Alabama's Bold Move, Oscar Showdown, Jobs Report Anticipation

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Centrist Chronicle
March 09, 2024

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Several fertility clinics in Alabama are preparing to restart in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments following Governor Kay Ivey's (R) enactment of new legislation on Wednesday. This legal measure was introduced to shield IVF service providers and their staff from potential legal repercussions stemming from a state Supreme Court ruling that classified frozen embryos as extrauterine children, which had put these providers at risk of being implicated in wrongful death actions should embryos be discarded or damaged.

The newly passed bipartisan bill is designed to immunize IVF practitioners from both lawsuits and criminal charges, although it stops short of clarifying the status of frozen embryos under the law. The legislation does, however, permit civil suits against manufacturers of IVF equipment if their products are found to harm or destroy an embryo. Despite these protections, the principal clinic involved in the recent court case has indicated it will not immediately recommence offering IVF services due to ongoing concerns over legal safeguards.

This legislation is particularly relevant as approximately 1% of women between 15 and 44 years old have undergone IVF or similar reproductive technologies, with about 42% of adults reporting personal experience or acquaintance with someone who has utilized these treatments.


The anticipation surrounding "Oppenheimer" at the Academy Awards this Sunday isn't about its chances of securing an Oscar—it's about how many awards Christopher Nolan's cinematic masterpiece will garner. Entering the 96th Oscars with an impressive 13 nominations, Nolan's intense portrayal of the atomic bomb saga is poised to dominate the evening, potentially sweeping categories from technical achievements to major accolades such as best actor, supporting actor, and best picture. While many categories seem decided, the best actress race remains a highlight, featuring a showdown between Emma Stone for "Poor Things" and Lily Gladstone for "Killers of the Flower Moon," promising a captivating battle for the prestigious award.


Expect a stark contrast in the employment growth figures when the February jobs report is released this Friday, with predictions suggesting a significant slowdown from January's impressive performance.

Forecasts by economists peg the number of new jobs added in the US last month at around 200,000, based on FactSet's data. This forecast stands in sharp relief against the robust addition of 353,000 jobs in January.

However, the anticipated figures for February should not be underestimated, as they signify the continuation of an extraordinary period of growth in the labor market. Moreover, the remarkable job gains reported for January should be viewed with discernment, considering the possible impacts of seasonal adjustments, weather-related anomalies, and atypical patterns in seasonal layoffs that might have inflated the figures.