Texas Governor Greg Abbott is seeking to pardon Sergeant Daniel Perry, who was convicted of murder in the 2020 fatal shooting of an armed protester during nationwide protests. Perry had claimed to police that the protester, a U.S. Air Force veteran, had pointed the weapon at him, inspiring him to shoot in self-defense. Abbott has asked the state Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend a pardon and to expedite his request, sparking debate over the use of lethal force in self-defense and the right to bear arms.
Posts tagged as “North Texa”
A federal judge in Texas has issued a stay on the FDA's approval of mifepristone, a drug used for medication abortions, which has been met with criticism from abortion rights advocates. The U.S. Department of Justice and President Joe Biden have both released statements in response to the ruling, and the DOJ has filed an appeal and is seeking an immediate stay of the decision. The outcome of the DOJ's appeal could set a precedent for future cases and have a significant impact on access to abortion services in the United States.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has released a statement in response to a ProPublica report detailing his and his wife's trips with Republican donor Harlan Crow. Congressional Democrats have called for an investigation into the matter, and the Supreme Court has issued new guidelines clarifying the type of gifts justices must disclose publicly. Thomas has said that he accepted the trips as "personal hospitality from close personal friends" and that he will comply with the new guidelines.
Idaho has become the first state to pass a law explicitly restricting some out-of-state travel for abortions, making it punishable by two to five years in prison to help a pregnant minor get an abortion. This is seen as a way for red states to limit access to abortion for minors, and is likely to face legal challenges as a violation of the right to privacy and a restriction on the right to travel.
The US Department of Justice has reached an agreement in principle to settle a lawsuit over the 2017 mass shooting at a Sutherland Springs, Texas church, providing victims and their families with more than $144 million from the US Treasury’s Judgment Fund. The settlement, which does not require congressional approval, is subject to approval by the US District Court for the Western District of Texas and would be the largest ever paid out of the Judgment Fund and the largest settlement ever paid in a mass shooting case.
Key takeaways: U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor has struck down a requirement that private insurers cover a variety of preventive services for free. The ruling…
A federal judge in Texas has ruled that some provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) cannot be enforced nationwide, potentially jeopardizing coverage for preventive services such as screenings for cancer, reproductive health, and mental health. The ruling has been met with criticism from healthcare advocates and could have a major impact on the healthcare industry. The decision is expected to be appealed, and the ACA remains in effect until then.
Republican senators have proposed a resolution to revoke President Joe Biden's executive action to forgive some federal student loan debt, arguing that it is unfair to those who have made responsible financial decisions. The resolution, led by Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, has 35 GOP co-sponsors and is currently under review. Opponents of the resolution argue that forgiving student loan debt will help stimulate the economy and provide much needed relief to those struggling to pay off their loans.