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☆ Georgia judge declares state’s abortion ban unconstitutional, allowing procedure to resume beyond 6 weeks into pregnancy
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Shawn Nottingham | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A Georgia judge has struck down the state’s six-week abortion ban, declaring it unconstitutional. In a ruling issued on Monday, Judge Robert McBurney said Georgia’s Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act, or LIFE Act, infringes on a woman’s state constitutional rights. When originally signed into law, the LIFE Act criminalized most abortions after an embryo generates detectable cardiac activity, typically around six weeks into a pregnancy. When the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and ended a national right to abortion, it opened the door for state bans. Democrats argue such deaths were a predictable outcome of laws that took effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Persons: CNN —, Robert McBurney, ” McBurney, Roe, Wade, Kara Murray, Chris Carr, “, ”, Brian Kemp, Kemp, ” Kemp, Court’s, McBurney, Monica Simpson, “ Today’s, there’s, hasn’t, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, It’s, Harris, ProPublica, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, SisterSong, LIFE, Georgia, Republican Gov, Society of Family Planning, United States, United, American Civil Liberties Union, Trump, Democratic, Associated Press Locations: Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, United States, Atlanta

By comparison, from Ohio’s March primary through August, Democrats held the edge, dropping $78.5 million on ads to Republicans’ $59 million. “Bernie’s special interest allies are dumping hundreds of millions of dollars into this race to try and defeat Sherrod because they know Sherrod will always stand up to them to do what’s right for Ohio,” Brown spokesperson Matt Keyes said in a statement. Democrats, who hold a one-seat majority in the Senate, are growing increasingly nervous about Sen. Jon Tester’s re-election bid in Montana. Democrats had a clear advertising advantage coming out of a contentious March primary that cost Moreno’s campaign millions of dollars to win. Close behind is WinSenate, a political action committee affiliated with the Democrats’ Senate Majority PAC, which has spent more than $22 million this month.

Persons: Sen, Sherrod Brown, Bernie Moreno, Brown, ”, Jai Chabria, JD Vance’s, “, Moreno, Sherrod, ” Brown, Matt Keyes, Jon Tester’s, Larry Hogan, Gary Peters of, “ We’re, ” Philip Letsou, Chuck Schumer, Kamala Harris, ” Letsou, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, “ Sherrod, Chris Grant, Moreno’s, it’s, beholden, Harris, Joe Biden, Bernie, Scott Guthrie, ” Peters, I’m, “ Jon Tester, ” Moreno, Reagan McCarthy, chastise Brown, Mary Ann, ” Mary Ann, Bernie Moreno’s, ” Chabria, Vance Organizations: CLEVELAND, Senate, Democratic, ’, GOP, Republican, Democratic Senatorial, National Press Club, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Democrat Party, lockstep, Democrats, Defend, Jobs, Fund, PAC, National Republican, Moreno’s, ” Locations: Ohio, Montana, Florida, Texas, Montana and Ohio, Arizona , Michigan, Nevada , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Maryland, Gary Peters of Michigan, Washington, lockstep ”, ” Ohio, Toledo

In the seven most competitive Senate races, Democratic campaigns and outside groups launched 33 TV ads on abortion just in the last week, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. Just one Republican ad, a Spanish-language spot from an outside group targeting Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada, mentioned abortion. Some Republicans warned that the party's failure to counter abortion attacks cost them crucial seats that year. In Arizona, Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake has softened her position on abortion rights. Sadly, by the way, there’s a lot of suburban women, a lot of suburban women that are like, ‘Listen, abortion is it.

Persons: Bernie Moreno’s, Sherrod Brown, “ Bernie oof, ”, Moreno, “, Bernie, Sherrod, Sherrod Brown’s, Nikki Haley, Kamala Harris, Democratic Sen, Jacky Rosen of, Sarah Guggenheimer, Tommy Garcia, Joe Biden's, Harris, Gail Gitcho, Sam Brown, Pennsylvania's Dave McCormick, Larry Hogan —, Florida Sen, Rick Scott, Mike Berg, Lauren Zelt, Mitt Romney's, —, Sen, Jon Tester, Tim Sheehy, Debbie Mucarsel Powell, Republican Sen, Amy Walter, haven't, Kari Lake, Republican Sam Brown, Brown, Alex Conant, it’s, Conant, Moreno’s, Reagan McCarthy, Ohioans, “ Moreno, ” Brown, Reeves Oyster Organizations: Ohio, GOP, Republican, Democratic, PAC, Democrats, Republicans, NBC News, Trump, didn’t, “, NBC, WCMH Locations: Ohio, Spanish, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Florida, America, Arizona, Florida , Nevada, Montana, Nevada, Columbus

Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno is facing a wave of criticism over his remarks about suburban women and abortion heading into the homestretch of the competitive race. Moreno said at a town hall in Warren County on Friday that many "suburban women" are "single-issue voters" when it comes to abortion. “You know, the left has a lot of single-issue voters,” Moreno said. “Sadly, by the way, there’s a lot of suburban women, a lot of suburban women that are like, ‘Listen, abortion is it. Ohio voters in November passed a ballot measure enshrining the right to abortion care in the state constitution.

Persons: Bernie Moreno, Moreno, ” Moreno, “, ’, Sen, Sherrod Brown, Reagan McCarthy, “ Bernie, ” Brown, —, Brown, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, ” Maura Gillespie, John Boehner, ”, Gillespie, Roe, Wade Organizations: Ohio Republican, NBC, Democratic, Ohio, Senate, Republicans, U.N, CNN Locations: Warren County, Columbus, Ohio

Eight states will have constitutional amendments backed by Republican lawmakers on the November ballot designed to make clear that only American citizens can vote in elections in those states. But it’s already illegal for noncitizens to vote in elections in those states and at the federal level, and it rarely happens. Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, has long made false claims that noncitizens are voting in elections and that Democrats have helped them enter the country to cast those ballots. No state constitution in the U.S. allows noncitizens to vote. While Americans for Citizen Voting said it has no formal or informal relationship with the Trump campaign or the RNC, its chairman, Paul Jacob, said at a recent press conference that he hopes the ballot measures will help improve voter turnout.

Persons: it’s, stoke people’s, Donald Trump, ”, Jonathan Diaz, Mike Johnson, noncitizens, “, Sen, Julian Bradley, Bradley, Brad Overcash, ” Jack Tomczak, —, “ It’s, Brad Raffensperger, Diaz, Bree Grossi Wilde, Trump, ” Diaz, Grossi Wilde, Paul Jacob, ” Jacob Organizations: Republican, noncitizens, Trump, GOP, Republican National, D.C, United, Lawmakers, ”, ” Wisconsin Republican, Citizen, ” North, ” North Carolina Republican, stoke, Democracy Research, University of Wisconsin Law, RNC Locations: Idaho , Iowa , Kentucky , Missouri, North Carolina , Oklahoma, South Carolina, Wisconsin, U.S, Washington, Iowa , Missouri, Idaho, Kentucky, United States, ” Wisconsin, ” North Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina

Abortion rights opponents had argued in a pair of lawsuits that the amendment to expand abortion rights violated a state rule that says a ballot proposal must only address one subject. Matt Heffron, a senior counsel for a firm that argued against allowing the abortion rights initiative to stay on the ballot, slammed the high court's ruling. Colorado, New York and Maryland are the liberal-leaning states with abortion ballot measures. Arizona and Nevada — two key battleground states in the presidential election — also have abortion ballot initiatives. That same year, Kansas voters cast ballots against a proposed amendment which would have removed language guaranteeing abortion rights in the state.

Persons: ”, Matt Heffron, Heffron, Allie Berry, Berry, — Organizations: Nebraska Supreme, Thomas More Society, American Civil Liberties Union Locations: Nebraska, state’s, Chicago, Nebraska’s, ” Nebraska, Montana , South Dakota , Missouri, Florida . Colorado , New York, Maryland, Arizona, Nevada, Ohio , Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, state's, Kansas

☆ Harris opens the door to more media access: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

In today’s edition, we report on how Kamala Harris' media strategy is (and isn't) changing following the debate. The campaign said Harris plans to do more interviews with media in battleground states and speak more with her traveling press corps in the coming days. Her campaign’s media strategy has largely been a continuation of Biden’s, which is to minimize interactions with the media. Right after the debate, Trump held a sprawling, ad hoc press conference in the “spin” room, surrounded by hundreds of journalists who formed a ring around him. The simple rules of postgame sports commentary often apply to politics: When you win, you don’t have to spin.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Jonathan Allen, Donald Trump's, Harris, Alex Seitz, Wald, Peter Nicholas, Natasha Korecki Fresh, Kamala Harris ’, Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Tim Walz, Rickey Smiley —, Trump, Biden, JD Vance, Walz, → Trump, Jonathan Allen Donald Trump, ”, Matthew Bartlett, it’s, ” Harris, “ KAMALA, ” Trump, ️, jud, Obama Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, National Association of Black Journalists, Democratic, CNN, Minnesota Gov, Univision, Trump, ABC News, MSNBC, Center, Fox News, Truth Social, ntr Locations: Philadelphia, “, pec

A state district judge struck down North Dakota's abortion ban Thursday, saying that the state constitution creates a “fundamental right” to access abortion before a fetus is viable. "The Court concludes [the law] violates the Constitution of the State of North Dakota and is void for vagueness and of no effect," the order stated. The ruling stemmed from a request from the state to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a North Dakota clinic in 2022. Even though the judge’s ruling would make abortion legal in the meantime, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights, there are no longer any clinics performing abortions in North Dakota. North Dakota's ban prohibited abortion at all stages of pregnancy, except in the case of death or serious health risk.

Persons: Bruce Romanick, —, Romanick, Roe, Wade Organizations: U.S, North, North Dakota Constitution, Republican, Center for Reproductive Rights Locations: of North Dakota, U.S ., North Dakota, Minnesota, North

☆ 7 things to watch for at tonight's debate: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

In today’s edition, we preview tonight's showdown between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Programming note: Stay tuned for a special edition of the From the Politics Desk newsletter tonight, where we will be recapping and analyzing the presidential debate. One of the things I’ll be looking for is which voters each candidate goes out of their way to address directly. Something to watch for right at the beginning of the debate is whether Harris and Trump shake hands. That would boost her to 245 electoral votes and reduce the number of remaining state outcome combinations to 16.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Steve Kornacki, —, NBC —, Donald Trump —, ’, Kristen Welker, Harris, Read, Chuck Todd, Monica Alba, Harris ’, Mike Pence, she’s, Trump, → Garrett Haake, Gabe Gutierrez, Jonathan Allen, Emma Barnett, Rob e Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, ABC News, Trump, NBC News, Keystone State, Electoral Locations: Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada , North Carolina, Wisconsin

New Hampshire voters will head to the polls Tuesday for a primary that will set up the matchup for one of just two governor’s races in presidential battleground states this year. In addition to North Carolina, New Hampshire is the only other swing state to hold a race for governor this election cycle. “I think that helps people in New Hampshire realize that Kelly Ayotte is a New Hampshire Republican, not a straight party loyalist,” Williams said. In New Hampshire, abortion is banned after fetal viability, or around the 24th week of pregnancy. “We’ve seen in the last few years that governors and state leadership sort of make or break it when it comes to protecting abortion rights,” Levy said.

Persons: Sen, Kelly Ayotte, Chuck Morse, Chris Sununu, Joyce Craig, Cinde Warmington, Amy Walter, Cook, Kamala Harris, Ayotte, Morse, Donald Trump, Trump, didn’t, hasn’t, Chuck Morse’s, he’s, Kelly, ”, Fergus Cullen, Cullen, Trumper, Sununu, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, “ She’s, Ryan Williams, “, ” Williams, “ Kelly, she’s, Maya Harvey, Chuck, ” Harvey, Craig, Jon Kiper, Warmington, Joyce Craig’s, Philip Stein, Kelly Ayotte’s, Joyce Craig's, ” Craig, Craig Brown, Craig “, “ It’s, Williams, They’ve, nodded, Neil Gorsuch, Gorsuch, Roe, Wade, Izzi Levy, “ We’ve, ” Levy, Dobbs, we’ve, Jason Osborne Organizations: New, Republican, GOP Gov, Democrats, Manchester, Hampshire, White, Democratic, GOP, New Hampshire Republicans, ” New, Republican Party, New Hampshire Republican, Purdue Pharma, Ayotte, Republicans, Hampshire Democrats, Trump, Democratic Governors Association Locations: New Hampshire, state’s, North Carolina , New Hampshire, Trump, Dover, ” New Hampshire, Manchester, Hampshire, New England, “ New Hampshire

☆ RFK Jr. must be removed from North Carolina ballots, state Supreme Court rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is A Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled Monday to remove former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from state ballots ahead of the general election. The 4-3 ruling upholds an appeals court ruling Friday that said Kennedy’s name should be taken off the ballot. A lower court had previously denied Kennedy’s effort to be removed. “But that is a price the North Carolina Constitution expects us to incur to protect voters’ fundamental right to vote their conscience and have that vote count.”Justices Anita Earls, Richard Dietz and Allison Riggs dissented. A spokesperson for the North Carolina State Board of Elections did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the court's decision or the new timeline for ballots.

Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, “, Trey Allen, Anita Earls, Richard Dietz, Allison Riggs, Kennedy, Donald Trump, Monday's Organizations: North Carolina Supreme, State, North, Michigan’s, NBC News, North Carolina State Board, Trump Locations: North Carolina

A New York City suburb's ban against public mask wearing was challenged in federal court on Thursday, alleging the law violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and needlessly opens health compromised individuals for ridicule. Nassau County, the bedroom community just east of New York City with nearly 1.4 million residents, last week officially banned wearing face coverings in public in what's believed to be the nation's first such prohibition. "The mask ban law in Nassau County causes G.B. S.S. is a frequent shopper at T.J. Maxx and the Roosevelt Field Shopping Center and has regular medical appointments around Nassau County. The lawsuit names Nassau County and County Executive Bruce Blakeman as defendants.

Persons: what's, G.B, Roosevelt, Bruce Blakeman, Blakeman Organizations: United, Constitution, New York, Rehabilitation, Maxx, Shopping, County, NBC, Local Locations: York City, Nassau County, New York City, Nassau

☆ Most women in the US worry that abortion bans could put them or a loved one in danger, survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Deidre Mcphillips | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

About 1 in 7 women ages 18 to 49 say they have had an abortion, the KFF survey found. And the experience was similarly common among women across the political spectrum; about 14% of Democratic women and 12% of Republican women say they have had an abortion. But about two-thirds of women of reproductive age worry that abortion bans could affect the safety of a potential future pregnancy for them or someone close to them, or threaten their livelihood if an abortion is needed. More than 7 in 10 women in both states say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to KFF survey data. Most women of reproductive age in the US – including more than 4 in 10 Republicans – support a nationwide right to abortion and oppose letting states determine the legality of abortion, the new survey data finds.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Court’s Dobbs, KFF, Dobbs, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Republicans – Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Voters, CNN Health, Republicans Locations: United States, KFF, Florida, Arizona

☆ Arizona and Missouri Will Vote on Abortion in November
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Arizona voters will decide on Election Day whether to establish a right to abortion in the state Constitution. The ballot measure is a major victory for Democrats, who have used the issue of abortion to energize their voters. “Poll numbers for abortion rights are higher than poll numbers for Kamala Harris,” my colleague Kate Zernike, who covers abortion, told me. “In Arizona, Democrats think this ballot measure can really help them draw more voters.”A similar question will appear on the ballot in Missouri, state officials there said today. If voters pass the measure, Missouri would become the first state where voters overturned a near-total ban, radically reshaping access for millions of residents.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Kamala Harris, ”, Kate Zernike, “, Kate, Harris Organizations: Democrats Locations: Arizona, Missouri

☆ Arizona Will Vote on Abortion in November: Could That Give Democrats an Edge?
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Kate Zernike | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Arizona voters will decide in November whether to establish a right to abortion in the state constitution, a measure that could strongly influence turnout in a battleground state that is critical to the presidential election as well as control of the Senate. In the two years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which had established a right to abortion in the United States Constitution, abortion rights groups have prevailed in all seven states where the question of abortion has been put directly before voters. Similar measures on abortion rights are already on the November ballot in six other states, but only two are battleground states — Arizona and Nevada. (The others are Florida, South Dakota, Colorado, New York and Maryland.) And Democrats are hoping that support for abortion rights will drive higher turnout in their favor.

Persons: Roe, Wade Organizations: Senate, United Locations: Arizona, Nevada, Florida, South Dakota , Colorado , New York, Maryland

Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota would presumably become the first Native American woman to lead a state. But the state Constitution allows Flanagan to assume the governorship if Walz, for whatever reason, vacates office. The Native vote helped Joe Biden secure a win against Trump in the state in 2020. "Donald Trump made a career demonstrating and celebrating behavior that perpetuates violence against Native women and girls," she said at the time. "We finally have Native representation in the governor's office and Native women in the Legislature."

Persons: Peggy Flanagan, Flanagan, Tim Walz, Kamala Harris, Walz, Donald Trump, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Walz's, Joe Biden, Trump, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Pocahontas, Ivanka Trump, Paul, MinnPost, Kevin Stitt Organizations: Democratic, Gov, Republican, Minnesota, Trump, Democratic National Convention, Alaska Natives, Indigenous, Oklahoma Gov, Cherokee Locations: Minnesota, American, Harris, Pocahontas, St

Roy Cooper has taken himself out of consideration to be Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, according to two sources familiar with the discussions, in a sign that the accelerated search has entered a new phase. A decision could come within a week, two people familiar with the matter said, with Harris’ goal to make an announcement before August 7. She intends to have private conversations with top contenders, sources said, but it was unclear whether those discussions have started. Cooper, whose friendship with Harris dates back to their time serving as the attorneys general of their respective states, was also the oldest candidate under consideration. His age, 67, was seen by some Democrats to be at odds with Harris’ push for a vigorous and younger ticket, the sources said.

Persons: Roy Cooper, Kamala Harris ’, Harris ’, Cooper, Harris, Mark Robinson, Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen, Mark Kelly, Tim Walz, Andy Beshear, Pete Buttigieg Organizations: North Carolina Gov, Republican, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Minnesota Gov, Kentucky Gov, CNN Locations: Kentucky

☆ North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper removes himself from Harris VP consideration
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Mj Lee | Jeff Zeleny | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Roy Cooper has taken himself out of consideration to be Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, according to two sources familiar with the discussions, in a sign that the accelerated search has entered a new phase. She intends to have private conversations with top contenders, sources said, but it was unclear whether those discussions have started. Cooper, whose friendship with Harris dates back to their time serving as the attorneys general of their respective states, was also the oldest candidate under consideration. Polling and extensive research is underway for other top contenders, sources said, including Pennsylvania Gov. The party has said its goal is to nominate its presidential and vice presidential candidates by August 7.

Persons: Roy Cooper, Kamala Harris ’, Harris ’, Cooper, Harris, Mark Robinson, Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen, Mark Kelly, Tim Walz, Andy Beshear, Pete Buttigieg, CNN Cooper, “, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, ” Cooper, Biden Organizations: CNN, North Carolina Gov, Republican, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Minnesota Gov, Kentucky Gov, Republicans, Democratic Locations: Kentucky, America

☆ These are America's 10 worst states for quality of life in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Scott Cohn | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

2024 Quality of Life Score: 119 out of 325 Points (Top States Grade: D-) Strengths: Crime, Voting Rights, Worker Protections Weaknesses: Air Quality, Reproductive Rights, Health Care9. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 98 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Air Quality Weaknesses: Voting Rights, Crime, Reproductive Rights6. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 96 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: F) Strengths: Child Care, Air Quality Weaknesses: Crime, Inclusiveness, Health Care5. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 85 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Air Quality Weaknesses: Reproductive Rights, Health, Worker Protections, Voting Rights3. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 83 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Child Care Weaknesses: Voting Rights, Inclusiveness, Worker Protections2.

Persons: CNBC's, Rebecca Noble, Katie Hobbs, Kansas Thomas Barwick, Bacchus, Chandan Khanna, Wesley Bell, Michael B, Thomas, Michael Pomante, Bill Lee's, Seth Herald, Bill Lee, Oklahoma Dr, Franz Theard, Paul Ratje, Dobbs, Oklahomans, Elijah Nouvelage, Darwin Varela, Brandon Bell Organizations: Business, Arizona, Abortion, Arizona House Republicans, American Lung Association, American Hospital Association, Democratic, Health, Kansas, Digitalvision, Getty, FBI, Louisiana Police, AFP, United Health Foundation, Louisiana Department of Education, Louis County Board, United Democracy Center ., Tennessee Educators, The Tennessee Bureau, Investigation, Volunteer State, Rights, Republican Gov, Care, National Conference of State Legislatures, Reproductive Clinic, Washington, Washington Post, Guttmacher, Sooner State, Alabama Voters, Alabama, Center, Election Innovation, Research, Oxfam America, State, Indiana, Getty Images Indiana, Hoosier State, Reproductive, Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center Locations: States, Arizona, Phoenix , Arizona, Sunflower, America . Kansas, Kansas, New Orleans, Pelican, Louisiana, Missouri, Louis, Louis County, St, Ann , Missouri, United Democracy Center . Missouri, Tennessee, Nashville, Nashville , Tennessee, Seth, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Santa Teresa , New Mexico, Oxford , Alabama, Delaware , Mississippi, New Hampshire, Alabama, Hoosier, Indiana, Eagle Pass , Texas

☆ Opinion: Public schools are not Sunday schools
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Opinion Amanda Tyler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —It has been an especially active few weeks for news about religion in public schools. Public schools are not Sunday schools, and families should feel free to send their children to school without worrying about state officials interfering in their choices about religious instruction. These politically conservative state officials are seemingly making a show of testing the limits of government-sponsored religious instruction and exercise in public schools, emboldened by the US Supreme Court’s recent decisions. Like religious instruction in public schools, the public funding of religion undermines fundamental principles of religious freedom for all. By merging religious and political authority, taxpayer funding of religious schools threatens the rights of people of all faiths — and those of no faith.

Persons: Amanda Tyler, Jeff Landry, Ryan Walters, ” Amanda Tyler, Kennedy, Walters, beholden, ” Walters Organizations: Baptist, Religious Liberty, Christian Nationalism, CNN, Texas Education Agency, Louisiana Gov, US, Twitter, Oklahoma Supreme Court Locations: Louisiana, Oklahoma’s, Kennedy v, Bremerton, Kentucky, Texas , Louisiana, Oklahoma

☆ Nevada Residents Will Vote on Abortion Rights in November
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Isabelle Taft | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Nevada residents will vote on whether to protect the right to abortion in the state this November, as abortion rights groups try to continue their winning streak with measures that put the issue directly before voters. The Nevada secretary of state’s office certified on Friday the ballot initiative to amend the State Constitution to include an explicit right to abortion after verifying the signatures required. The secretary of state’s office told the group that it had verified just under 128,000 signatures. At least a dozen states, most of them led by Democrats, have passed new protections to abortion since the decision. The ruling has sparked a movement among abortion rights supporters to enshrine the right to the procedure in state constitutions through ballot measures.

Persons: U.S . Supreme Court’s Dobbs, Roe, Wade Organizations: U.S, U.S . Supreme, Republican, Democrats Locations: Nevada, U.S ., Florida , Colorado , New York , Maryland, South Dakota, Arizona , Arkansas, Nebraska

☆ In Montana, Abortion Rights Groups Submit Signatures for Ballot Measure in November
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Kate Zernike | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A coalition of abortion rights groups in Montana announced Friday that it had submitted enough signatures to put a measure on the November ballot that would ask voters to affirm a right to reproductive freedom in the State Constitution. Montana would join four other states — Colorado, South Dakota, Florida and New York — with similar ballot measures this fall. The signatures must be certified by county clerks, who send them to the secretary of state, who has until Aug. 22 to set the ballot questions. Abortion is legal in Montana until viability, or roughly 24 weeks of pregnancy, because its highest court ruled in 1999 that the state Constitution’s provisions on privacy protect a right to abortion. Leaders of the coalition, Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights, say the explicit constitutional right to abortion will prevent the Republican-controlled Legislature or future courts from undoing the 1999 ruling.

Organizations: State Constitution, Republican Locations: Montana, State, State Constitution . Montana, — Colorado, South Dakota, Florida, New York

☆ Texas Supreme Court rules against women who alleged state abortion ban put their health at risk
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Tierney Sneed | Piper Hudspethblackburn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The Texas Supreme Court said a medical exemption in the state’s abortion ban applies only when a person is at risk of death or serious physical impairment, ruling Friday against women who sued the state with claims that the ban had put their health at risk. “Because the trial court’s order opens the door to permit abortion to address any pregnancy risk, it is not a faithful interpretation of the law,” the state Supreme Court said. The Texas Supreme Court said the challengers did not prove the abortion ban, with its narrow medical emergency exemption, violated the state constitution. “Today, the Supreme Court of Texas unanimously upheld the Human Life Protection Act, one of our state’s pro-life laws,” said Paxton, a Republican. The ruling called on the Texas Medical Board to issue more guidance to clear up confusion around when the exemption applies.

Persons: Ken Paxton, ”, Paxton, “, Nancy Northup, ” Northup, Jane Bland, Amanda Zurawski, Marjorie Dannenfelser, Susan B, Anthony Pro, Marc Hearron, CNN’s Elizabeth Cohen, John Bonifield Organizations: CNN, The, The Texas Supreme, Texas Supreme, Republican, Reproductive Rights, Texas Medical Board, Texas Medical, Center for Reproductive Rights Locations: The Texas, Texas

☆ What happens now that Trump has been convicted in his hush money criminal case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Devan Cole | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Merchan could sentence Trump to probation or up to 4 years on each count in state prison, with a maximum of 20 years. The New York case is no different. Shortly after Trump was convicted, his attorney Todd Blanche asked Merchan for an acquittal of the charges notwithstanding the guilty verdict. Trump’s conviction means little for his three other criminal cases, which will continue to proceed as they were prior to him being found guilty in the New York case. Trump’s federal election subversion criminal case has been on hold while the US Supreme Court considers his claims of presidential immunity.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, –, Juan Merchan, Todd Blanche, Merchan, Richard L, Hasen, ” Hasen, Elie Honig, ” Will, CNN’s Tierney Sneed Organizations: CNN, Trump, University of California, Florida’s GOP, US Locations: York, Los Angeles, U.S, Florida, New York, Manhattan, Georgia, Atlanta

☆ Abortion rights advocates fight waiting periods and other limits amid political fallout of Roe reversal
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Longstanding abortion restrictions like waiting periods and provider regulations are now under legal attack in states where Roe v. Wade’s reversal prompted voters to amend their state constitutions to protect abortion rights. But the success abortion rights advocates have had in passing such measures in purple states and even Ohio – where Republicans have dominated recent elections – is notable. Anti-abortion activists say that abortion rights advocates are stretching the constitutional amendments beyond their meaning, suggesting that voters in other states should be wary. Abortion rights advocates say that the legal landscape differs state by state, so it’s difficult to predict the litigation that could come out of the proposed amendments if adopted. There are campaigns for initiatives to expand abortion rights in several other states, but only in a few states so far have abortion rights advocates cleared the required hurdles to guarantee the proposals will be on the ballot.

Persons: Roe, ’ pushback, Dobbs, ’ ”, Rabia Muqaddam, ”, Meagan Burrows, Katie Daniel, Susan B, Anthony Pro, Dana Nessel, Eric Restuccia, “, ” Genevieve Marnon, Casey –, Dave Yost, ” Yost, Casey, Yost, Jessica Arons, “ We’re, ” Arons Organizations: CNN, ACLU, Jackson, Health, Center for Reproductive Rights, Republicans, Democrat, Democratic, Republican, “ Voters Locations: Ohio, Michigan, In Ohio, Michigan and Ohio, California, Florida , Arizona , Missouri, Dobbs, Roe, Arizona

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