News In Brief

Sarah Willson, Editor-in-Chief

CT Could Regulate Faith-Based Pregnancy Centers:

Connecticut could become the first state to regulate faith-based pregnancy centers after initial approval of a bill was passed by the legislature’s Public Health Committee, the Hartford Courant reported.

According to the Courant, House Bill 7070 would “prohibit anti-abortion centers from engaging in false or deceptive advertising practices.”

Pro-choice advocates, along with Attorney General William Tong, have said that the bill is particularly important due to the fact that some reproductive health procedures, like abortion, are time-sensitive.

Several cities, including Hartford, the Courant said, have passed municipal ordinances regulating faith-based centers.

US Aid To Be Cut To Three Countries:

President Donald Trump is seeking to cut foreign aid to three Central American countries whose citizens are fleeing north to the United States-Mexico border.

The slash in hundreds of millions in aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras is causing outrage from some 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, including critics who said the cut will only drive migration north.

The high level of illegal immigration, NBC News reported, has also created a need for additional resources in the trio of countries.

Trump said his reason for the withdrawal in funds is because the countries “haven’t done a thing for us.”

The aid money, which was launched under former President Barack Obama, aimed to “strengthen security” and “foster development” within the countries.

Though Trump said the money will be redirected to other initiatives, it’s unclear at the time if the money can be rerouted.

Trump has also threatened to shut down the southern border, which is used by hundreds of thousands of people every day, which could impact billions of dollars in trade and millions of legal border crossings.

Brexit Still In Limbo:

The future of Britain continues to remain unclear after the British Parliament rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plan three times.

Lawmakers will now attempt to come up with an alternative to May’s plan, though The New York Times stated that none of May’s eight options appeared promising.

Failure to reach an agreement would result in Britain leaving the European Union in a little over a week, or delay Brexit further, the Times reported. Economists warned that a “no deal” solution could create “serious economic damage,” possibly causing a lack in supply of food and medicine.

An emergency summit for EU leaders has been scheduled for April 10.