Top 8 today

Top eight stories for today including Russia struck at the heart of a Ukrainian city far from the front lines; Texas challenged President Biden’s executive order aimed at protecting access to abortions in the post-Roe v. Wade era; A new survey found some common ground over proposals for limiting emissions, and more.

National

Americans split over direction of Biden climate agenda

A Pew Research Center survey released Thursday found marked polarization between Democrats and Republicans on the Biden administration’s approach to climate change, but also a sense among most Democrats that more could be done and bipartisan agreement over ideas like planting more trees and driving hybrid and electric vehicles.

President Joe Biden listens to a question during a news conference at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Abortion advocates see opportunity in ascent of religious liberty

The downfall of Roe v. Wade would have been unlikely if not for an energized conservative movement that opposes abortion because of a certain religious doctrine. In the post-Roe era, the same terms could also shape the challenges against abortion bans.

People participate in an abortion-rights rally at Lafayette Park in front of the White House on Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Landmark worker classification fight plays out in federal court

With a federal judge in California poised to rule that it misclassified janitors as contract workers and the D.C. attorney general suing them for wage theft, commercial cleaning company Jan-Pro International is now arguing that it’s not in the janitorial business at all.

(Shirley Hirst/Pixabay via Courthouse News)

Regional

Texas sues Biden administration over emergency abortion guidance

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a 20-page federal lawsuit Thursday challenging President Joe Biden’s recent executive order aimed at protecting access to abortions in the post-Roe v. Wade era.

Abortion-rights advocates gather outside the Tarrant County Courthouse during a Bans Off Our Bodies protest in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 25, 2022. (Madeleine Cook/Star-Telegram via AP)

Colorado judge revokes Tina Peters’ bond after travel to Las Vegas for a conference

A Colorado judge issued a bondless warrant for embattled Mesa County Clerk-Recorder Tina Peters on Thursday after she violated the terms of her release by traveling to Las Vegas for a conference.

Signs and banners show support for Republican candidates in Colorado (Amanda Pampuro/Courthouse News).

International

Russian missiles strike Ukrainian city, killing more than 20

Russia struck at the heart of a Ukrainian city far from the front lines on Thursday morning in an attack that left more than 20 people dead and dozens wounded, producing gut-wrenching scenes of destruction and bloodshed.

Firefighters work to extinguish fire at a building damaged by shelling in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Ex-Iranian official gets life sentence in Sweden for murder of political prisoners

The Stockholm District Court on Thursday handed a life sentence to a former Iranian official convicted of murder and torture for overseeing the mass execution of political prisoners in Iran in 1988.

Supporters of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran protest outside Stockholm's district court on Aug. 10, 2021, the first day of the trial of Hamid Noury. (Stefan Jerrevang/TT News Agency via AP, File)

Un-feta-ed joy: Greek cheese makers prevail in trademark case against Denmark

Only cheese made in Greece can call itself feta, regardless of where it is sold, the European Court of Justice ruled Thursday, rebuking Copenhagen for continuing to export a brined white cheese labeled “feta” outside of the European Union.

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