Kansas’ top court bolsters a state right to abortion and strikes down 2 anti-abortion laws

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has reaffirmed its stance that the state constitution protects abortion access. The court’s decisions Friday in separate cases struck down a ban on a common second-trimester procedure and state laws regulating abortion providers more strictly than other health care providers. The court declared access to abortion a fundamental right in 2019. Voters also have decisively rejected a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have explicitly declared abortion not a fundamental right. The court has rejected a suggestion from lawyers for the state that the justices should walk back the 2019 decision.

3 dead and 8 injured after truck strikes group celebrating July 4 in Manhattan park

New York City authorities say three people were killed and eight others injured after a pickup truck drove into a group celebrating the Fourth of July. Police Chief Jeffrey Maddrey says the truck came down a street “at a high rate of speed” shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday and drove into Corlears Hook Park on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Maddrey says two victims were confirmed dead at the scene. A police spokesperson says a third victim was later pronounced dead. Police say the driver, 44-year-old Daniel Hyden has been arrested on charges including driving while intoxicated. It’s not clear whether Hyden has an attorney who can speak for him.

Firefighters make progress against California wildfire

OROVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters have made progress against a California wildfire that triggered extensive evacuation orders, but damage assessments have raised the number of destroyed structures to 25 and forecasters say heat and fire risk are expanding on the West Coast. Containment of the Thompson Fire near the Butte County city of Oroville rose Friday to 46%. The fire grew little overnight and remains at just under 6 square miles. Most evacuation orders were lifted Thursday. A new blaze dubbed the French Fire erupted Thursday evening and triggered evacuations in the small town of Mariposa along a highway leading to Yosemite National Park. But winds calmed and crews were able to build a containment line along the entire eastern side of the community.

US employers added a solid 206,000 jobs in June

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers delivered another healthy month of hiring in June, adding 206,000 jobs and once again displaying the U.S. economy’s ability to withstand continually high interest rates. Last month’s job growth did mark a pullback from 218,000 in May. But it was still a strong gain, reflecting the resilience of America’s consumer-driven economy, which is slowing but still growing steadily. Still, Friday’s report contained some signs of a slowing job market. The unemployment rate ticked up from 4% to 4.1%, a still-low number but the highest rate since November 2021. The government also sharply revised down its estimate of job growth for April and May by a combined 111,000.