Monday morning news: April 10, 2023

Democrats on Abortion pill ruling » The future of abortion pills is uncertain after conflicting rulings by federal courts.

On Friday, a federal judge in Texas ordered a hold on the FDA’s approval of mifepristone. That’s one of two pills in the abortion drug cocktail.

Carol Tobias is president of the National Right to Life Committee.

CAROL TOBIAS: The FDA pushed this through without going through the regular standard protocols to make sure that this is safe as proponents of abortion like to claim. So I think it was a great ruling. Great for unborn children and women.

But a different federal judge in Washington state ruled the same day in favor of states that sued to keep the pills’ approval intact.

The Biden administration quickly filed an appeal to the Texas judge’s ruling.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on CNN’s “State of the Union”:

XAVIER BECERRA: One judge in one court in one state turned upside down the FDA approval process for safe and effective medications. We have to go to court and and seek the an appeal.

Many have long argued the drugs were improperly approved.

Ukraine latest »

SOUND: [Rescuers talking in Ukrainian]

In the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, rescuers pull a woman from the rubble of a building after a weekend of heavy shelling by Russian forces.

At least eight civilians were killed.

SOUND: [Church service]

Many worshipers in Ukraine will celebrate Easter next Sunday according to the Orthodox calendar.

Yesterday, leaders of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine held Palm Sunday services at a monastery in Kyiv where officials recently evicted clergy from a church with historic ties to Russia.

Ukraine - Pentagon leaks » Meanwhile, the Justice Department is investigating whether Russia is behind the leak of classified military documents about the war in Ukraine.

The documents appear to come from the Pentagon and were posted on social media in the past week.

They don’t contain any war plans, and they may have been altered to minimize reports of Russian losses. It’s unknown who released the documents.

LA teachers approve labor deal » The teachers union The Los Angeles Unified School District workers’ union has approved a labor deal. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: The agreement increase wages by 30 percent for school workers such as aides and custodians.

The deal also includes a $1,000 bonus for employees who served during the COVID-19 pandemic. And it bolsters healthcare benefits for workers and their families.

The deal comes after a strike last month that brought the nations’ second-largest school district to a halt for three days.

The deal still has to be approved by the school district’s Board of Education which could happen as soon as next week.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

Tennessee lawmakers » Two ousted lawmakers from Tennessee expect to return to their seats after the Tennessee House expelled them for what it called disorderly behavior.

Former Representative Justin Jones:

JUSTIN JONES: This is not the end of their their decision to expel us is not the ultimate authority but that the people will hold them accountable.

Nashville’s Metro Council will likely vote today to reappoint Jones to his seat.

The Shelby County Council is likely to reappoint former Representative Justin Pearson to his seat, as well.

JUSTIN PEARSON: What we're seeing is the intentional political dilution of votes of people who are more progressive of communities that are filled with African Americans and people of color.

The two lawmakers, along with another who was not ousted, led a protest for increased gun control on the House floor. They used a bullhorn to lead chants by observers in the House gallery.

Gas prices » Gas prices continue to climb after major oil producing nations opted to cut oil production. Fuel price analyst Trilby Lundberg:

TRILBY LUNDBERG: Gasoline prices have jumped 14 cents per gallon in the past two weeks to $3.66 for regular grade, and this comes from the OPEC announcement that several of its member nations will be cutting supply as of May one.

Mississippi currently has the cheapest average price for regular unleaded at $3.13 cents.

California has the most expensive at roughly $4.80 cents.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Oral arguments at the Supreme Court. Plus, remembering the Boston Marathon bombings ten years ago.

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