Tag: Virginia News

Judge blocks Virginia from using new congressional maps, 1 day after redistricting vote passes

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A state court judge on Wednesday blocked Virginia from moving forward with a redistricting effort that passed in a referendum a day earlier, a roadblock in Democrats’ efforts to redraw the state’s congressional maps and tilt as many as four House districts away from the GOP.   The order from Judge Jack Hurley of Tazewell County Circuit Court declares all votes for and against Tuesday’s referendum “ineffective,” and bars state officials from certifying the results or taking any actions to put the new maps passed by state lawmakers into effect.   In a brief order, Hurley found that the referendum violated several clauses of the state constitution, arguing it skirted a 90-day public notice requirement and calling the question that was presented to voters “flagrantly misleading.” 

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, a Democrat, said he will immediately appeal the ruling. “Virginia voters have spoken, and an activist judge should not have veto power over the People’s vote,” Jones wrote in a statement on X. “We look forward to defending the outcome of last night’s election in court.” The Republican National Committee, one of several GOP groups that sued over the referendum, called the ruling “a major victory for Virginians.”  “Democrats attempted to force an unconstitutional scheme to tilt congressional maps in their favor, but the court recognized it for what it is — a blatant power grab,” RNC Chair Joe Gruters said in a statement. The ballot measure, which voters approved by a 3-point margin on Tuesday, sought to amend Virginia’s constitution so that lawmakers could redraw the state’s House map, overriding a 2020 amendment that created a bipartisan commission to handle redistricting.

The state’s Democratic-controlled General Assembly passed a new map earlier this year. Virginia will return to its old redistricting system after the 2030 election.

Source: Judge blocks Virginia from using new congressional maps, 1 day after redistricting vote passes – CBS News

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Mark 16:15

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Recent Abortion News (March 11 – March 18, 2026)

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News

Abortion policy continued to evolve at the state level this week, with new restrictions signed into law, high-profile legislative failures, court victories on religious-freedom grounds, and ongoing preparations for 2026 ballot battles. Both pro-life and pro-choice groups remained active, framing developments around fetal protections versus access and health impacts. Here are the major stories:

1. Wyoming Enacts 6-Week “Heartbeat” Ban

  • Governor Mark Gordon signed HB 126, banning most abortions once a heartbeat is detectable (around six weeks), with exceptions only for medical emergencies. Wyoming becomes the fifth state with such a law. The state’s sole abortion clinic reported turning away roughly a dozen patients in the days following the signing. Pro-life advocates hailed it as a major step forward; reproductive-rights organizations criticized the early cutoff and warned of increased travel burdens for Wyoming women.

2. Tennessee “Abortion-as-Homicide” Bill Fails

  • A controversial proposal (sponsored by Rep. Jody Barrett and Sen. Mark Pody) that would have classified abortion as homicide—potentially carrying life imprisonment or the death penalty—died in a House subcommittee. No Republican members voted to advance it, surprising some observers and sparking protests outside the capitol. Pro-life hardliners expressed disappointment at the lack of support, while pro-choice groups called the bill’s defeat a “victory for women’s rights and common sense.”

3. Jersey (Channel Islands, UK) Expands Access to 22 Weeks

  • Lawmakers passed legislation raising the abortion limit from previous restrictions to 22 weeks and reducing other barriers. The new law sets a resident fee of £185 through government healthcare. UK pro-choice campaigners welcomed the move as modernizing outdated rules; local faith-based and pro-life voices voiced concern over the extended gestational window.

4. Indiana Court Strikes Down Restrictions on Religious Grounds

  • In a landmark ruling, Judge Christina R. Klineman found that Indiana’s abortion laws violate the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)—the first successful challenge of its kind using religious-liberty arguments. The decision could open new legal pathways for clinics and patients. Pro-life organizations warned it may significantly expand access, while religious liberty and reproductive-rights attorneys praised it as precedent-setting.

5. 2026 Ballot-Measure Battles Heat Up

  • Virginia: A lawsuit was filed to keep a proposed constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights off the November ballot.
  • Missouri: A measure to repeal the state’s 2024 abortion protections advanced in signature gathering.
  • Nevada and several other states remain active fronts, with KFF analysts noting that 2026 could see more voter-driven decisions on both expansion and restriction of access. Both sides are pouring resources into these campaigns.

6. Kansas Protects Crisis Pregnancy Centers

  • The legislature passed a bill shielding crisis pregnancy centers from certain regulatory requirements and advertising restrictions. Pro-life groups celebrated the measure as safeguarding supportive services for women; opponents argued it limits transparency for those seeking abortion information.

7. UK Catholic Leaders Oppose Decriminalization Push

  • The Catholic Archbishop of Westminster and other faith leaders intensified campaigning against clauses in the Crime and Policing Bill that would decriminalize abortion up to birth. A key vote is expected soon. This has reignited national debate on late-term procedures and the role of conscience protections.

8. National Trends and Data Notes

  • Medication (chemical) abortions continue to dominate (now ~63–65% of total procedures per recent tracking). Reports again linked strict state bans to measurable rises in maternal-mortality indicators and interstate travel. Advocacy organizations on both sides released updated statistics and called for federal or state-level action ahead of the mid-year legislative sessions.

The landscape remains highly polarized, with courts, legislatures, and voters all playing pivotal roles. For full details, check state legislative trackers and reports from the Guttmacher Institute and KFF.

Source: Grok on X

For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Galatians 6:8

Brush fire outside Dodger Stadium snarls traffic on 110 Freeway

A brush fire near the 110 Freeway just outside Dodger Stadium caused “excessive delays into the downtown area” of Los Angeles, according to authorities. The Los Angeles Fire Department said the blaze was reported around 5:44 p.m. Saturday. It’s not yet clear what caused the fire, but it broke out near the southbound lanes of…

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Gopher Fire fully contained after burning nearly 70 acres in Riverside County

Riverside County firefighters have fully contained the Gopher Fire, which broke out in southern Riverside County on Saturday afternoon and temporarily forced evacuation orders for some residents.  The blaze, which was reported at around 2:40 p.m. near Highway 79 and Sage Road in the Aguanga area, burned just about 67 acres before Cal Fire/Riverside County…

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Judge Apologizes to Alleged WHCD Attacker for Treatment in Jail

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Nancy Mace Names 6 House Lawmakers Allegedly Involved In Sex Scandal Cover Up

Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace named several lawmakers Monday who she claims used a congressional “slush fund” to cover up alleged sex scandals. Mace said she uncovered 1,000 pages of documents detailing how certain lawmakers allegedly evaded consequences for sexual scandals, according to a Monday post on X. Mace originally subpoenaed the House Oversight…

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Explosion at fireworks factory in China kills at least 26

An explosion at a fireworks plant in a central Chinese province has killed at least 26 people and injured 61, prompting the halting of all firework manufacturing near the site. The blast occurred in the city of Changsha, in Hunan province, on Monday afternoon, China’s official news agency Xinhua said. China Daily said the plant…

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Casualties in Leipzig Car Ramming May be as High as 80

Number of Casualties in Leipzig Car Ramming May be as High as 80 Getty Images OLIVER JJ LANE5 May 2026968 While the picture is unclear because many were ‘walking wounded’ who left the scene without talking to medics, it is thought the Leipzig car attack may have struck as many as 80 people on Monday.…

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Wildfire in northern Michigan 80% contained, sheriff’s office says

Authorities say a wildfire in northern Michigan that forced residents to evacuate is about 80% contained as of Monday night. According to the Oscoda County Sheriff’s Office, residents are safe to return home; however, non-residents are asked to avoid the area.  The sheriff’s office evacuated residents on Camp 10 Road, and a shelter was set…

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