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"Governor Tina Kotek delays ODOT layoffs and announces August special session" by Oregon Public Broadcasting OPB (PBS Portland) - Layoffs postponed at ODOT (Oregon Dept of Transportation) as special legislative session is set to begin Aug 29 to work on a state transportation funding bill. Lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on that before the regular session ended in June. opb.org/article/2025/07/22/ore #Oregon #roads #highways #politics #PNW

OPB · Gov. Tina Kotek delays ODOT layoffs and announces August special sessionBy Dirk VanderHart
Continued thread

When are #ICEProtests ‘illegal’ in #Texas? Here’s what state and federal laws say

By Tiffani Jackson Updated June 12, 2025

Excerpt: "What are your rights to protest on public or private property? Your rights are strongest in “traditional public forums,” like parks, sidewalks and streets, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. While you generally have the freedom to express yourself on other public land, like plazas outside government buildings, it’s important that your actions don’t block access or interfere with the building’s intended function.

"On private property, the owner has the right to impose restrictions on speech. However, the government cannot limit your speech if you’re on your own property or have permission from the owner. It’s also important to remember that counter-protesters have the same rights to free expression, and police must treat both protesters and counter-protesters equally.

"Is it legal to take photos or video protests, police or government buildings? You are legally allowed to photograph anything in plain view, including government buildings and law enforcement officers, when you’re in a public area.

"On private property, however, the property owner may have their own rules about photography or video recording.

"What is an ‘illegal protest’? Protesting is a fundamental right protected by the First Amendment, but not every demonstration is automatically legal. According to the Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to preserving the First Amendment, the following actions can cross the line and turn a peaceful protest into one that could get you arrested:

- Violence or destruction of property – If a protest turns violent, involves #vandalism, or causes harm to people or property, it’s no longer protected under #FreeSpeech laws.

- Trespassing on private property – Protests are generally allowed in public spaces, like sidewalks and parks. But if demonstrators enter private property without permission, they could face trespassing charges.

- Blocking roads or public services – #Marching in the street without a permit or blocking traffic can make a protest illegal. Many cities require permits for demonstrations, especially those that could disrupt public order.

" 'It can’t be about the content of the speech, because content and viewpoint are protected by the #First =Amendment,' TCU media law professor and First Amendment expert Daxton “Chip” Stewart said. 'It has to be about something else. A protest that #BlocksTraffic, for example, or that arises to violence.' Texas laws about protesting

"According to the Texas Law Library, there are specific restrictions on where protests cannot take place.

"For example, it’s illegal to protest within 1,000 feet of a funeral service from three hours before to three hours after the event, as this could disrupt the service. Likewise, protests at #CriticalInfrastructure sites, like oil pipelines or #construction areas, are heavily regulated, with severe penalties for trespassing or disrupting these facilities.

"Additionally, blocking #highways, #sidewalks or any passageways that are accessible to the public — especially emergency routes—is prohibited, and doing so can lead to felony charges.

"#Protests that turn disorderly or disrupt lawful meetings also fall under legal restrictions. Finally, any actions that involve violence or #loud, disruptive noise are subject to criminal penalties.

"What are your rights if you protest on college campus? In 2019, Texas passed a law that made all common outdoor spaces on public university campuses 'traditional public forums.'

"This means that anyone — whether you’re a student, staff member, or just someone from the community — can express themselves, whether that’s through protests or other demonstrations, as long as it’s lawful and doesn’t seriously disrupt the university’s operations."

Read more:
star-telegram.com/news/local/f

#TexasResists #NoKingsEvents
#NonViolentProtests #ProtestLaws #Project2025 #Authoritarianism #AntiProtestLaws #TrafficInterference

Continued thread

2/2 US Protest Law Tracker - Updates to #Federal #Protest Laws introduced in 2025.

Latest updates: Jun. 10, 2025 (US Federal)

#S982: Potential penalties for #universities based on protest #policies

Would make federal accreditation of colleges and universities—and thus their access to federal funds—contingent on the institution’s policies on responding to protests. Under the “No Tax Dollars for College #Encampments Act of 2024,” universities would have to regularly disclose how they respond to campus “incidents of civil disturbance,” defined to include “a demonstration, riot, or strike,” and their accreditation would be linked to such policies and practices. The bill sponsor cited #ProPalestine campus protests as motivation for the bill; he introduced the same bill in 2024.
(Full text of bill: congress.gov/bill/119th-congre)
Status: pending
Introduced 12 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Riot

#HR2065: Harsh penalties for protesters who conceal their identity

Would make it a federal crime, subject to a lengthy prison sentence, to wear a #mask or other disguise while protesting in an "intimidating" or “oppressive” way. Under the “Unmasking Hamas Act,” anyone "in disguise, including while wearing a mask" who "injures, oppresses, threatens, or intimidates any person" exercising their constitutional rights could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison as well as fined. The bill does not define “oppress,” nor does the bill specify what is meant by “disguise,” other than that it includes a “mask.” The bill’s substantive provisions are identical to the “Unmasking Antifa Act,” which lawmakers have introduced in several previous sessions. Sponsors of the bill made clear that it is a response to pro-Palestine protesters, some of whom have worn masks to avoid retaliation.
(Full text of bill: congress.gov/bill/119th-congre)
Status: pending
Introduced 11 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): #FaceCovering

S 937: Barring student protesters from federal loans and loan forgiveness

Would exclude student protesters from federal financial aid and loan forgiveness if they commit any crime at a campus protest. The bill would cover someone convicted of “any offense” under “any Federal or State law” that is “related to the individual’s conduct at and during the course of a protest” at a college or university. As such, a student convicted of even a nonviolent, state law misdemeanor at a campus protest, such as failing to disperse, would be deemed ineligible for federal student loans; they would also be ineligible for having existing federal loans forgiven, cancelled, waived or modified. The sponsor of the bill said it was a response to pro-Palestine protests at colleges and universities.
(Read full text of bill: congress.gov/bill/119th-congre)
Status: pending
Introduced 11 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Limit on Public Benefits

#HR1057: Penalties for protesters on interstate #highways

Would create steep new penalties for protesters deemed to be “deliberately delaying traffic,” “standing or approaching a motor vehicle,” or “endangering the safe movement of a motor vehicle” on an interstate highway “with the intent to obstruct the free, convenient, and normal use of the interstate highway.” The new federal offense would be punishable by up to $10,000 and 15 years in prison—a far harsher penalty than is the case under many states' laws, which generally already criminalize walking or standing on the highway. The bill provides an exception for “any lawful activity” authorized by federal, state, or local law. However, it could still seemingly cover far more than “blocking” the interstate, including a peaceful protest on the shoulder of an interstate or a convoy-style, driving protest that slowed traffic. The sponsor of the bill made clear that it was in response to protesters. The same bill was introduced as HR 7349 in 2024.
(Full text of bill: congress.gov/bill/119th-congre)
Status: pending
Introduced 6 Feb 2025.
Issue(s): #TrafficInterference

#IsleOfWight councillor: Military Road’s Cliff Waring System failed over decade ago

She was prompted to act after noticing the flashing cliff warning lights along Military Road have not been operational for years

She was told that the early warning system installed in 1997 became failed sometime before 2013

These were never reinstated under the #Highways #PFI contract, it has been revealed.

islandecho.co.uk/councillor-re

Ideas for YouTube

Through May 30, 2025 novaTopFlex is an identity, a community, and an ethical channel on YouTube, all focusing predominantly on advocacy for open contributions and the elimination of closed contributions. Although the topics of interest may vary substantially through the three identities, the ideologies remain fairly similar. novaTopFlex novaTopFlex is the technological identity, acting as the main identity for the novaTop personality. novaTopFlex Examples Examples of content containing […]

novatopflex.wordpress.com/2025

novaTopFlex · Ideas for YouTube
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In our Winter Bike Buzz, we mentioned a March 10 public hearing in Gonzales about the Vista Lucia Specific Plan, which includes bike trails and pedestrian promenade.

Laura Davis, deputy director and Michael DeLapa, executive director of Landwatch Monterey County wrote to #MontereyCountyNow readers about Vista Lucia on May 30.

"What doesn’t make sense in 2025 is that communities sacrifice their prime #agricultural lands for an outdated #housing model that isn’t solving the #HousingCrisis. It is forcing people onto congested #highways, on new #roads that are allegedly built to reduce this very problem, all while increasing bigger #environmental problems (#ClimateChange).” More:
montereycountynow.com/archives

#MontereyCountyNow