Affordable Care Act provisions codified under Michigan law

Hunter Biden prosecutor to appear for testimony

WASHINGTON – The special counsel overseeing the Hunter Biden investigation is expected to testify before a Congressional committee behind closed doors as a GOP probe into the Justice Department’s handling of the case continues to unfold.

In a rare step, David Weiss is set to appear for a transcribed interview before members of the House Judiciary Committee on Nov. 7, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press Friday. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of the closed-door appearance.

It comes months after an Internal Revenue Service agent testified as part of a GOP probe that the investigation into the president’s son was “slowwalked” and mishandled. Weiss has denied one of the more explosive allegations by saying in writing that he had final say over the case.

LANSING, Mich. – Federal law that prohibits insurers from denying health care based on preexisting conditions, or kicking dependents off their parent’s coverage until age 26, is now codified separately into Michigan law.

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Thursday that attempts to duplicate the Affordable Care Act, known as “Obamacare,” into state law. The second-term governor said earlier this year that the proactive move was necessary to ensure Michigan residents “aren’t at risk of losing coverage,” due to future Supreme Court rulings.

Under the package, insurers must provide no-cost essential services, including preventive, mental health and emergency services. They can’t deny or limit coverage based on gender identity or sexual orientation, or cap coverage in a given year or across a person’s lifetime.

NJ dad sues over policy on outing transgender students

CHERRY HILL, N.J. – A New Jersey father filed a federal lawsuit to block a state policy aimed at keeping schools from outing transgender students to their parents.

Frederick Short Jr., whose three children attend Cherry Hill High School, filed the suit Oct. 12 in U.S. District court. He argues that the policy violates his Constitutional right to raise his children and make decisions about their mental health care.

The suit challenges guidance issued by the Education Department, which does not mandate that school staff notify parents of their child’s gender identification. The lawsuit argues such policies “provide for secrecy and the facilitation of double-lives (and) are psychologically unhealthy for youth.”

Illinois government employee fired after antisemitic comments

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – An employee with the Illinois comptroller’s office has been fired after she posted vulgar antisemitic comments on social media during an exchange about the latest Israel-Hamas war.

A spokesperson for Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said in a statement Thursday that the employee was “immediately fired” after she admitted to some of the posts.

“Comptroller Mendoza has zero tolerance for anti-semitism or hate speech,” Mendoza spokesperson Abdon Pallasch said in the statement, which does not name the employee.

The vulgar comments were part of an Instagram exchange of insults with another user, who then publicly posted the exchange on their account, the Chicago Tribune reported.

JOURNAL/AP FILE SUCHAT PEDERSON, THE NEWS Special counsel David Weiss, who also serves as U.S. Attorney for Delaware, has been investigating Hunter Biden for five years.