In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today!

[Content Note: War on agency] The Supreme Court will not "review a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals protecting the right of Arizona Medicaid recipients to visit healthcare providers who also perform abortions. ...The law would have prevented doctors and clinics that perform abortions from being Medicaid-eligible providers. ...The Ninth Circuit ruled in August 2013 that the bill violates the federal Medicaid Act requirement that gives patients the freedom to choose their healthcare providers." This is good news. The Supreme Court's decision means that low-cost clinics don't need to decide between offering abortion services and providing other healthcare services to low-income patients.

[CN: Homophobia] Washington lobbyist Jack Burkman says he's "preparing legislation that would ban gay athletes from joining the National Football League." Sure, that sounds reasonable. (That does not sound reasonable.) His justification is amazing: "We are losing our decency as a nation. Imagine your son being forced to shower with a gay man. That's a horrifying prospect for every mom in the country. What in the world has this nation come to?" First of all, that is not a horrifying prospect. Secondly, among "every mom in the country" are lots of moms with gay sons. Evidently Mr. Burkman believes gay men spring fully-formed from the ground. Fuck off, bigot.

[CN: Christian supremacy] Indiana's proposed legislation "that would have allowed some state contractors to discriminate against employees based on religion" has been thrown in a dumpster after Hoosiers immediately rejected it. Get a load of this guy: "'I didn't quite understand the firestorm it would create,' Rep. Eric Turner, the provision's author, told the House Ways and Means Committee." Whoooooops!

[CN: Racism] The Reprieve Blues Band was allegedly told by the owner of Chicago pub McNally's that he didn't want them to perform their third set because "there are too many black people in here." He sounds great. Of course the owner is denying the allegation, and in a decidedly original variation on the "but I have black friends!" defense, the bar owner noted his establishment would be "hosting a party for a retired black firefighter" on Monday night. Good grief.

In other cool Chicago news, the Chicago Police Department has created "a list of the '400 most dangerous people in Chicago.' The Trib reported on one fellow, who had no criminal arrests, expressing surprise over having received a visit from the police and being told he was on this list. A 17-year-old girl was also shocked when told she was on the list." It's just like a HIGHLY DANGEROUS 17-year-old girl to pretend to be SHOCKED!

Oh dear: "California farmers brace for little or no water amid extreme drought."

Dick Cheney is (also) still the total fucking worst.

And finally: RIP Harold Ramis.