Our Latest Updates – Archive

Polls are split as to whether Americans would like to keep DST or Standard Time, but no one seems to like changing the clocks twice a year. Where do you stand?

The National Retail Federation expects Americans to spend about $10.6 billion on Halloween in 2022, which would break the 2021 record of $10.1 billion. 69% of Americans are predicted to collectively spend $3.6 billion on costumes, $3.1 billion on candy, $3.4 billion on decorations, and $0.6 billion on greeting cards in 2022.

Between Apr. 28, 2021, and Oct. 17, 2022, the survey garnered 16,978 responses. See what ProCon readers think about the internet.

The White House Twitter account added, “Additionally, @POTUS asked @SecBecerra and the Attorney General to initiate the process of reviewing how marijuana is scheduled under federal law. Marijuana is currently classified at the same level as heroin – and above fentanyl.”

On Oct. 5, 2022, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the July 2021 court decision that DACA is illegal. The court stayed the decision and sent the case back to the Federal District Court in Houston. The Biden Administration confirmed it will continue to defend DACA.

Explore nationwide and state-level polls on medical marijuana support and disapproval from 2000 through 2022.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the plan will cost $400 billion over 30 years.

According to the Sentencing Project, “[p]rivate prisons incarcerated 99,754 American residents in 2020, representing 8% of the total state and federal prison population. Since 2000, the number of people housed in private prisons has increased 14%.

An unnamed minor Russian tennis player was banned for nine months (retroactively dating from Mar. 5, 2022 through Dec. 4, 2022). The teen may not compete or attend games organized by tennis’ governing bodies. The player tested positive for meldonium, the same drug for which fellow Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova was banned for two years in 2016.

On Sep. 19, 2022, US District Judge David Counts ruled that a federal law banning people under felony indictments from purchasing a firearm is unconstitutional based on the June 23, 2022 US Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. Counts noted “this case’s real-world consequences – certainly valid public policy and safety concerns exist,” but countered, “the Government must prove that laws regulating conduct covered by the Second Amendment’s plain text align with this Nation’s historical tradition. The Government does not meet that burden.” 

Find updated arguments, quotes, and more.

On Sep. 1, 2022, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced an interim final rule that the VA would provide abortions to veterans and VA beneficiaries in some cases, regardless of state laws. Abortions will be available if the life or health of the pregnant person is in danger and in cases of rape and incest.

On Sep. 6, 2022, Circuit Court Judge Jocelyn Newman ruled that South Carolina’s plan to reinstate the firing squad and electric chair was unconstitutional. South Carolina is expected to appeal the decision.

States may adopt their own laws on raw milk sales. Most states have state-wide laws, but a few leave decisions to local governments.

The Biden administration finalized a rule on Aug. 24, 2022 to make DACA a federal regulation (instead of a policy). The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule is set to take effect on Oct. 31, 2022 and will codify the policy in the federal government’s code of regulations. The new regulation purposefully addressed the steps Judge Hanen ruled the Obama administration should have taken in 2012, including making the regulation open to public comment. Whether policy or regulation, however, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is hearing the Biden administration’s appeal of Hanen’s ruling, could still keep DACA closed to new applicants or terminate the program altogether.