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☆ Wisconsin Republican Primary Election Results
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Polls close at 9 p.m. Eastern time. In the 2022 primaries, first votes were reported 14 minutes later, and the last update of the night was at 3:01 a.m. Eastern time with 99.8 percent of votes reported. Wisconsin voters may participate in either party’s presidential primary as well as vote on the fate of two Republican-backed state constitutional amendments related to election administration. Two weeks of early voting were offered, as well as no-excuse vote by mail. As of Monday, more than 260,000 voters had already cast a ballot.

Organizations: Judicial Locations: Wisconsin

☆ Abortion and marijuana will be on the ballot this year in a key swing state
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Florida voters will have the chance to vote on abortion and recreational marijuana this November. The measures would enshrine abortion access and recreational marijuana use into the state constitution. AdvertisementFlorida voters will now have the chance to decide for themselves if they want abortion rights and recreational marijuana enshrined in the state constitution. The state's Supreme Court, which has a conservative majority, ruled that the two measures could appear on the ballot this November. The first ballot measure would add the right to abortion into the state constitution, mandating that no law can "prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict" abortion before the fetus is viable outside the womb.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Florida

☆ Florida’s Top Court Allowed a Six-Week Abortion Ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Florida Supreme Court ruled today that the State Constitution’s privacy protections do not extend to abortion. The ban, enacted last year by the state’s Republican-led government, will alter the landscape of abortion access across the American South, where women have long traveled to Florida from states with little to no access. In a separate decision released at the same time, the court unanimously ruled that a proposed constitutional amendment to expand abortion access could appear on ballots in November. The rulings encapsulated, in a single state on a single day, how the country has grappled with abortion since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. Florida is the latest among more than 20 states where abortion opponents have further restricted the procedure.

Persons: Roe, Wade Organizations: Florida Supreme, Republican, Democratic Locations: Florida

☆ Florida voters will decide whether to protect abortion rights and legalize pot in November
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Octavio Jones | Getty ImagesThe Florida Supreme Court issued rulings Monday allowing the state's voters to decide whether to protect abortion rights and legalize recreational use of marijuana, rejecting the state attorney general's arguments that the measures should be kept off the November ballot. Abortion rightsThe proposed amendment would protect the right to an abortion after the state in back-to-back years passed tougher restrictions currently being challenged in court. Faith Halstead, chants along with other protesters and activists near the Florida State Capitol where Florida State Senators voted to pass a proposed 6-week abortion ban in Tallahassee, Florida, on Monday, April 3, 2023. While many voters aren't enthusiastic about a rematch between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, it could inspire more abortion rights advocates to cast a ballot. People gather on the steps of the Federal Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on May 7, 2022 for a rally to support abortion rights.

Persons: Octavio Jones, General Ashley Moody, Faith Halstead, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Moody, Roe, Wade Organizations: Getty, Florida Supreme, Republican, Florida State Capitol, Florida State, Washington Post, Trump, Florida, Florida Sun, Tribune, Service, Supreme Locations: Tampa , Florida, Florida, Tallahassee , Florida, Fort Lauderdale, U.S, Maryland, New York

☆ Voting rule changes: Republicans push ballot measures in key battleground states
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Republican lawmakers and activists in several presidential battlegrounds are pushing ballot measures to change how elections are run in their states. And in Arizona, a so-called ballot referral moving through the Republican-controlled Legislature would upend the state’s widely used, no-excuse vote-by-mail system. Constitutional amendments in Wisconsin and ballot referenda in Arizona are not subject to the approval of governors in those states. “Wisconsin’s status as a swing state makes election integrity measures important locally, nationally and internationally.”If approved, the Wisconsin measures would be in effect for this year’s elections. Katie Hobbs has vetoed a raft of legislation – ranging from efforts to get rid of red-light cameras to prohibiting ranked-choice voting in the state’s elections.

Persons: ”, Jay Heck, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Sen, Eric Wimberger, Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Zuckerberg, Tony Evers, Will Flanders, –, who’s, Debra Cronmiller, Katie Hobbs, Hobbs ’, Alex Gulotta, “, Wendy Rogers, Rogers, Wisconsin’s, noncitizens Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, Silver State, Tuesday ., White House, Center for Tech, Republicans, Democratic, National Conference of State Legislatures, Wisconsin Institute of Law and Liberty, Badger State, League of Women Voters of, Phoenix New Times, Phoenix, Clark County Republican Party, Wisconsin, New, New York City Locations: Wisconsin, Nevada, Silver, Arizona, Tuesday . Arizona, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Maricopa County, ” Arizona, Clark, New York City, York, New York

CNN —Ohio’s Republican Senate primary on Tuesday – this year’s first test of Donald Trump’s clout in a contested Senate race – will help determine a key question this fall: What is the fate of Sen. Sherrod Brown and the Democratic majority? Despite already having clinched the GOP presidential nomination last week, Trump has a lot on the line in Ohio on Tuesday. “Trump endorsed Bernie Moreno for Senate.”But Democrats are also trying to use the former president’s popularity in this red state to their advantage. At over $40 million as of Monday, Ohio’s Senate race trails only the US presidential race, the 2023 Kentucky governor’s race and the 2024 California Senate race in total ad spending so far. “The person who clearly has the best shot of winning in the fall is Matt Dolan – I think our common sense tells us that.”But the governor’s backing could cut both ways for Dolan, Ohio Republican strategists told CNN.

Persons: CNN —, Donald Trump’s, –, Sen, Sherrod Brown, Matt Dolan, Brown, Trump, Bernie Moreno, Republicans –, Moreno, MAGA, “ Trump, Frank LaRose, “ Donald Trump, Montana Sen, Jon Tester, they’ve, West Virginia Sen, Joe Manchin, “ I’ll, ”, “, Mike DeWine, Rob Portman’s, Dolan, Trump –, Joe Biden, ” Dolan, ” DeWine, Vladimir Putin, Matt Dolan –, Republicans Dolan, Eric Lange, GOP Sen, Mitt Romney, CNN’s KFile, Anna Saylor, LaRose, he’s, doesn’t, that’s Moreno, Lange, Brown –, ” Brown, ” Ohio, Barack Obama, “ We’ll, ” CNN’s David Wright Organizations: CNN, CNN — Ohio’s Republican, Democratic, Republican, Buckeye State, Republicans, Senate, ”, Democrats ’, Trump, West Virginia, GOP, Ohio’s Senate, California Senate, Ohio GOP Gov, Trump’s, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Guardians Locations: Ohio, Columbus, Dayton, Dolan, Bernie Moreno . Ohio, Montana, Kentucky, California, “, Dolan , Ohio, Piqua, Hamilton, Sandusky, Buckeye

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin voters are set to decide next month whether to make it unconstitutional to accept private grant money to help administer state elections, one of two Republican-backed ballot measures that Democrats say are meant to make it harder to conduct elections in the presidential battleground state. The Wisconsin measures are supported by Republicans and conservative groups and opposed by an array of government watchdog and liberal groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, Common Cause Wisconsin, Wisconsin Conservation Voters and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. Three courts and the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission rejected complaints challenging the legality of the grant money. It’s unclear how adoption of the amendment would change current practice, other than place requirements currently in state law into the constitution. Federal law already requires U.S. citizenship to vote in national elections and no state constitutions explicitly allow noncitizens to vote in state or local elections.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Sen, Eric Wimberger, ”, Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Biden, Zuckerbucks ”, ” Kyle Koenen, Zuckerberg, Chan, Tony Evers, Evers, noncitizens Organizations: —, Republicans, American Civil Liberties Union, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, League of Women Voters of, Democratic, Center for Tech, Facebook, “, Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, Democratic Gov, Wisconsin, Bureau Locations: MADISON, Wis, — Wisconsin, Wisconsin, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin

☆ Trump could face a rare defeat in the chaotic Ohio GOP Senate primary by someone he calls the 'next Mitt Romney'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

There's a contentious Senate primary in Ohio between a traditional Republican and a Trump loyalist. AdvertisementIn recent days, former President Donald Trump has found himself locked in a proxy showdown with establishment GOP figures in Ohio. Ohio State Sen. Matt Dolan at an event in Salem, Ohio on March 15, 2024. "President Trump wants Bernie," said Noem, adding that "should be enough reason" for rally attendees to convince their friends to vote for Moreno. "You're gonna want President Trump in Ohio a lot," Noem later said.

Persons: Trump's, — Bernie Moreno —, Moreno, —, Donald Trump, Bernie Moreno, who's, Sen, Matt Dolan, Mike DeWine, Rob Portman, Dolan —, That's, Dolan, Mitt Romney, Trump, DeWine, Democratic Sen, Sherrod Brown, Frank LaRose, Kristi Noem, Bernie …, Bill Clark, he's, Steve Daines, Kari Lake, Brown, MAGA, Moreno —, JD Vance —, Vance, Scott Olson, Bernie, Noem, that's, Kimberly Curtis Organizations: Republican, Trump, Service, US Senate, Gov, Ukraine —, Democratic, PAC, GOP, Associated Press, Business, Ohio, Getty, Republicans, National Republican Senatorial, Republican Party, Cleveland Guardians, Cleveland Indians, Senate Locations: Ohio, Dayton, Ukraine, Utah, South Dakota, Salem , Ohio, Montana, Montana and Michigan, Arizona, Dayton , OH, Troy , Ohio

☆ Trump heads to Ohio ahead of competitive Senate primary with huge stakes for November
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Simone Pathe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Then came the endorsement from DeWine, who had previously suggested he wouldn’t get involved in the Senate primary. “Everyone loves Mike DeWine, but that’s not where the party is right now,” said Ohio Republican consultant Bob Kish, who’s not working for any of the candidates. The fight to defeat BrownWhoever emerges from Tuesday’s primary, Brown is in for a tough race in a state that Trump twice carried by 8 points. But like Montana Sen. Jon Tester, the other Democrat running in a Trump state this year, he’s done it before. “The Senate race will be the main event in Ohio,” said a national Democrat working on Senate races.

Persons: Donald Trump, Bernie Moreno, who’s, Democratic Sen, Sherrod Brown –, Trump, Moreno, Sen, Matt Dolan, Frank LaRose, Brown, Barack Obama, Republicans –, Dolan, Ohio Republicans –, Rob Portman, Mike DeWine, Kareem Elgazzar, hasn’t, ”, Bob Clegg, ” Trump, “, J.D, Vance, Clegg, DeWine, wouldn’t, Paul Vernon, “ Matt, Chris Maloney, –, ” Maloney, he’s, Bob Kish, There’s, CNN’s KFile, ” Kish, Bernie, Montana Sen, Jon Tester, they’ve, West Virginia Sen, Joe Manchin, Gaelen Morse, Ben Kindel, Besides Brown, didn’t, Bob Taft’s, Sherrod, ” Sen, Sherrod Brown, Julia Nikhinson, Hillary Clinton, won’t, ” CNN’s David Wright Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, Democratic, Senate, Trump, Republicans, Ohio Republicans, Ohio GOP, Warren County GOP adjourns, Green Beret, Club, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Guardians, Central State University, AP, Buckeye State, Republican Party –, “, West, PAC, Fund, Reuters, Democrat, Capitol Locations: Ohio, Warren County, Lebanon , Ohio, Mexico, Colombian, Wilberforce , Ohio, Montana, Trump, Columbus, Ohio’s suburbs, “

☆ Opinion | Kellyanne Conway Has Some Weak Advice for Her Party
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Jamelle Bouie | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

It is beyond obvious at this point that abortion is the Achilles’ heel of the Republican Party. She also urged Republicans to avoid ballot initiatives on abortion, for fear that they could mobilize voters against them. I have no doubt that Republicans will take this advice; they are desperate to neutralize the issue. But the Republican abortion problem isn’t an issue of language, it’s an issue of material reality. Countless Americans have direct experience with difficult and complicated pregnancies; countless Americans have direct experience with abortion care; and countless Americans are rightfully horrified by the stories of injury and cruelty coming out of anti-abortion states.

Persons: Achilles, Roe, Wade, it’s, ”, Kellyanne Conway, Donald Trump Organizations: Republican Party, Trump, Health Care Summit, Republican Locations: Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan

☆ Ohio GOP House candidate backtracks on prior support for federal abortion ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewLate last month, Rep. Greg Landsman — an Ohio Democrat who defeated an incumbent Republican in 2022 — declared in a tweet that his GOP opponent supported a federal abortion ban. He did not reply with "YX" — a response that would have indicated his support for some exceptions to an abortion ban. That decision, which removed the constitutional right to an abortion, spurred state-level abortion bans — and a massive backlash to anti-abortion policies — nationwide. That bill, designed to ensure abortion rights nationwide, precludes states from enacting temporal limits on abortion. Most House and Senate Republicans opposed a 2022 law that strengthens protections for same-sex and interracial marriage at the federal level.

Persons: —, Greg Landsman —, Orlando Sonza, who's, @GregLandsman, 0wsOeEjem4, Sonza, shouldn't, Roe, Wade, Ohioans, lKvI58Ly3s, hiUL0rrxPr, Landsman Organizations: Service, Ohio Democrat, Republican, GOP, US Army, Business, Cincinnati, Republicans, Supreme, Women's, Alabama Supreme, affirmatively Locations: Ohio, Ohio's, Cincinnati

In late November, the panel temporarily blocked the new structures for the State Board of Elections and boards in all 100 counties from taking effect while Cooper’s lawsuit was heard. The state elections board has five members appointed by the governor — a format going back over 100 years — from candidate lists provided by the major parties. Currently, county boards are five members, with state board members naming four positions and Cooper one. Should the board changes be upheld by courts in the coming months, new appointments could happen as general election campaigning heats up and voting approaches. The elections board lawsuit is one of many that Cooper has filed over the past seven years challenging General Assembly laws that he argues unlawfully weakens his position.

Persons: Roy Cooper, Cooper's, infringes, ”, Edwin Wilson, Andrew Womble, Lori Hamilton, Hamilton, Wilson, Phil Berger, Tim Moore's, Cooper, they've, Donald Trump, —, weren't Organizations: Carolina’s GOP, Democratic Gov, GOP, State Board, Democrat, Democratic, Associated Press, Cooper, General Assembly, Republican, General, Republicans Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, Carolina’s, ”

☆ Opinion | How America’s Two Abortion Realities Are Clashing
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( The Ezra Klein Show | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +65 min

mary zieglerWell, I think it’s much easier to ban abortion than it is to enforce a criminal law against abortion. mary zieglerNo, I think that’s right. If our abortion politics don’t reflect our abortion views, what does that tell us about the health of the democracy? We’ve seen upwards of 10 states — I think it’s 14 or 15 that have changed their definition of abortion in abortion restrictive states since Dobbs. So, the idea is that abortions that are presented as life saving either are not abortions or are simply pretexts for abortion that’s elective.

Persons: ezra klein, Ezra Klein, ”, overturns Roe, Wade, we’ve, Dobbs, Mary Ziegler, mary ziegler, Roe, they’ve, they’re, didn’t, isn’t, —, We’ve, ezra klein Let’s, mifepristone, Z, They’re, mary ziegler That’s, Comstock, hasn’t, it’s, ezra klein There’s, Kate Cox, kate cox, mary ziegler —, she’d, there’s, you’ll, don’t, you’re, You’re, That’s, I’ve, I’m, they’ll, Ezra, you’ve, that’s, There’s, what’s, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, You’ve, It’s, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Trump, mary ziegler There’s, Glenn Youngkin, Glenn Youngkin’s, mary ziegler It’s, we’re, Donald Trump, Roger Severino, Gene Hamilton, Hamilton isn’t, He’s, Stephen Miller’s, Jonathan Mitchell, Biden, — there’s, Josh Prager’s, Jennifer Holland, Daniel K, Williams, Wade ”, Linda Greenhouse, Reva Siegel, ezra klein Mary Ziegler Organizations: New York, Alabama, Republican, U.S, Supreme, for Life, Environmental Protection Agency, mifepristone, and Drug Administration, Republicans, State, Washington State Patrol, Democratic, Catholic Democrat, Wall Street, Act, Virginia Republicans, Republican Party, Leadership, Heritage Foundation, Health, Human Services Department, Trump, Washington Post, New York Times, HHS, Human Services, Department of Justice, Court Locations: Alabama, America, St, Louis , Missouri, East St, Louis , Illinois, Dobbs, Ohio, United States, Texas, mary ziegler — Texas, Kansas, Austin, Houston, Dallas, Florida, Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, New York, California, Vermont, New Jersey, Missouri, Idaho, Virginia, Colorado, Roe

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers facing public pressure to restart in vitro fertilization services in the state advanced legislation to shield providers from the fallout of a court ruling that equated frozen embryos to children. Committees in the state Senate and House on Tuesday approved identical bills that would protect providers from lawsuits and criminal prosecution for the “damage or death of an embryo” during IVF services. The state's three major IVF providers paused services after the Alabama Supreme Court's ruling last month because of the sweeping liability concerns it raised. The court decision received immediate backlash as groups across the country raised concerns about a ruling recognizing embryos as children. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, a group representing IVF providers across the country, said the legislation does not go far enough.

Persons: Court's, Kay Ivey, ”, Terri Collins, Beth, Joshua Davis, Dillard, “ We’ve, ” Beth Davis, “, ” Beth David, Michael C, “ There's, ” Allemand, Sean Tipton, Roe, Wade, Collins, doesn't Organizations: —, House, Alabama, Gov, Alabama Fertility, American Society for Reproductive, ”, Democrats, Republicans, State Republicans Locations: MONTGOMERY, Ala, — Alabama, Alabama, New York, Louisiana

Alabama lawmakers are moving fast to approve measures this week to protect in vitro fertilization clinics from lawsuits in response to an uproar sparked by last month's state Supreme Court ruling that found frozen embryos have the rights of children under the state’s wrongful death law. Either of the two bills would give legal protection for fertility clinics, at least three of which paused IVF treatments after the court ruling to assess their new liability risks. Here are things to know about the bills and the process of turning one of them into law. One lawmaker wanted to amend the House bill to prohibit clinics from intentionally discarding embryos, but that was rejected. Lawmakers are expected to give final approval to one — or maybe both — on Wednesday and send legislation to Gov.

Persons: Kay Ivey, WHAT'S, “, ” It's, Roe, Wade, Donald Trump, Nathaniel Ledbetter, Alabama's, “ Alabamians, Ivey Organizations: Gov, Republican, American Society for Reproductive, Alabama, Supreme, Republicans, White Locations: Alabama, U.S

☆ Alabama IVF ruling: Here’s what could happen next
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Lauren Mascarenhas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

At least three providers in Alabama, including the state’s largest health system, have halted some in vitro fertilization services since the court’s ruling. Republicans hold a majority in both the Alabama House and Senate. “Any legislation that gets passed is ultimately up to interpretation by the Alabama Supreme Court,” O’Conner said. A trial court initially dismissed the claims, but the state Supreme Court ruling reversed that decision. The clinic involved in the lawsuit, The Center for Reproductive Medicine in Mobile, is among those that have halted some IVF services.

Persons: Steve Marshall, Katie O’Connor, ” O’Conner, Anthony Daniels, Kay Ivey’s, Daniels, Bill, Republican Terri Collins, Tim Melson, “ I’m, ”, Democratic Sen, Tammy Duckworth, Savannah Koplon, Butch Dill, ” Dr, Janet McLaren Bouknight, Katherine Kraschel, “, ” Kraschel, Greg Abbott, Trump, ” Abbott, CNN’s Dana, Abbott, Richard Drew, ” O’Connor, Sen, Erin Grall, Kraschel, Trip Smalley, Smalley Organizations: CNN, Republican, National Women’s Law, Alabama, Democratic, Alabama House, Gov, Alabama Republicans, Senate, Republicans, Alabama Supreme, University of Alabama, Alabama Legislature, The University of Alabama, Birmingham, Infant Center, Alabama Fertility Specialists, Facebook, “, Alabama Fertility, Northeastern University School of Law, Texas Gov, Union, AP Lawmakers, Tampa Bay Times, Center, Reproductive Medicine Locations: Alabama, Montgomery, state’s, House, Birmingham, Birmingham , Alabama, Texas, “ State, Florida, Republican Florida, Mobile, ”

Supporters of the state laws say they foster free speech, giving the public access to all points of view. One contrarian brief, from liberal professors, urged the justices to uphold the key provision of the Texas law despite the harm they said it would cause. “Social media platforms exercise editorial judgment that is inherently expressive,” Judge Kevin C. Newsom wrote for the panel. To the surprise of many, some prominent liberal professors filed a brief urging the justices to uphold a key provision of the Texas law. In the second case, Miami Herald v. Tornillo, the Supreme Court in 1974 struck down a Florida law that would have allowed politicians a “right to reply” to newspaper articles critical of them.

Persons: Samuel A, Alito Jr, ”, Scott Wilkens, Ron DeSantis, John Tully, Donald J, Trump, Greg Abbott of, —, Ken Paxton, “, Andrew S, Oldham, Kevin C, Newsom, Lawrence Lessig, Tim Wu of, Teachout, Mandel Ngan, Richard L, “ Florida’s, Moody, Paxton, Robins, William H, Rehnquist, Pat L, Tornillo, Warren E, Burger Organizations: Facebook, YouTube, Columbia University, Big Tech, The New York Times, Gov, Republican, Computer & Communications Industry, New York Times, Fox News, U.S ., Appeals, Fifth Circuit, ISIS, Harvard, Tim Wu of Columbia, Zephyr, Fordham, Twitter, Manchester Union, Citizens United, Agence France, University of California, Miami Herald, Florida, Representatives, Constitution Locations: Florida, Texas, Greg Abbott of Texas, Ukraine, Los Angeles, Campbell , Calif

☆ Opinion: I’m a Christian who underwent IVF in Alabama. The state supreme court decision is devastating
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Opinion Rebecca Mathews | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Having struggled with infertility, I’ve spent nearly all of the past 10 years focusing solely on creating life. Our two children were conceived in Alabama through in-vitro fertilization (IVF), the science of creating, freezing and attempting to implant embryos in my womb. And although IVF is very much a wonder of modern science, as a Christian, I believe it is a gift from God. Women who miscarry an embryo implanted through IVF may wonder if their actions are illegal, and if so, whether they will be prosecuted. I’d like to know how many of the justices who conferred personhood on embryos know someone who had to create and miscarry multiple embryos in order to finally have a child.

Persons: Rebecca Mathews, CNN —, I’ve, Ivan Couronne, Tom Parker, Jeremiah, ’ ”, Parker, “, God Organizations: CNN, Alabama, Virginia Center for Reproductive Medicine, Getty Locations: Alabama, Colorado, AFP, Birmingham

(AP) — Republicans hoping to pick up an open U.S. Senate seat in deep blue Maryland have the most competitive candidate they've fielded for decades. She supports abortion rights unequivocally and said she probably will back a candidate who doesn't hedge. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesHogan has said he does not support taking abortion rights away, even though he personally opposes abortion. “For eight years, we proved that the toxic politics that divide our nation need not divide our state," Hogan said. The state approved legislation in 1991 to protect abortion rights if the Supreme Court were to allow abortion to be restricted.

Persons: they've, Larry Hogan, Hogan, Lynn Johnson Langer, ” Langer, ”, don’t, Langer, Mileah Kromer, “, that’s, ” Hogan, Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, Mary Kfoury, that's, Kfoury, Kromer, it’s, Larry Hogan Won, Sen, Ben Cardin pounced, Angela Alsobrooks, Prince George's County, Rep David Trone, Alsobrooks, Wes Moore's, Robin Ficker Organizations: —, Senate, U.S, Maryland, Democrat, Republicans, Democratic Party, Goucher College, Trump, Republican, Blue State Republican, GOP, Prince, Democratic, Rep, CNN, Voters, Catholic, Democratic Gov, Washington's NBA Locations: ANNAPOLIS, Md, U.S, Maryland, U.S ., Annapolis, Edgewater , Maryland, Prince George's, Alsobrooks, Landover , Maryland

Many Americans believe the United States was founded as a Christian nation, and the idea is energizing some conservative and Republican activists. What does it mean to say America is a Christian nation? Was it only conservatives citing the idea of a Christian nation? Forty-five percent said the U.S. should be a Christian nation, but only a third thought it was one currently. ___Sources: Pew Research Center; Public Religion Research Institute/Brookings; “Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?” by John Fea.

Persons: ”, couldn't, Let's, It's, Benjamin Franklin, Jesus, deists, Franklin D, Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr, Christ, John Organizations: Republican, Congregational Church, American, Christian, Soviet Union, National Council of, Pew Research Center, Pew, Constitution, Religion Research Institute, Public Religion Research Institute, Brookings, “, John Fea, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: United States, U.S, Connecticut, Massachusetts, America, Israel, Christianity, Rhode, Independence, Christian America, Soviet, USA, Brookings

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Another attempt to enshrine abortion rights in the New Hampshire Constitution failed Thursday, this time in the Senate. State law prohibits abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy except when the mother’s health or life is in danger or there is a fatal fetal anomaly. The Republican-led House earlier this month voted 193-184 in favor of a constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights up to that threshold, short of the three-fifths majority needed to advance the proposal. Changes can be made to the state constitution if three-fifths of the Legislature agrees to put the question to voters, who must then approve amendments by at least a two-thirds majority. “This Legislature has been crystal clear and consistent when it comes to abortion rights,” he said.

Persons: Sen, Becky Whitley, ”, Bill Gannon Organizations: CONCORD, New Hampshire Constitution, Senate, Republican, U.S, Supreme Locations: N.H, New Hampshire, Hopkinton, Sandown, “

(AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the latest attempt by Republican state officials to block taxpayer dollars from going to Planned Parenthood, citing a failure in the state's legal appeal. The high court's decision upholds a ruling by a trial judge, who found that a 2022 funding bill violated the state constitution. The Supreme Court said Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey's office failed to appeal the equal protection claim and it thus must stand. Missouri's Republican-led Legislature has tried for years to block any health care funding from going to Planned Parenthood because of its association with abortion. Lawmakers have been trying since then to reinstate a ban on funding for Planned Parenthood.

Persons: Andrew Bailey's, Yamelsie Rodriguez, Emily Wales Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri Supreme, Republican, Missouri's Republican, U.S, Supreme, Lawmakers, Democratic Locations: Mo, Missouri, Louis Region, Southwest Missouri, Missouri's

The Deep South state is exploring adding the newest execution technique of oxygen deprivation using nitrogen gas, which was used in Alabama last month, and bringing back electrocution. However, between a new conservative governor and the nation’s first execution using nitrogen gas, there has been a renewed push to find alternatives to lethal injection. Photos You Should See View All 22 ImagesThe idea of using of nitrogen gas for executions is gaining traction elsewhere in the country. While exploring the use of nitrogen gas has come as no shock to political experts Louisiana, reinstating electrocution has surprised some. Today, only eight states allow for electrocution — however, seven of them have lethal injection as primary method, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Persons: —, ” —, Nicholas Muscarello, ”, Jeff Landry, Landry Organizations: Republican, Civil, Republican Gov, Democrat Locations: Louisiana, Alabama, United States, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, States, Georgia

☆ Trump flexes his dominance of Nevada GOP but cracks are forming in this crucial battleground
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Trump’s supremacy over the Nevada Republican Party was on full display this week. Before he exited the race, DeSantis and his allies similarly warned that Nevada Republicans had stacked the deck there in Trump’s favor. Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald did not respond to a call and text message seeking comment. “It’s almost like they don’t want to win,” said Amy Tarkanian, a former Republican state party chair. “When you ostracize 60% of your republican voters because you call them ‘RINOs’ and ‘Never Trumpers,’ they’re not going to vote,” he said.

Persons: Varlin Higbee, Donald Trump, Trump, “, ‘, Ron, ” Higbee, Higbee, it’s, Joe Biden, “ It’s, ”, TK Crabb, Crabb, Nikki Haley, Haley, ” Trump, Joe Lambardo, ” Haley, Michael McDonald, McDonald, Donald J, ” McDonald, Jesse Law, –, Adam Laxalt, Laxalt, US Sen, Catherine Cortez Masto, Amy Tarkanian, ” Jeremy Hughes, “ Trump, Biden, ” Hughes, Tarkanian, “ You’re, ’ they’re, Mr Organizations: CNN, Republican, Florida Gov, Nevada Republicans, Trump, Clark County Republican Party, Nevada Republican, South Carolina Gov, Trump loyalists, Republican Gov, Las, US, GOP, Silver State, Republicans, Nevada GOP Locations: Lincoln County , Nevada, Florida, Nevada, Clark, Trump’s, Silver

☆ Hawaii's Supreme Court cites 'The Wire' in ruling bashing firearm access: 'The thing about the old days, they the old days'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Hawaii's Supreme Court ruled there's no "state constitutional right to carry a firearm in public." The court's opinion said the US Supreme Court's 2022 concealed carry ruling "unravels durable law." AdvertisementThe Hawaii Supreme Court quoted the influential television series, "The Wire," in a ruling on Wednesday bashing gun ownership. Hawaii's Second Circuit Court agreed with Wilson's legal team, but Hawaii appealed the decision to its supreme court. AdvertisementThe creator of the highly acclaimed show, David Simon, highlighted the Hawaii Supreme Court's homage to his work in a post on X Thursday morning.

Persons: —, Christopher Wilson, Justice Todd Eddins, Slim Charles, David Simon Organizations: HBO, Service, York, Hawaii Supreme Locations: Hawaii's, there's, Hawaii, Hawaiʻi

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