The nation’s first trial over a state’s ban on gender-confirming care for children is starting this week in Arkansas. It’s the latest fight over restrictions on transgender you championed by republican leaders and widely condemned by medical experts.

U.S. District Judge Jay Moody will hear testimony and evidence over a law he temporarily blocked last year, prohibiting doctors from providing gender-confirming hormone treatment, puberty blockers, and surgery to anyone under 18 years old. The law also prevents doctors from referring patients elsewhere for such care.

Waves of explosives-laden suicide drones struck Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv Monday morning. Authorities say energy facilities were struck and one drone slammed into a residential building, killing four people.

Hurricane Ian devastated countless lives when it made landfall in Florida Sept. 28 as a category four storm. Although the hurricane hit Southwest Florida, its effects are being felt thousands of miles away by loved ones in the St. Thomas community.

St. Thomas senior Coryn “CJ” Jacobson has experienced the direct impacts of the storm, as her mother lives in Indian Creek Park, Florida, which was heavily hit by Ian. Jacobson’s mother evacuated north to Estero, Florida, and returned to a heavily damaged home once the storm had passed.

Sam Larson can be reached at lars4378@stthomas.edu