NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Tuesday in a case involving New Jersey pregnancy resource centers challenging actions by the state’s Democratic leadership that they say violate their constitutional rights.

First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, a nonprofit comprising five facilities across north and central New Jersey, has been wrapped up since 2023 in the dispute over an investigative subpoena issued by Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who alleges the nonprofit could be defrauding its donors. First Choice counters that the inquiry is baseless and a First Amendment threat because it has rattled donors, who have kept the centers afloat for four decades.

During a tour of the New Brunswick center, First Choice Executive Director Aimee Huber told Fox News Digital that Platkin’s subpoena — seeking donor names, contact information and employment records — is unjustified.

“I think it’s important to realize that there have been no complaints that have been cited by the attorney general against First Choice, not one,” Huber said. “So, when we received the subpoena, it was clearly a fishing expedition. There were no complaints by donors or clients.”

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The Supreme Court is weighing a technicality over whether the subpoena fight should play out in state or federal court. In state court, the New Jersey attorney general could have the upper hand.

Dalton Nichols, a lawyer on the case who works for the conservative group Alliance Defending Freedom, told Fox News Digital Platkin’s demand was “egregious” and that it was crucial that First Choice have its day in federal court to make its First Amendment claim.

Nichols said: “this is bigger than just a state court versus federal court issue.”

“This could have implications that impact other claims [over] any invasive requests for donor names like that, so a loss for First Choice in this case could be a bit more far-reaching than just state court versus federal court,” Nichols said.

“It’s getting at whether or not you even have a claim at all, and if First Choice has a First Amendment claim, then First Choice should be able to press that in federal court.”

Platkin, a Democrat appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy, began scrutinizing pregnancy counseling centers in July 2022 by launching a “strike force” to promote abortion access in the wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs decision. Platkin said such facilities presented consumer fraud concerns because they misled donors and clients about the services they offered.

“If you’re seeking reproductive care, beware of Crisis Pregnancy Centers!” Platkin wrote on X in December 2022. His subpoena to First Choice came less than one year later.

“Attorneys General are the chief law enforcement officers of their States and have broad authority to investigate potential violations of state laws,” state lawyers wrote to the Supreme Court in defense of Platkin’s probe.

The state lawyers also argued that First Choice was overstating the threat that the subpoena presented because the scope of donor information it sought could become narrower if hashed out in state court.

Huber said First Choice is forthright about its mission to promote alternatives to abortion.

“We’re always very careful to share that we do not perform or refer for abortions, so [the client] knows ahead of time before she comes in what services we can provide her and what services we don’t provide,” Huber said.

The New Brunswick center, which takes appointments, has an ultrasound room where a woman faces a wall of images of babies growing in the womb as a sonographer or nurse performs an ultrasound on her to confirm the pregnancy. A small separate room is used for consulting clients, the majority of whom are Hispanic, Huber said. Yet another room appears as a large closet lined with baby clothing — a “baby boutique.” Huber said economic and family pressures are frequent obstacles for women.

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“Women who are scared and vulnerable and think that abortion is their only option come to us, and they receive professional services and compassionate care, all free of charge,” Huber said, adding that First Choice has served more than 36,000 women.

Lawyers on behalf of New Jersey said the subpoena was intended to investigate whether donors were being solicited on certain websites under the false pretense that First Choice offered abortions and whether the nonprofit was making unsubstantiated medical claims about the abortion pill.

First Choice lawyers wrote in court papers that the nonprofit provides “medically accurate” information, showcasing a divide over dissemination of information about the pill, which has become a top pain point in the aftermath of the Supreme Court flipping abortion policy to the states.

“Every once in a while, we hear someone who doesn’t agree with what we do, and so that happens, but our clients are so appreciative and grateful, and our staff and our donors, so I’ve learned to focus on the positive and not the negative,” Huber said. “Of course, when we received the subpoena from the New Jersey attorney general two years ago now, everything changed in terms of our legal battle and what we were called to do during this moment.”

Authorities are investigating the death of a Suffolk County House of Correction inmate who was found unresponsive at the Boston detention center Sunday night, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

The inmate was taken to a hospital where he died, the district attorney’s office said. Prosecutors are investigating his death along with Boston police and are awaiting results from the inmate’s autopsy.

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, which runs the detention center, identified the inmate as 32-year-old Shacoby Kenny, Boston 25 News reported. On Sunday night, he “began exhibiting erratic behavior and physically attacked” detention center staff.

The sheriff’s department said that Kenny ran around his unit and tried to evade correction officers before he was brought under control, after which he became unresponsive, Boston 25 News reported. Medical staff at the detention center performed life-saving measures before he was taken to a hospital.

The sheriff’s department said that Kenny has been detained at the Suffolk County House of Correction since February, but was temporarily sent to Bridgewater State Hospital — the Massachusetts Department of Correction’s psychiatric hospital — in July, Boston 25 News reported.

No further information was immediately available Monday night.

Two Frays Brewery x Bike PGH
5113 Penn Ave., Garfield. twofraysbrewery.com

Bike Pittsburgh and Two Frays have teamed up on a spruce-infused winter beer. Be among the first to try the new bike beer (and learn its name) on Tue., Dec. 9, from 6-9 p.m. during a Beer Release Party at Two Frays. The free event includes giveaways, activities, and NA drinks. A portion of the proceeds benefits Bike Pittsburgh’s advocacy for safer infrastructure.

Holiday Cookies 2025

Last week, Pittsburgh City Paper brought you cold treats for the season, but don’t sleep on classic holiday cookies at swaps, walks, markets, and more.

Riverstone Books in McCandless relaunches its cookbook club with a Holiday Cookie Swap. On Thu., Dec. 11, from 6:30-8 p.m., bakers are invited to bring three dozen cookies to swap with other attendees, fill a take-home box, and vote for a Best-in-Show winner. RSVP online.

How about cookies with soup? Waverly Presbyterian Church in Braddock hosts its annual Cookie Walk and Soup Sale on Sat., Dec. 13, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Snag a kid- or adult-sized box of homemade cookies, a quart of soup, or a soup flight, and enjoy a raffle and crafts for sale.

The Lawrenceville Cookie Tour returns Sat., Dec. 13-Sun., Dec. 14. The 28-year-old tradition offers free homemade cookies and snacks at 45 stops along Butler Street. Participants include Cork Harbour Pub, Mix Candle Co., the new Kinship Gifting shop, the Office of Pa. Rep. Lindsay Powell, and Pita My Shawarma (plus its recently opened wine and mezze bar). Shoppers can also vote on which treat should earn the Cookie Tour Cup.

A Cookie Mall and Pop-Up Market coincides with the Cookie Tour on Sat., Dec. 13, from 1-5 p.m. at the Estelle S. Campbell (Lawrenceville) Boys & Girls Club. Help support seven nonprofit groups during an event that offers free hot dogs, a market with more than 40 artisans and vintage vendors, caroling, pictures with Santa, and more. The Pop-Up Market will return for a second day on Sun., Dec. 14, from 12-4 p.m.

Polish Hill Civic Association
3060 Brereton St., Polish Hill. polishhillcivicassociation.org

Who says hot dogs are only for summer? The Polish Hill Civic Association celebrates the season on Fri., Dec. 12, from 6-9 p.m., with a Holiday Weenie Roast that features festive glizzies, a craft vendor market, tree toss, refreshments, tunes, and a Santa appearance. The organization is also accepting bake sale donations for the Weenie Roast.

Attack Theatre x Trace Brewing
212 45th St., Lawrenceville. attacktheatre.com

Attack Theatre mashes up dance, cheer, and craft beer at its Holiday Hops winter celebration. On Fri., Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m., head to the dance company’s Lawrenceville studio for an all-ages cabaret-style event featuring a lighthearted “Holiday Unwrapped” performance (set to music ranging from classical to techno to klezmer), interactive games, craft beer from Trace Brewing, and other “surprises.” Tickets cost $45 for general admission, $25 for students, educators, and seniors, and $10 for kids 12 and under.

Grist House Craft Brewery
10 E. Sherman St., Millvale. gristhouse.com

Grist House promises to keep things extra merry and bright at its seventh annual Fire Fest. On Sat., Dec. 13 from 12-10 p.m., the Millvale brewery transforms into a “glowing, crackling celebration of craft beer and fire” with 10 custom indoor and outdoor fire pits and tabletop stoves. Those who “embrace the chill” enjoy a lineup of specialty stouts (including a Fire Fest Reserve) and hot cocktails, glassblowing demonstrations, and fire performances, along with the return of the “Gristmas” mystery gift tree. Fire Fest is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to dress warmly and arrive early.

7 Brew Coffee
5960 University Blvd., Moon Township. 7brew.com

7 Brew, an Arkansas-based drive-thru coffee stand with a legion of fans, opened its first Pittsburgh-area location on Dec. 8 in Moon Township. According to a company release, the new coffee stand near Robert Morris University features two drive-thru lanes and offers more than 20,000 drink combinations for a “completely customizable” coffee. 7 Brew also serves chillers, tea, infused “7 Energy” drinks, and sodas. The Moon Township location is the first in 7 Brew’s “growing Western Pennsylvania expansion,” with plans to open 80 locations by the end of next year.

7 Brew Coffee Credit: 7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee

Creative Chem Co.
4618 Friendship Ave., Bloomfield. creativechemco.com

In Pittsburgh, Jeff Goldblum always finds a way. Creative Chem Co., a Bloomfield-based cafe and coworking space, opened on Dec. 1 and debuted its “Jeff Goldbloomfield” mural. According to Axios, Pittsburgh artist Jeremy Raymer painted the 10-by-18-foot Goldblum mural, which appears on the cafe’s first floor. Billed as the neighborhood’s first coworking club, Creative Chem Co. includes a retro public cafe serving Commonplace Coffee on its first floor, and rentable members-only studios, meeting rooms, and quiet booths on the second floor. The space is now open Mon.-Fri. from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sat. from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Food delivered from Carmi Soul Food: Carmi Rolls, shrimp and grits, and fish stew Credit: CP photo: Lisa Cunningham

Carmi Soul Food/Carmi Express
1912 Federal St., North Side. carmirestaurant.com

Carmi Soul Food Express announced it will close its final brick-and-mortar restaurant on Dec. 12.

“This decision comes with deep reflection, gratitude, and a heavy heart,” the North Side mainstay wrote on its Instagram page. “Carmi has always been more than a restaurant — it has been a place of family, comfort, celebration, and community.”

Owners Carleen and Michael King originally opened Carmi Soul Food on the North Side 13 years ago. The restaurant gained a reputation for its authentic Southern and soul food, including shrimp and grits and its famous mac and cheese, before moving its sit-down operations to the South Side in 2018. Carmi reopened its North Side location for “express takeout” during the pandemic, then closed its South Side restaurant in Jan. 2024, part of a strategy to “divest” from indoor dining and move to a take-out only model.

The closure announcement stated Carmi will continue its catering operations, special events, and pop-ups.