christa Pike.