The Full Belmonte, 4/10/2024
Arizona Supreme Court rules state must adhere to century-old law banning nearly all abortions
In a historic decision Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled the state must adhere to a 123-year-old penal code provision barring all abortions except in cases when ‘it is necessary to save’ a pregnant person’s life.
The law, which can be traced to as early as 1864, also carried a prison sentence of two to five years for abortion providers.”
Read More at CNN
Court revives total abortion ban
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
“Arizona — one of the most important states on the political map — now has the strictest abortion ban in the country.
The state Supreme Court today upheld a 160-year-old law that bans abortion in all cases, at any stage of pregnancy, except when it's necessary to save the mother's life.
The practical effects are not yet fully clear: The court ruled that the 1864 law will soon be enforceable, but the state's attorney general said she will not enforce it.
The ruling is on hold temporarily, which could allow time for new legal challenges.
The political fallout, on the other hand, is extremely clear.
Kari Lake, the GOP candidate for the state's open Senate seat, said she opposed the Supreme Court's ruling — an unavoidable sign of just how painful an issue abortion has become for Republicans.
The ruling came barely 24 hours after former President Trump said abortion policy should be left up to the states. "This is what leaving it to the states looks like," Biden campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa tweeted.
What's next: Arizonans will likely vote on a ballot measure in November to protect abortion rights through the 24th week of pregnancy — which could drive up Democratic enthusiasm and turnout, hurting both Trump and Lake.
A similar measure will be on the ballot in Florida.” [Axios]
James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of Michigan school shooter, sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison for manslaughter
“James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of the teenager who killed four students in a 2021 school shooting in Oxford, Michigan, were each sentenced Tuesday to 10 to 15 years in prison, weeks after they were convicted of manslaughter.”
Read More at CNN
Norfolk Southern reaches $600 million settlement in East Palestine derailment suit
“Norfolk Southern has reached a $600 million settlement that, if approved by a court, will resolve all class-action lawsuits within 20 miles of its 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, derailment that spilled more than a million pounds of hazardous chemicals into the soil, water and air.
The rail company said the settlement is intended to offset costs related to the spill that sent a plume of toxic smoke into the air and displaced many residents and businesses. But Norfolk Southern didn’t admit to any liability or wrongdoing as a result of the settlement.”
Read More at CNN
Trump arrives at a fundraiser in Palm Beach, Fla., on Saturday. Photo: Alon Skuy/Getty Images
“A New York appeals court rejected former President Trump's latest effort to delay his hush money criminal trial.” Go deeper. [Axios]
Idaho teen arrested for alleged ISIS-inspired terror plot to attack churches
“An 18-year-old from Idaho was arrested and accused of concocting a ‘truly horrific plan’ to attack churches in his hometown in the name of ISIS, according to the FBI.
Alexander Mercurio, of Coeur d’Alene, was arrested Saturday by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, a day before authorities say he planned to carry out the attack.
Mercurio intended to attack churchgoers with weapons including “knives, firearms, and fire,” the Justice Department said in a statement.
Mercurio is charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, according to the federal complaint. He has not yet entered a plea.” [NBC News]
More than 200 women and several men accuse doctor in lawsuit of sexual abuse, unnecessary exams
“More than 200 women, and several men, have joined a consolidated lawsuit against Dr. Derrick Todd in Massachusetts’ Suffolk Superior Court. The lawsuit accuses Todd of performing unnecessary pelvic floor therapy, breast examinations, testicular examinations and rectal examinations on patients.” Read More at AP News
Top Court Slams Climate Failures
Members of the Senior Women for Climate Protection group react after hearing the decision on a Swiss climate change case at the European Court of Human Rights, seen in Strasbourg, France, on April 9.Frederick Florin/AFP
“The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday that Switzerland violated its citizens’ human rights by failing to adequately combat climate change. This is the first-ever climate victory at the court and paves the way for future plaintiffs to sue their governments for better climate protections.
‘It is clear that future generations are likely to bear an increasingly severe burden of the consequences of present failures and omissions to combat climate change,’ said Court President Siofra O’Leary. The verdict cannot be appealed.
More than 2,000 Swiss women aged 64 and older argued that Bern’s climate inaction put them at risk of death during heat waves in Europe, noting that their age and gender make them particularly vulnerable. Last month was the world’s hottest March in recorded history, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported on Tuesday, and a study published last year by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health recorded more than 61,000 heat-related deaths in Europe during the summer of 2022, with around 63 percent more women than men dying and the vast majority being older adults.
The 17-judge panel in Strasbourg, France, said the Swiss government failed to set a national carbon budget and did not comply with its targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, thereby breaching the women’s rights to effective protection from ‘the serious adverse effects of climate change on lives, health, well-being and quality of life.’ In 2017, Switzerland committed to cutting emissions 50 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050.
‘Together with the authorities concerned, we will now analyze the extensive judgment and review what measures Switzerland will take in the future,’ Bern said in response to the ruling. The court ordered Switzerland to pay nearly $87,000 to the plaintiffs (members of a group known as KlimaSeniorinnen, or Senior Women for Climate Protection) to cover their expenses. It could also force Bern to reduce fossil fuel consumption more rapidly. If Switzerland fails to update its policies, further litigation could lead to additional financial penalties.
The ruling establishes a binding legal precedent for the 46 countries that are signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights. Six other climate cases are currently on hold at the court pending Tuesday’s decision, including a lawsuit against Norway that alleges that Oslo violated its citizens’ human rights by issuing licenses for oil and gas exploration in the Barents Sea post-2035.
Despite the major win, the court rejected two other climate-related cases on procedural grounds. In one case, the former mayor of a French coastal town argued that climate inaction risked his city being submerged in the North Sea. However, the court dismissed his case because he no longer lives in France and claimants must prove that they are direct victims of rights violations.
The other case centered on six Portuguese young people suing 32 European governments for failing to combat heat waves and wildfires that make them unable to go outside. The judges ruled that the plaintiffs had not yet exhausted all legal avenues within Portugal and said the fact that greenhouse gas emissions can impact people living outside a nation’s borders does not justify prosecuting the case across numerous jurisdictions.” [Foreign Policy]
“Ankara’s pressure campaign. Turkey restricted exports to Israel on Tuesday, saying Ankara will only lift its curbs on trade once Israel and Hamas secure a cease-fire in Gaza and ‘the unhindered flow of sufficient humanitarian aid’ is allowed to enter the enclave. The announcement impacts 54 product categories, including iron, steel, fertilizer, and aviation fuel. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the decision was made in response to Israel denying Turkey’s request late Monday to airdrop aid into Gaza. Ankara plans to maintain commercial ties with Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz immediately condemned Turkey’s actions, accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of ‘once again sacrificing the economic interests of the people of Turkey for his support of Hamas.’ Israel ordered its Foreign Ministry on Tuesday to prepare an ‘extensive list’ of Turkish products to ban, and it said it would ask the United States and other allies to stop investing in Turkey and prevent imports from the country.
Cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas remain ongoing in Cairo. On Tuesday, CIA Director William Burns presented a new cease-fire proposal, which Hamas said its leadership would discuss. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that he has set a date for Israel’s much-anticipated offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, though he did not specify when that would be. However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reportedly told U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a phone call on Tuesday that Israel has not set a date for the Rafah operation. The two countries are expected to discuss alternatives to such an operation next week.” [Foreign Policy]
“Maritime cooperation. Six European nations signed an agreement on Tuesday to collaborate on protecting underwater infrastructure from possible Russian attacks, among other threats. Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom all have maritime borders on the North Sea, where major undersea cables, gas pipelines, and telecommunications networks reside. They also argued that the North Sea has the potential to become a hub for renewable energy, making its protection critical.
Last May, NATO warned that Moscow might sabotage undersea cables to retaliate against Western support for Ukraine. And in September 2022, explosions targeted the Nord Stream pipelines, which transported gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea. No one has claimed responsibility for that attack.” [Foreign Policy]
“Beijing-Moscow friendship. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Beijing on Tuesday—mere days after U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned China not to support Moscow’s conflict in Ukraine. The two ministers pledged to better combat ‘hegemonism’ and maintain ‘industrial supply chain stability’ in what experts interpreted as veiled criticism of Washington. Yellen warned Beijing on Saturday of ‘significant consequences’ if Chinese companies provide material support for Russia’s war effort.
Experts predict that Tuesday’s bilateral meeting is laying the groundwork for Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit China in the near future. Moscow and Beijing have grown closer in recent years despite China claiming to be neutral in Russia’s war against Ukraine, with both nations touting Western-alternative blocs such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS (a bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and five new members).” [Foreign Policy]
“Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador became the ultimate cat person on Sunday when he declared the National Palace’s 19 feline friends, which already have free rein of every part of the property, as ‘living fixed assets’—the first animals in Mexico to receive the title. The designation means that even after López Obrador leaves office in October, Mexico City must provide the cats food and care for life.” [Foreign Policy]
“A winner has come forward in Oregon to claim the $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot, the fourth largest prize in the game’s history.” [NBC News]
NCAA Women Beat Men in Finals’ Ratings for First Time—but Got 99% Less TV Money
Women’s basketball championship game drew 18.9 million viewers vs. 14.8 million for the men’s final, fueled by Caitlin Clark’s emergence as a superstar
Sunday’s NCAA women’s basketball final between Iowa and South Carolina drew 18.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen. PHOTO: STEPH CHAMBERS/GETTY IMAGES
“The NCAA women’s basketball tournament final Sunday drew more viewers than the men’s final for the first time in history, fueled in part by Iowa standout Caitlin Clark’s rise to superstardom and marking a stunning moment for the sport.
But that won’t be reflected in the money each side earned for TV rights: $6.5 million for the women’s tournament and $873 million for the men’s.
The wide discrepancy raises the question of whether college athletics officials have failed to capitalize on a surge in popularity in the women’s game. A new deal that goes into effect next season will allocate some $65 million a year for the women’s game, a substantial jump but still a fraction of the men’s haul.
Part of the disparity stems from the structure of the deals. While the men’s college-basketball tournament is sold as a stand-alone entity, the women’s is offered as part of a bundle that encompasses 40 sports championships, from volleyball to lacrosse.
Sunday’s women’s final attracted 18.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen, almost four times what the women’s final drew just two years ago. The last basketball game to be watched by more people was the 2019 NCAA men’s final between Virginia and Texas Tech, which drew 19.6 million viewers.
Monday’s NCAA men’s final between Connecticut and Purdue was watched by 14.8 million. Because the women’s final aired on ABC—a broadcast network, which like ESPN is owned by Disney—it was available to a bigger pool of potential viewers than the men’s game, which was on Warner Bros. Discovery’s TBS and required a cable-TV-like subscription. (Cable TV has lost more than a quarter of its subscribers over the past decade.) On the other hand, the men’s final was played in prime time Monday, while the women’s game aired on Sunday afternoon….” Read more at Wall Street Journal
Tara VanDerveer, the winningest head coach in N.C.A.A. basketball history, is retiring after 38 seasons at Stanford and 1,216 career victories.
“Ms. Van Derveer passed former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s total of 1,202 in January.”
Read more at New York Times
Rare copy of comic featuring Superman’s first appearance sells for $6 million at auction
“A 1938 copy of the comic that first “introduced Superman to the world” has sold for a record-setting $6 million, the auctioneer that handled the purchase said last week. Read More.” [AP News]
Peter Higgs, who proposed existence of Higgs boson particle, has died at 94, university says
“Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs, who proposed the existence of the so-called “God particle” that helped explain how matter formed after the Big Bang, has died at age 94, the University of Edinburgh said Tuesday.” Read More. [AP News]