SCOTUS appears skeptical of challenge to abortion pill access

Source: Reuters

“U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday appeared skeptical that the anti-abortion groups and doctors seeking to limit access to the abortion pill have the needed legal standing to pursue the case, as President Joe Biden’s administration fights to maintain broad access to the medication. The justices heard arguments in the Biden administration’s appeal of a lower court’s ruling that would limit how the medication, called mifepristone, is prescribed and distributed. Four medical associations and four doctors who oppose abortion brought the challenge to mifepristone in Texas. The case places reproductive rights back on the agenda of the justices in a presidential election year. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulatory changes at risk in the case include allowing for medication abortions at up to 10 weeks of pregnancy instead of seven, and for mail delivery of the drug without a woman first seeing a clinician in-person.” (03/26/24)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-administration-defends-abortion-pill-access-us-supreme-court-2024-03-26/

Lebanon: Israeli airstrikes kill two

Source: Antiwar.com

“Israeli warplanes carried out today its deepest airstrikes yet in northeastern Lebanon, targeting a Hezbollah compound in the Baalbek District used by one of that group’s aerial units. At least two people were reported killed in the attacks, and a third was wounded. The compound was described as several buildings and an adjoining drone landing pad. The attack caused a fire, and a group of ambulances were reportedly rushed to the scene. Israel said the attack was retaliation for the missile fire against Mt. Meron air traffic control base earlier today. Mt. Meron has been a favored target of Hezbollah, with the facility damaged in previous strikes.” (03/26/24)

https://news.antiwar.com/2024/03/26/israel-strikes-deep-into-ne-lebanon-killing-two/

TX: Paxton Settles Long-Running Fraud Charges

Source: US News & World Report

“Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has struck a deal to resolve securities fraud charges brought by state prosecutors nearly a decade ago, his lawyers said on Tuesday. Paxton, a Republican and ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, was indicted in July 2015 on charges related to stock sales and compensation from the Texas technology firm Servergy. He also faced charges of acting as a securities agent without registering with the state. The state will drop the charges in 18 months if Paxton pays restitution to investors and completes community service and legal education, his lawyers said. Paxton will not admit wrongdoing under the deal, they said.” (03/26/24)

https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2024-03-26/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-settles-long-running-fraud-charges

Poland: Regime coalition wants the central bank chief tried in court over hurting state interests

Source: ABC News

“Lawmakers with Poland’s ruling pro-European Union coalition launched a rare process Tuesday to bring the central bank chief before a special court on allegations of acting against the country’s financial interests. The result could ban him from political life. Critics of the effort suggested that the ruling coalition was going too far in its attempts to reverse the actions of Poland’s previous right-wing government, which were widely seen as undemocratic, and hold those responsible to account. The coalition, which came to power in December and is led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, filed the motion at the parliament office to bring National Bank of Poland chief Adam Glapinski before the State Tribunal, which is tasked with trying top state officials.” (03/26/24)

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/polands-ruling-coalition-bring-central-bank-head-court-108508664

NY: Judge overseeing disgraced former president’s “porn star hush money” trial imposes gag order

Source: The Hill

“The New York judge overseeing former President Trump’s hush money trial imposed a gag order on Trump on Tuesday, preventing [sic] him from publicly attacking witnesses, jurors and others during what is slated to be the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president. Judge Juan Merchan’s order still enables [sic] Trump to publicly attack the judge and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D). But it prevents [sic] the former president from making public statements about witnesses, other prosecutors, court staff and their family members ‘if those statements are made with the intent to materially interfere with’ the case.'” [editor’s note: Gag orders don’t “prevent” or “enable” anything. They just PUNISH certain things. There’s a difference – TLK] (03/26/24)

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4557435-judge-overseeing-ny-hush-money-trial-imposes-gag-order-on-trump/

Princess Kate rumors linked to “Russian disinformation”

Source: BBC News [UK state media]

“Security researchers believe a Russia-based disinformation group amplified and added to the frenzy of social media conspiracies about the Princess of Wales’s health. In the days before Catherine revealed her cancer diagnosis in a video message, there had been a surge in online rumours and often wild claims about her health, adding to the emotional pressure on the princess and her husband Prince William. Now security experts analysing social media data say there were hallmark signs of a co-ordinated campaign sharing and adding to the false claims and divisive content, both in support of and criticising the Princess of Wales. The researchers say this is consistent with the previous patterns of a Russian disinformation group.” [editor’s note: I did not know Adam Schiff and the ex-CIA goons had moved from MSDNC/CNN to BBC News – SAT] (03/26/24)

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68637136

France: Regime May Nationalize Arms Producers to Speed up Production to Help Ukraine

Source: US News & World Report

“French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Tuesday he was prepared to use his powers to requisition industrial capacities or impose priorities to weapon makers to speed up production of arms and shells needed on the battlefield in Ukraine and elsewhere. ‘These questions … are clearly on the table,’ Lecornu told a news conference, adding stocks and production lines were particularly strained with regard to anti-air missiles and artillery shells. Lecornu said he could requisition stocks or tell companies to give priority to certain orders, citing Aster missiles produced by MBDA as a potential case for such a move.” (03/26/24)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-03-26/france-might-requisition-arms-producers-to-speed-up-production-to-help-ukraine

NBC News to drop ex-RNC chair McDaniel

Source: New York Post

“NBC News plans to drop former Republican National Committee boss Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor after network stars including MSNBC primetime headliner Rachel Maddow and the co-hosts of ‘Morning Joe’ blasted the decision to bring the Trump-backing politico on board. The network has not made an announcement, but one is pending, according to Puck News. The Post has sought comment from NBC and McDaniel. McDaniel is reportedly looking to hire a lawyer, according to Puck News. Maddow, MSNBC’s most bankable name, said on her Monday show that hiring McDaniel was ‘inexplicable’ and demanded that executives ‘reverse their decision.'” [editor’s note: So apparently (unlike Fox’s “The Five,” which at least tries to show “the other side”), the very thought of having a token player from the other t-shirt color on their staff is just “horrific” to these clowns – SAT] [additional editor’s note: I was unaware that “the other side” of “wingnut” is “wingnut plus” – TLK] (03/26/24)

https://nypost.com/2024/03/26/media/nbc-news-to-drop-ex-rnc-chair-ronna-mcdaniel-after-rachel-maddow-morning-joe-revolt/

MD: Baltimore bridge collapses after cargo ship collision

Source: United Press International

“A large cargo ship struck a major transportation bridge that spanned Baltimore’s Patapsco River early Tuesday, causing the structure to collapse, officials and authorities said. Video of the incident published online by the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS shows the large vessel striking the 1.6-mile-long, four-lane-wide Francis Scott Key Bridge. A fire is then ignited followed by spans of the structure falling into the waters below. … The MarineTraffic website has identified the involved vessel as the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Dali. It said it was en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka, when the crash occurred.” (03/26/24)

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/03/26/Baltimore-bridge-collapses/4121711439047/

For first time in 30 years, Mountain lion kills man in Northern California

Source: SFGate

“California officials confirmed that a mountain lion they euthanized in the vicinity of a fatal attack in a remote area near Georgetown was the same animal that killed a 21-year-old man Saturday afternoon. DNA samples collected by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at the scene matched those taken from the lion’s carcass, the agency’s wildlife forensics laboratory found. The animal was a male, weighed approximately 90 pounds and ‘appeared to be in healthy condition,’ the CDFW said. At the time of the attack, the man was said to be antler shed hunting with his 18-year-old brother, who was severely injured but survived and was able to call for help.” [editor’s note: It’s not “euthanasia” to kill someone or something because you think they may have been involved in an attack – TLK] (03/26/24)

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/mountain-lion-kills-man-northern-california-19365657.php