The Florida Board of Education has approved a new rule banning the instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools from kindergarten through grade 12. The rule is an expansion of the state's existing "Don't Say Gay" legislation, and has been met with criticism from many who argue it is an infringement on the rights of LGBTQ+ students. Supporters of the rule argue that it is necessary to protect the rights of parents to decide what their children are taught in school, and the rule is set to go into effect immediately.
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The Supreme Court has granted a temporary extension of access to the abortion pill mifepristone until Friday while they consider a legal challenge to the medication's FDA approval. The lower court ruling had increased the gestational age limit for using the drug and reduced the number of required in-person visits. The Biden administration and drug maker Danco Laboratories have requested the Supreme Court to halt the appeals court ruling. The temporary extension of access to mifepristone will remain in place until Friday at 11:59 p.m.
James Jennings, a county commissioner in far southeast Oklahoma, has resigned from office after being caught on tape discussing killing reporters and lynching Black people. Governor Kevin Stitt's office has condemned the comments, and the McCurtain County Sheriff's Office has launched an internal investigation. Outrage has been sparked in the local community, with many calling for further action to be taken against the officials involved.
84-year-old Andrew Lester appeared in court Wednesday to plead not guilty to charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the shooting of a Black teenager, Ralph Yarl. The incident has sparked national debate about gun policies and Lester's attorney has argued that the shooting was in self-defense. The judge ordered Lester to surrender his passport and firearms and to not have contact with Yarl or his family, and he is due back in court on October 7th for a preliminary hearing.
Joseph Eaton, 34, was released from prison four days before he allegedly killed four people in a home and randomly shot three others on a busy highway. The Maine State Police are investigating the incident and have charged Eaton with four counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. Eaton had been sentenced in March 2021 for a probation violation and was released from the Maine Correctional Center in Windham on April 14.
Rodney Reed, a Texas death row inmate, has been granted a chance to seek new DNA testing in the case of his 1996 conviction for murder by the Supreme Court. The 6-3 ruling overturned a lower court decision that said Reed had waited too long to make the request. The case will now be sent back to a lower court to decide whether to grant Reed's request for DNA testing, which could prove his innocence.
A lawsuit has been filed against the City of Memphis and five police officers, accusing them of causing the death of Tyre Nichols. The suit alleges that the Memphis Police Department allowed the Scorpion unit to operate unchecked, using "extreme intimidation, humiliation, and violence" against its targets. It also accuses Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis of creating the Scorpion unit and being aware of its aggressive tactics, but failing to take action. The family of Tyre Nichols is seeking damages for his death, as well as punitive damages against the officers and the City of Memphis.
Key takeaways: Tennessee Senate has passed a bill that would protect gun and ammunition dealers, manufacturers and sellers against lawsuits. The bill is heading to…