California Supreme Court: Nonviolent sex offenders may be eligible for early parole

The California Supreme Court ruled Monday that prisoners convicted of nonviolent sex crimes may be eligible for early parole, the LA Times reports. This eligibility excludes anyone serving time for violent acts like rape and sodomy but may result in early parole for prisoners convicted of crimes the state does not consider violent – including pimping, incest, indecent exposure, and possessing child pornography.

Trump administration to cut $200m from California funding because of state abortion policy

The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it is slashing California’s healthcare funding by $200 million because a 2014 state law requires insurance providers to pay for abortions, the Washington Examiner reports. In a statement, the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) said the 2014 law is in breach of federal anti-discrimination conscience legislation that protects insurers from a requirement to cover abortions.

California: Appeals court reverses lower court decision to uphold restrictions on church services

A court of appeals has told a lower court that, in light of recent US Supreme Court rulings, it must reconsider its decision to uphold California’s restrictions on in-person worship services, the Christian Post reported Wednesday. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found in favor of Chula Vista’s South Bay United Pentecostal Church, which had argued the pertinent COVID-19 restrictions were discriminatory against houses of worship.

Judge directs stinging rebuke at LA County for outdoor dining ban

A Superior Court judge has said it is “just shocking” that LA County had not “seriously” considered the impact of outdoor dining on the COVID-19 pandemic before banning it indefinitely on November 25, the LA Times reports. Restricting the ban to just three weeks, LA County Superior Court Judge James Chalfant ruled Tuesday that county officials must carry out a risk-benefit analysis if they want to extend the order beyond December 16.

California Republican mayor: Not wearing a mask in public is domestic terrorism

The Republican mayor of Lancaster City, California said last week that people who do not wear a mask in public should be arrested on the grounds they are committing domestic terrorism, Los Angeles Daily News reports. A sharp critic of LA County’s COVID-19 lockdown measures, Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris made his remarks at a Supervisors Board meeting amid leaders’ growing frustration about blanket shutdown orders they believe are harming local economies and violating civil liberties.

SCOTUS blocks New York State from re-imposing COVID restrictions on houses of worship

The US Supreme voted 5-4 to prohibit New York State from re-imposing COVID-19 restrictions on religious gatherings, Politico reports. The court’s emergency ruling issued late on Wednesday night represents a significant shift away from the decisions it made in May and July, when it upheld restrictions on churches in California and Nevada.

Biden, Trump campaigns prepare for litigation over potential election outcome

The campaigns for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and Republican President Donald Trump have suggested that the outcome of today’s election may not be determined Tuesday night. Both are involved in litigation in multiple states, and preparing for an ultimate and potential battle at the U.S. Supreme Court.

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