In today’s News:
Court victory for abortionists
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a law restricting abortions in Louisiana is unconstitutional. In a landmark decision, the justices said a law requiring that doctors who provide abortions have the right to admit patients at a local hospital placed an undue burden on women. Chief Justice John Roberts joined liberal justices in the 5-4 decision in a blow to pro-life groups. This was the first major abortion case ruling from the Supreme Court during the Trump presidency. The 2014 Louisiana law said that doctors must hold admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles of their practice. But critics said the law would limit the number of providers in the state, violating a woman’s right to an abortion. In dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote, “Today a majority of the court perpetuates its ill-founded abortion jurisprudence by enjoining a perfectly legitimate state law and doing so without jurisdiction.” On behalf of President Donald Trump, the White House issued a statement slamming the ruling and saying it “devalued the lives of unborn children.”
Missouri’s abortion facility remains open for a year
A Missouri Planned Parenthood facility In St. Louis, described as one of the worst abortion facilities in the country for women’s safety, will be allowed to remain open for another year. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services was forced to renew the St. Louis abortion facility’s license last week because of a ruling in may. Over the weekend, Gov. Mike Parson and Attorney General Eric Schmitt said the state will not appeal the ruling, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Lutheran students serve their community
The coronavirus shutdown drastically changed the way most brick-and-mortar schools around the world wrapped up their academic years, but that didn’t stop schools in the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod from continuing serving their communities and each other. Heartland Lutheran High School in Grand Island, Neb., held its last day of on-campus classes on March 12. As the school transitioned from classroom-based instruction to school at home, Heartland’s senior class began looking for ways to serve their community amid the shutdown. During the height of the covid-19 outbreak in April, Grand Island was one of Nebraska’s virus hotspots, recording the highest number of confirmed cases in the state. With the support of Heartland Principal Timothy Leech, the students organized a food drive for families in need. In addition to collecting over 12,000 nonperishable grocery items, the students also received over $11,000 in donations. The cash and approximately three-quarters of the grocery items were donated to the United Way’s Food for Thought Program, which hosts a backpack drive and provides food to 200 families a week during the summer months. The remaining grocery items were donated to other food banks and shelters in town.
