Showing posts tagged law

20-week abortion bill becomes law in Arkansas

JUST IN: The Arkansas Senate has overridden Gov. Mike Beebe’s veto of legislation banning most abortions starting in the 20th week of pregnancy. The law takes effect immediately, as the state House voted to override the veto Wednesday, AP reports.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas has vowed to challenge the law, which is based on the disputed claim that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks. Similar laws in other states are facing challenges.

Indian gang-rape victim’s condition deteriorating, hospital says The condition of a 23-year-old Indian medical student, whose gang rape in New Delhi triggered nationwide protests, has deteriorated and there are signs her vital organs have failed, the Singapore hospital treating her says.Reuters reports that family members “have been informed that her condition has deteriorated and they are currently by her side to encourage and comfort her,” Mount Elizabeth Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kelvin Loh said in a statement.Photo: Indian students and activists carry signs at India Gate during a protest following the gang-rape of a student in New Delhi on Dec. 19, 2012. (Sajjad Hussain / AFP - Getty Images)

Indian gang-rape victim’s condition deteriorating, hospital says

The condition of a 23-year-old Indian medical student, whose gang rape in New Delhi triggered nationwide protests, has deteriorated and there are signs her vital organs have failed, the Singapore hospital treating her says.

Reuters reports that family members “have been informed that her condition has deteriorated and they are currently by her side to encourage and comfort her,” Mount Elizabeth Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kelvin Loh said in a statement.

Photo: Indian students and activists carry signs at India Gate during a protest following the gang-rape of a student in New Delhi on Dec. 19, 2012. (Sajjad Hussain / AFP - Getty Images)

Court blocks California law that banned gay conversion therapy

A federal appeals court Friday put a hold on a new California law intended to prevent therapists from trying to change a minor’s sexual orientation, the Los Angeles Times reported.

In a brief order, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to a block the law, scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, pending a decision on its constitutionality.

More from the Times here.

(Source: )

NRA rejects gun controls, blames violent video games and movies National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre defiantly blamed violent video games and movies, the media, gun-free zones in schools and other factors during the organization’s first public statement following the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn. last week.  NBC News reports: LaPierre, who was interrupted by Code Pink protesters twice during a statement (during which he refused to answer questions), said that the students in Newtown might have been better protected had officials at Sandy Hook Elementary been armed. He said that putting a police officer in every single school in America might make schools safer. “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” he said, asking Congress to immediately appropriate the money to put a police officer in every single school in the country. Photo via NBCNews.com

NRA rejects gun controls, blames violent video games and movies

National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre defiantly blamed violent video games and movies, the media, gun-free zones in schools and other factors during the organization’s first public statement following the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn. last week. 

NBC News reports:

LaPierre, who was interrupted by Code Pink protesters twice during a statement (during which he refused to answer questions), said that the students in Newtown might have been better protected had officials at Sandy Hook Elementary been armed. He said that putting a police officer in every single school in America might make schools safer.

“The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” he said, asking Congress to immediately appropriate the money to put a police officer in every single school in the country.

Photo via NBCNews.com

Canada High Court rules some with HIV don’t have to tell partners HIV carriers do not have a legal obligation to inform sex partners about their condition as long as they have a low level of the virus and wear a condom, Canada’s Supreme Court rules. Read more from The Canadian Press. View high resolution

Canada High Court rules some with HIV don’t have to tell partners

HIV carriers do not have a legal obligation to inform sex partners about their condition as long as they have a low level of the virus and wear a condom, Canada’s Supreme Court rules. Read more from The Canadian Press.

Judge: Massachusetts must provide sex change for inmateA federal court judge has ordered Massachusetts officials to provide a sex-reassignment surgery for a transsexual prison inmate, convicted of murdering his wife, after finding that the treatment is the only adequate care for his serious mental illness, gender identity disorder. Read more from the Boston Globe. Photo: Inmate Michelle Kosilek is seen in this 1993 photo. (AP)

Judge: Massachusetts must provide sex change for inmate

A federal court judge has ordered Massachusetts officials to provide a sex-reassignment surgery for a transsexual prison inmate, convicted of murdering his wife, after finding that the treatment is the only adequate care for his serious mental illness, gender identity disorder. Read more from the Boston Globe.

Photo: Inmate Michelle Kosilek is seen in this 1993 photo. (AP)

Mark David Chapman denied parole for 7th time The man who killed John Lennon in 1980, Mark David Chapman, has been denied release from prison in his seventh appearance before a parole board, AP reports.Chapman shot Lennon outside the Manhattan apartment building where the former Beatle lived. He was sentenced in 1981 to 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.Photo: Str New / Reuters

Mark David Chapman denied parole for 7th time

The man who killed John Lennon in 1980, Mark David Chapman, has been denied release from prison in his seventh appearance before a parole board, AP reports.

Chapman shot Lennon outside the Manhattan apartment building where the former Beatle lived. He was sentenced in 1981 to 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

Photo: Str New / Reuters

JUST IN: Ecuador grants asylum to Julian Assange Ecuador has granted political asylum to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. More on BreakingNews.com.Photo: Julian Assange is seen arriving at the Supreme Court in London on Feb. 1, 2012. (Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP)

JUST IN: Ecuador grants asylum to Julian Assange

Ecuador has granted political asylum to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. More on BreakingNews.com.

Photo: Julian Assange is seen arriving at the Supreme Court in London on Feb. 1, 2012. (Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP)

Arizona shooting suspect Jared Loughner pleads guilty Arizona shooting suspect Jared Loughner has pleaded guilty to killing 6 people and injuring 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.As part of a plea deal, the U.S. government has agreed not to seek the death penalty. Earlier in court, a judge found Loughner competent to stand trial. More updates on BreakingNews.com.Photo: This image, released Feb. 22, 2011, by the U.S. Marshal’s Service, shows Tucson shooting rampage suspect Jared Loughner in police custody. (U.S. Marshal’s Office  /  AP)

Arizona shooting suspect Jared Loughner pleads guilty

Arizona shooting suspect Jared Loughner has pleaded guilty to killing 6 people and injuring 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

As part of a plea deal, the U.S. government has agreed not to seek the death penalty. Earlier in court, a judge found Loughner competent to stand trial. More updates on BreakingNews.com.

Photo: This image, released Feb. 22, 2011, by the U.S. Marshal’s Service, shows Tucson shooting rampage suspect Jared Loughner in police custody. (U.S. Marshal’s Office  /  AP)

Judge grants $1 million bond to George Zimmerman A judge in Sanford, Florida, has ordered George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, released on $1 million bail, the Orlando Sentinel reports. It is not immediately clear how long it will take Zimmerman to arrange for his release. This is the second time bond has been granted. Photo: George Zimmerman is seen at his first bond hearing at the Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford, Florida, on April 20, 2012. (via msnbc.com)

Judge grants $1 million bond to George Zimmerman

A judge in Sanford, Florida, has ordered George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, released on $1 million bail, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

It is not immediately clear how long it will take Zimmerman to arrange for his release. This is the second time bond has been granted.

Photo: George Zimmerman is seen at his first bond hearing at the Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford, Florida, on April 20, 2012. (via msnbc.com)

FLASH: US Supreme Court upholds Obama health care law's requirement that most Americans have health insurance

The Supreme Court has upheld the individual insurance requirement at the heart of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul law, AP reports.

Chicago council votes to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana

NBC Chicago reports the new city ordinance gives police the option to issue a ticket for possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana. Arrests would still occur for anyone caught smoking pot in public or possessing marijuana in or near a school or in or near a park.