The next state to pass a Texas-style abortion ban

Idaho is the first state to pass a Texas-style abortion ban; China faces its worst coronavirus surge in two years.

Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin.

Idaho mimics Texas's abortion ban

Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images

• On Monday, Idaho Republicans passed a ban on abortions after six weeks — before many people know they are pregnant. It now heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Brad Little, who has approved restrictive abortion bills in the past. [Associated Press / Keith Ridler]
• The bill states that any provider who performs an abortion after that time can be sued for at least $20,000 up to four years after the procedure. [CNN / Jenn Silva]
• The policy echoes a similar anti-abortion law passed in Texas, SB 8, which allows a private citizen to sue anyone who helps a person get an abortion. Idaho’s ban restricts who can sue to the embryo’s father and potential siblings, grandparents, aunts, or uncles. [Washington Post / Caroline Kitchener]
• Idaho’s bill provides exceptions for medical emergencies. It also provides exceptions for rape or incest, but the victim must make a report to the police and show the police report to the abortion doctor to avoid punishment. That could further limit access (since many such crimes go unreported.) [The 19th News / Shefali Luthra]
• A number of other Republican-controlled state legislatures are also passing bills restricting abortions: Last week, for instance, Oklahoma’s Senate approved its own Texas-style ban, which is likely to clear the state House. [Guardian / Gloria Oladipo]

China struggles to contain surging coronavirus cases

• Tens of millions of people are under lockdown Tuesday as China faces its worst surge of the coronavirus pandemic in two years. [BBC / Zubaidah Abdul Jalil and Annabelle Liang]
• Though case numbers are still fairly low by Western standards, the outbreak — fueled by highly transmissible omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2 — has caused big disruptions in China and could further imperil the global supply chain. [Washington Post / Lily Kuo]
• Over 5,000 cases were reported on Tuesday, 4,000 of which were reported in Jilin province, a major industrial center. [CNN / Jessie Yeung]
• To contain the surge, Chinese authorities have shuttered major cities and imposed strict controls at air and seaports on Tuesday. For now, factories in other parts of the country, remain operational. [AP / Joe McDonald]
• With port controls leading to increasing delays and a growing number of companies, including those serving customers like Apple and Volkswagen, shutting down, the spike is expected to have knock-on effects for the automaker and electronics industries. [NYT / Keith Bradsher]

The US Forest Service’s plan to combat wildfires in the West this summer is facing a major issue: hiring shortages linked to the great resignation. [Politico / Ximena Bustillo]

• Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) said he opposes Sarah Bloom Raskin’s nomination for the Federal Reserve, citing concerns over her views on energy. In response, Bloom Raskin withdrew her candidacy. [NPR / Scott Horsley]
• Strong winds caused a giant cruise ship carrying nearly 5,000 passengers and crew to run aground in the Dominican Republic. [Al Jazeera]
• The White House on Tuesday proposed a regulation that would keep federal employers from considering an applicant’s past salary history as part of its efforts to close the gender and racial wage gap for federal employees. [NBC / Rebecca Shabad]

“It creates an incredible cascade of risks for people who get abortions.”

[Jennifer Allen, CEO of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, explains her concerns about Idaho’s bill / Washington Post]

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