Latest news with #TheBriefA
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
House Bill 44 aims to clarify exceptions to Texas' strict abortion law
The Brief A bill in the Texas House would provide clarity about medical exceptions to the state's restrictive abortion law. Supporters want clarity on which life-threatening emergencies would make it legally acceptable for a doctor to perform an abortion. Lawmakers heard testimony on HB 44 on Monday. DALLAS - After Texas lawmakers passed a near-total ban on abortions with no exceptions, many doctors feared they would be committing a crime if they intervened. House Bill 44 is a bipartisan bill that would clarify the law. But some argue it doesn't go far enough. What we know Dozens of people testified before the Texas House Public Health Committee on Monday, mostly in support of HB 44. The bill, authored by Fort Worth Republican Charlie Green, aims to provide clarity for doctors to know when they can step in during a pregnancy that has life-threatening complications. "The Life of the Mother Act has brought together all of the major pro-life groups, doctors, hospitals, Republicans, and Democrats," Green said. "We know women's bodies have been horribly injured because doctors and hospitals are afraid to provide abortions that could save their bodies. That's because some of the language in our current law is not clear to doctors and hospitals." The backstory For the past three years, since the near-total ban on Texas abortions went into effect, doctors and patients have faced uncertainty about the legal consequences. The lack of exceptions led to a lawsuit by 20 women. It was rejected by the Texas Supreme Court. However, the court also told the Texas Medical Board to provide clarity for doctors. The medical board said that's not its job, bringing the issue back to the legislature. What they're saying "This is not someone who is six weeks and driving to Planned Parenthood because they don't want their baby. This is a woman who very much wants her baby at 20 weeks and having a medical emergency where she has lost her child. Even if it's not fully dead yet, her child is in the act of dying and the only way she can survive to parent her other children is to accept that death, protect her life and that is what the bill seeks to strike a balance of," said Jennifer Alman, the executive director for the Catholic Conference of Bishops. The other side Some in the hearing worried that HB 44 would allow a loophole in the abortion ban. Some of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit also argue the bill does not go far enough because it doesn't account for fatal abnormalities of the fetus. Sarah Harrison was pregnant with twins. One of them had a fatal condition. "What if I got pregnant with twins again and I have to leave again? The trauma is real. It is real. It's intense. Of course, I feel scared to get pregnant in this state," she told lawmakers. "This bill does not include fetal abnormality. It does not include rape. But it does include a bipartisan approach to try to address the challenges. I heard you guys say not sick enough. This bill does an important thing that does say you do not delay treatment. This bill does try to address that delay in time," said Rep. Ann Johnson of Houston. What's next Lawmakers are still hearing testimony on the bill. There is also a companion bill in the Texas Senate. There appears to be enough bipartisan support to get it across the finish line. The Source The information in this story comes from State Rep. Charlie Green of Fort Worth and testimony given during Monday's Texas House Public Health Committee hearing on HB 44.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
United Airlines pilot removed passenger from bathroom on flight to Houston, lawsuit claims
The Brief A United Airlines passenger says a pilot forcibly removed him from an airplane bathroom on a flight to Houston, according to a new lawsuit. The federal lawsuit was filed against the airline and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The passenger and a fellow Orthodox Jewish traveler said the pilot made disparaging remarks about their faith. HOUSTON - An Orthodox Jewish passenger says a United Airlines pilot forcibly removed him from an airplane bathroom while he was experiencing constipation, exposing his genitalia to other flyers during a flight from Tulum, Mexico, to Houston, according to a new lawsuit. Yisroel Liebb, of New Jersey, described his trip through allegedly unfriendly skies in a federal lawsuit this week against the airline and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, whose officers he said boarded the plane upon landing and took him away in handcuffs. Dig deeper Liebb and a fellow Orthodox Jewish traveler, Jacob Sebbag, said the pilot made disparaging remarks about their faith. They said they were forced to miss a connecting flight to New York City while U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers paraded them through an airport terminal, placed them in holding cells and searched their luggage. The backstory In the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Manhattan federal court, Liebb said he was in the bathroom in the back of the plane for about 20 minutes on Jan. 28 when a flight attendant woke Sebbag from a nap and asked Sebbag to check on him. Liebb said he explained his gastrointestinal predicament and assured Sebbag that he would be out soon. Sebbag then relayed that to the flight attendant, the lawsuit says. About 10 minutes later, with Liebb still indisposed, the pilot approached Sebbag and asked him to check on Liebb, the lawsuit says. The pilot then yelled at Liebb to leave the bathroom immediately, the lawsuit says. Liebb said he told the pilot that he was finishing up and would be out momentarily. The pilot responded by breaking the lock, forcing the bathroom door open and pulling Liebb out with his pants still around his ankles, exposing his genitalia to Sebbag, flight attendants, and nearby passengers, according to the lawsuit. Liebb and Sebbag said the pilot then pushed them back to their seats while threatening to have them arrested and making remarks about their faith and how "Jews act." After the two-hour flight landed in Houston, the men said about a half-dozen Customs and Border Protection officers boarded and escorted them off the plane. Liebb said when he asked why they were being detained, an officer tightened his handcuffs and responded: "This isn't county or state. We are Homeland. You have no rights here." The men said United booked them on a flight to New York City the next day for free, but any savings from the complementary tickets were lost because they had to pay for an overnight hotel stay and food during their delay. The Associated Press left messages seeking comment for a lawyer representing Liebb and Sebbag. The other side "CBP Officers responded to reports of a disturbance on a flight at the request of the airline," CBP Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs Hilton Beckham said. "Due to the ongoing litigation, we are unable to provide any further comment." United Airlines declined to comment. The Source The information in this article comes from the Associated Press.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
Case tossed against man accused of San Francisco hate crime, assault
The Brief A case has been dismissed against a man who was accused of a hate crime and assault after a hung jury in favor of an acquittal. The woman in the case, Wendy Drew, accused the defendant of calling her the N-word. Despite the acquittal, she insists he hurled the racial slur at her. Both said they acted in self-defense. SAN FRANCISCO - Charges have been dropped in connection to a wild fight caught on video in San Francisco. The melee happened at a liquor store in the area of Drumm and Market streets between a man and a woman after she claimed he called her the N-word. What we know Charges were dropped against the defendant after his trial ended in a hung jury, in favor of acquittal. "Her reaction was uncalled for because it did not actually happen as she thought," said Deputy Public Defender Deborah Awolope. Awolope said her client, Irvin Rivera-Lara took the stand, as did his accuser, Wendy Drew. "In this situation, Wendy was triggered, when she thought she heard the N-word, a word that was not actually used," Awolope said. What they're saying However Drew told KTVU on Thursday, she knew what she heard. "I am disappointed because he did call me f— N-word. He looked me in the face and said it," Drew said. Drew was on the phone with her mother when she said Lara-Rivera called her the N-word while walking his dog. The man's attorney said he never used the slur and instead was calling his dog, named Pas Pas, to make sure the pet didn't get in her way. Dig deeper "Misjudged the situation, misheard Mr. Lara-Rivera and thought she was called the N-word, which was not the case," Awolope said. She said Drew confronted her client, who pushed her away. According to the attorney, Drew then threw the phone at his head and charged at him as he entered a liquor store. Lara-Rivera ended up getting pepper sprayed by a customer. "One thing led to another, and Mr. Lara-Rivera was put in a position where he felt he needed to defend himself," Awolope said. Drew sees it differently. "He shoves me to the ground and then proceeds to hover over me to like show dominance," she said. "So when I get up, my reaction was to throw my phone at him." Awolope has represented other clients in which a jury rejected the version of events as presented by police and prosecutors. "And that is the reason why we, as public defenders, really emphasize on the presumption of innocence," Awolope said. KTVU legal analyst Michael Cardoza said racial epithets should not lead to physical confrontations. Now words, no matter how opprobrious, how offensive, how racial they are, does not give the listener the right to turn it physical," Cardoza said. Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and The Source Interviews, previous KTVU reporting
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Liberty County deadly shooting: Manhunt ends for shooting suspect
The Brief A suspect is now in custody following a deadly shooting on Monday. The shooting occurred at 1800 Road 5740 in Cleveland. Numerous resources have been brought in to locate a suspect believed to be in a wooden area. LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas - A manhunt has ended for a suspect following a deadly shooting in Liberty County on Monday afternoon. What we know The Liberty County Sheriff's Office said they received a call from a woman stating there were two men in her driveway located at 1800 Road 5740, around 3 p.m. Officials said the two men appeared to be fighting. When she went out to check on them after calling 911, she saw one of the male subjects, a 44-year-old Hispanic male, slumped over in a pickup truck. Officials said the suspect, who has been identified as 34-year-old Luis Miguel Perez, ran from the location into a wooded area across the street. Authorities stated they called in numerous resources including drones, a DPS helicopter, K-9's, and other resources to find Perez. Liberty County officials stated Perez is a confirmed MS-13 gang member. He is a national of El Salvador and has been deported from the United States seven times. He also has an active felony warrant out of Maryland for aggravated assault. What we don't know Officials did not state what led up to the shooting, as the shooting occurred where neither of the men lived. Get news, weather and so much more on the new FOX LOCAL app The Source Information provided by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Driver killed after losing control, being hit by gravel hauler on NB I-75; freeway still closed at 8 Mile
The Brief A driver was killed after losing control on northbound I-75 early Thursday. Police said the driver spun in the path of a gravel hauler near Woodward Heights and was pushed about 750 feet. Authorities are working to get in contact with the victim's family. OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - Drivers are advised to avoid northbound I-75 due to a fatal crash near Woodward Heights that has the freeway closed. The crash, which was reported around 6:40 a.m., initially had the freeway closed at Nine Mile, but that closure was moved to Eight Mile around 7:20 a.m. Entrance ramps to northbound I-75 are also closed between Eight Mile and Woodward Heights. According to Michigan State Police, a female driving a Jeep Compass lost control and spun into the path of a gravel hauler. The hauler hit the Compass and pushed it about 750 feet before being able to stop. The driver of the Compass was pronounced dead at the scene, while the gravel hauler driver was not hurt. "Troopers are currently working to notify the family of the driver as they are out of state," said MSP F/Lt Mike Shaw. "We continue to remind drivers to slow down and drive carefully when road conditions change. Troopers investigated over 35 preventable crashes across the district since midnight."
