NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
1 Abortion ruling: A federal judge temporarily blocked an Ohio law banning abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected this week, siding with abortion clinics that had argued the law would effectively end the procedure in the state. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett halts the July 11 enforcement of the socalled heartbeat bill law that opponents argued would effectively ban the procedure. That’s because a fetal heartbeat can be detected as early as six weeks into pregnancy, before many women know they’re pregnant. Ohio is among a dozen states that have considered similar legislation this year, as abortion opponents have pursued a national antiabortion strategy to overturn the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision fueled by a conservative swing on the U.S. Supreme Court.
2 Democratic factions: A primary for Queens district attorney that was already receiving national attention as a proxy for the national fight among Democratic factions is taking another turn, with a tally of paper ballots reversing the initial results and the close margin forcing an automatic recount. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz now has a 20vote edge over political newcomer Tiffany Caban, who had held a 1,090vote lead with 99% of precincts reporting on primary night last week. Katz is the favorite of the state’s Democratic Party establishment. Caban is a public defender who says the criminal justice system is rigged against the poor and was backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Caban had declared victory on primary night.
3 Restroom dispute: The Denny’s restaurant chain wants its customers to know that they can use the restroom of their gender identity, nationwide, after a transgender woman was arrested last weekend in North Carolina. News outlets say a man called police when the transgender woman used the same restroom as his wife at a Denny’s in Shelby, N.C. Responding officers informed the man that the 22yearold transgender woman broke no law. But their dispute escalated, and the transgender woman was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly spitting toward the man and his family. A Denny’s statement says the company “does not tolerate discrimination of any kind.”
4 Smollett case: Jussie Smollett wants the lawsuit that the city of Chicago filed against him moved from state court to federal court. The motion filed this week and released to the media by Smollett’s representatives comes after the city sued the actor in April for the cost of investigating his allegations that he was a victim of a racist and antigay attack in downtown Chicago. Prosecutors dismissed charges against Smollett related to making a false report. However, the Police Department and city officials maintain Smollett orchestrated the January incident and they’re trying to recoup $130,000 the city spent on police overtime. Smollett’s attorneys argue federal court is the proper venue for the case because the actor is a California resident.