Texas
Texas sues to block Biden’s abortion medication guidance
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Lawyer Common Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit Tuesday difficult steerage that directed pharmacies to fill prescriptions for abortion-inducing treatment, the most recent in an ongoing effort to dam federal efforts to guard abortion entry.
Final summer season, only a few weeks after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers issued steerage to the nation’s 60,000 retail pharmacies, “reminding them of their obligations underneath federal civil rights legal guidelines.”
Since they obtain federal funding, together with from Medicare and Medicaid, pharmacies can not discriminate on the premise of race, shade, nationwide origin, intercourse, age or incapacity in the case of supplying prescribed medicines, the steerage stated.
The steerage didn’t purport to overturn state legal guidelines like Texas’ near-total ban on abortion, which makes it a felony to even prescribe treatment for the aim of terminating a being pregnant. As a substitute, it centered on ancillary points like the usage of abortion-inducing medicines to deal with different circumstances.
For instance, methotrexate, which can be utilized in an abortion, can be thought of the “gold customary” for treating many autoimmune circumstances. Instantly after the U.S. Supreme Court docket overturned Roe v. Wade, tales started to emerge of pharmacists refusing to fill prescriptions for concern they could possibly be criminalized.
It could possibly be discriminatory, the steerage stated, to disclaim somebody entry to treatment to deal with a incapacity simply because it can be used to terminate a being pregnant. It is also gender discrimination to promote condoms however refuse to fill a contraception prescription, in keeping with HHS.
This steerage waded into tough authorized territory, which Paxton, an aggressively anti-abortion lawyer normal, has not hesitated to dive into.
It’s not but clear how this steerage aligns with a bunch of federal legal guidelines that prohibit discrimination in opposition to well being care suppliers who object to abortion. And the query of whether or not pharmacists can refuse to supply sure medicines, together with emergency contraception, stays an open one.
“The Biden Administration is aware of that it has no authorized authority to institute this radical abortion agenda, so now it’s making an attempt to intimidate each pharmacy in America by threatening to withhold federal funds,” Paxton stated in an announcement. “It’s not going to work.”
Within the submitting, Paxton accused the Biden administration of making an attempt to “nullify Dobbs,” the Supreme Court docket ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.
In July, Paxton sued to cease the federal authorities from requiring emergency rooms to supply stabilizing care, together with abortion when medically mandatory, to sufferers experiencing a medical emergency.
A federal choose in Texas granted an injunction blocking the steerage; in the meantime, a federal choose in Idaho issued a contradictory ruling, blocking a part of that state’s abortion regulation that violated the steerage.
Just like the lawsuit filed Tuesday, the July authorized problem was filed in a single-judge district, nearly guaranteeing it might find yourself in entrance of a conservative district choose appointed by former President Donald J. Trump.
This isn’t the one ongoing authorized battle over abortion-inducing medicine. U.S. District Decide Matthew Kacsmaryk is predicted to rule as quickly as Friday on a lawsuit, introduced by anti-abortion activists, that might take away a typical abortion treatment from the market.
Texas
2025 4-Star OT Lamont Rogers Commits to Missouri over Texas
The Texas Longhorns are looking to bolster their o-line for the future in order to provide necessary protection for quarterbacks Trey Owens, K.J. Lacey and Dia Bell, but they’ll have to search elsewhere after missing out on securing one of the nation’s top offensive tackles.
After losing to Oregon for the privilege to secure a pledge from five-star receiver Dakorien Moore, the Longhorns have also lost the chance at landing the valuable in-state services of four-star offensive tackle Lamont Rogers.
He chose the Missouri Tigers and coach Eli Drinkwitz on Saturday among a final group that also included Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M, announcing his decision on his Instagram.
A Mesquite (Dallas) native, Rogers, who stands about 6-6, 311 pounds is the No. 7 offensive tackle in the country, per 247’s composite rankings.
He took his official visit to Texas on June 14, the same weekend that Moore and a slew of others made a trip to campus. Rogers also officially visited SMU, Mizzou, Florida State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. He fielded offers from other big-name programs like Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan and Penn State.
Here’s part of what 247Sports’ scouting report has to say about Rogers:
“Bona fide high-major O-line prospect with tackle traits,” 247Sports writes. “Could become a quality multi-year starter at the P5 level with an NFL Draft ceiling.”
As it stands, the 2025 class features four-star talents like defensive lineman Lance Jackson, linebacker Elijah Barnes, quarterback KJ Lacey, tight end Emaree Winston and running back James Simon. Texas is also awaiting the potential commitments of five-star receivers Kaliq Lockett and Jaime Ffrench along with five-star offensive tackle Michael Fasusi.
Texas
Beryl moves into the Gulf of Mexico after battering Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, takes aim at Texas
Beryl moved into the the Gulf of Mexico Friday and took aim at the south Texas coast after battering Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Texas officials issued disaster declarations and urge coastal residents to prepare as the storm headed their way.
Beryl hit Tulum as a Category 2 hurricane and toppled trees but caused no injuries or deaths before weakening to a tropical storm as it moved across the peninsula. The U.S. National Hurricane Center expects the storm to regain hurricane strength in the warm waters of the Gulf and hit south Texas by late Sunday or early Monday.
Beryl, the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, caused at least 11 deaths as it passed through the Caribbean islands earlier in the week.
The storm’s center Friday afternoon was in the Gulf just off Mexico, about 615 miles (995 kilometers) southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas. It was moving west-northwest at 13 mph (about 20 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph), the hurricane center said.
Once in the Gulf, Beryl could regain wind speed of 90 mph (150 kph) before hitting Texas, though it is hard to tell now where it could make landfall, forecasters said. Hurricane watches were in effect from the Rio Grande north, covering most of the Texas coast.
Some Texas counties have already issued voluntary evacuation orders in low-lying areas, and Texas officials urged coastal residents to prepare.
Along the Texas coast in Corpus Christi, city officials announced it had distributed 10,000 sandbags in less than two hours Friday, exhausting its supply.
“This is a determined storm that is still strong,” Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at a news conference.
Patrick issued a pre-emptive disaster declaration for 40 counties that allows state and local authorities to start planning and contracting for response.
Nim Kidd, chief of state emergency operations, said oil companies have started moving employees off rigs along the coast that may be in the path of the storm.
Northeastern Mexico and southern Texas were already soaked by Tropical Storm Alberto just a couple of weeks ago.
Beryl spread destruction in Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados this week. Three people have been reported dead in Grenada, three in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, three in Venezuela and two in Jamaica, officials said.
The head of Mexico’s civil defense agency, Laura Velázquez, said Beryl hadn’t caused any deaths or injuries there and that “damages were minor,” though tens of thousands of people remained without power.
Tulum was plunged into darkness when the storm knocked out power as it came ashore. Screeching winds set off car alarms across the town. Wind and rain continued to whip the seaside city and surrounding areas Friday morning. Army brigades roved the streets of the tourist city, clearing fallen trees and power lines.
After seeing Beryl tear through the Caribbean, 37-year-old Lucía Nagera Balcaza was among those who stocked up on food and hid away in their homes.
“Thank god, we woke up this morning and everything was all right,” she said. “The streets are a disaster, but we’re out here cleaning up.”
Before the storm hit Mexico, official had set up shelters in schools and hotels. When the wind began gusting over Tulum’s beaches Thursday, officials on four-wheelers with megaphones rolled along the sand telling people to leave and authorities evacuated beachside hotels. Sea turtle eggs were even moved off beaches threatened by storm surge.
Tourists also took precautions. Lara Marsters, 54, a therapist visiting Tulum from Boise, Idaho, said she had filled up empty water bottles from the tap.
“We’re going to hunker down and stay safe,” she said.
While many in the Yucatan Peninsula took a deep breath, Jamaica and other islands ravaged by the hurricane were still reeling. As of Friday morning, 55% of Jamaica still without electricity and most of the country was without running water, according to government figures.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness promised swift relief for residents affected by Hurricane Beryl after visiting one of the worst-affected areas of the island, the southern parish of St Elizabeth on Thursday afternoon.
“I know some of you are experiencing discomfort and displacement, and I want to assure you that the government will move as quickly as we can to get you the help you need,” he said.
Earlier in the week, the hurricane damaged or destroyed 95% of homes on a pair of islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, jumbled fishing boats in Barbados and ripped off roofs and knocked out electricity in Jamaica.
On Union Island, part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a man who identified himself as Captain Baga described the storm’s impact, including how he had filled two 2,000-gallon (7,570-liter) rubber water tanks in preparation.
“I strapped them down securely on six sides; and I watched the wind lift those tanks and take them away — filled with water,” he said Thursday. “I’m a sailor and I never believed wind could do what I saw it do. If anyone (had) ever told me wind could do that, I would have told them they lie!”
The island was littered with debris from homes that looked like they had exploded.
Texas
LIVE UPDATE: South Texas braces for Tropical Storm Beryl
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – FRIDAY, JULY 3 – 9 P.M. CT – As Tropical Storm Beryl enters the Gulf of Mexico, the once Category 5 hurricane is expected to re-intensify before making a final landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast.
KPRC 2′s Gage Goulding is LIVE in Corpus Christi, Texas as the community prepares just two weeks after Tropical Storm Alberto battered the region.
While some locals are preparing by using the more than 14,000 sandbags made by Corpus Christi city workers, vacationers to the barrier islands are soaking in every bit of sun they can get.
This story will be updated to bring the latest reports from KPRC2′s Gage Goulding along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
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