Your Thursday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top CNS stories for today including a federal judge struck down the work requirements for Medicaid recipients in Arkansas and Kentucky, effectively blocking the Trump administration’s plan to revamp the country’s health care program for the poor; Congressional Democrats said they are investigating the Texas interim election chief’s bungled announcement of 95,000 registered voters possibly not being citizens; There is still no clear separation plan on the day before the United Kingdom’s divorce from the European Union was supposed to be final, and more.
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National
1.) A federal judge struck down the work requirements for Medicaid recipients in Arkansas and Kentucky, effectively blocking the Trump administration’s plan to revamp the country’s health care program for the poor.
2.) Congressional Democrats said Thursday they are investigating the Texas interim election chief’s bungled announcement of 95,000 registered voters possibly not being citizens that spurred lawsuits, accusations of voter suppression and an apology.
3.) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took steps Thursday to speed up confirmation of some of President Donald Trump’s nominees, including people nominated to federal district courts.
4.) Chicago demanded Thursday that “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett repay the $130,000 it cost to investigate the alleged hate crime against him that city officials insist he staged.
5.) Nearly 2 million acres designated as critical habitat for three imperiled frog species survived a court challenge by California farmers.
Regional
6.) It didn’t pass the flick test. Siding with a sous chef who was convicted for possessing an illegal gravity knife, a federal judge struck down New York’s ban against the so-called “successor of the switchblade” as unconstitutionally vague.
7.) A bitterly divided Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a judge need not tell a sex offender the length of his commitment when he pleads not guilty by reason of insanity.
International
8.) On the day before the United Kingdom’s divorce from the European Union was supposed to be final, there is still no clear separation plan from the British government.
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