Georgia's 'heartbeat' law to go into effect
A federal court has allowed a law that bans most abortions to take effect in Georgia. The BA.5 omicron subvariant is dominating U.S. COVID-19 cases. Keep reading for a look at last night's star-studded ESPY Awards and some less heavy news.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert. Let's get started with Thursday's news.
🌅 Up first: The World Track and Field Championships are well underway in Eugene, Oregon, with top champions competing until Sunday. The event is happening for the first time in the U.S. at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field. Here's everything you need to know to keep up with the competition.
More news to know now:
- 📰 Four men were indicted in connection to a tractor-trailer smuggling operation that left 53 people dead.
- ✏ A criminal organization accused of subjecting farmworkers to forced labor bribed Georgia officials, a federal agent testified.
- 🛑 Ex-lawyer Richard "Alex" Murdaugh pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife and son, while allegedly committing scores of financial crimes.
- 🌊 Hawaii shores were rocked this past weekend by the “highest south shore surf in more than 25 years.”
🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, Paste BN White House correspondent Rebecca Morin explains President Biden’s executive actions on climate change. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.
Federal court allows Georgia 'heartbeat' law to go into effect
A federal appeals court said Wednesday that a 2019 Georgia law which bans most abortions once a "detectable human heartbeat" is present should be allowed to take effect. The decision reversed a previous ruling by a lower court that blocked the legislation, which occurred before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Read more about the law's "personhood" provision.
Bigger picture: In a post-Roe reality, states are battling to either curb or protect abortion rights.
- Abortion on the ballot: At least five states – California, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana and Vermont – will include ballot proposals in November on changing the state's constitution over abortion rights.
- Pink House West: The abortion clinic at the center of the case that resulted in the end of Roe is moving to New Mexico – and a crisis pregnancy center is opening next door.
- Threats to medical providers: The Indiana doctor who provided an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio faced a kidnapping threat against her own child.
In reaction to fears the conservative Supreme Court will go further, House Democrats will vote Thursday on a bill that would enshrine the right to use and provide contraceptives. Watch lawmakers' remarks about The Right To Contraception Act ahead of today's vote.
Here's what to know about BA.5
An omicron subvariant known as BA.5 is dominating the summer wave of COVID-19 in the U.S., making up nearly 80% of new cases, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinicians say many BA.5 symptoms are similar to those seen in previous variants, including congestion, headaches, cough and fever. How long BA.5 lasts varies, too – some people don't experience any symptoms while others can feel sick for weeks. And protection from infection wanes over time, making it possible to get reinfected with the same variant two to four months after getting sick. Read more
- Related: CDC unanimously recommends Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine for adults.
Just for subscribers:
- ⛽ Stymied by Congress, Biden feels heat to act on climate while activists hold out for more.
- 👁 Uvalde body camera footage of six officers shows the widespread miscommunication – and human moments amid the chaos.
- 💰 Buy now, pay later refunds on apps like Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna frustrate consumers.
- 💍 Point of view: We told our wedding guests about gay marriage inequality. We thought it was in the past.
These articles are for Paste BN subscribers. You can sign up here. Already a subscriber and want premium content emailed to you every day? We can do that! Sign up for the Your Day newsletter.
Former Trump aides to testify at Jan. 6 hearing
The Jan. 6 committee is scheduled to wrap up its whirlwind series of hearings for the summer on Thursday during prime time. Matthew Pottinger, former deputy national security adviser, and Sarah Matthews, a former deputy press secretary in the Donald Trump White House, are expected to testify. Both witnesses resigned shortly after the Jan. 6 insurrection. The panel will give a "minute-by-minute" overview of the day of the insurrection, according to Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., committee vice chair. Here's more information on how to watch and what to watch for today.
- Big question for Jan. 6 committee: Did Trump aide Mark Meadows help stop – or fuel – the insurrection?
Italian Premier Mario Draghi resigns after his government implodes
Italian Premier Mario Draghi resigned Thursday after key coalition allies boycotted a confidence vote, signaling the likelihood of early elections and a renewed period of uncertainty for Italy and Europe at a critical time. Draghi tendered his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella during a morning meeting at the Quirinale Palace. Read more
ICYMI: Some of our top stories yesterday
- ⚫ 77 minutos de terror: Cronología del tiroteo de Uvalde con los nuevos detalles y análisis de los informes.
- 🟡 Wednesday's Ukraine coverage: The European Union's 27 ambassadors saw a breakthrough in their efforts to tighten extensive sanctions on Russia.
- 😮 The French Lentil + Leek Crumbles saga: Meal service Daily Harvest has linked its use of tara flour to hundreds of consumer illness reports.
- ⛱ Sweaty summer: Alerts were in place in 28 states from California to New Hampshire as above-average temperatures dominated the country.
World Health Organization meets to discuss state of monkeypox outbreak
The World Health Organization is meeting Thursday to decide whether the outbreak of monkeypox should be considered a public health emergency of international concern, which could lead more resources to be devoted to fighting the disease. Nearly 1,500 Americans have been infected with monkeypox since early May, and the federal government is working to provide additional vaccines to stem the widening outbreak, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a news conference. A two-dose vaccine called Jynneos is available, but there is not enough for everyone at risk who wants protection. Read more
- Perspective: Treating HIV taught us about inclusive care. Now monkeypox is testing what we learned.
- Monkeypox is not a gay disease. But LGBTQ leaders say they need more help for gay men and everyone else.
- What's it like to have monkeypox? One of our reporters spoke to someone who had it.
📷 Photo of the day: Sports stars hit the red carpet ahead of the 2022 ESPY Awards 📷
The 2022 ESPY Awards brought all the biggest sports stars under one roof. Super Bowl champions, Olympic gold medalists, NBA champions, collegiate stars and more gathered Wednesday night at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, for a celebration of sports filled with laughs, spectacle and even a Stephen Curry musical number. Here's five of the best moments from the 2022 ESPY Awards.
Click here to see more photos of athletes hitting the ESPY Awards red carpet.
A little less heavy:
- 🐝 Beyoncé revealed the ''Renaissance'' album track list. Here's what we know about her wanting us to ''release the wiggle.''
- 📚 ''Crawdads'' author Delia Owens is wanted for questioning in a murder. Here's why.
- 🐖 From our product experts at Reviewed, here's 12 ways to save money amid rising prices due to inflation.
- 🐲 ''Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel'': 16 writers, all people of color, shape the new Dungeons & Dragons book.
- 👽 ''Nope'' review: Jordan Peele takes UFOs for a successful spin with Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at Paste BN. Send her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to Paste BN here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.