Mississippi News
Mississippi abortion law: Hearing set for case to stop it
Hearing set in Mississippi lawsuit trying to prevent abortion ban
Facing the specter of most abortions being prohibited in Mississippi on July 7, a special judge has scheduled a hearing for 10 a.m. Tuesday to hear arguments in a lawsuit attempting to prevent the ban from taking effect.
Chancellor Debbra Halford of Franklin County in the 4th District in southwest Mississippi was appointed late Thursday by Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Randolph to preside over the case after all four Hinds County chancery judges recused themselves.
Halford will hear arguments in a lawsuit filed by Jackson Women's Health Organization, the state's only remaining abortion clinic, claiming a trigger law cannot go into effect banning abortions in the state because of a 1998 ruling by the Mississippi Supreme Court. That ruling stated that the Mississippi Constitution provides the right to an abortion. The Supreme Court ruling would be a precedent that would supersede state law banning abortions, the lawsuit argues.
Two laws are at issue in the lawsuit. They are:
- A trigger law that states abortions except in the case of the life of the mother being at risk or in the case of a law enforcement-reported rape would be banned when the national constitutional right to an abortion (Roe v. Wade) is overturned. Roe v. Wade was overturned late last month.
- A ban on abortions after six weeks that provides no exemptions except in the case of medical emergencies.
The lawsuit maintains allowing the laws to take effect “will infringe on the constitutionally protected right of Mississippians to abortion under the Mississippi Constitution” as recognized by the state Supreme Court in 1998.
The trigger law states that most abortions would be illegal in the state 10 days after the attorney general certified that Roe v. Wade had been overturned. Attorney General Lynn Fitch made that certification June 27, meaning, according to the Secretary of State's office, that the ban would go into effect on July 7.
The Mississippi abortion fight is of particular note nationwide since it was Fitch's office that argued successfully before the U.S. Supreme Court that Roe v. Wade should be overturned.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Looking back on 2011 Louisville tornado and moving forward
SUMMARY: The lives of Kenisha White Jones and her grandmother were changed forever when their house in Winston County took a direct hit from a storm. Jones suffered a fractured back and her grandmother lost her home. The Long-term Community Recovery Committee Winston Strong stepped in to help with the rebuilding process, providing assistance to Jones and other affected families. Reverend Mike Dowd, the former Executive Director of Winston Strong, believes that the community has come back stronger after the disaster. Winston Strong helped rebuild 23 homes and repair over 60 others, showcasing the resilience and character of the community.
The post Looking back on 2011 Louisville tornado and moving forward appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Community of Louisville reflects 2011 tornado
SUMMARY: Louisville, Mississippi commemorated the 10th anniversary of a devastating tornado that took 10 lives and destroyed homes in the community. The church bells rang 10 times at 10 o'clock in remembrance of the lives lost. Mayor Will Hill reflected on the tragedy and praised the community's unity in rebuilding. Despite significant damage to homes and businesses, including the hospital and nursing home, the community came together to provide care and support. A memorial service honored the storm victims and highlighted the resilience of the Louisville community. The city lost industrial space and more than 400 homes were damaged in the tornado.
The post Community of Louisville reflects 2011 tornado appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Road work in Tupelo may affect routes
SUMMARY: Starting on April 29 at 8 a.m., Gun Club Road in Tupelo will be closed to through traffic for about a month due to a box culvert drainage project. Local traffic will still be allowed during the closure. Follow updates on Facebook for the latest news.
The post Road work in Tupelo may affect routes appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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