Mississippi News
Supreme Court rejects plea for quick ruling on effort to stop abortion ban
Supreme Court rejects plea for quick ruling on effort to stop abortion ban
A three-judge panel of the state Supreme Court has rejected the petition of Jackson Women's Health Organization to allow the resumption of abortions as early as this week.
The Supreme Court justices have said that instead they will wait for arguments from Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch's office to be submitted before ruling on the petition of the abortion supporters. The three-justice panel of James Kitchens, Dawn Beam and Kenneth Griffis has given Fitch's office until July 25 to respond to a petition requesting that the Supreme Court rescind the abortion ban.
The abortion ban was put in place after Fitch's office successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court for the reversal of Roe v. Wade, a decades-old decision that provided a national right to an abortion.
The abortion ban went into effect in Mississippi on Thursday. At the time the ban went into effect, Jackson Women's Health Organization was the only abortion provider in the state. The clinic had filed a lawsuit asking that the ban been postponed based on a 1998 state Supreme Court ruling saying that there was a right to an abortion in Mississippi's constitution separate from the right granted under the U.S. Constitution in Roe v. Wade.
Despite the state Supreme Court saying the right to an abortion existed in the Mississippi Constitution, Chancery Judge Debbra Halford of Franklin County refused to stop the ban from taking effect.
Now the clinic is asking the state Supreme Court to rule on the issue and is requesting a quick decision.
In a motion, attorneys for the clinic said, “By July 25, Mississippians will have been without abortion access for over two weeks. They will have been denied their rights under the Mississippi Constitution to privacy and bodily autonomy, as they are compelled by the state to endure the risks of pregnancy and bear children against their will. The deprivation of constitutional rights, and the harms of forced pregnancy and childbirth, are substantial and irreversible. Absent relief from this Court, the harm will continue.”
The three-judge panel rejected that argument, opting instead to wait for arguments from the AG, due July 25.
The abortion ban is in effect in Mississippi because of a trigger law passed in 2007 that went into effect if Roe v. Wade was overturned. Attorneys for the abortion clinic say the 1998 state Supreme Court ruling recognizing a Mississippi constitutional right to an abortion supersedes the trigger law and another Mississippi law banning abortions after six weeks.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Oktibbeha County deputies continue search for escaped inmate
SUMMARY: The Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Department is searching for 47-year-old William Strohm after he escaped from the jail by climbing onto the roof and then over the fence. Strohm, who was a trustee at the jail, was last seen Sunday night and is still on the run. His escape surprised some members of the community, while others are not very concerned. The sheriff advised community members to lock their cars as a precaution. Strohm was last seen wearing light-colored pants, a white t-shirt, and a dark-colored coat with an orange interior. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Department or Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers.
The post Oktibbeha County deputies continue search for escaped inmate appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
New Lowndes Recreation Director has hopes of expanding Parks and Rec
SUMMARY: Jennifer Claybrook is the new Lowndes Recreation Director, hoping to expand the Parks and Rec department. She has experience as a college softball coach and recently served as the director of athletics and campus recreation at MUW. Claybrook wants to evaluate and expand the recreation department to better serve the community. She has been meeting with the Board of Supervisors and conducting an economic impact survey to determine the community's wants and needs. Her goal is to figure out how best to serve the community and provide offerings that people are interested in. Overall, she aims to reach more people and make recreation centers more enjoyable for everyone.
The post New Lowndes Recreation Director has hopes of expanding Parks and Rec appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Local leasing office provides safety tips for students before going home
SUMMARY: College students are leaving for the holidays, leaving their apartments empty. Audreana Higgins, the marketing and leasing manager at Helix, advises students to unplug anything not in use, turn off heaters, and set the thermostat to save on utility bills. She also warns about the dangers of leaving valuables out and not locking doors, as it could lead to theft or potential fire hazards. A tenant, Dorian Howard, advises new neighbors to lock their doors. Following these precautions can help ensure the safety and security of the empty apartments during the holiday season.
The post Local leasing office provides safety tips for students before going home appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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