• This week, we acknowledge our partners at Comcast in their mission to develop new opportunities for underrepresented communities through the education, resources, and skills training needed to succeed in today’s digital economy. With initiatives to advance digital equity, close the digital divide and address digital literacy, Comcast will continue their goal in connecting as many Americans to the internet as possible. The AG Alliance is pleased to highlight private sector efforts that focus on the importance of equity and inclusion.  

• With Latinos Dying At Higher Rates From COVID, Brigham And Women’s Hospital Intervenes. When Brigham and Women's Hospital compared Black and brown patients to white patients with similar chronic illnesses, they found no difference in the risk of death from COVID. A difference did emerge for Latinos who don’t speak English.

• Black History Month: while February should be a time to praise Black excellence, it should also be a time to acknowledge the discrimination Black people continue to face and the work that needs to be done in order to achieve true equality.

• American Gaming Association's President and CEO Bill Miller stated “This year’s Super Bowl is expected to generate the largest single-event legal handle in American sports betting history,” Over 23 million american's plan to bet online this year a record number in sport's betting history.

• Hawaii AG Connors presented an important opportunity to highlight both the tragedy and the trajectory of human trafficking in the state of Hawaii in her statement on the state's efforts and to prevent human trafficking.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

• Oregon AG Rosenblum released a new report on opening pathways to justice and improving support for communities effected by inequity. AG Rosenblum also announced that Oregon DOJ’s Crime Victim and Survivor Services Division has awarded $5 million in grants to several Oregon non-profits to support specific culturally responsive victim services throughout the state.

COMMUNITY

• Colorado AG Weiser was featured in an article on the importance of leading with empathy. Included in the message is his December talk with the Consumer Brands Association where he offered perspective on how to elevate the role of lawyers in society.

• Texas AG Pax­ton issued CIDs to Robin­hood, Dis­cord, Citadel, and oth­ers that sus­pend­ed stock trad­ing and investing.

• Connecticut AG Tong joined a bipartisan coalition of 33 attorneys general in opposing a proposed class action settlement that would permit a mortgage servicer to profit from illegal payment processing fees charged to homeowners.

• Nebraska AG Peterson, in conjunction with a coalition of 21 states and territories, has released filed a third full unredacted complaint.

• Washington AG Ferguson announced that more than 3,000 Washingtonians will receive $4 million as a result of Washington's lawsuit to stop LuLaRoe's pyramid scheme.

• Nebraska AG Peterson joined a bipartisan coalition of 35 state attorneys general in filing an amicus brief, arguing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s robocall ban. Ensuring the attorney's general right to fight against robocalls.

• Arizona AG Brnovich announced the passage of legislation that will prohibit pregnancy discrimination in the workplace under the Arizona Civil Rights Act.

• Arizona AG Brnovich worked on legislation that would allow Arizonans to more easily and safely cancel their gym memberships during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is taking action to protect consumers, particularly the most economically vulnerable.

• Lowe's Companies,Inc. announced its continued investments in its front-line associates with an additional $80 million in discretionary bonuses and plans to hire more than 50,000 associates across U.S. stores this spring.

• Walmart announced that the Walmart Foundation is distributing the first $14.3 million of their $100 million over five years commitment in grants to 16 different nonprofit racial equity organizations.

• CVS Health announced they will begin to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible populations at a limited number of CVS Pharmacy locations across 11 states. 

• Stephen Bye, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, DISH 
• Tom Power, Senior Vice President & General Counsel Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA)
• Aneesh Chopra, President, CareJourney, and former U.S. CTO 
• Gigi Sohn, Distinguished Fellow, Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, Benton Senior Fellow & Public Advocate 

• "Who will meet the 5G hardware components if we aren’t buying it from China?-@pweiser #AGA5GWebinar

• "Dish is committed to opening up more innovation and technology" -Stephen Bye #AGA5GWebinar