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Friend,
1. ABA JOURNAL: 11th Circuit upholds school's ban on transgender students using bathrooms corresponding with gender identity“In a decision that creates a circuit split, a federal appeals court has upheld a Florida school district’s policy that bans transgender students from using bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity. In a 7-4 opinion issued Dec. 30, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Atlanta said the policy implemented by the school board of St. Johns County, Florida, doesn’t violate the Constitution or Title IX of the U.S. Education Amendments of 1972.” A decision like this vindicates our Coalition’s past hard work on the issue. More importantly, the circuit split decision means that the Supreme Court will probably take up the issue.
 2. NEWS & OBSERVER: NC teacher files lawsuit saying he was fired for criticizing Critical Race Theory"In the lawsuit, Phillips is alleging racial and religious discrimination, saying he was unfairly treated due to his views as a white male Evangelical Christian. He’s asking for, among other things, to be reinstated as an instructor at the Governor’s School and to be awarded back pay and damages for the pain and suffering he experienced. Phillips has received the support of conservative groups such as the N.C. Values Coalition, which says that he was wrongfully terminated. 'Our taxpayer funded educational institutions should be teaching students how to think critically and promoting a diversity of viewpoints, instead of censoring ideas competing with far-left ideology,' Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the N.C. Values Coalition, said in a statement. 'I strongly support ADF’s challenge to Dr. Phillips’ termination and hope justice is served for Dr. Phillips. If proven correct, the school should be brought to task not only for teaching Critical Race Theory but for also punishing those who challenge it.'” Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/article270301007.html
3. WRAL: Republican gains and new faces likely to affect NC lawmakers' 2023 agenda"The new session of the state legislature gets underway this month, and it's likely to bring more proposals on culture-war issues than we’ve seen in the last few years. Several new lawmakers could make some old battles less partisan this session. Ever since Democrats broke the Republicans' veto-proof majorities in the House and Senate in 2018, the threat of a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has dissuaded GOP leaders from advancing many bills on hot-button social issues. But the balance of power has shifted in this new legislature." Read more: https://www.wral.com/slimmer-margins-new-faces-likely-to-affect-nc-lawmakers-2023-agenda/20653232/
4. ABC NEWS: FDA says it will greenlight pharmacies to fill prescriptions for abortion pill
"If pharmacies jump on board, the FDA action could dramatically
expand access to the drug in states where it's already legal. Doctors,
for example, might be more willing to get certified to prescribe the
drug because they would no longer have to stock it themselves and
could write a prescription much as they would any other medication."
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fda-greenlight-pharmacies-fill-prescriptions-abortion-pill-agency/story?id=96115469
5. NEWSMAX: Univ. of Idaho to Pay $90K for Violating Christian Students' Free Speech“The University of Idaho has been ordered to pay a $90,000 settlement to a group of Christian law students and a college professor, after apparently violating First Amendment protections. The previously disputed case involved three University of Idaho law students who are also members of the Christian Legal Society (CLS) student group — along with a law professor, who doubled as the CLS faculty adviser. All four filed a free-speech lawsuit against the school, according to The Columbian. Read more: https://www.newsmax.com/us/idaho-students-christians/2022/12/09/id/1099928/ 
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