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Top Stories: Justice Department Will No Longer Defend Parts Of Affordable Care Act

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The top local stories this morning from KERA News:

The Trump administration says in a new court filing that it will no longer defend key parts of the Affordable Care Act, including the requirement that people have health insurance and provisions that guarantee access to health insurance regardless of any medical conditions.

Thursday's decision is a rare departure from the Justice Department's practice of defending federal laws in court. Texas and other states are suing to strike down the entire law because Congress recently repealed a provision that people without health insurance must pay a fine.

The administration says it agrees with Texas that the so-called individual mandate will be unconstitutional without the fine. It also says the provisions shielding people with medical conditions from being denied coverage or charged higher premiums also fall.

Other stories this morning:

  • Three-month-old Olivia Solis was born with a heart defect and has had multiple surgeries, the latest to close her chest after an extremely rare infant heart transplant. Her dad, Miguel Solis, is a Dallas school trustee, and president of the Latino Center for Leadership Development. He took a break from hospital duty to talk with KERA's Rick Holter.

You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM. 

Gus Contreras is a digital producer and reporter at KERA News. Gus produces the local All Things Considered segment and reports on a variety of topics from, sports to immigration. He was an intern and production assistant for All Things Considered in Washington D.C.