Tuesday morning news - May 3, 2022

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington.

Leaked draft shows Supreme Court might overturn Roe
A leaked document suggests the Supreme Court could be poised to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The 98-page document, first released by Politico on Monday night, calls the 1973 decision to legalize abortion “egregiously wrong.” Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito is credited with penning the draft opinion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case.

The opinion cited several previous court decisions and likened this one to overturning racial segregation in the 1950s. It states there is no right to an abortion in the U.S. Constitution and that the reasoning for Roe was “exceptionally weak.” If finalized, the decision would return the issue of abortion to the states.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri commented on the leaked document last night.

Hawley: I clerked at that court. I’ve litigated at that court. I’ve been reading this leaked opinion tonight, and I think it’s legitimate. There are details in this that would be very hard to note, details in the reporting about when the justices voted, about how they voted at conference. It’s pretty hard to make that up out of whole cloth.

This draft is believed to have been circulated in February. The wording could still be edited, and some votes might still change.
Hawley and some pro-life groups condemned the rare leak as an attempt to “corrupt the process” … and pressure pro-life justices to change their minds.

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: The high court unanimously ruled against the City of Boston. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote that Boston discriminated against Harold Shurtleff because of his “religious viewpoint.”

Shurtleff and his group, called Camp Constitution wanted to fly a white banner with a red cross on a blue background in September of 2017 to mark Constitution Day.

The city had approved almost 300 consecutive applications to fly various flags before rejecting Shurtleff's because it was a Christian flag.

The city said he could fly a different banner, but Shurtleff refused, and lower courts upheld the city's decision.

But the high court said the lower courts were wrong to back Boston’s double standard.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Civilians rescued from Mariupol steel plant head for safety » More than 100 Ukrainian civilians are safe this morning after evacuating a bombed-out steel plant in the port city of Mariupol.

The group, including elderly women and mothers with small children set out in buses and ambulances for the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia. That’s about 140 miles northwest of Mariupol.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed the evacuations on Monday…

KIRBY: There has been some evacuations of civilians. We obviously urge the Russians to continue to work with the Red Cross and the Ukrainian government to allow those who want to leave to leave, and to do it safely without harassment.

The sprawling steel plant is the last stronghold of Ukrainian fighters in Mariupol.

Others who managed to escape the city described terrifying weeks of bombardment and deprivation.

At least some of the civilians were apparently taken to a village controlled by Russia-backed separatists. The Russian military said that some chose to stay in separatist areas, while dozens left for Ukrainian-held territory.

Since the start of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine has accused Moscow’s troops of sometimes taking civilians against their will to Russia or Russian-controlled areas.

Pelosi, lawmakers talk Ukraine aid with Polish president in Warsaw » House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a group of a half-dozen lawmakers met with the president of Poland in Warsaw Monday—one day after traveling to Kyiv.

The group praised Poland for its considerable support for Ukraine. And Polish President Andrzej Duda said they discussed how to continue bolstering Ukraine.

DUDA: How to help them, what kind of support they need. This is very important. I can say—even this is crucial.

Colorado Congressman Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger, was among the lawmakers joining the delegation.

CROW: I came here as a member of the intelligence committee and the armed services committee and as a combat veteran myself with three areas of focus: weapons, weapons, and weapons.

President Biden has asked Congress for an additional $33 billion dollars in aid, including some $20 billion in weapons and military equipment.

Poland has played a key role in moving much of NATO’s military aid across the border into Ukraine.

Special grand jury selected in Georgia Trump election probe » Court officials in Georgia selected a special grand jury on Monday to investigate the actions of former President Donald Trump and others.

AUDIO: Eleven. Here, sir. Twelve …

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney heard there, asking potential jurors if they’re prepared to serve.

The investigation has been underway since early last year, probing whether President Trump and others illegally tried to influence the 2020 election in Georgia.

Special grand juries focus on investigating a single topic and making recommendations to the district attorney, who then decides whether to seek an indictment.

Officials chose 26 jurors and 23 alternates on Monday.

New Zealand reopens to tourists » New Zealand is back in the tourism business after more than two years of closing its borders to visitors.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the move marks a “big moment” in her country’s reconnection with the world.

ARDERN: With our borders reopening to visitors from visa waiver countries, welcoming again tourists from the USA, UK, Japan, Germany, Canada, Korea, and Singapore.

Dozens of other countries are also on that list. Ardern said the return of tourism will further propel the country’s economic recovery.

Before the spread of COVID-19, more than 3 million tourists visited each year, accounting for more than 5 percent of New Zealand’s economy.

Its government enforced tight border restrictions as it first tried to eliminate and then tightly control the spread of the virus.

I’m Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org. 

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