ThinkProgress

Eight Outrageous Stories

Here’s a few stories from today that will probably leave you shaking your head.

Kansas Will Kick 20,000 People Off Of Food Stamps: Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration is about to make life harder for the unemployed.

Former Senator Opens Luxury Animal Hospital, But May Try To Avoid Insuring His Human Employees: John Ensign describes his new pet clinic as the “Ritz-Carlton” of veterinary options. But the employees who work there may not have a similar level of luxury when it comes to their own health care options.

Thanks To Texas’ Harsh New Abortion Restrictions, Clinics Are Beginning To Close Their Doors: Up to seven abortion clinics in rural areas expect to be forced to close, the clearest evidence yet of the dramatic consequences of Texas’ new anti-choice law.

It Gets Worse: Russia Proposes Law To Deny Child Custody To Gay Parents: A proposed bill in the Russian legislature would disqualify gay parents from being granted custody of their children, similar to how drug addicts and child abusers are disqualified.

Without Warning, 57,000 Virginians Could Have Their Voter Registrations Cancelled: Could an ongoing voter purge tip the November gubernatorial election?

Anti-Choice Groups Won’t Stop Trying To Shut Down Mississippi’s Very Last Abortion Clinic: A federal judge has already ruled that Mississippi’s last abortion clinic can stay open. So anti-choice groups are taking a different approach to target it.

Sequestration Cuts Nevada’s Long-Term Unemployment Checks By 59 Percent: Benefit checks will be drastically reduced amid stubbornly high unemployment.

North Carolina Legislature Overrides Veto To Drug Test Welfare Applicants: After North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) vetoed a bill passed by the state legislature to require drug tests for some applicants to the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, formally known as welfare, the legislature voted to override him on Wednesday.

BONUS GOOD NEWS STORY:

Major New Study On Obamacare Premiums Should End The ‘Rate Shock’ Hysteria Once And For All: The most comprehensive study on Obamacare to date finds that Americans’ insurance premiums under the health law will be “lower than expected.” Many Americans will pay even less than the top-line rates after factoring in government subsidies for their health coverage, with some paying nothing at all for crucial medical coverage