A Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas has opened a new front in the war over abortion, with a ruling that poses risk for women's reproductive health rights, even in California.
In a new edition of Newsmakers TV, Callie Fausey of the Santa Barbara Independent breaks down the complex, confusing and still unfolding legal battle over mifepristone and misoprostol, two FDA-approved abortion pills, Anti-abortion absolutists are seeking to ban the drugs throughout the nation, never mind that Californians have voted to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.
Josh Molina joins the gang to recap his reporting on two clown car stories at SB City Hall, where the city council just approved $1.2 million for a new enforcement program aimed at local homeowners who let out their homes to tourists as short-term vacation rentals - on the pseudo social engineering theory that such illiberal meddling will magically produce more long-term rental housing in the city.
All righty, then.
Risking whiplash and displaying spines of gloop, a supermajority of council members (minus right-thinking Mayor Randy Rowse) also caved to political pressure from downtown restaurant owners by tossing out a laboriously-crafted framework of sliding fees for outdoor dining structures, in favor of a minimal square foot charge that doesn't begin to match the value of the free public real estate restaurants have enjoyed since the State Street promenade opened on an emergency basis during the height of the pandemic.
And a special guest appearance from erstwhile Newsmakers panelist Jade Martinez Pogue, who flew in from the East Coast back in town expressly for the splendid celebration pitched this week by the Santa Barbara chapter of the Association for Women in Communications (shout-out Lauren Bianchi Klemann), in honor of two local climate warriors: Hillary Hauser, guiding light of Heal the Ocean, and author, advocate and UCSB Environmental Politics Professor Leah Stokes.
Plus: An up-close-and-personal discussion of how locals hang on to housing in Santa Barbara, Salud's new legislation to address ocean acidification and Beth Farnsworth's tough question about tattoos to the AWC honorees.
All this and more, right here, right now, on Newsmakers TV.
JR
You can watch the new show via YouTube below or by clicking through this link. The podcast version is here. The program also airs on TVSB, Cox Cable Channel 17, M-F at 8 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m. KCSB, 91.9 FM, broadcasts the show at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays.