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ATLANTA (AP) — A federal judge in Georgia has declined to block several provisions of a sweeping election law while legal challenges play out. The lawsuits assert that parts of the law deny Black voters equal access to voting and violate the U.S. Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act. Political Cartoons View All 1209 Images"The fight for voting rights in the South has never been easy, especially for Black voters. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican who has defended the law, celebrated Boulee's ruling. The third provision says absentee ballots can be requested no later than 11 days prior to an election.

Persons: Donald Trump, District Judge J.P, Boulee, Boulee's, ” Rahul Garabadu, Brad Raffensperger, we've, ” Organizations: ATLANTA, —, U.S . Department of Justice, Republican, Constitution, ”, District, Black, American Civil Liberties Union of, “, Democrats Locations: Georgia, U.S, ” U.S, American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia

☆ Trump loses first of several bids to toss suit seeking to block him from Colorado ballot
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Colorado District Judge Sarah Wallace this week rejected Trump’s bid to get the lawsuit dismissed on free-speech grounds. A trial to determine Trump’s eligibility is set for October 30, if the case reaches that stage. Unprecedented casesCitizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, filed the Colorado lawsuit on behalf of a group of Republican and unaffiliated voters in the state. This is one of three major challenges against Trump’s eligibility for the 2024 ballot – similar cases are pending in Minnesota and Michigan, where a different group filed lawsuits. Griswold, a Democrat, previously told the judge that she doesn’t have a position on Trump’s eligibility and would comply with the judge’s final decision.

Persons: Donald Trump, Sarah Wallace, Trump’s, Wallace, ” Wallace, ” Trump, Trump, Donald Sherman, State Jena Griswold, Griswold, “ Organizations: CNN, Colorado, Republican, Trump, State, Democrat, Constitution Locations: Colorado, Washington, Minnesota, Michigan

☆ 'Kindness costs nothing', says Australian PM in final plea ahead of Indigenous referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SYDNEY, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a final plea to vote in favour of recognising Indigenous people in the constitution in a referendum on Saturday, as opinion polls show the vote is set to fail. The latest opinion poll released on Thursday predicted the 'No' camp sweeping the polls with a lead of 56% over the 'Yes' vote that's at 38%, with some 6% undecided. In 1967 a referendum to count Indigenous people as part of the Australian population was a resounding success as it secured bipartisan political support. The 2023 referendum has not garnered united political support, with leaders of the major conservative parties campaigning for a 'No' vote. Supporters argue the Voice will bring progress for Indigenous Australians, while some opponents say enshrining one group in the constitution would be divisive.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, haven’t, Noel Pearson, Praveen Menon, Michael Perry Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia, Aboriginal, REUTERS, Indigenous, Thomson Locations: Torres, Adelaide, Todd, Alice Springs, Australia

The United States Supreme Court building is seen as in Washington, U.S., October 4, 2023. In this case, the state legislature was accused of racial gerrymandering to reduce the influence of Black voters. The Republican legislators and other state officials who appealed to the Supreme Court told the justices that the map was designed to secure partisan advantages, a practice that the Supreme Court in 2019 decided was not reviewable by federal courts - unlike racial gerrymandering, which remains illegal. The new map increased the district's share of white voters while reducing its share of Black voters, which the lower court referred to as "bleaching." Clyburn's is the only one of South Carolina's House districts held by a Democrat.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, John Roberts, Roberts, Elena Kagan, Republican Nancy Mace, Jim Clyburn, Clyburn's, Mace, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: United States Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Supreme, South, Republican, . House, Supreme Court, Conservative, Black, Democratic, Democrat, Alabama Republicans, U.S . House, Democrats, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, South Carolina, Charleston, Carolina's, United States, Louisiana , Georgia, New York

The United States Supreme Court building is seen as in Washington, U.S., October 4, 2023. At issue is a map adopted last year by the Republican-led state legislature delineating the boundaries of one of South Carolina's seven U.S. House districts. A panel of three federal judges blocked the map for South Carolina's coastal 1st congressional district, which includes parts of Charleston. In this case, the state legislature was accused of racial gerrymandering to reduce the influence of Black voters. Clyburn's is the only one of South Carolina's House districts held by a Democrat.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Republican Nancy Mace, Jim Clyburn, Clyburn's, Mace, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: United States Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Supreme, South, Republican, voters, Black, Democratic, Democrat, Alabama Republicans, U.S . House, Democrats, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, South Carolina, Charleston, Carolina's, United States, Louisiana , Georgia, New York

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 11 (Reuters) - A divided federal appeals court is allowing California's ban on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition to remain in effect while the state appeals a judge's ruling finding it unconstitutionally violated the rights of firearms owners. The ruling came in a long-running lawsuit by the California Rifle & Pistol Association and gun owners challenging the ban. The court said that federal judges nationally had largely upheld large-capacity magazine restrictions since the Supreme Court ruled and that a decision to the contrary could threaten public safety. Chuck Michel, the president of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, in a statement expressed disappointment and vowed to "defend the rights of gun owners in California all the way to the Supreme Court." The Supreme Court vacated the appeals court ruling and ordered new proceedings consistent with the Bruen decision.

Persons: Lucy Nicholson, Roger Benitez, Rob Bonta, Bonta, Patrick Bumatay, Chuck Michel, Benitez, Nate Raymond, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Foods, REUTERS, Circuit, U.S, California, Association, District, Supreme, , New York, Democrat, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, San Francisco, San Diego, ,, California, Boston

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Blankenship speaks to his supporters during the primary election in Charleston, West Virginia, U.S., May 8, 2018. In his appeal to the Supreme Court, Blankenship's lawyers said that the media is now dominated by a few giant corporations that seek profits ahead of public service. The Supreme Court previously rejected Blankenship's appeals seeking to overturn his conviction. Thomas in 2019 took aim at the 1964 defamation precedent in an opinion he wrote when the court refused to consider reviving a defamation lawsuit against Bill Cosby. Thomas added that defamation law was historically a matter for the states, and should remain that way.

Persons: Don Blankenship, Lexi Browning, Donald Blankenship's, Blankenship, Sullivan, Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Joe Manchin, Blankenship's, Bill Cosby, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: Republican U.S, Senate, REUTERS, U.S, Supreme, Massey Energy, Fox News, MSNBC, U.S . Senate, New York Times, Conservative, Republican, Democratic, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Circuit, Big Branch, Thomson Locations: Charleston , West Virginia, U.S, West Virginia, Richmond , Virginia, Massey's

Naval Academy graduation and commissioning ceremony in Annapolis, Maryland, U.S., May 27, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 5 (Reuters) - The group that successfully challenged race-conscious college admissions policies at the U.S. Supreme Court sued the U.S. Naval Academy on Thursday, its second lawsuit opposing affirmative action in U.S. military academies. "The Naval Academy has no legal justification for treating midshipman applicants differently by race and ethnicity," Blum said in a statement. A spokesperson for the Naval Academy declined to comment.

Persons: Kevin Lamarque, Edward Blum, Blum, John Roberts, Joe Biden's, Daniel Walker, Nate Raymond, Chris Reese, Lincoln, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: U.S . Naval Academy, REUTERS, U.S, Supreme, Fair, Annapolis, U.S . Military Academy, West, Naval, Naval Academy, Harvard University, University of North, Democratic, Defense, Blacks, U.S . Air Force, Black Veterans, Constitution's, Thomson Locations: Annapolis , Maryland, U.S, Virginia, University of North Carolina, Baltimore, Boston

[1/2] Starbucks workers attend a rally as they go on a one-day strike outside a store in Buffalo, New York, U.S., November 17, 2022. Federal law only allows NLRB members, who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, to be removed for "neglect of duty or malfeasance in office." The Buffalo store is one of more than 360 Starbucks locations in the U.S. to unionize since 2021. The labor board is currently considering more than 100 cases accusing Starbucks of unlawful conduct, including firing union supporters, barring organizing in stores and refusing to bargain with unions. An NLRB official dismissed Cortes' petition in May, saying no election could be held until cases accusing Starbucks of unfair labor practices at the Buffalo store were resolved.

Persons: Lindsay DeDario, Ariana Cortes, Cortes, Kayla Blado, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, Starbucks Corp, U.S . National Labor Relations Board, Work Foundation, U.S . Constitution, Starbucks, NLRB, Senate, Democratic, Democrat, Buffalo, Thomson Locations: Buffalo , New York, U.S, New York, Washington ,, U.S ., Buffalo, unionize, Albany , New York

☆ Who could succeed Republican Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the US House?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to reporters after he was ousted from the position of Speaker by a vote of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. October 3, 2023. 2 House Republican and has long been favored to take over the head of the Republican Party in the chamber after McCarthy's tenure ended. TOM EMMERRepresentative Tom Emmer is the House Republican whip and had headed the House Republicans' campaign arm during the 2022 midterm elections, when Republicans recaptured the House majority from President Joe Biden's Democrats. Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, McHenry is a McCarthy ally who spoke in support of McCarthy prior to the vote. KEVIN MCCARTHYRepresentative Kevin McCarthy told reporters on Tuesday he would not make another run for speaker.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Jonathan Ernst, McCarthy, STEVE SCALISE, Matt Gaetz, Steve Scalise, Scalise, Tom Emmer, Joe Biden's, JIM JORDAN, Jim Jordan, Donald Trump, BYRON DONALDS, Byron Donalds, PATRICK MCHENRY, Patrick McHenry, McHenry, DONALD TRUMP, Biden, Gaetz, Andy Ogles, Trump, HAKEEM JEFFRIES, Hakeem Jeffries, KEVIN MCCARTHY, Makini Brice, Scott Malone, Howard Goller Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, U.S . House, Republican, Republican Party, TOM, Republicans, Committee, Financial Services, Trump, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S

☆ Timeline of Racial Wealth Gap
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Policies and practices that have disadvantaged Black Americans generation after generation help explain the racial wealth gap. Black veterans find it much harder to obtain benefits; one study finds Black claimants were twice as likely to have their applications queried. 1877Southern states begin enacting “Jim Crow” laws, which formalize racial segregation. The laws restrict civil liberties and limit job opportunities for Black people as employers relegate Black workers to lower-skilled roles. 1896The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Plessy v Ferguson that racial segregation is permissible.

Persons: Black, vagrancy, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, Andrew Johnson, Jim Crow, Ferguson, Henry Ford, Woodrow Wilson, Smith, Bankhead Organizations: Civil, Union, Bureau, American Medical Association, Prudential, Companies, Black, American Federation of Labor, U.S, Supreme, Plessy, U.S . Department of Agriculture, U.S . Constitution, National Association of Real, Owners Loan Corporation, U.S . Commission, Housing Administration, Federal Housing Administration Locations: U.S, Southern, Black, Louisville , Kentucky, U.S ., Tulsa , Oklahoma, Los Angeles, Chicago, Levittown, New York’s

The CFPB's funding design draws money each year from the Federal Reserve instead of from budgets passed by lawmakers. Challengers to the CFPB - trade groups representing the high-interest payday loan industry - argued that the agency's funding structure violates a constitutional provision giving Congress the power of the purse. The Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative majority has rolled back the power of federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency in important rulings in recent years. The court's three liberal justices pressed the challengers on the repercussions of deeming the CFPB's funding structure unconstitutional. Circuit Court of Appeals, which last October ruled that the CFPB's funding structure violated the Appropriations Clause.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Kevin Wurm, Joe Biden's, Elizabeth Prelogar, Biden, Elena Kagan, Barack Obama, Wells, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Companies Wells, Co, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal, Environmental Protection Agency, Conservative, Federal Reserve, Democratic, New, Circuit, Appeals, Republican, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, New Orleans

[1/5] U.S. President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, walks to appear in a federal court on gun charges in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., October 3, 2023. Biden wore a dark suit and tie during his appearance at the federal courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware, which lasted 25 minutes. Six men wearing earpieces who appeared to be Secret Service agents sat near Hunter Biden during the court proceedings and escorted him out of the courtroom through a side door. Burke said Hunter Biden submitted to tests for illegal drug use multiple times recently and had tested negative. Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone and Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Hunter Biden, Mike Segar, Biden, Christopher Burke, Abbe Lowell, earpieces, Burke, Hunter Biden's, Biden's, Donald Trump, Maryellen Noreika, Hunter, Trump, Joe Biden, Tom Hals, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Alistair Bell Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Secret, Republican, U.S, District, Supreme, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Wilmington , Delaware, U.S, Rights WILMINGTON , Delaware, Wilmington, Lowell, Ukraine, China

Lawyers who helped file the lawsuit on Monday on behalf of the alliance against the State Board of Elections and board leaders have represented Democratic interests previously. North Carolina’s constitution sets a one-year state residency requirement to vote in state elections, but that provision was held unconstitutional decades ago and isn’t enforced. A 30-day precinct requirement is still carried out, however, and state law says lying about one’s residency on a registration form is a low-grade felony. The state board had not been served with the lawsuit as of Tuesday afternoon, board spokesperson Pat Gannon said. Republican legislative leaders were incensed by the settlement, which overruled state law and ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

Persons: ” David Fox, Pat Gannon, Marc Elias Organizations: —, North Carolina Alliance, Constitution, State Board, Democratic, U.S, Supreme, Republican, Alliance, Retired Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, — North Carolina, Washington, North Carolina, Tennessee

☆ Explainer: What are the next steps as US House searches for new speaker?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here is a look at what comes next:IS THERE AN ACTING SPEAKER? Immediately following Tuesday's 216-210 ouster vote, Republican Representative Patrick McHenry, a McCarthy ally, was appointed acting speaker pro tempore. The acting speaker pro tempore's duties are vague, according to a guide to the chamber's rules and procedures: That person "may exercise such authorities of the office of speaker as may be necessary and appropriate pending the election of a speaker or speaker pro tempore." WHAT ARE HOUSE REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS DOING? Under the U.S. Constitution, the House speaker does not have to be a member of Congress.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy's, Jonathan Ernst, Patrick McHenry, McCarthy, Kelly Armstrong, McHenry, Matt Gaetz, Hakeem Jeffries, Donald Trump, Richard Cowan, Scott Malone, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . House, Republican, REPUBLICANS, Republicans, WHO, Constitution, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ Curtain comes up on new term for conservative US Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( John Kruzel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. Supreme Court building is seen in Washington, U.S., August 31, 2023. The conservative justices have shown assertiveness in major rulings in the past two years. The court has ended its recognition of a constitutional right to abortion, expanded gun rights, restricted federal agency powers, rejected affirmative action in college admissions and broadened religious rights. The justices are opening their annual term on the first Monday of October, in keeping with tradition. The term debuts with some justices under ethics scrutiny after revelations this year of their ties to wealthy conservative benefactors.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Joe Biden's, Mark Pulsifer, Donald Trump, Pulsifer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Trump, Amy Coney Barrett, Ginsburg, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Purdue, Republican, resentencing, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S . Postal, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Iowa, Texas, Florida

[1/2] The U.S. Supreme Court building is seen in Washington, U.S., August 31, 2023. The lower court rejected the argument made by the defendants that with the secret recording they were exercising their right to free speech under the U.S. Constitution. Various activist groups on the left and right conduct undercover operations often involving secret recording. Planned Parenthood has said the defendants are "ideological activists" - not journalists - whose videos were heavily edited as part of a smear campaign aimed at destroying the organization. Using a shell company and fake identification, the activists gained access to Planned Parenthood and National Abortion Federation conferences and other locations where they recorded staff using hidden cameras.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, David Daleiden, Daleiden, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Center for Medical Progress, Planned, U.S . Constitution, Abortion Federation, Medical, Circuit, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S ., California, San Francisco

☆ Supreme Court declines to consider longshot bid to disqualify Trump from running for president
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Devan Cole | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —The Supreme Court said Monday that it will not take up a longshot challenge to Donald Trump’s eligibility to run for president because of his alleged role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. This case is separate from the other 14th Amendment challenges against Trump in Minnesota and Colorado, which are scheduled for trials later this year. “The framers of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment specifically designed it to remove overwhelming popular pro-insurrectionists from the ballot. At least two other similar challenges to Trump’s eligibility have been brought in recent weeks by groups seeking to keep the former president from returning to the Oval Office. Trump denies wrongdoing and has vowed to fight to remain on the presidential ballot.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, John Anthony Castro, Trump, Castro, ” Castro, Castro isn’t, hasn’t Organizations: Washington CNN, Capitol, Republican, United States Capitol, Trump, U.S, Constitution, GOP Locations: Minnesota, Colorado

Circuit Court of Appeals on a 2-1 vote granted a request by Edward Blum's American Alliance for Equal Rights to temporarily block Fearless Fund from considering applications for grants only from businesses led by Black women. Blum's group asked the court to do so while it appealed a judge's Tuesday ruling denying it a preliminary injunction blocking Fearless Fund from moving forward with its "racially exclusive program." Fearless Fund did not immediately respond to requests for comment. According to the Fearless Fund, businesses owned by Black women in 2022 received less than 1% of the $288 billion that venture capital firms deployed. It also provides grants, and Blum's lawsuit took aim at its Fearless Strivers Grant Contest, which awards Black women who own small businesses $20,000 in grants and other resources to grow their businesses.

Persons: Ben Crump, Arian Simone, Ayana Parsons, Mylan Denerstein, Alphonso David, Eduardo Munoz, Edward Blum's, Blum's, Grant, Robert Luck, Andrew Brasher, Thomas, Donald Trump, Blum, JPMorgan Chase, Strivers, Nate Raymond, Alexia Garamfalvi, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Fund, REUTERS, Supreme, Circuit, Edward Blum's American Alliance for Equal Rights, U.S, District, American Alliance for Equal Rights, Harvard University, University of North, JPMorgan, Bank of America, MasterCard, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Atlanta, Texas, University of North Carolina, Black, Boston

The legal filings marked an escalation in the battle between the entertainment giant and DeSantis, a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Disney has sued DeSantis in federal court, claiming the governor violated its free speech rights by punishing it for expressing opposition to the law. Meanwhile, the governing district now controlled by DeSantis appointees has sued Disney in state court. Disney filed counterclaims that include asking a state court to declare the agreements valid and enforceable. The DeSantis allies are arguing that one of the reasons the agreements should be invalidated is they weren't properly publicized.

Persons: Ron DeSantis ratcheted, DeSantis, Walt Disney, Disney, —, Mike Schneider Organizations: Disney, Central, Governor Locations: ORLANDO, Fla, Florida, Central Florida, “, U.S, DeSantis

The police chief who led a highly criticized raid of a small Kansas newspaper has been suspended, the mayor confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday. Marion Mayor Dave Mayfield in a text said he suspended Chief Gideon Cody on Thursday. Legal experts believe the raid on the newspaper violated a federal privacy law or a state law shielding journalists from having to identify sources or turn over unpublished material to law enforcement. Video of the raid on the home of publisher Eric Meyer shows how distraught his 98-year-old mother became as officers searched through their belongings. Another reporter last month filed a federal lawsuit against the police chief over the raid.

Persons: Marion Mayor Dave Mayfield, Gideon Cody, Cody, Marion, Ruth Herbel, it’s, ” Herbel, Eric Meyer, Meyer, Joan Meyer Organizations: Associated Press, Marion, City, U.S, U.S . Constitution, Facebook Locations: Kansas, Marion County, U.S .

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on Social Security and Medicare at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida, U.S. February 9, 2023. The ruling is the first to come from multiple lawsuits by drug companies and industry groups challenging the program. The drug price negotiation program is part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden, a Democrat, signed last year. The Biden administration has repeatedly said there is nothing in the Constitution that prohibits drug price negotiations. Many other countries already negotiate drug prices.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, vindicating, Joe Biden's, Michael Newman, Biden, drugmakers, Newman, Karine Jean, Pierre, Donald Trump, Johnson, Januvia, Bristol Myers, Boehringer, Brendan Pierson, Nate Raymond, Costas Pitas, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot, Chris Reese, Leslie Adler Organizations: Social Security, University of Tampa, REUTERS, U.S, District, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Medicare, Commerce, U.S . Justice, Republicans, Big Pharma, Republican, U.S . Centers, Medicaid Service, CMS, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Johnson, Merck, Co's, Pharmaceutical Research, Manufacturers of America, Companies, Thomson Locations: Tampa , Florida, U.S, Dayton , Ohio, New York, Boston

☆ US Supreme Court to weigh state laws constraining social media companies
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Andrew Chung | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Supporters of the laws have argued that social media platforms have engaged in impermissible censorship and have silenced conservative voices in particular. In signing the bill in 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said, "There is a dangerous movement by some social media companies to silence conservative ideas and values. The Texas law forbids social media companies with at least 50 million monthly active users from acting to "censor" users based on "viewpoint," and allows either users or the Texas attorney general to sue to enforce it. The industry groups are appealing a decision by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the Texas law, which the Supreme Court had blocked at an earlier stage of the case.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Greg Abbott, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Republican, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Facebook, Inc, Twitter, Justice Department, Tech, Capitol, Circuit, New, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Texas, Florida, Atlanta, New Orleans, New York

Sept 28 (Reuters) - Yelp Inc (YELP.N) is asking a federal court to stop Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from suing it over notices telling its users that crisis pregnancy centers do not provide abortions or referrals for abortions. Crisis pregnancy centers offer pregnant women counseling while seeking to prevent them from having abortions. In August 2022, Yelp began posting a notice on crisis pregnancy centers' pages stating that they "typically provide limited medical services and may not have licensed medical professionals onsite." The company said in the complaint that it posted the notices to prevent users from being misled by crisis pregnancy centers that deliberately targeted women seeking abortions. In February, in response to a complaint by Paxton, the company changed the notices to state that crisis pregnancy centers "do not offer abortions or referrals to abortion providers."

Persons: Ken Paxton, Paxton, Yelp, Paxton's, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Yelp, Republican, U.S, Thomson Locations: Texas, San Francisco, California, New York

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSept 28 (Reuters) - Apple (AAPL.O) on Thursday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down an order requiring changes to its App Store rules stemming from an antitrust case brought by "Fortnite" owner Epic Games. After the ruling, the trial court judge ordered that Apple must change those rules for all developers in its U.S. App Store. The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal upheld the orders, though they remain on hold until the Supreme Court either makes a decision or declines to hear the case. Epic on Wednesday also appealed lower court rulings in the Apple case. The Supreme Court will likely decide either late this year or early next year whether to hear the case.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Apple, Stephen Nellis, Leslie Adler Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, U.S, Supreme, Epic Games, Ninth Circuit, Constitution, Thomson Locations: California, U.S, San Francisco

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