Posts Tagged breaking

By Alexandra Brodsky • 11 years ago

Breaking: SCOTUS declines to hear defense of Indiana’s anti-Planned Parenthood law

The Indiana government really, really wants to defund Planned Parenthood, but the U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear its appeal of a lower court’s ruling that the state really, really can’t do that. The LA Times reports:

Without comment, the justices turned away Indiana’s defense of a 2011 law that would ban all Medicaid funds to an organization such as Planned Parenthood whose work includes performing abortions.

The high court let stand decisions by a federal judge in Indiana and the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago that blocked the measure from taking effect. The “defunding law excludes Planned Parenthood from Medicaid for a reason unrelated to its fitness to provide medical services, violating its patients’ ...

The Indiana government really, really wants to defund Planned Parenthood, but the U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear its appeal of a lower court’s ruling that the state really, really can’t do that. The LA Times

By Samhita • 11 years ago

Breaking: 25 dead in elementary school shooting in Newton, CT

Enough is enough–how many school shootings will there be before we wake-up and tackle gun culture for what it is and address the impact it has on human lives.

One state official said that an adult gunman was believed to be dead in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The gunman was in possession of at least two firearms, the official said. There was some speculation that there were two gunmen involved in the mass shooting.

A student at the school told an NBC affiliate in Connecticut: “I was in the gym and I heard like seven loud booms, and the gym teachers told us to go in the corner and we huddled. We all heard these booming noises, and ...

Enough is enough–how many school shootings will there be before we wake-up and tackle gun culture for what it is and address the impact it has on human lives.

One state official said that an adult gunman ...
By Samhita • 11 years ago

Breaking: Dominique Strauss-Kahn to settle out of court with Nafissitou Diallo

The French press is reporting that the former IMF chief will be settling out of court with Nafissitou Diallo, the NYC based hotel maid who has pursued a case against him for sexual assault, if she drops the civil suit–to the tune of 6 million.

“Details of the deal, which comes after prosecutors dropped related criminal charges last year, weren’t immediately known and likely will be veiled by a confidentiality agreement. That could prevent the two from speaking publicly about a May 2011 encounter that she called a brutally sudden attack and he termed a consensual “moral failing.”

Lawyers for Strauss-Kahn and the housekeeper, Nafissatou Diallo, made the as-yet-unsigned agreement within recent days, with Bronx Supreme Court Justice Douglas McKeon ...

The French press is reporting that the former IMF chief will be settling out of court with Nafissitou Diallo, the NYC based hotel maid who has pursued a case against him for sexual assault, if ...
By Vanessa • 13 years ago

Obama administration will halt deportation of DREAMers and other undocumented immigrants

Hallelujah:

The Obama administration announced Thursday that it would suspend deportation proceedings against many illegal immigrants who pose no threat to national security or public safety.

The new policy is expected to help thousands of illegal immigrants who came to the United States as young children, graduated from high school and want to go on to college or serve in the armed forces.

White House and immigration officials said they would exercise “prosecutorial discretion” to focus enforcement efforts on cases involving criminals and people who have flagrantly violated immigration laws.

Under the new policy, the secretary of homeland security, Janet Napolitano, can provide relief, on a case-by-case basis, to young people who are in ...

Hallelujah:

The Obama administration announced Thursday that it would suspend deportation proceedings against many illegal immigrants who pose no threat to national security or public safety.

The new policy is expected to help thousands of ...
By Vanessa • 13 years ago

Breaking: Obama pronounces DOMA unconstitutional, asks DOJ to cease defending the law

Some great news, for a change:

Moments ago, in a sharp reversal of policy, the Obama administration announced that it believes that Section 3 of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) — which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages — is unconstitutional and will ask the Justice Department to stop defending the law. In a press release announcing the change, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder also argues that laws regarding sexual orientation should be subject to a higher level of review.

From the official DOJ statement by Attorney General Eric Holder:

In the two years since this Administration took office, the Department of Justice has defended Section 3 of the Defense ...

Some great news, for a change:

Moments ago, in a sharp reversal of policy, the Obama administration announced that it believes that Section 3 of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) — which prohibits ...