WA Court enjoins Head Start cuts and anti-DEI efforts

A federal District Court in Washington (Ricardo S. Martinez) has issued a preliminary injunction to stop cutbacks in Head Start funding and efforts by the federal Office of Head Start from enforcing anti-diversity, equity and inclusion Executive Orders issued by President Trump.

The Court has found that the cutbacks violate the Congressional purposes of the Head Start program and that the agencies would face irreparable harm in having to follow the anti-DEI provisions in the Executive Orders.

First Circuit affirms NIH stoppages

The First Circuit Court of Appeals (opinion by Kermit V. Lipez) has affirmed a Massachusetts District Court decision voiding efforts by the National Institutes of Health to cap administrative fees on “indirect costs” on NIH grants at 15%.  (See Nonprofit Issues®, Vol. XXXV, No. 2). The cases were brought by 22 states, five medical associations, and 16 higher education associations and universities.

Court denies charitable deduction for $188,000 of apparel

A taxpayer who donated “high end cycling EQ apparel” that he claimed was worth $188,563.50 has been denied a charitable contribution deduction on the whole gift because he failed to follow the substantiation requirements set out in Treasury regulations.

IRS opens group exemption applications

The Internal Revenue Service has recently resumed the issuance of group exemptions for tax-exempt entities after suspension of the process for more than 5 years.

Is worker in rehab an employee or a volunteer?

One would expect that the answer to this question would be clear by now.  But, at least in California, it is not a settled issue, and an appellate court has attempted to establish a new standard by which to determine the answer.

Who owns the hose on volunteer fire engine?

When the Board of Supervisors of Tobyhanna Township in Northeastern Pennsylvania passed an ordinance to “establish fire protection” in the Township in 2022, the Tobyhanna Township Volunteer Fire Company followed through with its warning that it would no longer serve as the officially recognized fire company in the Township. It said it would serve on a secondary basis at no cost to the Township.

Court Interprets Church Bylaw To Confirm Election of Pastor

Finds interpretation of the written words would yield an unreasonable result

A trial court in Manhattan has been called upon to interpret the bylaws of what is purportedly the oldest black Baptist church in the state of New York in order to determine whether the recently elected pastor was validly elected.  It has interpreted the Church’s bylaws to include a word that isn’t there.

DC Court blocks HHS cutbacks for pediatric studies

The federal District Court for the District of Columbia (Beryl A. Howell) has issued a preliminary injunction to prevent the Department of Health and Human Services from abruptly terminating seven research projects at the American Academy of Pediatrics.  The Court found that the terminations on the stated ground that the projects “no longer effectuate agency and HHS policies” are likely to be found to be unconstitutional retaliation for public positions that the AAP had taken against activities at HHS.