NEWS OF THE DAY
_1 Sexual harassment: Democrats and Republicans have markedly different views about sexual harassment in the workplace, according to a new, large-scale survey by the Washington D.C.based Pew Research Center conducted against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement. According to Pew, about six in 10 Democrats say the U.S. has a major problem on its hands in terms of men getting away with sexual harassment and women not being believed when they allege they were victimized. By contrast, about one in three Republicans identifies these as major problems. Have the #MeToo movement’s repercussions made it harder for men to navigate workplace interactions with women? Among Republicans, 64 percent said yes; only 42 percent of Democrats agreed.
_2 Water park fatality: A water park co-owner has been booked into a jail in Kansas, where he’s charged with a 10-year-old boy’s decapitation death on a 17-story water slide that was promoted as the world’s largest. Records show that Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry was booked into the Wyandotte County jail Wednesday. Henry had been jailed in Texas since last week after he was indicted on charges including second-degree murder in the 2016 death of Caleb Schwab at the water park in Kansas City, Kan. The slide’s designer, John Schooley, was arrested Monday and also faces charges including second-degree murder.
_3 “I’m God”: An Ohio man had a personalized license plate saying “IM GOD,” but when he moved to Kentucky, his request for the same one was denied. In 2016, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit on his behalf challenging Kentucky regulations. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports a ruling released Friday from U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove allows Bennie Hart’s lawsuit to go forward. The state’s lawyer, J. Todd Shipp, says the plate was rejected because it was “not in good taste,” and could distract drivers and create confrontations. Ship says Kentucky would have taken the same position had Hart requested plates reading “IM ALLAH,” “IM BUDDAH” or “IM SATAN.” ACLU Kentucky attorney Heather Gatnarek says Hart’s request was denied for reasons that violate the First Amendment.
_4 “Gay conversion therapy”: Maryland lawmakers voted Wednesday to prohibit health professionals from practicing “gay conversion therapy” on minors, after a legislator spoke of the pain she experienced when her parents sought it for her. Just days earlier, the woman’s father, a state senator, voted against the bill. The House passed the bill 95-27, sending the measure to Gov. Larry Hogan. A spokeswoman for Hogan said the governor supports the bill. Supporters note the therapy is widely discredited by medical and mental-health associations. The measure would classify the practice as unprofessional conduct and subject providers to discipline by the state licensing board.