WEATHER ALERT
A judge says Missouri's abortion ban isn’t enforceable, but there's no start date for abortions
Read full article: A judge says Missouri's abortion ban isn’t enforceable, but there's no start date for abortionsA judge has ruled that Missouri’s near-total abortion ban is unenforceable under a new constitutional amendment.
What to know about abortion access in Missouri
Read full article: What to know about abortion access in MissouriPlanned Parenthood wanted to resume offering abortions in several Missouri clinics on Friday, immediately after the state's new constitutional amendment rolling back a near total ban took effect.
Lawsuit seeks to undo 15-week abortion ban that conflicts with expanded access in Arizona
Read full article: Lawsuit seeks to undo 15-week abortion ban that conflicts with expanded access in ArizonaReproductive rights advocates are trying to dismantle a 15-week abortion ban in Arizona that conflicts with newly expanded access establishing a fundamental right to abortion in the state.
Missouri's GOP attorney general says abortions after viability remain illegal under new amendment
Read full article: Missouri's GOP attorney general says abortions after viability remain illegal under new amendmentMissouri's Republican attorney general says he still considers it illegal to provide abortions after fetal viability, despite a newly approved state abortion rights amendment.
A Missouri judge says a law banning surgery, medications for transgender minors is constitutional
Read full article: A Missouri judge says a law banning surgery, medications for transgender minors is constitutionalA Missouri court on Monday upheld a new state law that bans some gender-affirming health care for minors, a victory for supporters of the ban as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a case on the issue next week.
Higher energy bills push UK inflation to 6-month high in October
Read full article: Higher energy bills push UK inflation to 6-month high in OctoberInflation in the U.K. has risen sharply to a six-month high in October, cementing market expectations that there will be no further cuts in borrowing rates this year.
Bank of England cuts UK interest rates again despite modest budget-related inflation spike
Read full article: Bank of England cuts UK interest rates again despite modest budget-related inflation spikeThe Bank of England has cut its main interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point after inflation across the U.K. fell below its target rate of 2%.
Court upholds freedom for woman whose conviction was overturned after 43 years behind bars
Read full article: Court upholds freedom for woman whose conviction was overturned after 43 years behind barsAn appellate court in Missouri has ruled that a lower court was right when it decided to overturn the murder conviction of a woman who spent 43 years behind bars for a killing that her attorneys argue was committed by a discredited police officer.
Supreme Court shuts down Missouri’s long shot push to lift Trump’s gag order in hush-money case
Read full article: Supreme Court shuts down Missouri’s long shot push to lift Trump’s gag order in hush-money caseThe Supreme Court has shut down a long-shot push from Missouri seeking to remove a gag order in former President Donald Trump’s hush-money case and delay his sentencing in New York.
Transgender woman's use of a gym locker room spurs protests and investigations in Missouri
Read full article: Transgender woman's use of a gym locker room spurs protests and investigations in MissouriA transgender woman’s use of the women’s locker room at a suburban St. Louis gym is prompting protests and calls for an investigation.
Exonerees call on Missouri Republican attorney general to stop fighting innocence claims
Read full article: Exonerees call on Missouri Republican attorney general to stop fighting innocence claimsExonerees and advocates are calling out Missouri's Republican attorney general for pushing for a man's upcoming execution despite opposition from the local prosecutor.
Missouri man is free from prison after a judge overturned his 1991 conviction, despite AG's efforts
Read full article: Missouri man is free from prison after a judge overturned his 1991 conviction, despite AG's effortsA Missouri man is free after 34 years behind bars since his murder conviction was overturned despite the state attorney general’s efforts to keep him there.
Missouri judges have overturned 2 murder convictions in recent weeks. Why did the AG fight freedom?
Read full article: Missouri judges have overturned 2 murder convictions in recent weeks. Why did the AG fight freedom?A man who was on the verge of walking out of prison this week after a judge found evidence of his “actual innocence” and overturned his murder conviction now faces a fresh legal hurdle.
Missouri Supreme Court halts release of man with overturned conviction as he was about to go free
Read full article: Missouri Supreme Court halts release of man with overturned conviction as he was about to go freeThe Missouri Supreme Court has halted the immediate release of a man whose murder conviction was overturned — just as the man was about to walk free.
Missouri prison ignores court order to free wrongfully convicted inmate for second time in weeks
Read full article: Missouri prison ignores court order to free wrongfully convicted inmate for second time in weeksFor the second time in weeks, a Missouri prison has ignored a court order to release an inmate whose murder conviction was overturned.
Missouri woman who served 43 years in prison is free after her murder conviction was overturned
Read full article: Missouri woman who served 43 years in prison is free after her murder conviction was overturnedA woman whose murder conviction was overturned after she served 43 years in prison is now free, despite objections from Missouri’s attorney general.
Missouri, Kansas judges temporarily halt much of President Biden's student debt forgiveness plan
Read full article: Missouri, Kansas judges temporarily halt much of President Biden's student debt forgiveness planFederal judges in Kansas and Missouri have together blocked much of a Biden administration student loan repayment plan that provides a faster path to cancellation and lower monthly payments for millions of borrowers.
Federal rule on Title IX is a ruse to require trans sports participation, GOP states say
Read full article: Federal rule on Title IX is a ruse to require trans sports participation, GOP states sayA new federal regulation protecting the rights of transgender students has prompted lawsuits from Republican states that say it would require them to allow transgender athletes to compete on school teams.
Bank of England edges closer to rate cut, possibly in June, as it predicts below-target inflation
Read full article: Bank of England edges closer to rate cut, possibly in June, as it predicts below-target inflationThe Bank of England is keeping its main U.K. interest rate at a 16-year high of 5.25% though it gave a broad hint that a reduction could be on the cards as soon as June as inflation is forecast to fall below target.
Missouri attorney general is accused of racial bias for pinning a student fight on diversity program
Read full article: Missouri attorney general is accused of racial bias for pinning a student fight on diversity programDays after Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey blamed an after-school fight on a school district’s diversity programming, a lawyer for the majority Black district in suburban St. Louis says the state’s chief attorney is showing racial bias.
UK inflation is heading in 'right direction,' but Bank of England isn't ready to cut rates
Read full article: UK inflation is heading in 'right direction,' but Bank of England isn't ready to cut ratesThe Bank of England has kept its main interest rate unchanged at a 16-year high even though inflation continues to drop from multi-decade peaks.
Like the US Fed, Bank of England is edging toward interest rate cuts — but not quite yet
Read full article: Like the US Fed, Bank of England is edging toward interest rate cuts — but not quite yetJust like the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of England is edging toward cutting interest rates — though not quite yet.
Missouri lawsuit accusing China of hoarding pandemic gear can proceed, appeals panel says
Read full article: Missouri lawsuit accusing China of hoarding pandemic gear can proceed, appeals panel saysA federal appeals panel says a Missouri lawsuit accusing China of hoarding masks and other protective gear during the COVID-19 pandemic can move forward.
Bank of England will review the risks that AI poses to UK financial stability
Read full article: Bank of England will review the risks that AI poses to UK financial stabilityThe Bank of England says it will make an assessment next year about the risks posed by artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Bank of England keeps main UK interest rate at 15-year high of 5.25% and cautions over oil prices
Read full article: Bank of England keeps main UK interest rate at 15-year high of 5.25% and cautions over oil pricesThe Bank of England kept its main interest rate unchanged at the 15-year high of 5.25% and indicated that borrowing costs will likely remain at these sort of elevated levels for a while yet especially if oil and gas prices increase sharply because of the Israel-Hamas war.
Missouri says clinic that challenged transgender treatment restrictions didn't provide proper care
Read full article: Missouri says clinic that challenged transgender treatment restrictions didn't provide proper careMissouri officials struck back at one of the clinics that unsuccessfully challenged new state restrictions on gender affirming care by filing a new lawsuit accusing the clinic of failing to provide proper care for transgender minors even before the new law took effect last month.
Bank of England hints that UK borrowing rates will stay high after its new hike
Read full article: Bank of England hints that UK borrowing rates will stay high after its new hikeThe Bank of England has raised its main interest rate to a fresh 15-year high as it tries to bring down persistently high inflation.
Top central bankers assert need for higher interest rates to tackle persistent inflation
Read full article: Top central bankers assert need for higher interest rates to tackle persistent inflationSeveral of the world's top central bankers got together, and their message was clear: interest rates could go even higher to combat inflation.
UK inflation falls to lowest level in over a year but food prices keep decline in check
Read full article: UK inflation falls to lowest level in over a year but food prices keep decline in checkOfficial figures show that inflation in the U.K. has fallen to its lowest level since the immediate aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which caused energy and food costs to surge.
Missouri terminates emergency rule to limit trans care for minors, some adults
Read full article: Missouri terminates emergency rule to limit trans care for minors, some adultsMissouri officials terminated the Republican attorney general’s emergency rule that would have placed limits on transgender care for minors and some adults.
Kim Gardner steps down as St. Louis prosecutor 2 weeks sooner than planned
Read full article: Kim Gardner steps down as St. Louis prosecutor 2 weeks sooner than plannedEmbattled St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, who this month announced she would resign effective June 1, says she is leaving office immediately, ending a turbulent tenure marked by frequent criticism, especially from Missouri’s Republican leaders.
Kansas City declares itself a LGBTQ+ sanctuary city
Read full article: Kansas City declares itself a LGBTQ+ sanctuary cityOfficials in Missouri’s largest city approved a resolution Thursday to declare it a sanctuary for people seeking or providing gender-affirming care, defying state lawmakers who voted a day earlier to ban such care for minors and restrict it for some adults.
Defying the state, Kansas City would be a sanctuary for people seeking gender-affirming health care
Read full article: Defying the state, Kansas City would be a sanctuary for people seeking gender-affirming health careOfficials in Missouri’s largest city are moving to declare it a sanctuary for people seeking or providing gender-affirming care.
Transgender adults brace for treatment cutoffs in Missouri
Read full article: Transgender adults brace for treatment cutoffs in MissouriAn emergency rule introduced this week by Missouri’s Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey will impose numerous restrictions on both adults and children before they can receive puberty-blocking drugs, hormones or gender-affirming surgeries.
Missouri to restrict transgender care for minors, adults
Read full article: Missouri to restrict transgender care for minors, adultsMissouri’s attorney general announced new restrictions Thursday on transgender care for adults in addition to minors in a move that is believed to be a first nationally and has advocacy groups threatening to sue.
Teen athlete loses legs; St. Louis prosecutor under scrutiny
Read full article: Teen athlete loses legs; St. Louis prosecutor under scrutinyA St. Louis prosecutor is denouncing efforts to oust her from office after a teenage volleyball player from Tennessee lost her legs in a vehicle crash caused by a speeding driver facing felony charges.
Florida attorney general joins warning to Walgreens, CVS over abortion pills
Read full article: Florida attorney general joins warning to Walgreens, CVS over abortion pillsAttorneys general in 20 conservative-led states are warning CVS and Walgreens that they could face legal consequences if they sell abortion pills by mail in those states.
Bank of England makes biggest interest rate hike in 30 years
Read full article: Bank of England makes biggest interest rate hike in 30 yearsThe Bank of England has rolled out its biggest interest rate increase in three decades, saying the move is needed to beat back stubbornly high inflation that's eroding living standards and is likely to trigger a “prolonged” recession.
UK markets roiled after bank rules out extending help
Read full article: UK markets roiled after bank rules out extending helpBritain’s economy is facing new shocks after the Bank of England ruled out extending an emergency debt-buying plan designed to stabilize financial markets – and the government tried to blame the independent central bank for the U.K.’s economic turmoil.
Bank of England raises rates as Ukraine war boosts inflation
Read full article: Bank of England raises rates as Ukraine war boosts inflationThe Bank of England has raised its key interest rate for the third time since December as it pushes ahead faster than other central banks in combating a global wave of inflation that is set to accelerate following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
UK labor market 'resilient' despite end of salary program
Read full article: UK labor market 'resilient' despite end of salary programAnalysts say the Bank of England is one step closer to raising interest rates next month after official figures showed that the end of the British government’s salary support program for workers during the coronavirus pandemic has not yet led to the feared increase in unemployment.
Bank of England expects best year for UK economy since 1941
Read full article: Bank of England expects best year for UK economy since 1941The Bank of England will keep interest rates on hold and has grown more optimistic about the economic recovery in the U.K. this year as a result of the rapid rollout of coronavirus vaccines.
Bank of England upbeat on UK recovery after vaccine rollout
Read full article: Bank of England upbeat on UK recovery after vaccine rollout(Yui Mok/PA via AP)LONDON – The Bank of England says the U.K.'s rapid rollout of coronavirus vaccines means the British economy should recover much of the ground lost during the pandemic by the end of the year. The bank expects the British economy to contract by a further 4% in the first quarter of 2021 as a result of the lockdown. That contraction is far milder than the 20% or so decline the British economy endured in the second quarter last year during the first lockdown. That would see the British economy grow 5% over the course of 2021 despite the first quarter fall. As of Wednesday, more than 10 million people in the U.K. have received their first vaccine doses, nearly a fifth of the adult population.
EU, UK still have 'fundamental' differences in trade talks
Read full article: EU, UK still have 'fundamental' differences in trade talksBRUSSELS – With the European Union's chief negotiator Michel Barnier in quarantine, trade talks with the United Kingdom continued by videoconference this week, though the optimism expressed last week seemed to have faded. The talks were shifted to a videoconference last week when an EU official tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing Barnier into a quarantine until at least Thursday. Though the U.K. left the EU on Jan. 31, it remains within the bloc’s tariff-free single market and customs union until the end of this year. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey warned that the long-term impact of a no-deal Brexit on the British economy would be greater than the long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The bank expects the British economy to end the year around 12% smaller and to not recover its virus-related losses until early 2022.
Top central bankers: Economy needs help despite vaccine news
Read full article: Top central bankers: Economy needs help despite vaccine newsFRANKFURT – Three of the globe's top central bankers said their economies continue to need help despite progress toward a COVID-19 vaccine, with U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell saying that the U.S. Congress “may need to do more” to cushion the blow from the pandemic. All three central banks have deployed large-scale stimulus such as interest rate cuts and bond purchases that aim to keep borrowing costs affordable for businesses. A multi-trillion-dollar stimulus, enacted in the spring, had helped sustain jobless Americans and ailing businesses but has since expired. “We’re recovering to a different economy,” he said, and there will be a substantial number of workers who will need support as the economy is changed by the pandemic. The Fed is buying $120 billion a month in bonds — $80 billion in Treasurys and $40 billion in mortgage bonds — to try to keep long-term borrowing costs low.
UK unemployment ascent accelerates amid winter job fears
Read full article: UK unemployment ascent accelerates amid winter job fearsThe Office for National Statistics said Tuesday that unemployment rose by 138,000 in the three months to August from the previous three-month period. The unemployment rate jumped to 4.5%, its highest rate since early 2017, from 4.1% in the previous quarter. Though unemployment has been edging up during the pandemic, with the likes of British Airways, Royal Mail and Rolls-Royce all laying off thousands, Britain has been spared the surge in unemployment seen in the United States. Further headwinds to the economy have emerged in recent weeks with the resurgence in the virus and the government's tightening of local restrictions. As a result, there are concerns that unemployment could soar towards 3 million, levels not seen since the early 1990s.