Mississippi News
Mississippi abortion clinic asks to reopen
Mississippi's just-closed abortion clinic asks state's highest court to allow it to reopen
Jackson Women's Health Organization, which was the state's only abortion clinic before it was forced to close Thursday, is asking the Mississippi Supreme Court to allow it to reopen next week.
The request is based on the state Supreme Court's 1998 decision that said the Mississippi Constitution provided women the right to an abortion. That decision has not been overturned and supersedes laws passed by the Legislature banning abortion in most instances, attorneys for the abortion clinic argue.
The petition filed Thursday with the Supreme Court comes on the heels of Tuesday's ruling by Chancery Judge Debbra Halford of Franklin County refusing a request for a temporary restraining order allowing the clinic to remain open.
The filing before the Supreme Court noted that Halford opened the hearing on Tuesday with a prayer by a specially-appointed chaplain: “Lord, we pray for the presence of your Holy Spirit in this courtroom today … We seek your truth, not our own. We seek your wisdom, not our own. Bless and inspire Judge Halford in her deliberations and judgments here today.”
The abortion rights supporters are asking the Court to suspend two laws. Mississippi has a trigger law that went into effect based on the U.S. Supreme Court landmark ruling in late June overturning Roe v. Wade, which had recognized abortion rights in the U.S. Constitution.
Another law in Mississippi banning abortions after six weeks also went into effect as a result of the overturning of Roe.
“We hope the Mississippi Supreme Court will abide by its prior ruling that the Mississippi Constitution protects the rights of women to make their own decisions in matters of child birth. But unfortunately, we live in a time when settled rules of law are being cast aside. We hope that doesn't happen here,” said Jackson attorney Rob McDuff, of the Mississippi Center for Justice, who is representing the clinic. The Center for Reproductive Rights also is representing the clinic.
McDuff argued before Halford that those laws would be trumped by the 1998 state Supreme Court ruling saying abortion rights were protected under the Mississippi Constitution. Only the state Supreme Court could reverse that opinion just as only the U.S. Supreme Court could reverse the Roe decision, McDuff argued Tuesday before Halford.
Halford rejected McDuff's argument, refusing to grant the temporary restraining order because, she said, it was likely that the state Supreme Court would reverse the 1998 ruling.
In the filing before the Supreme Court, the clinic said Halford “abused her discretion” by basing her ruling on what she believed the Supreme Court would do.
“That reasoning is contrary to the rule of law and to this Court's authority to have the final word on the meaning of the Mississippi Constitution,” the filing said.
The office of Attorney General Lynn Fitch argued against suspending the enactment of the trigger law and the six-week ban. Fitch also filed the lawsuit – Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization – that led to the Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
Fitch's office argued before Halford that the 1998 ruling by the state's highest court was made based on the fact Roe was national law. Now that Roe has been overturned, the 1998 state Supreme Court ruling is no longer good law. But McDuff pointed out nowhere in the 1998 ruling was that connection made.
The trigger law bans all abortions except in cases where the life of the mother is at risk or in cases of law enforcement-reported rapes. The other law bans abortions after six weeks except in cases of medical emergencies.
“We are simply asking the MS Supreme Court to uphold its own ruling. It would be a mistake to reverse decades of precedent and allow government and politics to override a woman's right to make health decisions directly impacting her life,” said Vangela Wade, chief executive officer of the Mississippi Center for Justice.
Vangela Wade is a Mississippi Today board member.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Entertainment District looks to draw people in
SUMMARY: Customers in Starkville can now get a branded cup for their open container of alcohol in the Entertainment District. Restaurants and hotels in this area received branded “Go Cups” as part of an ordinance passed in 2020 that allows patrons to leave licensed premises with alcohol. The cups feature Starkville's logo and a QR code linking to information about the district. These cups aim to draw more people into the Entertainment District and showcase what it has to offer. Businesses in the area already provide drinks to-go, and the branded cups help promote the district to tourists and locals.
The post Entertainment District looks to draw people in appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
8 schools in our area receive ‘Military Star Schools’ recognition
SUMMARY: Eight schools in the area have been recognized by the Mississippi Department of Education as “Military Star Schools” for their support of military families and children of service members. These schools include West Lowndes Elementary and High Schools, New Hope Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, Aberdeen Elementary School, Annunciation Catholic School, and Columbus Christian Academy. Schools with this designation must have a dedicated school liaison for military families and provide professional development for staff to meet the needs of military students and families. The designation lasts for two years and was established by Governor Tate Reeves in February 2022.
The post 8 schools in our area receive ‘Military Star Schools' recognition appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Mississippi lawmakers go back and forth on education funding
SUMMARY: Mississippi lawmakers are debating public education funding before the end of the 2024 Legislative Session. The House is pushing for the INSPIRE Act, which aims to provide more funding to underfunded schools and special needs students. Opponents are urging caution in overhauling the current funding system, calling for input from experts to understand potential consequences. The Senate's plan involves making minor adjustments to the current MAEP formula. The final decision on education funding will impact the future of education in Mississippi and its impact on students.
The post Mississippi lawmakers go back and forth on education funding appeared first on www.wjtv.com
-
Mississippi News6 days ago
Mississippi will soon be bombarded with cicadas
-
SuperTalk FM4 days ago
4 tornadoes touched down in Mississippi during latest round of severe storms
-
SuperTalk FM3 days ago
Chance of parole denied for man who killed 3 Choctaw Indian tribal members
-
SuperTalk FM5 days ago
2 Jones County correctional officers arrested in smuggling bust
-
Local News5 days ago
Almost 3,500 Mississippi Veterans have enrolled in VA health care in past 365 days, 28% increase over last year
-
Kaiser Health News3 days ago
To Stop Fentanyl Deaths in Philadelphia, Knocking on Doors and Handing Out Overdose Kits
-
SuperTalk FM4 days ago
Amazon project in Madison County to be over $10B, create more jobs than projected: report
-
SuperTalk FM2 days ago
2 arrested after missing man’s body found on side of Mississippi highway