fishing background NEW YORK, Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Protara Therapeutics, Inc. TARA ("Protara"), a clinical-stage company developing transformative therapies for the treatment of cancer and rare diseases, today announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of shares of its common stock or, in lieu of issuing common stock to certain investors, pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of its common stock. All of the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants to be sold in the proposed offering will be offered by Protara. In addition, Protara expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The proposed offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or the actual size or terms of the offering. Protara intends to use the net proceeds received from the offering to fund the clinical development of TARA-002, as well as the development of other clinical programs. Protara may also use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes. TD Cowen, Cantor, LifeSci Capital, Oppenheimer & Co. and Scotiabank are acting as joint book-running managers of the proposed offering. The shares of common stock and the pre-funded warrants will be issued pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-275290) that was declared effective on November 14, 2023 by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The offering is being made only by means of a preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. A preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompany prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompany prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may be obtained from the offices of TD Securities (USA) LLC, 1 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, New York 10017, by email at TD.ECM_Prospectus@tdsecurities.com or by telephone at (855) 495-9846; Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., 110 East 59th Street, 6th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Capital Markets, or by email at prospectus@cantor.com; or LifeSci Capital LLC, 1700 Broadway, 40th Floor, New York, New York 10019, or by email at compliance@lifescicapital.com . Before investing in the offering, interested parties should read the preliminary prospectus supplement and related prospectus for this offering, the documents incorporated by reference therein and the other documents Protara has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The final terms of the offering will be disclosed in a final prospectus supplement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the applicable securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Protara may, in some cases, use terms such as "predicts," "believes," "potential," "proposed," "continue," "designed," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "may," "could," "might," "will," "should" or other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to, statements regarding the timing, size and completion of the proposed public offering as well as the expected use of proceeds related thereto are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Actual results, developments and events may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including: Protara's ability to complete the offering on the proposed terms, or at all, changes in market conditions, and Protara's expectations related to the use of proceeds from the proposed offering. Additional important factors to be considered in connection with forward-looking statements, including additional risks and uncertainties, are described more fully under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in Protara's filings and reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Protara undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Company Contact: Justine O'Malley Protara Therapeutics Justine.OMalley@protaratx.com 646-817-2836 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.NoneRemembering Manmohan Singh: A Legacy of Transformation

By Nicole Jao NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil futures fell nearly 2% on Wednesday as investors awaited an imminent OPEC+ decision on production cuts, while a larger-than-expected draw in U.S. crude stockpiles last week lent some support to prices. Brent crude futures fell $1.31, or 1.78%, to settle at $72.31 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell $1.40, or 2%, to $68.54. On Tuesday, Brent posted its biggest gain in two weeks, rising by 2.5%. The market was on tenterhooks, with investors focused on the upcoming OPEC+ meeting, analysts said. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies in OPEC+ meet on Thursday, and are likely extend output cuts until the end of the first quarter of next year, industry sources told Reuters. “While a delay to unwinding production cuts is expected, the rhetoric out of the meeting is going to have the biggest sway,” said Matt Smith, Kpler lead Americas oil analyst. OPEC+ has been looking to phase out supply cuts through next year. A single bank sold a large volume of U.S. oil futures contracts in early afternoon trading on Wednesday, a source told Reuters, pushing prices down more than 1% within minutes and causing traders to scramble to decipher the reason. U.S. crude stocks fell more than expected last week as refiners ramped up operations, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said. Gasoline and distillate stockpiles rose by more than expected during the week. “A pop in refining activity with runs climbing to a high not seen since the summer has resulted in a see-saw of crude inventories drawing and products building,” Smith said. The bullish momentum only lent some support to prices. A shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, South Korea’s curtailed declaration of martial law and a rebel offensive in Syria that threatens to draw in forces from several oil-producing countries all lent support to oil prices, said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova. In the Middle East, Israel said on Tuesday it would return to war with Hezbollah if their truce collapses and that its attacks would go deeper into Lebanon and target the state itself. In South Korea, lawmakers have submitted a bill to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after his declaration of martial law on Tuesday, which was reversed within hours, sparking a political crisis in Asia’s fourth-largest economy. (Reporting by Nicole Jao in New York, Arunima Kumar in Bengaluru and Emily Chow in Singapore; Additional reporting by Paul Carsten; Editing by David Goodman, David Evans, Will Dunham and David Gregorio) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

NEW DELHI: Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister who governed the South Asian country for two terms and liberalised its economy in an earlier stint as finance minister, died at the age of 92, on Thursday. Singh, an economist-turned-politician who also served as the governor of the central bank, was ailing and admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. Described as a “reluctant king” in his first stint as prime minister, the quietly spoken Manmohan Singh was arguably one of India’s most successful leaders. The first Sikh in office, Singh, 92, was being treated for age-related medical conditions and died after he was brought to hospital after a sudden loss of consciousness. He is credited with steering India to unprecedented economic growth and lifting hundreds of millions out of dire poverty. He went on to serve a rare second term. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji.” He applauded the economist-turned-politician’s body of work. Born into a poor family in a part of British-ruled India now in Pakistan, Singh studied by candlelight to win a place at Cambridge University before heading to Oxford, earning a doctorate with a thesis on the role of exports and free trade in India’s economy. He became a respected economist, then India’s central bank governor and a government advisor but had no apparent plans for a political career when he was suddenly tapped to become finance minister in 1991. During that tenure to 1996, Singh was the architect of reforms that saved India’s economy from a severe balance of payments crisis, and promoted deregulation and other measures that opened an insular country to the world. Read More: Pakistan to invite Manmohan Singh for Kartarpur corridor’s inauguration Famously quoting Victor Hugo in his maiden budget speech, he said: “No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come,” before adding: “The emergence of India as a major economic power in the world happens to be one such idea.” Singh’s ascension to prime minister in 2004 was even more unexpected. He was asked to take on the job by Sonia Gandhi, who led the centre-left Congress party to a surprise victory. Italian by birth, she feared her ancestry would be used by Hindu nationalist opponents to attack the government if she were to lead the country.First Period_None. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Mustang Bio ( NASDAQ: MBIO ) filed a prospectus relates to the resale by the selling stockholders of 34,767,934 shares of common stock. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell. Filing More on Mustang Bio Historical earnings data for Mustang Bio Financial information for Mustang BioWASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefining what it means to be American. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefining what it means to be American. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefining what it means to be American. But any efforts to halt the policy would face steep legal hurdles. Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It’s been in place for decades and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. It’s not the practice of every country, and Trump and his supporters have argued that the system is being abused and that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen. But others say this is a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, it would be extremely difficult to overturn and even if it’s possible, it’s a bad idea. Here’s a look at birthright citizenship, what Trump has said about it and the prospects for ending it: What Trump has said about birthright citizenship During an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Trump said he “absolutely” planned to halt birthright citizenship once in office. “We’re going to end that because it’s ridiculous,” he said. Trump and other opponents of birthright citizenship have argued that it creates an incentive for people to come to the U.S. illegally or take part in “birth tourism,” in which pregnant women enter the U.S. specifically to give birth so their children can have citizenship before returning to their home countries. “Simply crossing the border and having a child should not entitle anyone to citizenship,” said Eric Ruark, director of research for NumbersUSA, which argues for reducing immigration. The organization supports changes that would require at least one parent to be a permanent legal resident or a U.S. citizen for their children to automatically get citizenship. Others have argued that ending birthright citizenship would profoundly damage the country. “One of our big benefits is that people born here are citizens, are not an illegal underclass. There’s better assimilation and integration of immigrants and their children because of birthright citizenship,” said Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the pro-immigration Cato Institute. In 2019, the Migration Policy Institute estimated that 5.5 million children under age 18 lived with at least one parent in the country illegally in 2019, representing 7% of the U.S. child population. The vast majority of those children were U.S. citizens. The nonpartisan think tank said during Trump’s campaign for president in 2015 that the number of people in the country illegally would “balloon” if birthright citizenship were repealed, creating “a self-perpetuating class that would be excluded from social membership for generations.” What does the law say? In the aftermath of the Civil War, Congress ratified the 14th Amendment in July 1868. That amendment assured citizenship for all, including Black people. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” the 14th Amendment says. “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” But the 14th Amendment didn’t always translate to everyone being afforded birthright citizenship. For example, it wasn’t until 1924 that Congress finally granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. A key case in the history of birthright citizenship came in 1898, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the states. The federal government had tried to deny him reentry into the county after a trip abroad on grounds he wasn’t a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act. But some have argued that the 1898 case clearly applied to children born of parents who are both legal immigrants to America but that it’s less clear whether it applies to children born to parents without legal status or, for example, who come for a short-term like a tourist visa. “That is the leading case on this. In fact, it’s the only case on this,” said Andrew Arthur, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports immigration restrictions. “It’s a lot more of an open legal question than most people think.” Some proponents of immigration restrictions have argued the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” in the 14th Amendment allows the U.S. to deny citizenship to babies born to those in the country illegally. Trump himself used that language in his 2023 announcement that he would aim to end birthright citizenship if reelected. So what could Trump do and would it be successful? Trump wasn’t clear in his Sunday interview how he aims to end birthright citizenship. Asked how he could get around the 14th Amendment with an executive action, Trump said: “Well, we’re going to have to get it changed. We’ll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.” Pressed further on whether he’d use an executive order, Trump said “if we can, through executive action.” He gave a lot more details in a 2023 post on his campaign website. In it, he said he would issue an executive order the first day of his presidency, making it clear that federal agencies “require that at least one parent be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident for their future children to become automatic U.S. citizens.” Trump wrote that the executive order would make clear that children of people in the U.S. illegally “should not be issued passports, Social Security numbers, or be eligible for certain taxpayer funded welfare benefits.” This would almost certainly end up in litigation. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Nowrasteh from the Cato Institute said the law is clear that birthright citizenship can’t be ended by executive order but that Trump may be inclined to take a shot anyway through the courts. “I don’t take his statements very seriously. He has been saying things like this for almost a decade,” Nowrasteh said. “He didn’t do anything to further this agenda when he was president before. The law and judges are near uniformly opposed to his legal theory that the children of illegal immigrants born in the United States are not citizens.” Trump could steer Congress to pass a law to end birthright citizenship but would still face a legal challenge that it violates the Constitution. __ Associated Press reporter Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement

Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Evan Rodrigues and Adam Boqvist also scored for Florida, which won 6-3 at Carolina on Friday. The Panthers have won three straight — that streak following a stretch of six losses in seven games for the Stanley Cup champions. It was Knight's fourth career shutout, his first since Nov. 9, 2022 — also at home against Carolina. Spencer Martin made 23 saves on 28 shots for the Hurricanes, who have dropped four of their last six games (2-3-1). It was Martin's fourth consecutive start for Carolina. Hurricanes: This was the first time all season that the Hurricanes failed to get a point in the game immediately following a loss. Carolina was 4-0-1 after a defeat entering Saturday. Panthers: A big day for Samoskevich — his alma mater Michigan beat Ohio State in football on Saturday, that game ending just before the Florida-Carolina game started. The Panthers are 5-0-0 when he scores this season. Sam Reinhart had each of the four most recent Florida goals at 19:59, before Samoskevich got his Saturday. The Panthers scored two goals 11 seconds apart in the third to make it 5-0, and Yaniv Perets replaced Martin in the Hurricanes' net with 8:12 remaining. It was the second NHL appearance for Perets, who came on once in relief for Carolina last season. Ekblad's goal was his first in a span of 1,045 regular-season shifts since Feb. 20. Carolina starts a two-game homestand Tuesday against Seattle. Florida goes to Pittsburgh to start a two-game trip on Tuesday. AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts defense started this season struggling. It couldn't stop the run, couldn't keep teams out of the end zone, couldn't get off the field. Now the script has flipped. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley's group is playing stouter, holding teams — even the high-scoring Detroit Lions — largely in check long enough to give Indy a chance to win, and it's the Colts offense that has struggled. “They are playing their tails off. You don’t want them on the field a bunch and as an offense you want to be able to play complementary football,” running back Jonathan Taylor said after Sunday's 24-6 loss. “I would say specifically on offense, it sucks when you can’t help your defense out when they are fighting their tails off all game.” Indy's defense held up its end of the bargain by limiting the Lions (10-1) to 14 first-half points and allowing just 24, matching Detroit's lowest output since Week 3. The problem: Even when the Colts (5-7) did get Detroit off the field, they couldn't sustain drives or score touchdowns. Again. Anthony Richardson provided the bulk of the ground game by rushing 10 times for 61 yards, mostly early. Taylor managed just 35 yards on 11 carries and a season-high 10 penalties constantly forced the Colts to dig out from deep deficits. Part of that was by design. “We knew Jonathan Taylor was going to be the guy we needed to shut down,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We did that. The quarterback runs. It got us on a couple but overall, we did what we needed to do, and we kept them out of that game." Part of it could be because of an injury-battered offensive line that has started three rookies each of the past two weeks and finished the previous game with the same three rookies. Whatever the fix, Indy needs a good solution. There is good news for Indy is that its schedule now gets substantially more manageable. After losing four of five, all to teams in playoff position and three to division leaders, Indy faces only one team with a winning record in its final five games. The most recent time the Colts played a team with a losing mark, Richardson rallied them past the New York Jets 28-27. But Colts coach Shane Steichen knows that's not the answer. The Colts must get this offense righted now. “We’ve got to get that figured out. We’ve got to get him going on the ground,” Steichen said when asked about Taylor, who has 92 yards on his past 35 carries. “We’ll look at the offensive line. We’ll look at everything." Pass rush. Pro Bowl DT DeForest Buckner's presence certainly has been felt since he returned from a sprained ankle Oct. 27. In those past five games, the Colts have had 14 sacks, including three of Jared Goff on Sunday. Penalties. The Colts have had one of the cleanest operations in the league most of this season. Sunday was an anomaly, but one that can't merely be written off. WR Michael Pittman Jr. The five-year veteran is one of the league's toughest guys, but playing through a back injury appeared to take its toll on Pittman's productivity. Since sitting out in Week 10, Pittman has 11 receptions for 142 yards including six for 96 yards, his second-highest total of the season, Sunday. Tight ends. Each week the Colts want their tight ends to make an impact. And each week, they seem to fail. It happened again Sunday when Drew Ogletree dropped a TD pass that would have given Indy a 10-7 lead. Instead, Indy settled for a field goal and a 7-6 deficit. Through 12 games, Indy's tight ends have a total of 26 catches, 299 yards and two TDs. That's just not good enough in a league where versatile, productive tight ends increasingly signal success. Pittman and WR Josh Downs both returned to the game after leaving briefly with shoulder injuries. WR Ashton Dulin did not return after hurting his foot in the second half. But the bigger questions come on the offensive line. LT Bernhard Raimann (knee) was inactive Sunday, and rookie center Tanor Bortolini entered the concussion protocol Monday. Bortolini was one of three rookie starters the past two weeks, replacing Pro Bowler Ryan Kelly who is on injured reserve. 55.88 — Indy has scored touchdowns on 55.88% of its red zone trips this season. While it puts it near the middle of the NFL, it's cost the Colts multiple wins. Richardson needs to rebound from this latest 11 of 28 performance and show he can lead the Colts to victories week after week. He'll get plenty of chances over the season's final month, starting with next week's game at the New England Patriots. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflTecsys Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2025There you are, reaching on your tiptoes in the grocery store to grab the milk on the highest shelf marked with the latest date. It's worth it, you think, to get milk that will stay fresher longer. You don't finish the milk by that date, of course, so you dutifully pour the remainder down the drain the day after. But that "Sell by" label doesn't indicate when your milk will go bad — it's to help grocers rotate stock. Your milk was fine. Now you're back in the store, paying for more. With the exception of infant formula, date labels on packaged food are not federally regulated or required, leaving it up to manufacturers and the state to determine what labels are necessary. An old state law suggested putting dated labels on foods to help consumers know when their food has gone bad, instead of confusing, grocer-focused "Sell by" labels. A new California law requires them in an effort to reduce the food waste that Californians produce — 6 million tons of it every year, according to the state Department of Food and Agriculture. The goal of Assembly Bill 660, written by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), is to bring uniformity and common sense to dated food labels for consumers. Doing so will require grocery retailers and manufacturers to make changes, said Daniel Conway, California Grocers Association vice president of government relations. Between developing new inventory systems, retraining employees and even figuring out which labels need to be adjusted, it's not a change that can happen overnight, Conway said. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2026, giving grocers about a year and a half. "Having to wonder whether our food is still good is an issue that we all have struggled with. By strengthening labeling standards, and thus reducing food waste, AB 660 will keep money in the pockets of consumers while helping the environment and the planet," Irwin said in a release after the bill was passed through committee. There are more than 50 different phrases in food packaging, which makes it hard for consumers to tell exactly what each label means. That's what the law hopes to remedy, according to Nina Sevilla, a sustainable food systems advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of the bill's sponsors. Some labels are acronyms for longer phrases, like "PEB" for "Please enjoy by" — a nonsensical phrase that Erica Parker, a policy associate at bill sponsor Californians Against Waste, said she saw on a pack of tortillas once. Worse, those 50 phrases are not used consistently among manufacturers. An "Enjoy by" label might indicate the best date for quality on one product but could mean something else on a different product, Parker said. "The end goal of AB 660 is to create consistency in date labeling practices, thereby reducing consumer confusion and consequently, food waste. It's about creating a uniform system that allows consumers to make empowered, educated choices about the foods they purchase and consume," Parker said in an email. The new law bans food items from carrying "Sell by" labels, which can prompt people to throw out food that is still good. "Sell by" dates are typically used for grocers to ensure inventory is rotated properly, especially on dairy products, meats and other perishable items, and they don't necessarily indicate when your food might be spoiled. Instead, the law limits most labels to two options: a quality label, "Best if used by," and a safety label, "Use by." The label "Best if used by" specifies a date when the product might lose quality, but doesn't mean it isn't safe to eat. This is especially true for items that do not deteriorate on store shelves, such as bottled water and canned goods, which can be safe to consume for years past their labels if unopened and stored properly, said Teresa Murray, the consumer watchdog director of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. The organization works to identify and address issues of public interest in health, safety and well-being. Murray said the new law would send California's consumers in the right direction, adding that she hoped it would help educate consumers on what those labels actually mean. Anything that helps consumers stop throwing away edible food is a good thing, she said. Murray recommends the USDA-developed FoodKeeper app, which helps users understand food storage and get the best bang for their buck by avoiding food waste. It is available online or on Android and Apple devices as a mobile app. It might also help nonprofits like food banks accept more nonperishables, Murray said — some food banks might throw out or not accept canned goods if they are close to a labeled date without considering what that date actually means. Dates should be used as guidelines, Sevilla said. For most food products, she said, consumers should use their eyes and noses to check for odd coloration or odors before throwing them out. AB 660 calls for "Use by" safety labels for products that might spoil quickly as an alternative to the quality-oriented "Best if used by" label. A product that could be unsafe to consume after the labeled date should be packaged with a "Use by" date. California's new law is not as harsh as some in other states, such as Pennsylvania's milk labeling law, which requires the "Sell by" date to be no more than 17 days after the product is pasteurized. Food spoilage isn't as simple as picking a day, Murray said, but labels should be considered when checking if your groceries are still good or need to be tossed. The new law also allows grocery stores to use a "Packed on" label for prepared foods, as long as it also has a quality or safety label. The state law exempts some goods, such as infant formula, eggs, beer and wine, from requiring state labels. _________ ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Falcon’s Beyond Global Issues Reminder of Upcoming Stock Dividend

Newby scores 16, UNC Wilmington knocks off Appalachian State 76-61Colts defense picks up the pace as offense continues searching for answers to red zone woes

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Father and daughter deer hunting successFormula 1 announces ‘agreement in principle’ for Cadillac to join grid in 2026SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers are rushing to introduce legislation that reaffirms the state's role as a reproductive rights "haven" as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House and abortion-rights advocates warn of an uncertain future. Abortion remains legal in California, home to the strongest reproductive rights in the nation — unlike in some states, there is no required waiting period or counseling before the procedure, and minors can get abortions without parental involvement. In 2022 , voters solidified abortion access in the state constitution after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right, limiting healthcare for millions of women. But as Trump prepares to take the White House again, California's Democratic leaders are adamant that not enough has been done to secure reproductive access in case of further federal rollbacks. "The truth is, this is an urgent and dangerous situation," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said at a news conference in Sacramento on Monday, pointing to renewed legal challenges to the distribution of abortion pills. "The right-wing extremists continue to wage attack after attack on our bodily autonomy at the expense of the health or life of pregnant persons." Bonta, a Democrat, said new legislative proposals will make reproductive rights in California "ironclad." Gov. Gavin Newsom's earlier focus on abortion rights after Trump's first term — including ad campaigns in red states — have drawn criticism from California Republicans skeptical of his national political motives and praise from advocates who say it is better to be safe than sorry. While he has signed dozens of bills firming up abortion access in recent years, some of his plans have proved to be more flash than substance. A temporary law allowing doctors licensed in Arizona to provide abortions in California, for example, expired without any doctors using it. "He makes the big pronouncements, but he's not a very good executor of those policies," said Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher of Yuba City. "It's kind of become his M.O. to make a big splash, and then nothing really ever comes of it." Democrats, however, see the need to shore up abortion access given the uncertainty of Trump's plans. A bill introduced this week aims to ensure availability of mifepristone and misoprostol — the commonly used two-step medication abortion process — even if the Trump administration attempts to interfere. At issue is how anti-abortion government officials could revive and interpret the Comstock Act , a federal law that once banned the mailing of "obscene" materials related to abortions. While Trump has said he has no plans to ban abortion nationwide, he has repeatedly flip-flopped on the issue and taken credit for appointing conservative Supreme Court justices who reversed the federal right to abortion with their decision in the landmark Dobbs case. Reproductive health advocates are worried that under his second term, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could limit access to abortion medication. To lead the FDA, Trump has tapped Dr. Marty Makary , who has echoed antiabortion messages on Fox News about fetal pain — something disputed by major medical organizations. The California bill by former Planned Parenthood attorney and legislative newcomer Assemblymember Maggy Krell , D-Sacramento, aims to ensure that Californians continue to have access to medication abortion for the foreseeable future and protects "manufacturers, distributors, authorized healthcare providers and individuals" from any legal action for distributing or administering the pills. "There are emerging threats to the availability of mifepristone and misoprostol, and California may not be able to guarantee a continued supply," the bill states. "Previously, Governor Newsom implemented a plan to stockpile doses of misoprostol. While this effort was successful, the Legislature finds that the state needs to renew its stockpile to ensure that Californians can continue to exercise their constitutional rights." Last year, Newsom rushed to stockpile hundreds of thousands of abortion pills after a Texas judge ruled against the authorization of the medication. "We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services. Medication abortion remains legal in California," Newsom said then. But, facing expiration dates, the state released the stockpile to the public before the U.S. Supreme Court decision that rejected the Texas court's ruling. In Washington, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee chose to hold onto a similar stockpile in case Trump was reelected. A spokesperson for Newsom said California "remains ready" to procure more pills if needed. In another precautionary move last year, Newsom signed a law that allowed abortion providers in Arizona to temporarily practice in California. The action came after the Arizona Supreme Court reinstated an 1800s law that essentially banned all abortions. No Arizona providers ended up using the program, which expired Dec. 1, according to the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Concerns settled in Arizona after Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill that repealed the court decision, and voters last month passed a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to abortion . The California legislation "was designed to serve as a swift stop gap measure to preserve continued access to abortion care, if necessary, during this very precarious moment," California Department of Consumer Affairs spokesperson Monica Vargas said in an email when The Times asked for data about the program's use. Newsom also signed a law last year that allowed medical residents from states with "hostile" laws to get abortion training in California. The state does not require the California Medical Board to track whether that program is being used as intended, a spokesperson said. For Republican critics like Gallagher, those programs are instances of "political theater" meant more to draw attention to an issue than provide substantive policy. Newsom this week called a special legislative session in Sacramento to prepare for legal combat with Trump on issues such as abortion and immigration — a move heralded by liberals as smart preparation for an unpredictable president and criticized by conservatives as unnecessary panic. "In California, abortion is constitutionally protected, and you have a president-elect who has said very clearly he will not support any national abortion ban," Gallagher said. "This perceived threat that they're trying to make into a political volley ... it's just Newsom drawing attention to himself." Some abortion advocates said that they'd rather have a nimble governor like Newsom and be cautious even if the emergency plans don't always pan out. "Now more than ever is the time for innovative policy solutions," said Shannon Olivieri Hovis, a spokesperson for Essential Health Access. "And inevitably, it is going to be the case that not all solutions we put forth will be equally effective." Other bills introduced this week seeking to fill California's reproductive health access gaps include a proposal to financially penalize cities and counties that block the building of abortion clinics, as has happened in Beverly Hills and Fontana. Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, introduced a package of bills that ensure hospitals enforce laws that require emergency rooms to provide abortion care; make it easier for Medi-Cal recipients to get birth control; and prevent birthing centers from closing. About 40% of California counties don't have abortion clinics, including rural areas where transportation can be a hurdle. In September, the state sued a Humboldt County Catholic hospital after a patient said she was denied an emergency abortion even as she feared for her life because of miscarriage risks. "We have to be absolutely clear-eyed about the political and social moment we're in right now... when we have a proven misogynist as a president," said Mia Bonta, who is married to the attorney general, referring to Trump's sexual abuse allegations and "your body, my choice" refrains that surged after his election. "I think while California has done an amazing job, we still have a lot of work to do to shore up the infrastructure of support for people who are seeking health care and abortion access and protection of our reproductive and sexual freedoms." ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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