Latest news with #IanRobinson
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Eleven states recognize gold and silver as US currency. Which are they?
Eleven states recognize gold and silver as US currency. Which are they? Show Caption Hide Caption What's really going on with gold prices? Gold recently reached a record high as geopolitical tensions pushed investors towards the traditional safe play. Merryn Somerset Webb explains what's going on - and where things could go from here. Bloomberg - Politics Louisiana lawmakers are considering legislation to recognize gold and silver as legal tender. Eleven states already recognize gold and silver coins as legal tender. Several other states have considered or passed similar legislation in the past. While Louisiana passed a law acknowledging gold and silver coins as legal tender in 2013, this new legislation may expand upon or clarify the existing law. Louisiana may soon start accepting gold and silver as currency if proposed legislation is enacted by legislators in the Louisiana Legislature. Eleven states currently recognize gold and silver coins as legal tender. Other states, including Louisiana, are either pursuing similar legislation or have made past attempts to do so. Utah The Utah Legal Tender Act, enacted in 2011, recognizes U.S.-mint gold and silver coins as legal tender. In case you missed it: Louisiana may soon recognize silver, gold as currency, according to proposed legislation Louisiana Despite current proposed legislation, Louisiana passed a law in 2013 acknowledging gold and silver coins as legal tender. Texas In 2017, Texas introduced legislation to establish gold and silver as legal tender, including safeguards against seizure by state authorities. Kansas In 2013, the Kansas Committee on Taxation passed a bill declaring U.S.-minted coins as both of legal tender and tax-exempt. Oklahoma Oklahoma's Senate Bill 862 recognized gold and silver U.S.-minted coins as legal tender and exempt from taxation in 2014. South Carolina The South Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill declaring gold and silver legal tender in 2013. Wyoming Wyoming established a law in 2018 that eliminated the taxation of gold and silver bullion, effectively treating them as tender free from sales tax. These states attempted to pass legislation making gold and silver legal tender but failed Indiana Kansas Missouri South Carolina Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinson and on Facebook at
Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Poll of the week: Should the 2050 net zero target be scrapped?
Ed Miliband has long been one of Westminster's most vocal advocates for Britain's net zero agenda. But his vision of a green future is increasingly coming up against a less forgiving reality. This week, we asked readers: Should the UK scrap its 2050 net zero target? A resounding 95 per cent of over 20,000 respondents said yes. Telegraph readers' reasons ranged from economic survival to energy security and a growing frustration with what many see as climate policy detached from common sense. Here's why you believe the time has come to pull the plug. 'It's a slow death for British manufacturing' For many, net zero has become synonymous with financial burden – rising energy bills, increased costs for businesses and pressure on household budgets. 'If the Government wants to grandstand about cutting the UK's one per cent share of global emissions, fine,' says Russ Hindle. 'But don't hike our energy bills – do it slower, cheaper and pay for it yourself.' Others pointed to the impossible burden placed on British businesses. 'How can businesses compete when their fixed and variable costs are higher than rivals abroad?' asks Ian Robinson. He continues: 'Energy prices are sky-high and driving wage inflation. It's a slow death for British manufacturing.' Several of you think that there is a deliberate lack of honest reckoning with the economic downsides of climate policy. Robert Henderson writes: 'For years, we've been bombarded with net zero propaganda, designed to shut down rational debate. Now that we're all feeling the financial pain, people are starting to think critically.' 'Net zero is impossible at any date' Several readers went further, labelling net zero as 'an ideological crusade built on flawed assumptions'. Reader John Mulvany writes: 'Net zero is impossible at any date. The whole concept is fallacious, and displacing production to China doesn't absolve anything.' Other accused politicians of blind idealism. 'No matter how much evidence is given to them, our politicians are hell bent on throwing us off a net zero cliff without giving us a say,' argues Mrs P. Lucy Snowy has watched the green dream falter on her doorstep: 'Our local wind farm has hardly moved for weeks. I hate to think how much it is costing UK taxpayers in subsidies. It's utter madness!' While Bernard Ideson takes aim at the fundamental reliability of renewable energy: 'If we had a thousand more wind turbines and solar panels, two facts are inescapable. The turbines only work when the wind blows, solar best when the sun shines and not at all in the dark. 'Sailing ships were replaced by steam-powered ones so that they weren't dependent on the weather. Yet now we're heading in the opposite direction, trading reliability for uncertainty.' 'UK energy prices will bankrupt us if we don't use resources we already have' Many readers expressed frustration that, rather than harnessing the UK's domestic energy reserves, successive governments have turned to expensive and less reliable alternatives. Ian Brown asserts: 'Coal and gas-fired power stations would create well-paid jobs, reduce our balance of payments deficit and provide a reliable and affordable energy supply. Any previous Labour government would have jumped at it, but not this bunch of clowns. I fear we are doomed.' Others called for a more balanced energy mix, one that doesn't dismiss renewables but doesn't rely on them entirely either. 'While I deplore net zero, renewable energy shouldn't be a dirty word,' writes Ash Delacroix. 'It's reasonable to develop renewables where it makes sense, but not at the expense of energy diversity.' For John Griffiths, energy security is non-negotiable: 'We need long-term gas availability as a backup to renewables and nuclear. UK energy prices will bankrupt us if we don't use the resources we already have.' Stephen Phillips echoes a similar sentiment: 'Can we just start mining coal again, grant more licences to drill in the North Sea and reconsider fracking? It's all on our doorstep, yet Miliband would rather we pay foreign suppliers.' Several readers cited Norway as a model of pragmatism. 'Norway drills its own oil and gas. We buy it from them because Miliband closed our profitable wells,' says Peter Palmer. 'If he had any sense, he'd have copied their approach. The sooner the Climate Change Act is repealed and net zero scrapped, the better.' Another reader adds: 'Norway is thriving. Britain feels like it's falling behind. Maybe we should stop trying to lead the world and start learning from it.' 'It's suicidal virtue signalling' Perhaps the most recurring theme amongst reader responses was the futility of the UK acting in isolation. 'If we hit net zero tomorrow, it would make no difference,' writes Peter Adams. 'Most major polluters are doing nothing.' Others questioned both the feasibility and the fairness of Britain bearing the brunt of the economic sacrifice. 'No one wants to pay the highest energy costs in the world to solve a problem that's likely beyond humanity's control, and certainly beyond Britain's ability to meaningfully influence,' says Hugo McEwen. He continues: 'This is Jacobin-style communism disguised as climate policy, intended to impoverish and 'equalise' us. Nigel Farage is right: stop it now, or face a revolution.'
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voters approve retroactive term limits in Bossier City for mayor, city council members
In a second charter amendment, Bossier City have established retroactive term limits for the mayor and council members, which nullifies the term limit proposal from the March 29 election, allowing former council members to re-enter office after losing their seats in the past election. Here are the results from Saturday's election. Implements three term limits for council members prior to Jan. 1, 2024 Yes: 2,517 votes, 83% No: 520 votes, 17% Turnout: 9.1% Implements three term limits for the mayor prior to Jan. 1, 2024 Yes: 2,557 votes, 84% No: 479 votes, 16% Turnout: 9.1% Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinsonand on Facebook at This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Bossier City voters approve retroactive term limits for mayor, council
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
How many juvenile courts operate within Louisiana?
Louisiana operates four specialized juvenile courts in Caddo, Orleans, Jefferson, and East Baton Rouge parishes, with exclusive original juvenile jurisdiction. Under Louisiana law, the courts typically deal with cases involving delinquency, statute offenses and abuse/neglect. They also handle adoptions and other matters related to child custody, child support and certain adult crimes. Some exceptions to the juvenile courts' exclusive jurisdiction include cases where juveniles who have attained the age of 15 are charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, aggravated rape or aggravated kidnapping. In such cases, jurisdiction is moved to the appropriate court exercising criminal jurisdiction over the offenses charged. Louisiana law defines a juvenile as a child between the age of 10 and 17. The age of 18 activates adult court jurisdiction. In Louisiana, a 15- or 16-year-old may be transferred to district court for a felony offense; however, the transfer is subject to the discretion of district attorneys and the attorney general. Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinsonand on Facebook at This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: How many juvenile courts exist in Louisiana?
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Eleven states recognize gold, silver as U.S. currency. Which states are they?
Louisiana may soon start accepting gold and silver as currency if proposed legislation is enacted by legislators in the Louisiana Legislature. Eleven states currently recognize gold and silver coins as legal tender. Other states, including Louisiana, are either pursuing similar legislation or have made past attempts to do so. The Utah Legal Tender Act, enacted in 2011, recognizes U.S.-mint gold and silver coins as legal tender. Despite current proposed legislation, Louisiana passed a law in 2013 acknowledging gold and silver coins as legal tender. In 2017, Texas introduced legislation to establish gold and silver as legal tender, including safeguards against seizure by state authorities. In 2013, the Kansas Committee on Taxation passed a bill declaring U.S.-minted coins as both of legal tender and tax-exempt. More: Louisiana may soon recognize silver, gold as currency, according to proposed legislation Oklahoma's Senate Bill 862 recognized gold and silver U.S.-minted coins as legal tender and exempt from taxation in 2014. The South Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill declaring gold and silver legal tender in 2013. Wyoming established a law in 2018 that eliminated the taxation of gold and silver bullion, effectively treating them as tender free from sales tax. Indiana Kansas Missouri South Carolina Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinson and on Facebook at This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Here are states that accept gold, silver as legal U.S. tender
