Alabama Obstetrician Turned Lawmaker Withdraws Controversial Bill
Republican State Senator Larry Stutts got into some hot water this week after an unsettling connection between his past and a bill he proposed came to light. Stutts said Tuesday that he will no longer push legislation to repeal “Rose’s Law.” The 1999 law requires a minimum postpartum hospital stay— unless the woman gives written consent — and certain bloodwork before a woman is discharged from the hospital.
Unbeknownst to Stutts’s cosponsors of the bill, “Rose’s Law” is named for Stutts’ patient Rose Church, who died of a heart attack 10 days after giving birth in 1998. Her widower lobbied for the new care requirements in 1999.
Kyle Whitmire of al.com and the Alabama Media Group joins WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley to discuss what happened after this connection was revealed earlier this week.
Colorado senator on Schumer: ‘It’s important for people to know when it’s time to go’
Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet stopped short Wednesday of calling on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to step down from leadership, but came pretty darn close.
Malaysia approves a new search for MH370 wreckage in the Indian Ocean
The Boeing 777 plane vanished from radar shortly after taking off on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people. The plane headed south to the far-southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed.
Canada says China executed four Canadians earlier this year
Beijing's embassy in Ottawa said the executions were due to drug crimes and noted that China does not recognize dual citizenship.
Trump to sign order aiming to close the Education Department
The Trump administration has already moved to cut the department's staff by half.
Jury says Greenpeace owes hundreds of millions of dollars for Dakota pipeline protest
Experts say the verdict has relevance for free speech issues nationwide.
Birmingham mayor warns violators after Alabama bans gun conversion devices
The devices convert semi-automatic guns to fire like a fully automatic weapon. A bipartisan coalition pushed the Alabama legislation after several mass shootings last year, including the deaths of four people outside a Birmingham nightclub in September.
