District of Columbia, Texas | October 25, 2021
Texas pro-life charities respond to abortion law fallout, brace for a ‘post-Roe’ world
District of Columbia, Texas | October 25, 2021
A Texas court once again shuffled the deck last week for women in the state as it dealt with various decisions that have effectively left them in legal limbo.
Amid the uncertainty, pro-life charities and abortion clinics have attempted to adapt while taking on markedly different levels of clients. The heartbeat law, which effectively serves as a six-week abortion ban, is expected to dramatically reduce the number of abortions in the state — leaving community organizations with a likely spike in crisis pregnancies.
Loveline, a Houston-based charity started by former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson, told Fox News it saw a 50% nationwide increase in calls in the month after Texas’ law was enacted on Sept. 1. Thirty-three percent of those came from Texas….. (Excerpts from FOX News)
Texas | October 15, 2021
Federal Appeals Court Keeps Texas Abortion Ban in Place Amid Ongoing Litigation
Texas | October 15, 2021
An appeals court ruled on Thursday that a Texas abortion ban will remain in effect as legal challenges against it play out.
The Texas Heartbeat Act, also known as Senate Bill 8, was signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in May. It bans abortions after a heartbeat is detected, which is usually around six weeks, unless a medical emergency exists.
The Justice Department had challenged Texas’s abortion ban in federal court on Sept. 9, about a week after the law went into effect, seeking a temporary injunction against the law. On Oct. 6, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman, an Obama appointee, granted the Biden administration’s petition. Texas immediately appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
The 5th Circuit put a temporary administrative hold on Pitman’s ruling on Oct. 8. Its latest ruling on Thursday means that the Texas Heartbeat Act remains in effect while litigation proceeds…. (Excerpts from the Epoch Times)
Texas | September 16, 2021
Texas abortion law upheld, bill’s author speaks on victory
Texas | September 16, 2021
Senate Bill 8, known as the heartbeat bill, took effect officially on Wednesday.
Abortion providers attempted to challenge the law with the US Supreme Court, but in a 5-4 ruling, the Texas law was upheld. “It says when a little baby has been growing inside her mother’s womb and there is a heartbeat detectable, we are going to protect that life. A heartbeat is the universal sign of life,” said state Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola)…. (Excerpts from Fox News 7 Austin)
Texas | September 10, 2021
Bomb threat reported at Texas Right to Life facility, 2nd attempt to disrupt organization in recent days
Texas | September 10, 2021
A bomb threat was emailed to a Texas Right to Life facility in Bellaire, Texas, Friday, which led to an evacuation of the facility.
Authorities responded at 10:15 a.m. to the office in the 4500 block of Bissonnet. Texas Right to Life told police that they received an email about a bomb threat directed toward their office. When Bellaire police came to the scene to location to take the report a mail carrier arrived and police determined that a package being dropped off by the mail carrier was suspicious.
From there, the building was evacuated and bomb squad was called to the scene. When bomb squad arrived, they determined that the contents of the package were not dangerous via X-ray of the package… (Excerpts from NBC 2 Houston)
Texas | September 9, 2021
Watch live: Justice Department files suit against Texas over SB8 abortion law
Texas | September 9, 2021
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the Justice Department has filed suit against Texas over SB8, the abortion law that went into effect on Sept. 1.
The Texas Tribune reported the law is one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion laws — which bans abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The U.S. Supreme Court did not take action on an emergency appeal by Texas abortion providers.
The law prohibits abortions whenever an ultrasound can detect what lawmakers defined as a fetal “heartbeat,” though medical and legal experts say this term is misleading because embryos don’t possess a heart at that developmental stage…. (Excerpts from 2 NBC Houston)
District of Columbia, Texas | September 9, 2021
Biden Admin Prepares to Sue Texas Over Abortion Law
District of Columbia, Texas | September 9, 2021
The Biden administration is preparing to sue Texas over its new law banning most abortions, people familiar with the matter said, an action that would set off a federal-state clash at a time when the future of abortion rights becomes an ever-more-pressing question before the courts. The Justice Department could file a lawsuit as soon as Thursday, the people said, adding that the timing could be pushed back. The Biden administration has faced pressure from Democrats and abortion-rights groups to take action to stop the Texas restrictions after the Supreme Court last week allowed them to take effect… (Excerpts from the Wall Street Journal)