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U.S. NEWS Friday 14 december 2018

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Court: Trump can’t let companies Police recruit

accused of
deny birth control coverage threatening

graduation
shooting
By SUDHIN THANAWALA
Associated Press LACONIA, N.H. (AP) —
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A A police recruit spoke
divided U.S. appeals court to fellow officers about
Thursday blocked rules by participating in a suicide
the Trump administration pact or killing other offi-
that allowed more employ- cers at their graduation
ers to opt out of providing ceremony at New Hamp-
women with no-cost birth shire’s police academy,
control. a court document re-
The ruling, however, may leased Thursday alleged.
be short lived because the Noah Beaulieu told one
administration has adopt- recruit that “all it would
ed new rules on contracep- take was one shot fired in
tive coverage that are set the air and all the cross-
to take effect next month fire from responding offi-
and will likely prompt re- cers would be what killed
newed legal challenges. everyone,” according to
Thursday’s ruling by a three- an affidavit.
judge panel of the 9th U.S. Police arrested Beau-
Circuit Court of Appeals lieu, 24, of Concord, on
concerned changes to a criminal threatening
birth control coverage re- charge. They said he
quirements under President was a recruit from the
Barack Obama’s health Laconia Police Depart-
care law that the U.S. De- ment who recently com-
partment of Health and Hu- pleted at program at the
man Services issued in Oc- In this Aug. 26, 2016, file photo, a one-month dosage of hormonal birth control pills is displayed New Hampshire Police
tober 2017. in Sacramento, Calif. Standards and Training
States were likely to suc- Associated Press Academy. He was fired
ceed on their claim that it included exemptions for Maryland, New York and ed” because they chose Wednesday.Beaulieu
those changes were made religious organizations. The Virginia. to provide contracep- was scheduled to be ar-
without required notice new policy allowed more The states argued that the tive coverage to women. raigned Thursday, but in-
and public comment, the categories of employers, changes could result in The states, therefore, did stead, a judge ordered
appeals court panel said in including publicly traded millions of women losing not have the authority to him to remain in custody
a 2-1 decision. companies, to opt out of free birth control services, bring the lawsuit, Kleinfeld, and requested a men-
The majority upheld a pre- providing free contracep- forcing them to seek con- a nominee of Republican tal health evaluation for
liminary injunction against tion to women by claiming traceptive care through President George H.W. him.
the rules issued by U.S. Dis- religious objections. It also state-run programs or pro- Bush, said. His lawyer, Mark Sisti, said
trict Judge Haywood Gil- allowed any company that grams that the states had The case became more he never meant to harm
liam last year. It, however, is not publicly traded to to reimburse. complicated after the anyone.
limited the scope of the in- deny coverage on moral The states show with “rea- Trump administration last The affidavit said other
junction, applying it only to grounds. sonable probability” that month issued new birth recruits told Beaulieu to
the five states in the lawsuit The Department of Justice the new rules will lead control coverage rules that stop making the com-
and not the entire country. said in court documents women to lose employer- are set to supersede those ments and that they
Another federal judge also that the rules were about sponsored contraceptive at issue in the lawsuit be- weren’t funny, but Beau-
blocked the rules, and her protecting a small group of coverage, “which will then fore the 9th Circuit. Under lieu continued to talk
nationwide injunction re- “sincere religious and mor- result in economic harm the new rules, large com- about bringing machine
mains in place. al objectors” from having to the states,” 9th Circuit panies whose stock is sold guns and ammunition to
An email to the Justice to violate their beliefs. The Judge J. Clifford Wallace, to investors won’t be able the graduation ceremo-
Department seeking com- changes were favored by a nominee of Republican to opt out of providing con- ny, which is scheduled
ment was not immediately social conservatives who President Richard Nixon, traceptive coverage. for Friday.
returned. are staunch supporters of wrote for the majority. Wallace said the new rules They also reported he
Obama’s health care law President Donald Trump. In a dissent, 9th Circuit did not make the case be- said a movie would be
required most companies California filed a lawsuit Judge Andrew Kleinfeld fore the 9th Circuit moot made about him when
to cover birth control at to block the changes that said the economic harm to because they are not set to he became a serial
no additional cost, though was joined by Delaware, the states was “self-inflict- take effect until January. q killer.q