California police under audit after racist texts discovered | First Thing

Messages showing Antioch officers using racist slurs, and bragging about making up evidence and beating suspects have sparked outrage. Plus, supreme court delays decision on abortion pill restrictions

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City officials in northern California have voted to audit the troubled police department amid outrage over text messages showing police officers using racist slurs and bragging about making up evidence and beating suspects.

The FBI and the Contra Costa district attorney’s office discovered the shocking messages while investigating officers within the Antioch police department suspected of crimes. Officials have named 17 officers who sent texts, including the president of the Antioch police union, but nearly half the department was included in the messages.

‘Boasting’. “The officers’ texts about my baby made me feel like he died all over again,” Kathryn Wade told the East Bay Times. “The boasting and bragging about what you did to people is so heartbreaking. The threats you make on this community, Black and brown [residents], something needs to be done.”

What does the pause do? It gives the justices additional time to study arguments and consider the restrictions ordered by the lower court, which include limiting mifepristone use after seven weeks of pregnancy – it is currently approved through 10 weeks – and banning delivery by mail.