Cole Lauterbach

Arizona

Managing Editor at The Center Square

Managing editor for @TheCenterSquare covering western states. @columalum Opinions are mine and, frankly, terrible.

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Articles

Rethinking juvenile justice: Should kids face harsher penalties for crimes?

1 day ago | san.com | Chris Field |Cole Lauterbach |Kalé Carey |Kaleb Gillespie

How far should society go in punishing young criminals? Recent cases have reignited the discussion over treating juveniles as adults and giving them harsher penalties for serious crimes. For decades, juvenile justice reform has been a pendulum. Three decades ago, society began viewing teens who committed violent crimes as a “new breed” of offenders. Media outlets and officials played a significant role in popularizing this narrative, with phrases like “super-predators” capturing public attention.
Vouchers, ESAs, tax-credits: Is school choice the right choice?

3 days ago | san.com | Ali Caldwell |Brent Jabbour |Chris Field |Cole Lauterbach

On May 3, Texas became the latest state to approve a school choice program. It joins more than 30 other states and U.S. territories that have approved similar legislation. But what are these programs, and why are so many states pushing to enact school choice initiatives? Texas lawmakers passed a $1 billion bill that established a private school voucher program.
Golden Globes launching best podcast category in 2026

6 days ago | san.com | Ally Heath |Cole Lauterbach |Harry Fogle |Kennedy Felton

The Golden Globes are officially stepping into the digital age. Beginning in 2026, the show will present a Best Podcast category, spotlighting audio creators alongside film and television stars. The announcement, made Wednesday, May 7, marks the first time a major awards show will include podcasts as part of its honors. The new category reflects the growing influence of podcasts, which have become a key part of global media consumption.
ICE files detainer on migrant accused of defiling corpse on NYC subway

1 week ago | san.com | Cole Lauterbach |Lauren Keenan

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer against a migrant illegally living in the U.S. accused of raping a corpse on a New York City subway train. Crime Stoppers released surveillance video showing two men allegedly robbing an unconscious adult male aboard a southbound R train near the Whitehall Street subway station on April 9. In the video, prosecutors say one of the suspects is also seen performing sexual acts on the unresponsive passenger.
Image of German health minister making alleged 'Hitler' gesture gets woman fined

2 weeks ago | san.com | Cole Lauterbach

A German court is prosecuting a woman for producing an image of a public health official making an arm gesture similar to a Nazi salute. She is fighting the charges. According to Apollo News, a woman from Coburg, Germany, is facing a penal order from the Schweinfurt District Court for her role in producing a poster showing German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach raising his right arm with his palm facing downward.
State worker in Arizona charged with migrant smuggling, boss’ job in question

2 weeks ago | san.com | Cole Lauterbach

A now-fired employee of the Arizona Department of Agriculture is out on bail after being charged with a felony tied to profiting from smuggling migrants into the country. Republicans appear ready to use the arrest to deny Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ pick to run a state department a permanent job.
It wasn’t a volcano or a wildfire: Chicago’s air quality alert mystery solved

2 weeks ago | san.com | Cole Lauterbach

Mobile phones across Chicago on Wednesday morning, April 23, warned their users of air quality akin to sitting at the foot of an erupting volcano or on the edge of a wildfire. It turned out to be much less serious than a blaze in Bronzeville. Warnings showed air quality readings of more than 400, which is described as “hazardous” and possibly dangerous for some with sensitivities like asthma.
Appeals court rules against Trump in Kilmar Abrego Garcia case

3 weeks ago | san.com | Cole Lauterbach

Media outlets on the left frame the court’s ruling as a condemnation of the Trump administration’s “shocking” “defiance” and warned of “lawlessness,” emphasizing the potential for an “incipient crisis” between branches. Media outlets in the center acknowledge the “blunt criticism” from the administration but focus on the legal process and the possibility of Supreme Court involvement, a topic de-emphasized by the right.
Trump admin eyeing closure of IRS Direct File program: Report

4 weeks ago | san.com | Cole Lauterbach

A free IRS program allowing taxpayers to file their taxes directly without a tax preparation service could be short-lived. The pilot program initially offered to 12 states allowed users to file for the 2024 tax season. It grew to 25 states for the 2025 season, allowing what the IRS estimated to be 30 million taxpayers to file without paying an accountant or outside tax filing service. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act funded the implementation.
Nevada removes more than 162K names from voter registration rolls

4 weeks ago | readlion.com | Zachery Schmidt |Cole Lauterbach |Katelynn Richardson |John Ransom

(The Center Square) – The Nevada Secretary of State’s Office announced Monday that it had removed 162,519 voters from its voter registrations. Furthermore, the state also deactivated 37,749 voters. In total, the state removed 200,268 people from being able to vote. “The Secretary of State’s Office takes the transparency, security and accessibility of our elections very seriously, and is focused on supporting the counties’ efforts to clean the voter rolls,” said Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar.