Latest news with #ToddRichardson
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why the Justice Department just sued a small Idaho town
The small town of Troy, Idaho, is facing a major legal problem. Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against it based on religious freedom concerns. The Justice Department alleges that town leaders are discriminating against a local evangelical church by unnecessarily preventing it from holding worship services in Troy's business district. Troy officials say they're enforcing zoning law, not engaging in discrimination. 'The fact that it was this church had zero to do with the denial,' said Todd Richardson, Troy city attorney, to the Yakima Herald-Republic. The religious freedom lawsuit filed by the Justice Department centers on Christ Church, an evangelical Christian house of worship that holds services in both Troy and Moscow, Idaho. In late 2022, a leader at Christ Church sought permission from Troy to hold worship services at a former bank building downtown. The congregation needed a conditional use permit because the building was zoned for business, not religious events. According to the Justice Department lawsuit, the city regularly allows noncommercial activity in its downtown business district, as well as noncommercial redevelopment. But many residents spoke against Christ Church's plan, including some who complained about the congregation's beliefs and practices, and Troy leaders denied the conditional use permit. 'In its denial of the application, the city said the 'great majority of the city residents' opposed approving the permit,' the Yakima Herald-Republic reported. The City Council reaffirmed the denial on appeal. In the new lawsuit, the Justice Department argues that Troy violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, or RLUIPA, when it denied the conditional use permit. The denial stemmed from animus toward the congregation, not legitimate governmental concerns, the lawsuit alleges. 'RLUIPA unequivocally forbids local governments from deciding zoning matters based on their dislike of certain religious groups,' said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division in a statement. The lawsuit also accuses Troy of treating faith-based requests for zoning law adjustments differently than secular ones. 'The City Code, on its face, and in the C-1 zoning district where the Subject Property is located, treats religious assembly uses on less than equal terms with nonreligious assemblies or institutions,' the suit says. In an interview with Fox News, Richardson, the Troy city attorney, rejected the Justice Department's claims and criticized it for using 'bullying tactics.' 'The case isn't about religion, he said, but about the city preserving the two-block downtown area as a commercial district and resisting the influx of as many as 15% of its population gathering at one location and putting a 'strain on the city's limited resources,'' Fox News reported. Although Christ Church is a small congregation in a rural area of Idaho, this month is not the first time it has made national news. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the church's members were arrested for violating Moscow's mask mandate while singing hymns and protesting the city's pandemic-related public health rules. President Donald Trump defended their protest in a social media post at the time, according to Idaho News 6.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ files religious liberty lawsuit against Troy, Idaho, for alleged discrimination against Christ Church
May 21—A small Latah County town violated a federal religious liberty law when it denied a conditional use permit application from Moscow-based Christ Church, according to a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. The Justice Department alleged the city of Troy, which is about 12 miles east of Moscow, violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) when it denied the permit, the department said in a news release. Christ Church outgrew the space where it was worshipping and was unable to find one to rent, according to the release. It then sought a permit to operate a church in the city's zoning district where nonreligious assembly uses such as clubs, museums, auditoriums and art galleries were allowed. Troy residents opposed the church's application and the church's beliefs, the release said. In its denial of the application, the city said the "great majority of the city residents" opposed approving the permit. "RLUIPA unequivocally forbids local governments from deciding zoning matters based on their dislike of certain religious groups," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, said in the release. "The Department of Justice will not hesitate to file suit against jurisdictions that discriminate in land use matters on the basis of the applicants' religious beliefs." The lawsuit alleged denying the permit imposed a "substantial burden on Christ Church and was based on the community's discriminatory animus against the Church," according to the release. It also alleged the city's zoning code treats religious assembly use worse than nonreligious assembly use. Todd Richardson, Troy city attorney, called the complaint "misleading and incorrect." The permit would have violated city zoning, he said. "The fact that it was this church had zero to do with the denial," Richardson said. Christ Church has divided the Moscow community over the years, with some residents boycotting businesses tied to the church. The conservative church made headlines during the COVID-19 pandemic when church members protested the city's COVID-19 mask mandate. The church's website states its mission is to "make Moscow a Christian town," and that church leaders support a theocracy in the U.S. Reporter Alexandra Duggan contributed to this article.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Y-12 Federal Credit Union Upgrades Fleet, Enhances Self-Service Banking with NCR Atleos
ATLANTA, March 31, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NCR Atleos Corporation (NYSE: NATL) ("Atleos"), a leader in expanding self-service financial access for financial institutions, retailers and consumers, today announced that Oak Ridge, Tenn.-based Y-12 Federal Credit Union (Y-12 FCU) is revolutionizing member service with advanced technology through its relationship with Atleos. Specifically, Y-12 FCU decided to upgrade its entire fleet of self-service devices from a mix of ATMs and interactive teller machines (ITMs), to all Atleos ITMs. With this transition, Y-12 FCU was able to migrate transactions from the branch to the self-service channel, to drive efficiencies and a better and more convenient member experience. ITMs are essentially an ATM with live video chat that offers a virtual version of the in-person banking experience. Y-12 FCU and Atleos have enjoyed a longstanding successful relationship, with the credit union proving to be a pioneer in embracing ITMs or Personal Teller Machines as they are called by Y-12 FCU. The initial deployment of ITMs was very effective for Y-12 FCU, that's why the credit union decided to upgrade its entire fleet to ITMs. As part of this transformation, the credit union is also enabling members to initiate transactions via contactless cards and mobile devices. "Teaming with Atleos has helped us further deliver on our mission to provide a seamless combination of digital convenience and personal interaction," said Todd Richardson, CTO of Y-12 FCU. "We want members to choose what works best for them -- some prefer self-service, while others value a human touch. And with our upgraded ITM fleet, we are also able to quickly deploy more innovative features to our members, ensuring their banking is simple and accessible, all while reducing costs and complexities in the back office." "Atleos is the leader in helping credit unions efficiently and effectively facilitate self-service banking for their members, ultimately expanding financial access," said Steven Nogalo, general manager of North America for Atleos. "We are proud of our successful relationship with Y-12 FCU, who remains committed to utilizing the advanced technology needed to enable members to bank when and how they choose." About Atleos Atleos (NYSE: NATL) is a leader in expanding self-service financial access, with industry-leading ATM expertise and experience, unrivalled operational scale including the largest independently-owned ATM network, always-on global services and constant innovation. Atleos improves operational efficiency for financial institutions, drives footfall for retailers and enables digital-first financial self-service experiences for consumers. Atleos is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with approximately 20,000 employees globally. Web site: X (Twitter): Facebook: LinkedIn: YouTube: Instagram: View source version on Contacts Media Contact Scott SykesNCR
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Federal Medicaid cuts could leave Missouri with huge budget shortfall
Todd Richardson, left, director of the MO HealthNet Division, testifies in 2022 before the Senate Appropriations Committee, with Patrick Luebbering, chief financial officer of the Department of Social Services (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent). Proposed cuts to Medicaid being considered by the Republican-controlled Congress could create a massive budget shortfall in Missouri, the director of the state Medicaid program told lawmakers on Tuesday. Todd Richardson, director of MO HealthNet, the state's health insurance program for low-income and disabled Missourians, told the Senate Appropriations Committee that the state could be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid costs under proposals being debated in Congress. Roughly 70% of the state's Medicaid funding comes from the federal government. CONTACT US Richardson said that while his department is excited about some of the changes Congress is exploring, such as creating more flexibility for states to make Medicaid-related decisions, others will 'present a challenge.' There are 'things that I think a state we would wholeheartedly embrace, and would be an exciting opportunity for us to have, but that's also got to come with the same level of financial commitment,' Richardson said. 'If not,' he told the committee, 'it's going to be a significant challenge for us and for you all to figure out.' Under one proposal, the federal government would drastically reduce the rate at which it pays states for low-income Americans covered under Medicaid expansion. Missouri expanded Medicaid eligibility in 2021, over opposition from Republican lawmakers, via a ballot measure. The state Supreme Court upheld the measure, and Medicaid expansion is enshrined in the state constitution. State Sen. Lincoln Hough, a Republican from Springfield who chairs the appropriations committee, prompted the discussion by asking what the Missouri Department of Social Services is doing to prepare for potential federal changes. 'I did want to at least put it on the radar of the committee,' Hough said, 'that when people talk about changes at the federal level, there are pretty significant implications in what we're able to do here.' Jessica Bax, acting director of the department, told senators that the agency will need to 'plan for everything that could possibly happen at the federal level, which is difficult to do.' Republicans in the U.S. House have forwarded a number of proposals to slash Medicaid in order to help pay for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts pushed by President Donald Trump, along with other priorities including border security. The U.S. House is expected to vote on a budget resolution this week. The federal government currently pays for 90% of the cost of Medicaid for enrollees who qualify under Medicaid expansion. Those are adults who make up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or $21,597 for an individual in 2025. There are currently over 348,000 enrollees in the adult expansion group in Missouri, making up around one-quarter of all Missourians on Medicaid — so any decrease in the federal match rate would have a significant effect on the state budget. Richardson said the department estimates that it could cost the state between $30 million and $35 million for every percent decrease in the federal match rate, meaning even a federal decline from 90% down to 80% would cost between $300 million and $350 million. One federal proposal would entirely eliminate the federal match for the adult expansion group. If the federal match rate were eliminated and Missouri kept covering the expansion population, KFF estimated, it would cost Missouri $7.3 billion. Missouri's overall budget for the coming fiscal year is $53.7 billion, as recommended by the governor. While other states could reverse their decision to expand Medicaid if the federal government drops the reimbursement rate, expansion is codified in Missouri's constitution, which would require another statewide vote to change. Some Republicans have opposed cuts to Medicaid, citing the effect on their constituents. It's a popular program: According to a survey last year by the health policy organization KFF, 71% of Americans want Medicaid to continue as it is today. That includes Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, who told HuffPost last week: ''I would not do severe cuts to Medicaid.' One in every five Missourians is enrolled in Medicaid. Nearly 40% of all Missouri children are covered by Medicaid. Medicaid in the state pays for two-thirds of all nursing home care in the state, and 38% of all births. There are several other proposals that have been floated by Congressional Republicans. One is to impose Medicaid work requirements, which the progressive think tank Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated could put 445,000 Missourians at risk of losing coverage. Another would shift the payment model to a block grant system, limiting states' flexibility to receive more reimbursement as costs rise. And it's not the only safety net program on the chopping block: the House Republican plan could also slash the federal food benefits program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, reducing federal spending by $230 billion over a decade. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
