Civil liberties groups have filed a lawsuit to block Louisiana’s new law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. Plaintiffs include parents of students with diverse religious backgrounds, arguing the law is unconstitutional and promotes religious favoritism. (AP)
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to a Tennessee law that prohibits gender affirming hormone treatments for minors under 18. The case, involving three transgender teenagers and their parents, will specifically address whether the law violates the equal protection guarantee. The court is expected to issue a decision in 2025. (NPR)
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to obtain and disclose information related to the national defence. The plea deal would result in a sentence of 62 months equivalent to the time he has already served at Belmarsh Prison while fighting extradition to the US. The deal would bring an end to a years-long international saga involving Assange. (NPR)
Federal prosecutors have recommended that Boeing be criminally prosecuted for allegedly violating a deferred prosecution agreement. The nature of the recommended charges is unclear, but it is related to conduct tied to the 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. Boeing previously reached a settlement and paid a $2.5 billion fine, but prosecutors now claim that the company breached its obligations. (CBS News)
A study from Johns Hopkins University reveals that Texas’ infant death rate and deaths caused by birth defects increased following the state’s abortion ban. Between March and December 2022, there were 216 more deaths than expected. The study highlights the potential consequences of abortion restrictions. (AP)
