Time for HIV criminal statutes to face scientific scrutiny, says former presidential panelist

A member of the first federal commission to look at the HIV epidemic says it is “probably past time” for states to revisit their HIV-specific criminal laws.

“I think it would be time to go back,” said Dr. Colleen Conway-Welch, a member of the commission created by President Reagan to investigate the disease. “In fact, it’s probably past time to go back and subject those laws to scientific scrutiny.”

Video: Reagan’s 101st birthday marked by comparisons to… Obama

You can count on one thing every time Republican candidates for president get close to a caucus or a primary or a debate: The name of Ronald Reagan will be invoked.

Immigration debate tinged by racism, Latinos charge

Immigration is an important issue in the United States, but is it something the GOP nomination for president should hinge on? Is there a reason that as unauthorized immigration from Mexico to the U.S. steadily declines, the rhetoric becomes ever more charged?

GOP immigration positions are closely watched by Latino media

On Sunday, GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul appeared on Al Punto, a Spanish-language TV news show, saying he doesn’t need a different message for Hispanic voters.

VIDEO: Reagan and Bush were far to the left of current Republicans on immigration

Once again, Republican candidates are clamoring to be more like Ronald Reagan. There may be no higher compliment on the right than to be considered Reaganesque. Of course, once you drill down, Reagan’s actual positions on taxes, spending and immigration may well fit in better in the Democratic Party than in the current GOP.

Perry debuts ‘like a piñata’ at GOP debate, wins applause for execution record

All eyes focused on Texas Gov. Rick Perry as he made his debate debut Wednesday evening at the fourth GOP showdown, this one hosted by Politico and NBC.

Perry leans on Sheriff Joe Arpaio for advice on immigration

Rick Perry has been caught slumming–reaching out to Maricopa (AZ) County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, one of the more famous anti-immigration voices of the West.

Southwestern willow flycatcher: A feather in the cap of wildlife litigators

A proposal made this month to increase critical habitat for the endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher represents a shift in philosophy at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which instead of merely trying to maintain populations of endangered species is now aiming to boost them.

Perry’s prayer event part of a larger effort by conservative Christians to unseat Obama

It appears the evolution of Gov. Rick Perry’s prayer event began even earlier than recently reported in Time, and is part of a wider strategy by influential conservative Christian figures to unseat President Barack Obama in 2012.

Morse, Harvey and others debate legacy of Ronald Reagan and pass resolution in his honor

The state senate late last week had some fun debating the legacy of former President Ronald Reagan. Had an amendment by Senate Majority Leader John Morse passed Friday, President Ronald Reagan would have been honored by the Senate not only for his achievements in helping to bring down the communist wall, but also for bringing amnesty to 1.7 million undocumented immigrants, tax increases to the State of California and for closing corporate tax loopholes.