Idaho
Supreme Court to weigh scope of Idaho abortion ban in first post-Roe test
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, for the first time since overruling Roe v. Wade, will consider the scope of a state abortion ban and whether a federal law governing emergency care protects access to abortion at hospitals when a woman’s health is at risk.
Idaho’s Defense of Life Act, which took effect in August 2022, prohibits nearly all abortions, with exceptions for reported cases of rape or incest or when “necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman.”
The Biden administration sued the state, claiming its law conflicts with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) of 1986, which requires emergency room physicians at hospitals that receive Medicare funds to offer “stabilizing treatment” to all patients whose health is in jeopardy.
The justices will decide whether EMTALA, which does not specifically address abortion, preempts Idaho’s abortion ban and similar measures in 20 other states, protecting a doctor’s ability to terminate a pregnancy in an emergency situation if care requires it.
The administration argues the federal law explicitly makes clear that state laws are overridden to the extent they “directly conflict with a requirement” of EMTALA.
“EMTALA requires us as physicians to act in an emergency to preserve health – even the health of an organ system, like the reproductive system, as one example,” said Dr. Jim Souza, chief physician executive at Idaho’s St. Luke’s Health System. “Idaho’s law only allows action to save life, not preserve health.”
Idaho contends that Congress enacted EMTALA solely to prevent hospitals from turning away indigent patients or otherwise discriminating against patients on the basis of their condition or status.
“EMTALA leaves the question of specific treatments for stabilizing care to state law,” Idaho told the Court in its brief. “Indeed, EMTALA treats medical emergencies faced by the unborn child of a pregnant woman no differently than emergencies faced by the mother herself.”
The state also argues that the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health – overturning constitutional protection for abortion – explicitly returned the issue to the states. It accuses the Administration of trying to “reimpose a federal abortion requirement.”
“The purpose of the law is to protect the life of mothers and their unborn children,” said Dr. Ingrid Skop, a Texas-based OBGYN and vice president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, an anti-abortion group. “All states allow doctors to use reasonable and good faith judgment on when to intervene. Abortion is rare, if ever, necessary” in an emergency.
The stakes in the case are significant.
“If the Court sides with Biden, it would be incredibly troubling and a sweeping precedent for them to set,” said Katie Daniel, state policy director for SBA Pro-Life America.
Major American medical organizations have warned that state abortion bans without exceptions for a pregnant woman’s health could lead some women to experience lasting harm.
“Before the law, we practiced medicine to preserve the mom’s health and future reproductive capability. Since then, there’s been a lot of second-guessing and hand wringing,” said Souza, “Is she sick enough? Is she bleeding enough? Is she septic enough for me to do an abortion and not go to jail or lose my license?”
Hospital groups have reported increased difficulty hiring OBGYNs and emergency room physicians in states like Idaho because of potential liability from strict abortion laws with few exceptions.
“This case could radically alter how emergency medicine is practiced in this country,” said Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, an ACLU attorney supportive of abortion rights.
“For nearly 40 years, EMTALA has required every hospital with an emergency department that takes Medicaid funds to provide stabilizing treatment to any individual who needs it regardless of where they live,” she said. “No state law can force hospitals to provide a lesser standard of care. But now the court is deciding whether states can override that.”
Idaho
College of Southern Idaho Professor Receives Pearson Excellence in Higher Education Award
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — College of Southern Idaho (CSI) Professor of Music Serena Jenkins Clark has been announced as a winner of the 2023 Pearson Excellence in Higher Education Award for Community Advancement. Clark was selected from hundreds of nominations that were submitted and is the only community college faculty member to be chosen this year.
According to the Pearson team, Clark’s work as an educator stood out among her peers. Clark was chosen by the faculty at CSI to be nominated for the award, and her nomination application included several comments from her students.
“I’m honored that my colleagues selected me and nominated me in the first place, that’s always just exciting to know that your colleagues notice what you’re doing and appreciate what you’re doing,” Clark told KMVT. “Then I was honored and surprised to find out I was a finalist, and so to find out I was a national winner, it was really overwhelming.”
Professor Clark has been a teacher of music at CSI since 2003. She started her role as the Director of Choral Activities in Spring of 2004. Some of the musicals she has directed at CSI includes Legally Blonde, Oliver!, and Sweeny Todd.
“I’ve carefully tried to curate experiences for my choirs through the years that would have impact on the community through what we do, which is sing and make music,” said Clark. “So, its lovely to know that folks have noticed that.”
Professor Clark was also awarded the College of Southern Idaho Academic Faculty of the Year Award for 2023, and in 2020 she was honored by the Idaho State Board of Education with the GEM Innovative Educator in Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing Award.
Congratulations to Professor Serena Jenkins Clark for receiving her most recent honor.
Copyright 2024 KMVT. All rights reserved.
Idaho
Idaho Bryson Jr., Iredell Free News
Idaho Bryson Jr., 76, passed away Friday, May 3, 2024, after a lengthy illness.
He was born October 5, 1947, in Cherokee County, N.C., to the late Idaho Bryson Sr. and Medal Vaye Huskins Bryson. Junior was also preceded in death by one daughter, Chrissa Bryson; two brothers, Clifford Bryson and Garland Bryson; one sister, Edna Patterson; two nephews; and two stepchildren.
Junior was a carpenter by trade. In his spare time, he enjoyed collecting antiques, trading with a good buddy and observing the wildlife in his yard.
Those left to cherish his memory includes his wife, Gail Ann Bryson of the home; two daughters, Becky Ensley (Nathan), and Lynn Bryson; one brother, Walter Bryson (Linda); a sister, Ruth Coffee; several nieces and nephews; four grandchildren, Tyler Duncan, Michelle Duncan, Elijah Ensley, and Alexis Ensley; three stepchildren; seven step grandchildren; and his beloved dog Trixie and cat Bootsie.
Graveside service will be held on May 8, 2024, at 2 p.m. at the home. Ray Kiser will officiate the service. Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 7, 2024, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Nicholson Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial tributes be directed to Nicholson Funeral Home to help cover the funeral costs.
Nicholson Funeral Home is honored to serve the Bryson family.
Idaho
2024 Idaho Steelheads vs Kansas City Mavericks – FloHockey – Hockey
Event Info
Here’s how to watch the 2024 Idaho Steelheads vs Kansas City Mavericks broadcast on FloHockey. The 2024 Idaho Steelheads vs Kansas City Mavericks broadcast starts on May 5, 2024. Stream or cast from your desktop, mobile or TV. Now available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast and Apple TV. Don’t forget to download the FloSports app on iOS or Android! If you can’t watch live, catch up with the replays! Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloHockey subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.
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