• News

by Daniel Johnson

August 26, 2024

Trump Angers Anti-Abortion Advocates With Reproductive Rights Phrasing

Former President Donald Trump provoked the ire of anti-abortion advocates when he referred to abortion as “reproductive rights” prompting Republicans to criticize him for trying to sound like a Democrat on the issue.

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Former President Donald Trump provoked the ire of anti-abortion advocates when he referred to abortion as “reproductive rights,” prompting Republicans to criticize him for trying to sound like a Democrat on the issue. 

According to Politico, Trump used the phrase in an Aug. 23 post on his Truth Social platform, which the outlet surmised was a reflection of the Trump campaign’s effort to find a new narrative on abortion as Vice President Kamala Harris continues to poll better than Trump.

Lila Rose, the founder of an anti-abortion group, Live Action, said on the Aug. 23 episode of her podcast that Trump was trying to ingratiate himself with those who are “pro-abortion.”

“Not only is it not principled, it’s not going to help the Trump campaign to be trying to sound like a Democrat right now,” Rose proclaimed.

Kristian Hawkins, the president of Students for Life Action, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Trump’s Truth Social post “understandably upset many within the pro-life movement.”

Phillip Klein, an editor at National Review, said on X that in the fight over abortion, it “increasingly looks like Trump is joining the other side.”

Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council and a social conservative, told The New York Times that Trump’s new position was risky for him and the Republican Party in general.

“My advice: When you’re in a hole, stop digging. This week made clear the D.N.C. has the corner on the abortion market. He is not only suppressing his own support, he is going to hurt the vast majority of Republican candidates who are 100 percent pro-life.”

The Trump campaign, however, hit back at those suggestions and claimed in a statement that his use of the term squared with his desire for robust reproductive rights.

“As President Trump has consistently stated, he supports the rights of individuals in their respective states to determine their laws on abortion. President Trump also strongly supports ensuring women have access to the care they need to create healthy families, including widespread access to IVF, birth control, and contraception, and he always will,” Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign’s national press secretary, said.

Trump has at times clashed with anti-abortion advocates, blaming them for the GOP’s mid-term losses in 2022, and refused to call for a nationwide abortion ban. Instead, he has repeatedly indicated that he wants to leave any decision on abortion up to individual states.

According to The New York Times, at the Democratic National Convention, Harris traced the issue of abortion directly back to the former president, saying, “I believe America cannot truly be prosperous unless Americans are fully able to make their own decisions about their own lives, especially on matters of heart and home,” Vice President Harris said. “But tonight, in America, too many women are not able to make those decisions. And let’s be clear about how we got here. Donald Trump handpicked members of the United States Supreme Court to take away reproductive freedom. And now he brags about it. This is what is happening in our country because of Donald Trump. And understand, he is not done.”

RELATED CONTENT: New Report Says State Abortion Bans Threaten Nearly 7M Black Women In Nation

• News

by Daniel Johnson

August 26, 2024

Apartment Complex Backs Down From Charging Deceased Resident Rent

The complex’s manager emailed an apology to the deceased woman's family, claiming the rent bill was a 'clerical error.'

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The Lodge at Shavano Park, an apartment complex in San Antonio, Texas, backed away from its intentions to charge the family of Sandra Bonilla a year’s rent following her death after receiving backlash after a CBS Austin report that brought negative attention to the decision.

According to CBS Austin, the apartment complex initially billed Bonilla for breaking her lease when she died in June at the age of 91. The complex’s manager, Brandon Izaguirre, emailed her family, apologizing for what they said was a “clerical error.”

“We are very sorry for the unfortunate clerical error that led to incorrect charges being applied to Sandra’s account with The Lodge at Shavano Park Apartments. We have corrected the error and removed the remaining charges as a courtesy. There is no balance due, and the updated Final Account Statement is attached to this email. Again, we apologize for our mistake,” the email read.

Initially, the family was charged $15,000 despite sending a letter to the apartment complex after her death. In addition, the family received a collection notice regardless of the fact that under Texas law, landlords are not to charge more than one month’s rent to a deceased tenant’s account as long as a representative of said deceased tenant cancels the lease in writing and removes any of the deceased’s effects from the property. 

Bonilla was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery next to her husband, who preceded her in death. Bonilla had lived at the complex for more than 10 years before she died. 

David Naterman, Bonilla‘s son, told CBS Austin that the complex told him they would use the security deposit paid when Bonilla secured the apartment to pay for turning it over and terminating her lease. 

“We went to the apartment complex, spoke to the leasing manager and he told us that he would use the security deposit towards the cleaning and turning over the apartment and that they would terminate the lease. They want the rest of the, about a year’s long worth of rent, from a dead person,” Naterman said.

Bill Clanton, an attorney specializing in consumer and debt collection law, told CBS Austin that the complex’s actions were highly unusual. 

“I think it’s pretty unusual; I’ve never heard of anybody trying to charge an estate or somebody who is deceased for rent before. The landlord can charge for about 30 days once the lease is terminated, you can’t get blood from a turnip and you certainly can’t get rent from a dead person.”

RELATED CONTENT: Man Arrested For Using Dead Person’s ID To Buy 2 Cars: Highlights Growing Issue Of Identity Theft Targeting The Deceased