The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Lambda Legal argue it discriminates by banning those forms of care only as treatment for gender dysphoria.
Under the law, minors who need the treatments for other reasons can still get them. One example is puberty blockers being used to treat children who experience early puberty.
While an appeals court had already ruled to uphold Tennessee’s law, the Supreme Court granted the Biden administration’s appeal. The Supreme Court will not consider the part of the law that bans surgery because the lower court’s injunction didn’t cover it.
Tennessee’s attorney general argues the law doesn’t discriminate based on sex. He says it “draws a line between minors seeking drugs for gender transition and minors seeking drugs for other medical purposes,” adding “boys and girls fall on both sides of that line.”
Currently, 26 states have laws restricting gender-affirming care for youth, but they’re not all uniform. If the Supreme Court lets Tennessee’s law stand, it’ll effectively leave the decision up to states. As a result, different states would still be offering various levels of access to care for trans minors.
Cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah holding so far
The cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah marks a step toward peace in the Middle East, but what happens now in Gaza where Israel is still at war with Hamas? And rain or shine — but not wind — revelers get ready to celebrate in New York City at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024.
Cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah holding so far
A cease-fire deal between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon is holding, so far.
President Joe Biden announced the deal — which the United States and France helped broker — on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Israel and Hezbollah have agreed on an initial 60-day cease-fire, which sets the stage for a lasting truce.
Already, long-displaced residents of parts of Lebanon have started returning to their homes, hopeful the tenuous agreement will be extended beyond two months. That’s despite the Israeli military warning people to stay away from previously evacuated areas.
Israel has said if Hezbollah breaks the cease-fire agreement, it will attack.
Following the directive of the political echelon, the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon took effect at 04:00 today, and the IDF has been operating accordingly. IDF troops are stationed at their positions in southern Lebanon.
Over the past hour, the IDF identified a vehicle with…
During the 60-day truce, Hezbollah fighters are to retreat at least 25 miles from the border with Israel and Israeli forces will withdraw from Lebanese territory.
The agreement does not address the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, another Iran-backed militant group, in Gaza. However, Hamas has said it is ready for a truce.
“So, now Hamas has a choice to make,” President Biden said on Tuesday. “Their only way out is to release the hostages, including American citizens, which they hold. In the process, bring an end to the fighting, which would make possible a surge of humanitarian relief. Over the coming days, the United States will make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.”
Biden told reporters he’s hopeful he’ll help achieve a cease-fire in Gaza before the end of his term in January. If not, President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East, though he has not yet said how.
Trump picks nominations for NIH, trade
President-elect Trump has kept busy this holiday week. On Tuesday night, he announced new picks to join his administration.
Among them, Trump nominated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to serve as the director of the National Institutes of Health. As head of the NIH, the Stanford University professor would work alongside Trump’s pick for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Bhattacharya, who also has a doctorate in economics, became known for opposing lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) November 27, 2024
Trump also selected Jamieson Greer to lead the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Greer is no stranger to the department, having served as chief of staff to the trade representative during Trump’s first term — which saw tariffs imposed on Chinese goods and the signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement.
Greer served as a lawyer in the Air Force and is currently a partner in international trade at the law firm King and Spalding.
Both of these nominations will need Senate confirmation.
Australia’s House passes bill to ban kids under 16 from social media
The bill would make platforms such as Tiktok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to $50 million ($33 million USD) for failing to prevent young children from holding accounts.
Australia’s communications minister Michelle Rowland introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children younger than 16 from social media, saying online safety was one of parents’ toughest challenges. pic.twitter.com/K0zui1wHLv
The legislation passed 102-13 in Australia’s House of Representatives and now moves on to the Senate. If the bill becomes law, social media companies would have one year to figure out how to implement the age restrictions before they are enforced.
More than 3,000 fake name-brand electric guitars seized in California
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it seized more than 3,000 fake electric guitars in Southern California. CBP said the knockoffs were destined for the e-commerce market, just in time for holiday gift shopping.
CBP said if the guitars were real, they would be worth about $18 million. Most of the fakes look like Gibson brand guitars, but some were supposedly from other well-known companies such as Fender.
Federal authorities would not release any details about suspects in the investigation or where the counterfeit guitars came from.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to go on, rain or shine
A Macy’s spokesperson told the New York Post the parade will proceed regardless of wet weather — good news for the expected 3.5 million people who will be along the parade route and the estimated 30 million watching at home. However, wind could pose a problem.
The spokesperson told the Post, “Based on the city’s guidelines, no giant character balloon will be operated when there are sustained wind conditions exceeding 23 miles per hour and wind gusts greater than 34 miles per hour on the parade route.”
So far, according to weather reports, the winds should not be a problem, and all 32 balloons should be able to fly. New ones this year include Minnie Mouse and Spider-Man, which is marking its return to the parade for the first time in a decade.
Happy Thanksgiving from Straight Arrow News
With Thursday being Thanksgiving, as you get ready to gather around the table with your family, we wanted to take this time for you to get to know ours a little better. In the video above, members of our Straight Arrow News team have special messages about what they’re thankful for this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!
Putin’s new adoption and LGBTQ+ laws to align with country’s ‘traditional values’
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed two bills into law that are part of the Kremlin’s effort to abide by what Russian officials call “traditional values.” First, people from countries where gender transitioning is allowed can no longer adopt children from Russia.
Last year, Russia banned gender-transition procedures.
In 2022, Putin signed a law banning the distribution of LGBTQ+ information to people of all ages.
The adoption ban will apply to at least 15 countries, mostly in Europe.
Adoption of Russian children by people in the United States was banned in 2012.
Putin also just approved legislation barring the spread of material that encourages people to not have children.
He has urged Russian women to have eight or more kids to sustain the native populace.
Russian officials claim arguments against having children are part of Western efforts to weaken Russia through population decline, according to CBS News.
In 2022, a law went into effect labeling any person – including journalists and activists – who engages in activism or expresses contrary opinions about Russian policies as a foreign agent, with officials claiming they are under foreign influence.
For some parents, child care is more expensive than rent: Report
Kids are expensive. So expensive in fact, many families are pretty much paying a second rent to send their kids to day care.
New data from the Department of Labor shows during 2022, when inflation was the highest it had been in 40 years, families spent between $6,552 and $15,600 on full-day care, depending on where they live. Data from 2022 is the most recent available.
The Labor Department noted that the upper range is more than 2022’s median annual rent, which was $15,216. The agency said households typically spend between 9% and 16% of their annual income on day care per child.
The Labor Department estimated more than 13 million of the nation’s roughly 63 million parents rely on paid child care providers.
According to the report, costs also tend to be higher for families with infants. It’s also more expensive for those living in larger counties or using center-based rather than home-based care.
What holiday toys made the 2024 best and worst lists?
One thing on the minds of most parents this time of the year: “What are the hottest holiday toys and how can I get my hands on them?” Whether it’s Cabbage Patch Kids, Tickle Me Elmo or Hatchimals, there’s always been at least one toy that causes a frenzy.
The group has released its 52 annual list of nominees of the toys it says parents should be wary of.
One toy on the list is the Pinovk Toy Colt 45 Pistol. W.A.T.C.H. says toy guns like this can be mistaken for real weapons and can lead to tragic outcomes.
World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc.
Another toy making the “worst list” is the Kinetic Sand Scents kit which consists of sand-based “ice cream treats” of various flavors. It comes with tools to “scoop & serve,” as well as a warning of “do not eat.” W.A.T.C.H. says this poses a potential for ingestion injuries.
And then there’s the Wubble Rumblers Fists. W.A.T.C.H. says they pose a risk for blunt force and impact injuries.
“Our goal with the ‘10 worst toys’ list is to help families make informed choices and keep kids safe,” Joan Siff, president of W.A.T.C.H., said in a statement. “Toy safety is about stopping potentially unsafe products from reaching children in the first place.”
So, while the kids are making their toy lists, parents are advised to check what other lists those toys may be on before heading out to battle the crowds this holiday season.
Australian Parliament considers law banning kids under 16 from social media
Australia’s communications minister has officially introduced a law that would ban children under 16 from social media. If passed, the law would be the first of its kind in the world.
The communications minister said government research shows 95% of Australian caregivers say online safety is one of their “toughest parenting challenges.”
When introducing the bill, she also told Parliament almost two-thirds of Australian teens 14 to 17 years old have viewed “extremely harmful content” online, including posts involving drug abuse, suicide or self-harm and violence. She added a quarter have been exposed to content promoting unsafe eating habits.
The bill has wide political support and is expected to become law. Social media companies would have one year to figure out how to implement the age restriction, if passed.
The platforms would also face fines of up to AU$50 million if they misuse the personal information users give them for age verification purposes.
The age restriction law wouldn’t apply to messaging services, online games or platforms that “substantially support the health and education of users.”
A government statement added Australia is looking for ways to prevent children under 18 from accessing online pornography.
Roblox announces new safety features for parents and kids
Parents are getting more control over how their children explore the world of Roblox, the immersive gaming platform that has over 68 million average daily users. Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman announced in a blog post Monday, Nov. 18, major updates to Roblox’s safety systems and parental controls are coming.
Kaufman said the changes were developed after multiple rounds of internal research, including interviews, studies and international surveys with parents and kids, and consultations with child safety experts and media literacy groups.
Roblox is now allowing parents to link their accounts to their child’s, giving parents the ability to manage their child’s experiences. Parents will also be able to view their child’s friends list and screen time.
Roblox is also making big changes when it comes to its youngest users — children under the age of 13 who account for 42% of the platform’s user base. Kids who fall under that age group will no longer be able to directly message others outside of games unless authorized by a parent.
Roblox is launching content labels to “give parents greater clarity to make informed decisions about what is appropriate for their child.” The labels range from “minimal,” meaning the experience may contain occasional mild violence, to “restricted,” when the experience could contain strong violence and moderate crude humor.
Children under 9 years old will only be able to access “minimal” or “mild” content by default. The changes come as Roblox faced sharp criticism last month over its safety features by Hindenburg Research.
As Straight Arrow News’ Simone Del Rosario reported, the prominent short seller called the platform “an X-rated pedophile hellscape, exposing children to grooming, pornography, violent content and extremely abusive speech.”
Roblox replied by saying in part it rejected the claims made in the Hindenburg report and that “safety and civility have been foundational to Roblox since the company’s inception nearly two decades ago.”
Kaufman concluded his blog post about the parental controls updates by saying:
“While there is no ‘perfect’ when it comes to online safety, our overall approach is systematic and thoughtful. We regularly update our policies and systems to help keep children safe on Roblox—regardless of whether parents elect to use our parental controls. Our goal is to make Roblox the safest and most civil online platform possible because it is the right thing for children, their parents and caregivers, our investors, and our company.”
Matt Kaufman, chief safety officer
Kaufman said many of the updates are launching Monday, while others will be implemented by early 2025.
US pork processor Smithfield to pay $2M in child labor settlement
Smithfield Foods, one of the U.S.’ largest meat processors, agreed to pay $2 million in a settlement over child labor allegations. A Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry investigation found the Smithfield packaged meats plant in St. James employed at least 11 children between the ages of 14 and 17 from April 2021 to April 2023.
In a statement, Smithfield denied knowingly hiring anyone under 18. It also said all 11 passed the federal E-Verify employment eligibility system by using false identification.
The case is the latest in a series of alleged violations by major U.S. meat producers, which have for years struggled to fill their plants amid worker shortages. Last year, the federal Department of Labor imposed more than $1.5 million in civil penalties against one of the country’s largest cleaning services for food processing companies after finding it employed more than 100 children in dangerous jobs at 13 meatpacking plants across the country.
Trump calls RFK Jr. a ‘great mind’ after health secretary nomination
President-elect Trump has named RFK Jr. as his Health and Human Services Secretary. And fight fans are ready for a streaming spectacle: former champ Mike Tyson will return to the ring to take on social media star Jake Paul. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 15, 2024.
Trump calls RFK Jr. a ‘great mind’ after health secretary nomination
“[Kennedy is] another one, who’s a great guy and great mind and so popular, and I think he’s right, he wants to make people healthy,” Trump said. “It’s driven him pretty wild over the last number of years, and the Democrats didn’t treat him well. He was doing fantastically well.”
“Today I nominated him for, I guess if you like health and you like people that live a long time, it’s the most important position RFK Jr.,” Trump said.
Kennedy responded to the nomination earlier in the day, posting on X in part, “We have a generational opportunity to bring together the greatest minds in science, medicine, industry, and government to put an end to the chronic disease epidemic.”
The 70-year-old Kennedy is a former Democrat, who endorsed Trump after dropping out of the race. He would oversee a group of health agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.
Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson (R) called Kennedy “a brilliant, courageous truth-teller whose unwavering commitment to transparency will make America a healthier nation.”
Meanwhile, critics of Kennedy pointed to his previous comments questioning vaccinations. Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden (D) said in a statement, “Mr. Kennedy’s outlandish views on basic scientific facts are disturbing and should worry all parents who expect schools and other public spaces to be safe for their children.”
Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey (D) just posted three words: “Dangerous. Unqualified. Unserious.”
Kennedy is also the founder of the Children’s Health Defense, which is described by media outlets as the leading anti-vaccine group in the nation.
When pressed on the subject of vaccinations by both NBC News and NPR in interviews earlier this month, Kennedy said if put into this type of role he is “not going to take away anybody’s vaccinations.”
President-elect Trump adds more names to his cabinet
Also on Thursday, Trump nominated Doug Collins as Veterans Affairs secretary. The former Republican congressman from Georgia and Iraq war veteran was a supporter of Trump during his first impeachment trial in 2019.
Trump also named three of his lawyers to positions in the Justice Department.
Finally, John Sauer, who won the presidential immunity case at the U.S. Supreme Court, is Trump’s pick for solicitor general.
House Ethics Committee cancels meeting on Matt Gaetz investigation
The Republican-led House Ethics Committee canceled its meeting over the investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, according to multiple outlets citing sources. Gaetz resigned from Congress earlier this week after President-elect Trump announced he’s nominating Gaetz for attorney general.
The meeting, which was scheduled for Friday morning, Nov. 15, before Gaetz resigned, was supposed to focus on the investigation into multiple allegations against Gaetz, including sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, accepting improper gifts, and obstruction.
Tropical Storm Sara brings dangerous torrential rain to Honduras
Tropical Storm Sara made landfall late Thursday in northern Honduras, bringing torrential rain as it skirts the country’s coast. Authorities there have warned of the potential for dangerous flash flooding and landslides, with the country’s president saying it could “become a catastrophic event.”
Honduran officials have issued the highest-level warning along the country’s northern coast and activated the national police and military for rescue and relief efforts. Sara is expected to move inland, making landfall over Belize on Sunday, Nov. 17, before dissipating over the Yucatán Peninsula, according to the National Hurricane Center.
This marks the 18th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which ends Nov. 30.
Annual UFO report finds 21 cases that can’t be explained
Pentagon officials maintain they’ve found no evidence of alien activity, but the government’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) said it takes every report seriously and investigates each one.
If none of this UAP stuff exists, if it’s all false, why at every turn are people trying to stop transparency? You can’t talk about fight club if there’s no fight club. pic.twitter.com/otPGNbwu71
Of the new reports the AARO has received, nearly 50 have already been closed as everyday items, such as balloons, birds or drones. The government agency expects to resolve another 243 cases by identifying them as one of those objects.
More than 400 of the new reports were put into an active archive because there was not enough data or evidence to keep investigating.
Tyson vs. Paul in Netflix’s first live streaming boxing event
The two faced off during a final weigh-in on Thursday, with Tyson slapping Paul. The eight-round match at AT&T Stadium in Texas was postponed from July after Tyson suffered an inflamed ulcer weeks before the bout.
Reports indicate both competitors are expected to have a big payday. Tyson, who has a record of 50-6, will reportedly make $20 million and the 27-year-old Paul, who has a record of 10-1, will make $40 million.
Paul’s startup, Most Valuable Promotions, teamed up with Netflix to bring the fight together.
Netflix currently has more than 282 million paid subscribers worldwide and Paul predicts at least 25 million of them will tune in. If that comes to pass, it’ll make this the most watched boxing match of all time.
Trump fills more White House roles with Rubio, Noem among likely next picks
From a new border czar to an EPA administrator to national security adviser, team Trump is taking shape. We’ve got a look at the latest names. And shareholders are suing a major restaurant chain accused of skimping on the portions. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.
Trump fills more White House roles with Rubio, Noem among likely next picks
We are getting a clearer picture of what the incoming Trump administration will look like come January. After naming his chief of staff, border czar, and United Nations ambassador, the president-elect filled additional key roles on Monday, Nov. 11, as more names surface for other cabinet positions.
President-elect Trump tapped Stephen Miller as his deputy chief of staff of policy. Miller was a senior adviser during Trump’s first administration and is a staunch supporter of deporting undocumented immigrants.
Former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin is Trump’s pick for Environmental Protection Agency administrator. He also ran for governor in 2022.
In a post on X, Zeldin wrote, “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.”
It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator.
We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water. https://t.co/FQk9XPdgcw
Some of the other names who will reportedly be joining Trump’s White House include Florida Congressman and retired Army National Guard officer Mike Waltz as national security adviser. The war veteran would be responsible for briefing the president on important national security issues and coordinating with various agencies.
Senator Marco Rubio is reportedly in line for the position of secretary of state. Once formally announced, the Florida lawmaker would be the first Latino to serve as America’s top diplomat.
In May, a jury found Trump guilty in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election by paying a porn actor who claimed she had sex with trump to keep quiet. Now, Judge Juan Merchan must decide whether to uphold the conviction, order a new trial or dismiss the indictment entirely.
In July, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for “official acts,” though they did not specify what those acts include. While Trump was a private citizen when the so-called “hush money” payment was made, he had taken office by the time his then-lawyer Michael Cohen was reimbursed for the payment.
The judge was set to make the ruling in September but put it off to “avoid any appearance” he was trying to sway this year’s election.
If the verdict is upheld sentencing is set for Nov. 26.
Republicans make more gains as control of the US House remains undecided
That makes 214 Republican seats to the Democrats’ 203 with 18 races yet to be called. The magic number for either party is 218.
Of those still undecided races, 11 are considered key to controlling the House. Republicans currently lead the vote count in eight of them.
That puts Republicans within striking distance of controlling both chambers of Congress after the GOP flipped the Senate in last week’s election.
Democrats did score a win in the Senate Monday, though, with Ruben Gallego defeating Trump ally Kari Lake to become Arizona’s first Latino senator.
The Senate race in Pennsylvania remains the only one uncalled, though Republican Dave McCormick does have the slight lead over Democratic incumbent Bob Casey. McCormick declared victory, and some Republicans already said they’d to host him in Washington on Wednesday. Nov. 13, for orientation. Casey, however, said he wants every vote counted.
New Zealand’s leader apologizes to victims of state-run, faith-based abuse
New Zealand’s prime minister formally apologized to the country’s parliament Tuesday for the widespread abuse, torture and neglect of hundreds of thousands of children and vulnerable adults in state, foster and faith-based care.
It comes after a scathing report released in July detailed seven decades of “unimaginable” abuse, which disproportionately impacted the Māori, New Zealand’s indigenous people.
“Today, I stand before you as the representative of not only this government but of all the governments that have gone before us to offer a formal and unreserved apology for the abuse that you suffered while in state care, churches and other faith-based places,” Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said. “For many of you it changed the course of your life, and for that, the government must take responsibility.”
The report on the six-year investigation called the findings a “national disgrace” and for the first time, New Zealand’s government acknowledged the issues. Luxon said his administration is working on more than two dozen of the 138 recommendations that came from that report.
Richard Allen found guilty in 2017 murders of 2 teenage girls
Allen was arrested in 2022, five years after investigators found 13-year-old Abigail Williams and 14-year-old Liberty German dead near a trail.
The jury spent 19 hours deliberating before coming to its verdict on Monday.
The Associated Press has reported Allen could be sentenced to up to 130 years in prison. His sentencing is set for Dec. 20.
Shareholders sue Chipotle over damage from portion size controversy
Shareholders have sued the restaurant chain Chipotle after it failed to disclose the number of locations that were cutting portion sizes.
In the proposed class action suit filed in California Monday, shareholders claim the chain failed to disclose that customers were unhappy with the inconsistent portion sizes of its burritos and burrito bowls. It alleges once customers spoke out on social media and Chipotle had to correct the matter, it hurt margins causing the stock price to fall.
Shareholders are seeking unspecified damages for anyone who bought into the company between Feb. 8 and Oct. 29, 2024.
The suit was filed on the same day Chipotle named Interim Chief Executive Officer Scott Boatwright its permanent CEO.
