Keeping it Brief

State

Ohio Supreme Court starts new year with armed teacher lawsuit 

  • One of the first court cases currently being heard is Gabbard v. Madison Local School District. The case has been brought to the highest level of the state’s courts because the Madison Local School District has insisted that school personnel should be allowed to carry firearms and the training received for the firearms is up to the carrier’s discretion.

    • The Fraternal Order of Police and teachers strongly oppose this policy.

  • For arguments of the case see this link: 
    https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2021/01/13/ohio-supreme-court-hears-arguments-in-armed-teachers-case/nk

DeWine vetoes bill removing Ohio county fair restrictions

  • SB 375 was recently introduced and passed through the state legislature. The bill explains that Ohio county fairs can occur this year with the adaptation Agriculture Society Working Group. This group would work to make sure that fairs are safe instead of working with government health officials.

    • Gov. DeWine vetoed the bill explaining that “We have no idea where we’re going to be as a state when our first fair kicks off this year. I cannot sign something that automatically knocks (the health order) out”.

  • Governor DeWine will collaborate with lawmakers and organizers to decide how to conduct fairs safely in 2021. 

Ohio AG wants to block lesser-known fee that generates $102 million for First Energy

  • “Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost wants to halt a fee on Akron-based FirstEnergy customers' bills that will collect $102 million this year "for the sole purpose of padding FirstEnergy’s bottom-line," state attorneys wrote in a Wednesday filing”.

    • This statement is in reaction to a court blocking fees for Ohio’s $1 billion nuclear bailout that had to do with HB 6 and former Speaker Larry Householder.

  • “The fee was approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, which is tasked with regulating utilities, in December because of changes in House Bill 6. It took effect on Jan. 1”.

    • AG Yost wants to prohibit the ability for one to recollect the fee

Federal

Supreme Court Approves White House Request to Limit Abortion Pill Access During Pandemic

  • This week the Supreme Court ruled that people will no longer be able to pick up the drug mifepristone in-person at a pharmacy. They must pick up the drug at a hospital or medical office.

    • The ruling was 6-3. It is the first court ruling presented by SCOTUS since Judge Amy Coney Barret joined the bench. 

    • “Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority in the 6-3 decision, said the court was not faced with deciding whether "the requirements for dispensing mifepristone impose an undue burden on a woman's right to an abortion as a general matter." 

  • “The drug mifepristone was approved by the FDA 20 years ago for use in medical abortions in early pregnancy. It's also used to help manage miscarriages for some women trying to avoid surgery”.

  • Many anti-aboortion groups are celebrating this ruling, while the ACLU explains that this ruling is a major detriment to women who live in rural communities, as telemedicine is the only way many are able to access this drug during the pandemic if they live far from a medical facility. The ruling is also detrimental to women of color because “Black and Latinx patients are at particular risk for health risks posed by COVID-19. Requiring them to go to a doctor's office in person to pick up the drug threatens the health and lives of those patients”. 

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