A Drive-Thru Window Saved His Business, but Now He's Being Forced To Shut It Down
Zoning officials concede Robert Balitierrez's drive-thru window isn't causing any problems. But they say it's a code violation and has to close anyway.
Nanny State
A Fresh New Year Means Fresh New Restrictions on Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
From California to Washington, D.C., new restrictions on gas-powered landscaping equipment are blanketing the nation.
Christmas Travel Rebounds Despite Official Handwringing About Omicron
Plus: Swearing increased during the pandemic, progressives want to see the Build Back Better agenda enacted by executive fiat, and more...
The Biden Administration Crushes America's Brief Experiment in Showerhead Freedom
The Department of Energy's new energy efficiency rule drags us back to the dark days of 2013, when showers were allowed to emit no more than 2.5 gallons of water a minute.
Politicians Are Still Stuck on Prohibition
Nearly 90 years after the 21st Amendment ended America's failed experiment with banning alcohol, our leaders are still trying to tell us what to do.
To Fight Climate Change, Los Angeles Bans Restaurants From Giving Out Unsolicited Ketchup Packets
Businesses that give customers condiments without them first asking for them could receive fines totaling $300.
Your Next Car May Refuse To Start if It Thinks You've Had a Drink
Get ready to pay for new nanny-state technology and for bypassing the unwelcome intervention.
Indiana Woman Must Shut Down Business After County Officials Determine Her Farm Isn't Zoned for Commercial Goat Yoga or Goat Snuggling
Jordan Stevens' application to legalize her Happy Goat Lucky Yoga business was denied by Hamilton County's Board of Zoning Appeals last month.
Why Is This Beer Banned in 15 States?
Plus: Doctor admits to breaking Texas abortion law, why child care centers can't find workers, and more...
Federal Regulations Keep COVID Patients in the Dark About Which Variant They Have
Plus: Airbnb will host 20,000 Afghan refugees, court rejects Nunes lawsuit against Liz Mair, and more..
Hawaii Limits Indoor Social Gatherings to 10 People. Will More States Follow Suit?
Hawaii Gov. David Ige issued an executive order yesterday imposing a raft of new restrictions on businesses and social gatherings.
Trump Slashed Regulations That Stopped Americans From Having a Good Shower. Biden Is Bringing Them Back.
Environmentalists criticized Trump's reforms for wasting water, while showerhead manufacturers worried the deregulation would subject them to more foreign competition.
Want to Reduce the Danger of Illegal Fireworks? Legalize Them.
Prohibitions drive hazardous activities underground, which makes them more risky.
Barely Legal Strippers Now Fully Illegal in Texas
The penalty for employing 18- to 20-year-olds to work nude, topless, or "in a sexually oriented commercial activity" is now 2 to 20 years in prison.
The White House Is Hoping New Vaccine Partnership With Dating Apps Will Convince Singles To Get Their Shots
This new initiative will "help people meet people who have that universally attractive quality: They've been vaccinated from COVID-19," said White House COVID-19 adviser Andy Slavitt.
New Lawsuit Argues That D.C.'s Ban on Dancing at Weddings Violates the First Amendment
A bride-to-be says the regulation is an irrational and unconstitutional restriction on her special day.
Freedom Becomes a Long-Haul COVID Victim
Emergency measures to deal with the crisis are likely to linger long after COVID-19 is gone.
Tepid Reopenings Are Producing the Most Absurd Pandemic Regulations Yet
Washington, D.C., policy makers are pairing their very gradual reopening with a series of complicated, confusing, and unworkable regulations.
U.K. Study Suggests Grocers Should Be Banned From Selling Alcohol
Intervening in the U.K. alcohol market hasn't produced the desired effect, but experts want yet another bite at the apple.
A D.C. Blues Bar Ran a Mini-Vaccine Drive for Employees and Performers. Now Its Owner Wants the Right To Reopen.
Madam's Organ owner Bill Duggan says opening venues for the vaccinated would be a "win-win-win." Artists could perform, businesses could make money, and people would have one more reason to get their shot.
The FDA's War on Nicotine Will Encourage Americans To Smoke More Cigarettes
America's public health officials continue to undermine public health.
Blue States Reopen Their Economies but Double Down on Mask Mandates
Connecticut, California, Oregon, and Colorado have all signaled that their mask mandates will outlast their pandemic restrictions on businesses.
Florida Lawmakers Are Cracking Down on Secret Snitches
Two state bills would generally prohibit local code enforcement officials from acting on anonymously reported violations.
The Town That Didn't Lock Down
A Reason reporter went to Paso Robles, California, where many businesses defied state orders to close. He enjoyed it. He also got COVID.
Michigan Farmer Rescued Injured Animals Without the Proper Permits. State Officials Have Charged Her With a Misdemeanor and Euthanized the Animals.
State officials euthanized six of Julie Hall's animals, including Sassy, a blind raccoon, and Po, a one-legged crow.
Democrats Demand Bureaucrats Regulate Bureaus More Heavily
The STURDY Act would mandate new testing standards to prevent dressers from killing people.
California Bill Would Give $1,000 Fines to Retailers With Separate 'Girls' and 'Boys' Toy Sections
The proposed bill from Assembly Members Evan Low and Cristina Garcia would require stores to have one unisex section for children's products and apparel.
Menthol Cigarette Bans Will Fail Like Every Other Prohibition Scheme
The winners in every battle over restrictions are the people who do whatever they please without regard for government officials.
Fort Worth Regulators Target Community Fridges Providing Free Food for People in Need
Using obscure laws to prevent people from helping each other is obscene.
The U.K. Uses COVID-19 to Justify More Nanny State Junk Food Crackdowns
Bans on ads, displays, refills, and buy-one-get-one-free offers
This California City Will Let the Neighbors Sue You for Vaping on Your Own Balcony
Concord's ban on smoking and vaping in private apartments allows residents to take civil action against their neighbors for violating the policy.
Southern California Sheriffs Rebel Over Gavin Newsom's New Stay-at-Home Order
Policymakers "must not penalize residents for earning a livelihood, safeguarding their mental health, or enjoying our most cherished freedoms," said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.
Biden's Choice To Head Health and Human Services Is a Lawsuit-Happy Government Nanny
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra loves to tell people what they can and cannot do with their bodies.
San Francisco Board of Supervisors Passes Ban on Smoking Tobacco, but Not Cannabis, in Private Apartments
Violators face fines of up to $1,000.
Maryland County Piles New Regulations on Struggling Restaurants
Regulations meant to curb childhood obesity will be more effective at hampering restaurants.
Coronavirus Curfews Are Trending Again, Despite Total Lack of Evidence They Help
Plus: Against the conservative case for antitrust action, New York City shuts down schools again, and more...
Rapid At-Home Tests for COVID-19 Finally Get FDA Approval. But People Still Need a Prescription.
Plus: Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejects Trump campaign complaint, new pandemic restrictions in lots of states, and more...
Should Remote Workers Pay a Tax for the 'Privilege' of Using Their Home as an Office?
Deutsche Bank has proposed a 5 percent income tax on people working from home, the revenue from which could be spent supplementing the lost wages of service workers.
Berkeley Bans So-Called Junk Food from Checkout Aisles
These kinds of interventions don't work, but they do force retailers to waste money.
The Post-Pandemic 'New Normal' Looks Awfully Authoritarian
Less-intrusive responses could preserve our health while leaving our freedom intact.
Are You Ready for a Second Round of Pandemic Lockdowns?
Politicians are poised to tighten the screws, even though voluntary action offers more promise.
It's Time to Permanently Suspend Regulatory Barriers to Telehealth
Patients and providers should be able to meet remotely without bureaucrats getting in the way.
Anti-Tech Warriors Are Coming for Your Food Delivery Apps
Plus: Good news on COVID-19 immunity, court nixes California ammunition ban, and more...
Montana's Ban on Flavored Vaping Endangers Public Health
The debate over flavored vapes really is a debate about whether adult smokers will still have access to products that could save their lives.
Miami Police Setting Up 'Mask Traps,' Issuing $100 Fines to People Wearing Masks Improperly
The theoretical case for government mask mandates has to be weighed against the reality of their enforcement.
Massachusetts Regulators Knowingly Drive Vapers to the Black Market
Bay State officials expect a new ban on flavored tobacco products to benefit illegal suppliers.
Chicago Youth Nonprofit Sues City After Police Raid Over Free Food for Protesters
Chicago used its food licensing laws to harass a nonprofit providing free food to protesters.
Touching Your Phone While Driving Is Now Illegal in Idaho, Illinois, and Indiana
Plus: More (bad, weird, and occasionally good) new state laws that start taking effect today.