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CBS News
19 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland leaders respond after U.S. Supreme Court sides with group of parents on school gender identity lessons
Leaders in Maryland have given mixed reactions to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of a group of Montgomery County school parents who want to opt their young children out of lessons that include books that talk about gender and sexual orientation. The 6-3 opinion in Mahmoud v. Taylor grants the group of parents a preliminary injunction as their lawsuit continues to play out. In its decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Montgomery County Schools must notify parents and allow them to opt their children out of reading books that contain LGBTQ-inclusive content. "While we are extremely disappointed in the Supreme Court's decision, unfortunately, we are not surprised," the Montgomery County Education Association said in a statement. "MCEA believes that our public schools should remain inclusive places where differences are celebrated. This decision sets us back and is reminiscent of a time when discrimination and intolerance were the norm." Maryland leaders react to Supreme Court ruling Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown expressed his disappointment after the Supreme Court ruling. "These materials help teachers create classrooms where all students can thrive and feel safe, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation," he said in a statement. The Maryland Senate Republican Caucus praised the decision as "a victory for common sense and for parental rights." The group of Republican leaders said the ruling, "affirms a fundamental principle that Maryland parents–not government bureaucrats–should have the final say in how their children are educated, particularly when it comes to sensitive topics like gender identity and sexuality." Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey said the Montgomery County school district took an "extreme step" by denying parents the right to opt out of curriculum that goes against their family values. "That's not inclusive—it's authoritarian," he said in a statement. "This case should serve as a wake-up call to education officials across Maryland," said Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready. Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8) said the ruling opens Pandora's box for those who wish to opt out of teachings that don't align with their family's religious beliefs. "There are religions that oppose medical science, surgery, psychiatry, interracial marriage, monogamy, woman's suffrage, the right of gay people to marry, and so on. All of them will now be able to flood the courts with claims that particular curricular teachings and books offend their sincere values and their children should not be exposed to the offensive doctrines," Raskin said in a statement. WJZ has reached out to Gov. Wes Moore's office for comment.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Heartbroken Opa-locka mom speaks out after 9-year-old autistic son found dead in canal
South Florida mom shares her grief after 9-year-old autistic son dies shortly after running away South Florida mom shares her grief after 9-year-old autistic son dies shortly after running away South Florida mom shares her grief after 9-year-old autistic son dies shortly after running away A South Florida mother is grieving the loss of her 9-year-old son, who was found dead in a canal after running away from home. Anthony "King" Brown, who had autism and was non-verbal, was discovered less than a mile from his family's new home, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office. A sudden disappearance King's mother, Cyrelle Rolle, told CBS News Miami she was bathing her youngest child when her daughter alerted her that the front door had been left open. That's when she realized King had wandered off. "I just lost it. I just ran. No shoes, no nothing. I was just screaming 'King,' just hoping he was at the corner," Rolle said. "He wasn't." The family had recently moved to the area after experiencing homelessness. Rolle said her son was adjusting well to the new home. "He loved it," she said. "It felt like home for us." A gentle, loving child Rolle described her son as deeply affectionate and gentle, relying on touch to communicate his love. "He was just so loving. He would always show me affection... so, so gentle," she said. Routines were especially important for King, as they are for many children on the autism spectrum. A common and tragic risk Experts say cases like King's are heartbreakingly common. Dr. Angeala Tejeda, a psychologist with the Early Intervention Program - ABA Therapy, explained that children with autism often lack an understanding of danger and are drawn to water for sensory reasons. "Kids with autism specifically, they don't have a concept of what is danger," Dr. Tejeda said. "They look for comfort and sensory-wise as well. So, when they get into the water, it feels relaxing." She recommends safety measures like GPS tracking devices, including Apple AirTags, and installing alarms or locks on doors to help prevent similar incidents. The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office said no foul play is suspected. Community gathering planned A vigil in honor of King Brown will be held Friday night.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
16 states sue to block Trump administration plan to distribute machine-gun conversion devices
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) at a July 2024 news conference. Brown on Monday joined 15 other attorneys general suing the Trump administration over its plan to distribute thousands of machine-gun conversion devices. (Photo by Elijah Pittman/Maryland Matters) Attorneys general in 16 jurisdictions sued Monday to block a Trump administration plan to redistribute thousands of devices that convert guns to machine guns, including distribution in states where such devices are banned by state law. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland, said the plan would not only expose residents of those states to greater amounts of deadly violence, but it would be contrary to federal law that calls for the seizure of machine-gun conversion devices. And it would cause federal officials to 'aid and abet violations of state law' by distributing the devices in states where they are outlawed, the suit said. The decision to return almost 12,000 forced reset triggers — which allow shooters to fire hundreds of rounds a minute with one pull of the trigger — was announced in a settlement last month between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and gun manufacturers and gun-rights groups. 'These devices enable firearms to fire up to 900 bullets per minute. The increased rate of fire allows carnage and chaos to reign on the streets,' said Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) in a virtual press briefing Monday with New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin (D) and Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings (D). 'Everyone nearby becomes vulnerable to serious injury or death. These are battlefield weapons that have no place in our communities,' Brown said. Under the Biden administration, ATF classified forced reset triggers as 'prohibited machine guns under federal law … and conducted extensive retrieval operations, seizing nearly 12,000 FRTs from the field,' according to the lawsuit. Maryland Supreme Court upholds gun possession ban in some non-felony cases But the new administration reversed course after a Feb. 7 executive order from President Donald Trump (R) on 'Protecting Second Amendment Rights.' On May 16, the Justice Department announced a settlement with Rare Breed Triggers, a manufacturer of the devices based in Wichita City, Texas. Under the deal, the company agreed not to develop or design such triggers for handguns, to promote safe and responsible use of its products, and to enforce its patents to 'prevent infringement that could threaten public safety.' In exchange, the government agreed not to enforce any policy where an FRT is 'contended to be' a machine gun, and to return by Sept. 30 any reset triggers seized or 'taken as a result of a voluntary surrender.' 'We won,' Lawrence DeMonico, president of Rare Breed Triggers, said in a video posted online the day settlement was announced. 'With the Trump administration's renewed focused on justice and their commitment to correcting the weaponization of the DOJ under the Biden administration, we were finally able to secure a deal that brought this fight to a close.' Representatives with Rare Breed Triggers and the Justice Department did not respond to email requests for comment Monday. The National Association of Gun Rights, which was also a party to the settlement, said it a statement that the deal will survive any challenge from the 'anti-gun attorneys general.' 'A federal court already ruled the government unlawfully seized thousands of legal triggers from law-abiding Americans — a decision that the ATF now acknowledges and accepts,' said Hannah Hill, vice president for the association. 'These states lack standing to file this lawsuit, and they know it. This suit is just reckless political lawfare.' But the states' lawsuit highlights the impact of gun violence in their jurisdictions, where it said there were nearly 47,000 gun-related deaths in 2023. Illinois had the most such deaths that year, at 1,691. Of the states represented at Mondays briefing, Maryland recorded 737 gun-related deaths in 2023, New Jersey had 430 and Delaware had 124, according to the suit. The suit also spells out the financial burden that comes with gun violence, for medical bills, police, court and prison costs. It said one fatal shooting in Baltimore can cost $2.4 million and a nonfatal shooting costs $1.5 million. In Newark, New Jersey, the cost is nearly $2.2 million for a fatal shooting and $1 million for a nonfatal shooting. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE 'This is not a partisan issue. It is a public safety issue,' Delaware's Jennings said. 'The Trump administration's deal to redistribute these deadly devices violates the law, full stop. It undermines public safety and ties the hand of law enforcement.' Platkin recalled the shooting death in March 2022, just two months after he took office, of SeQuoya Bacon-Jones, who was a bystander to a shooting when she was struck and killed. Platkin said SeQuoya would have celebrated her 13th birthday last Saturday. 'She had dreamed of becoming a law enforcement officer, but instead she was killed by a single stray bullet while she was playing hide-and-seek in the courtyard of her apartment complex,' Platkin said. 'I wish the Trump administration … would put little kids like Sequoya's interests ahead of the gun lobby's. But since they don't seem to care, we're going to make them care.' Besides Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey, other jurisdictions on the suit are the District of Columbia and the states of Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. All but Maine and Vermont currently have state laws prohibiting forced reset triggers or guns modified with them.
CBS News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware AGs to share update on federal firearm cases
The attorneys general for Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware will share an update Monday morning on federal firearm cases. The updates come after a June 6 Supreme Court decision that upheld a Maryland law prohibiting convicted felons from purchasing firearms. In applauding the law, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown committed to upholding laws that protect the safety of residents. "The decision by Maryland's highest court keeps our communities safe," Brown said in a statement. "It makes clear that Maryland can continue to keep firearms out of the hands of individuals with serious criminal records - a policy consistent with common sense, our Constitution, and our commitment to reducing gun violence." Supreme Court upholds Maryland assault weapons ban On June 2, the Supreme Court declined a challenge to Maryland's ban on assault weapons. The Supreme Court rejected the challenge in 2024, as a federal appeals court had yet to rule on it. However, an appeals court found that assault weapons should be banned as they are not protected under the Second Amendment. Though the high court has yet to decide if some assault weapons are protected under the Second Amendment, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said the issue is being deliberated by other federal appeals courts. According to Kavanaugh, the federal rulings should help the Supreme Court in its decision. Supreme Court blocks Mexico firearm lawsuit On June 5, the Supreme Court blocked a lawsuit from Mexico against major gun manufacturers in the U.S. The unanimous decision prevented the Mexican government's effort to hold gun makers accountable for violence from drug cartels. In its argument, the Mexican government said gun makers are aiding in the unlawful sale of firearms to traffickers who take them across the border. In a similar move, Maryland and Baltimore sued gun manufacturer Glock in February, alleging the company violated the state's Gun Industry Accountability Act. The lawsuit alleged that Glock contributed to the gun violence crisis by promoting the use of switches, a device that converts a pistol into a machine gun.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Teen accused of killing mother's boyfriend, Paulding County deputies say
The Brief Javar Summerhour, 17, is in custody after allegedly shooting and killing his mother's boyfriend, 31-year-old Anthony Brown, in Hiram, Paulding County. The incident occurred at a home on Westend Way. Summerhour is currently held in the Paulding County Jail without bond. PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. - A 17-year-old is behind bars after Paulding County deputies say he shot and killed his mother's boyfriend. What we know Deputies were called to a home on Westend Way in Hiram just after 7 p.m. Friday. That's where they found the body of 31-year-old Anthony Brown. The suspect had already fled the scene. Deputies say the suspect's family cooperated with the investigation, and as a result, 17-year-old Javar Summerhour was captured shortly after without incident. It was later revealed that Brown was dating Summerhour's mother. It's not clear what led to the gunfire. Summerhour is being held in the Paulding County Jail without bond. This is an ongoing investigation. What you can do Anyone who has any information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Paulding County Sheriff's Office Tip Line at (770) 443-3047 or send a message via the Paulding Sheriff mobile app. The Source This preliminary information has been confirmed by the Paulding County Sheriff's Office.
