Latest news with #Amendment3
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Missouri judge vacates abortion rulings after state Supreme Court order
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Just one day after the Missouri Supreme Court ordered a Jackson County judge to vacate injunctions that , the judge has complied — officially pulling back those protections. But what happens next is anyone's guess. As FOX4 reported Tuesday night, this case is complex — and now we're beginning to understand why. Veteran trial and appellate court Attorney David Larson says the judge's original injunctions were tossed because the state's highest court determined she used the wrong legal standard. Federal trade court blocks Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs under emergency powers law 'The procedural vehicle in which the Supreme Court acted was through what's called an extraordinary writ process,' Larson explained. That extraordinary step has transformed what was already a politically charged issue into a full-blown legal showdown. The roots of the fight go back to November, when Missouri voters passed Amendment 3, enshrining abortion rights into the state constitution. The state quickly filed suit to challenge the amendment, and a Jackson County judge issued two injunctions aimed at preserving those rights while the case played out in court. But the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the judge applied outdated legal criteria when issuing those temporary protections. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri 'Her responsibility will be then to — to do what she needs to do or what she believes is necessary and appropriate to apply the standards that the Supreme Court has instructed her to follow,' Larson said. Under the new standard, any future rulings must pass a strict four-part test, including showing that abortion rights advocates would suffer irreparable harm and have a strong chance of winning the case. That legal shift stems from recent changes in how the 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals — which includes Missouri — handles injunctions involving challenges to state laws. 'The 8th Circuit had a prior set of standards to apply. They then subsequently changed that and updated that, and the Supreme Court in its ruling Tuesday elected to be governed by the more recent case,' Larson said. What comes next isn't clear. The judge could bring both sides back into court for arguments, or she might simply apply the new legal standard and issue a fresh ruling without another cautions that even if the standard is applied correctly, there's no guarantee the judge will reissue the injunctions. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV So far, there's no timeline for when a new decision might come — or how it could impact abortion access in Missouri moving forward. Stay with FOX4 for continuing coverage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hope Florida Foundation paid woman who then posted video praising charity
TALLAHASSEE – The Hope Florida Foundation paid a Lakeland physical therapy assistant $588 in March. Days later, a social media video popped up of the woman praising how the organization tied to First Lady Casey DeSantis helped her out of poverty. 'I had no high school diploma,' said Ginger Faulk, a 35-year-old mother of two, describing her circumstances when she contacted Hope Florida in 2021. 'I couldn't pay the rent or put food on the table, until I met my Hope Navigator.' Hope Florida gave her the resources to get an education, Faulk said in the video, adding that she graduated from college with honors 'as a medical practitioner.' The curious payment to Faulk — disclosed among other foundation expenditures in response to a public records request from the Orlando Sentinel — adds to the swirl of questions surrounding the state's Hope Florida program and the Hope Florida Foundation, its associated non-profit. DeSantis administration officials have claimed the program has helped 30,000 people off welfare but have provided scant details about who and how. An earlier report by the Sentinel about the experience of another Hope Florida client, touted in an online magazine, found the claims did not match what the woman said actually happened, overstating the help she was given. Reached by phone, Faulk declined to comment for this story. The Hope Florida Foundation and Department of Children and Families, which oversees the foundation, did not respond to questions about the money sent to Faulk either. Faulk's video was released just as Gov. Ron DeSantis was pushing the Legislature to make Hope Florida an official part of the state government, instead of a loosely affiliated program across more than a dozen different state agencies without a budget of its own. Within weeks, that effort sparked a legislative inquiry into the program. The inquiry, led by a House committee led by Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, soon prompted controversy when it was revealed that $10 million from a $67 million Medicaid settlement meant to pay back Florida for prescription drug overpayments instead landed in the coffers of the Hope Florida Foundation. That money was then quickly redistributed to two nonprofits that in turn gave millions to a DeSantis-backed political committee set up to defeat Amendment 3, the ballot measure that would have made recreational pot legal. The March payment was the second time in two years Faulk received money from the Hope Florida Foundation. She also was given $392 in May 2024. And she appeared to be on the administration's radar. DeSantis mentioned her in his state-of-the-state speech at the opening of the 60-day legislative session in March, using her story to pitch his Hope Florida legislation, which would ultimately be rejected by lawmakers. And last year the DeSantises honored Faulk as a Florida Hero at the governor's mansion. The Florida Heroes brochure said she was a hero for using Hope Florida to get short-term rental and utility assistance from a local charity so she could focus on her education and career goals, pass her GED and enroll in a CareerSource healthcare program. Without knowing why the foundation paid her, Faulk's video casts some doubt over her motive for providing a testimonial, said Bob Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University. 'There is nothing wrong with a recipient expressing gratitude,' Jarvis said. 'But if she was paid, as a paid spokesperson, that should be disclosed.' The payments to Faulk are among the dozens of unexplained payments listed in the foundation's $550,000 worth of expenditures made since its inception in August of 2023. The list of payments provided to the Sentinel did not include any details about the purpose of the spending. The largest single payment was $100,000 to Florida Emergency Management Assistance Inc., also known as the Florida Disaster Foundation, a direct support organization for the Division of Emergency Management created in 2023. Two Panhandle resorts owned by the same company received the next largest amount of money — $55,500 to the St. Joe Resort and $40,000 to Camp Creek Inn. The largest collective expense was the distribution of $1,000 bonuses to each of the 156 state workers who had been reassigned as Hope Navigators. Another half dozen state employees received bonuses of $2,500 each. Mallory McManus, the former deputy chief of staff at DCF, received $7,456. The Hope Florida Foundation and DCF did not respond to questions about these expenditures, either. 'Those expenditures need more clarity and detail,' Jarvis said. The larger sums raise the most questions, including what services those companies provided to receive those funds and how they spent it, Jarvis said. Also, he asked, what is the foundation doing with the remaining $1.5 million? 'What are the plans for that?' Prior to receiving its now controversial $10 million donation from the Medicaid provider, the foundation had only raised $2 million and paid out the $550,000, according to a spreadsheet the Orlando Sentinel received. The records only identify the amount paid, the date and the recipient. Requests for supporting documentation that might explain the purpose of the donations are still pending.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Missouri Supreme Court temporarily reinstates abortion ban
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Supreme Court has effectively reinstated the state's abortion ban, vacating two lower court rulings that had temporarily restored access to abortion services. The high court's decision comes just six months after Missouri voters approved Amendment 3, a constitutional amendment that enshrined the right to abortion in the state constitution. Jack in the Box closes all locations in the Kansas City area 'It is motivating to know that real people, real lives, real rights are at stake and this is not the time to give up,' said Emily Wales, President and CEO of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. Planned Parenthood has already begun canceling upcoming abortion appointments in the state. What happens next remains unclear. K-9 Lotto dies after medical emergency, Lenexa Police Department says Missouri voters sent a clear message in November. But despite the amendment's passage, the state quickly filed lawsuits challenging its implementation. A judge in Jackson County issued two separate preliminary injunctions that allowed abortions to temporarily resume while the case against the amendment worked its way through the courts. But on Tuesday, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the judge used the wrong legal test in granting those injunctions, a procedural issue that paused the lower court's decisions. 'The frustration is real because the patients are real and that is something that I think politicians—and to some extent, even courts—can feel separate from,' Wales said. The ruling from the high court requires any future injunctions to meet a strict four-part legal standard, including a demonstration of irreparable harm and the likelihood of success in court. For now, abortion is once again banned in Missouri. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey celebrated the ruling as a win for 'women's health,' while Planned Parenthood described it as a temporary procedural setback. This legal battle began just after Amendment 3 passed in November. Though voters approved constitutional protections for abortion, the state filed legal challenges, arguing the law's implementation should be blocked. The Jackson County judge who originally ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood must now decide whether to bring both sides back into court or issue a new ruling based on the correct legal standard. Center School District security guard charged with murder after deadly shooting near Westport 'Now she knows what the Supreme Court expects under this different standard, and she already has the information, all the evidence, all the expert testimony,' said Wales. What happens next—and how soon—remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: the legal battle over abortion rights in Missouri is far from over. FOX4 will continue to follow developments closely. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Politico
4 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Missouri voters will again vote on abortion
TOP LINE In 2024, Missouri voters approved a ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights into the state's constitution by three percentage points, being one of seven states to do so that year following the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Now, the state is set to vote on the issue again, after Republican lawmakers put an abortion ban referendum that includes exceptions for rape and incest up for a vote. The lawmakers' measure would in effect repeal Amendment 3, the current state constitutional amendment which protects the right to an abortion in the state. Voters are likely to see the issue on the 2026 general election ballot, but Missouri's Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe could call a special election sooner. Kehoe's office did not respond to a request for comment. Abortion rights groups cast the lawmaker-driven measure as an attack on the democratic process, while anti-abortion groups commend Republicans for giving voters another chance to decide the issue. 'Over 1.5 million Missourians voted to enshrine access to abortion in the Missouri State Constitution, and politicians are trying to change the rules of the game midstream to try to stop all that from happening,' said Rianne Hawkins, vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Action. Anti-abortion groups are calling on Missouri Republicans to be more vocal in advocating for the measure after abortion rights advocates vastly outspent their anti-abortion counterparts last year. 'We call on Missouri GOP leaders in Washington and across the state to offer their strong, vocal support of this measure. When GOP leaders engage, we win on abortion ballot measures,' said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, in a statement. Missouri's referendum will be the first where voters will have the choice to repeal a post-Dobbs abortion-rights measure that has already passed. And this isn't the first time the Missouri legislature has sought to undo policies that were created via ballot measure. Lawmakers are also seeking to limit the effect of a ballot measure that increased minimum wage and mandated paid sick leave, and in past years they tried to block voter-approved Medicaid expansions. The measure will not specifically mention repealing Amendment 3. Instead, it will ask voters if they want to 'ensure women's safety during abortions', 'ensure parental consent for minors' and 'allow abortions for medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, rape, and incest.' The measure also asks if voters want to 'protect children from gender transition,' because it would prohibit gender transition surgeries and hormone treatments for minors, which is already illegal in the state. For now, abortion remains legal in the state, although actually getting one has proven challenging due to providers in the state being tied up with court battles. Happy Tuesday, I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. Reach me: @andrewjfhoward or ahoward@ Days until the New Jersey primary: 14 Days until the Virginia primary: 21 Days until the New York City primary: 28 Days until the 2025 election: 161 Days until the midterms: 525 Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. CAMPAIGN INTEL ENDORSEMENT CORNER — FIRST IN SCORE: The Working Families Party is making its first endorsement of the midterms, backing Adelita Grijalva in the Tucson district formerly held by her father. 'Adelita Grijalva has a proven track record of fighting for working families in Arizona,' said Matthew Marquez, Southwest campaigns director for the WFP. 2028 WATCH — 'The Democrats' 2028 podcast primary is well underway,' AP's Meg Kinnard and Adriana Gomez Licon note. 'From Govs. Gavin Newsom of California, Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan to former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, potential presidential contenders are following the lead of President Donald Trump, who frequently went on podcasts appealing to younger men during his 2024 campaign.' … 'Rahm Emanuel, Teasing a White House Bid, Says Democratic Brand Is Weak,' by The Wall Street Journal's John McCormick. 'While Emanuel is coy about what he wants next for his political career, he appears to be laying the groundwork for a presidential bid. He will be the headliner at a September fish fry for Democrats in Iowa, where the party's nomination process traditionally started until 2024.' DEMOCRATIC MESSAGING — 'Six months after President Trump swept the battleground states, the Democratic Party is still sifting through the wreckage,' The New York Times' Shane Goldmacher writes. 'The Democratic base is aghast at the speed with which Mr. Trump is undermining institutions and reversing progressive accomplishments — and at the lack of resistance from congressional leaders. Primary challenges are on the rise headed into 2026, often along generational and ideological lines.' … 'Democratic troubles revive debate over left-wing buzzwords,' by The Washington Post's Naftali Bendavid. … Democrats are working to mend their relationships with rural voters, AP's Bill Barrow writes in a dispatch from Paintsville, Kentucky, where he attended 'Rural Listening Tour,' hosted by the state's Democratic Party. HARRIS' NEXT MOVE — California Republicans want Kamala Harris to run for governor, POLITICO's Jeremy B. White reports. Her potential bid 'is already bringing GOP candidates tactical benefits, allowing them to run against a high-profile adversary who's likely to energize donors and the conservative rank-and-file.' ON THE AIRWAVES — Democrats are preparing to launch an ad war against Republicans over Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' POLITICO's Elena Schneider reported Friday. MEGABILL POLITICS — 'RNC chair pressures Senate GOP 'to deliver' on Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,'' by The Hill's Ashleigh Fields. NYC MAYOR — 'What It Looks Like As Andrew Cuomo Closes In on Mayoralty,' by my colleagues Jeff Coltin and Mark Ostow. VOTING — 'Prove citizenship to vote? For some married women, it might not be so easy,' Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez report for The Washington Post. ELECTION CALENDAR — 'Rep. Derrick Van Orden pitches ending spring elections after series of Republican losses,' by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Molly Beck and Lawrence Andrea. 'Republicans don't vote. Period. Like, we just don't vote in spring elections,' Van Orden told reporters in Rothschild, Wisconsin, on May 17, according to Beck and Andrea. CODA — QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'In some ways I'm glad I missed that second term,' President Donald Trump said during his Memorial Day speech.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Welcome to Missouri, where the vote of the people is never safe
Jen Kruse, from Tipton, holds up a sign in protest of the Missouri State Legislature's decision to pass legislation to overturn voters' recent ballot measures. "I wish reason would take over," she told The Independent. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). Maybe you collected signatures last year so that Missourians could vote to overturn the state's abortion ban. Maybe you walked door to door asking voters to support paid sick leave benefits for lower-wage workers. Maybe you were one of millions of people who successfully voted to pass those measures on the statewide ballot last November. Republicans in the Missouri legislature want you to go pound sand. They are not impressed with your hard work, or the sanctity of your vote, or your show of direct democracy. They have convictions to uphold, special interests to please and power to wield. And so, in a breathtaking show of arrogance, they wrapped up the 2025 legislative session by stomping all over the wishes of the state's voters. First, Republicans passed a proposed constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would negate the freedoms won in Amendment 3, which enshrined the right to an abortion in the Missouri Constitution. The just-passed Republican amendment seeks to deceive. Its language — which will likely be challenged in court — creates a narrow window in which victims of rape and incest and women with a medical emergency can obtain an abortion. It doesn't mention that abortion will be banned for everyone else. Following this betrayal of women, lawmakers moved on to workers. They gutted a statute known as Proposition A, initiated by citizens, that passed with a hefty 58% of the vote. No citizens' initiative is safe from the vicissitudes of Missouri's Republican supermajority. Lawmakers struck down a paid sick leave provision. They left intact a minimum wage increase but erased a provision that would have attached future increases to the rate of inflation. By the time the 2025 legislature mercifully adjourned, Prop A was a shadow of what its organizers had intended. This is by no means the first time Missouri's Republican supermajority has overturned the will of voters. Legislators have altered voter-initiated statutes in recent years having to do with puppy mills and redistricting and campaign finance. Constitutional amendments are somewhat less subject to damage, but Republicans nonetheless tried to thwart an amendment calling for expansion of Medicaid eligibility by refusing to grant the funding until ordered to do so by a court. During that fracas, in 2021, a then-Republican legislator said the quiet part out loud. 'I am proud to stand against the will of the people,' Justin Hill, a representative from the St. Louis area, declared from the House floor. There you have it. Most Republicans prefer to frame their disregard for voters a bit more diplomatically. 'Those who support conservative measures and vote us into office expect us to stand our ground on issues which reflect their bedrock beliefs,' Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O'Laughlin said on social media after Republicans gutted the two voter initiatives this month. This willingness of voters to support progressive measures while simultaneously electing rock-solid conservative legislators is indeed the great disconnect in Missouri politics. But almost six of 10 voters supported paid sick leave for low-wage workers. That seems quite bedrock. The people expecting lawmakers to 'stand their ground' on this particular issue are select business interests which are powerful in Jefferson City. 'I am proud of all my colleagues for taking a stand for what we consider right,' O'Laughlin added in her social media post. Which is just a short hop, skip and jump away from 'I am proud to stand against the will of the people.' Republican lawmakers count on voters across the state to not watch what they do too closely, and to forget about their outrages once the session adjourns. But if anything grabs the attention of Missourians, it could be this latest double punch. Prompted by groups such as Missouri Jobs for Justice and the recently formed Respect Missouri Voters, protesters convened at the Capitol and in locations around the state. On the protest lines, they mingled with people out and about objecting to Trump administration policies. That's a willing audience, already in the streets, just waiting to be informed about what the state legislators are up to. And for those who missed the rallies, volunteers are distributing flyers at the homes of voters in legislative districts where Proposition A garnered more support in November than the Republican lawmakers representing the district. That includes House Speaker Jon Patterson's district in Lee's Summit. Patterson didn't vote for the House measure seeking to reinstate an abortion ban, but he didn't do much to slow it down, either. And his explanation that he supports paid sick leave but voted to gut Prop A because he doesn't think state government should mandate the benefit is double talk. Across Missouri, workers who are finally accruing sick time are being told that the benefit will be taken away from them. And people who only a few months ago celebrated the end of an abortion ban are finding out that they'll have to go back to work to preserve a right they legitimately won. A simple question keeps coming up: How can they do this to us? They do it because they can. Until enough voters decide they can't.
