Planned Parenthood of California has made the passing of a bill that would block parents from knowing if their child had an abortion or received transgender hormone treatments one of their legislative priorities for this year. 

SB 1004, sponsored by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, would revise “California’s existing patient protections to ensure that information about any sensitive services, as defined, is not sent to a third party or a policyholder not authorized to receive it.”

The bill expands the definition of “sensitive services” to include “services related to mental health, reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, substance abuse disorders, transgender health including gender-affirming care, and intimate partner violence.”

Planned Parenthood of California frames its support for the bill as providing patients with greater confidentiality. In explaining their support, they say that, “When a patient accesses health care for a sensitive service, including sexual and reproductive health care, confidentiality is of the utmost importance.” Then, they point out that communication from health insurance companies is not usually confidential and many seeking these services are not the “main policyholder.” They continue, “This bill will expand upon California’s existing protections to ensure that information about any…

Nearly 3,000 shoppers taking advantage of “senior hour” at 44 Atlanta Kroger stores were surprised Wednesday morning when actor-filmmaker and local resident Tyler Perry paid for their groceries. He also picked up the tab at 29 Winn-Dixies in New Orleans, where he was raised.

Over the weekend, the entertainment mogul also shelled out $21,000 to bless 42 out-of-work servers at his favorite restaurant, giving each of them $500.

“Senior and higher-risk Kroger shoppers in metro Atlanta did receive a nice surprise at the register this morning when they learned Tyler Perry had paid their grocery tab in full,” Felix Turner, the Atlanta spokesman for Kroger, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We would like to join our customers in thanking Mr. Perry for his kindness and generosity during this unprecedented pandemic. It was truly a pleasure to see our customers fill with joy and gratitude as the news spread throughout 44 stores across metro Atlanta.”

The grocery chain also took to Twitter, sharing a picture of a grateful shopper showing off the receipt.

Grocery stores across the country began implementing early morning senior hours several weeks ago to allow vulnerable shoppers an opportunity to get their groceries without exposure to the wider population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phil Kloer, a former reporter for the AJC, told the newspaper he was nearly finished shopping at…

A new survey challenges the conventional wisdom that Chick-fil-A is only popular among families with young children and the elderly.

As it turns out, Chick-fil-A is popular among the “woke” generation, too.

The survey of 5,200 U.S. teens by Piper Sandler found that Chick-fil-A was their favorite restaurant, easily edging Starbucks and Chipotle. 

Chick-fil-A was the favorite restaurant among 22 percent of teens, followed by Starbucks (12 percent), Chipotle (8 percent), McDonald’s (5 percent) and Dunkin Donuts (4 percent). 

It’s the fifth straight survey Chick-fil-A has topped the list. Piper Sandler conducts the survey twice a year.    

Chick-fil-A’s presence has been controversial among some teens. For example, last year some students at an Oregon high school staged a walkout to protest Chick-fil-A food at high school football games. 

The survey, though, shows Chick-fil-A is far from unpopular among the nation’s high schoolers. 

The company has led other surveys in recent years. 

Last year it dethroned In-N-Out as America’s favorite fast-food chain according to Market Force’s annual “America’s favorite” survey.

Chick-fil-A also led the 2019 American Customer Satisfaction Index, which is another survey of Americans about their favorite restaurants. 

The company’s official corporate purpose is “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is…

Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday said the faith of millions of Americans during the Easter season is a source of hope amidst an uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Pence made the remarks during the daily briefing from President Trump and the Coronavirus Task Force.

“In the wake of more than 1.9 million tests, we see more than 400,000 Americans have tested positive for the coronavirus, and sadly, we’ve lost more than 14,000,” Pence said. “We grieve. But as the Good Book says, we do not grieve like those who have no hope. In this very special week, I know that the faith of millions of Americans is a comfort to them.”

Trump, too, referenced the Easter holiday.

“This is a holy week, when religious believers across the nation will observe Passover, Good Friday and Easter,” Trump said. “Millions of Jewish families begin Passover at sundown tonight, a sacred, unbroken tradition that traces back to the ancient land of Egypt. And on Sunday, we celebrate our beautiful, wonderful Easter, which we all look forward to. And we’re going to have many Easters together in churches in the future.”

America, he said, is “getting much closer” to defeating the virus and “getting our country back to the way it was.”

Trump and Pence spoke to about 10,000 religious leaders Wednesday in an off-the-record conference call “to thank them for raising the…