Free Republic

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Jan. 21 announced two bills that would ban almost all abortions in the state, with one seeking to ban abortions in which a fetal heartbeat is detectable, and the other seeking to ban telemedicine abortions.“Every human life is unique and beautiful from the moment it is conceived. Every life is worthy of our protection, worthy of the right to live,” Noem, a Republican, said in a statement. “These bills will ensure that both unborn children and their mothers are protected in South Dakota.”The governor for weeks previewed the heartbeat bill, which received an enthusiastic...

A federal judge in Missouri has issued a temporary hold on the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors in 10 U.S. states while litigation plays out.“We just beat the Biden Administration in court again,” Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced on Twitter late Monday. “This afternoon, we obtained a preliminary injunction against the vaccine mandate on federal contractors, halting enforcement of that mandate in Missouri and the other states in our coalition.”The preliminary injunction, issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge David Noce, applies to Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Schmitt...

CNN on Saturday terminated one of its top anchors, Chris Cuomo, after having indefinitely suspended him earlier this week. The suspension was announced on Tuesday to review Chris Cuomo’s conduct over materials that suggested he was more involved than he had admitted in trying to help his brother, then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, amid sexual harassment allegations against the former governor earlier this year. The materials were released on Nov. 29 by New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, whose office found that Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women while he was governor. CNN was reviewing the new materials...

A U.S. airstrike in northwest Syria has killed a senior al-Qaeda leader on Friday, the U.S. Central Command announced in a release.U.S. Army Maj. John Rigsbee, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said Abdul Hamid al-Matar was killed in the vicinity of Suluk in northwest Syria.The strike was conducted using an MQ-9 aircraft—an armed, remotely piloted aircraft.There are “no indications of civilian casualties as a result of the strike.”“Al-Qaeda continues to present a threat to America and our allies. Al-Qaeda uses Syria as a safe haven to rebuild, coordinate with external affiliates, and plan external operations. Al-Qaeda also uses Syria as a base...