Playground Safer News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

First responders on the ground who are still there once the government leaves, doesn't it seem weird that the government is discriminating against them in this instance? >> president trump seems to agree. he tweeted churches in texas should be entitled to reimbursement from fema relief funds for helping victims of hurricane harvey just like others. but the mall is not clear, says new york university law professor burt newborn . the churches are basing their case on the recent supreme court decision granting trinity luthran church public funds to make its playground safer, but in that case, as ...

What's interesting to note is that shortly after this opinion was issued, there was -- it was read by justice sotomayer. saying by allowing state money to go to a religious institution, particularly here in missouri, this violated the separation of church and state under the constitution. it is very rare for a justice to read a dissent, but justice sotomayor is doing. people who opposed this decision, who wrote against it, the american civil liberties union railed against it saying it could further open the door to state's funding religious institution. this is a minor case where the church sa...

Potential decision on the travel ban. that, not coming yet. the case is supreme court is issued an opinion on today involves a church in missouri that applied for public funds to put a rubber surface on the playground at the church. a big win for that church. trinity lutheran in missouri -- was applied that the fact they said no, a church cannot get state funds for this particular grant, that would go to the safety of a playground at the church, saying that is unconstitutional under the free exercise clause of the constitution. this is a big win for the church of missouri to help make their pl...

Their playground safer. this was open to all nonprofits in the state of missouri and ranked number 5 out of 14 applications but to their surprise they got a letter saying they were rejected from the program saying it was owned by a church. >> the state policy infringes first amendment rights to free exercise of religion but nothing about the policy prohibits the church from fully and freely engaging in religious exercise. what will happen playground resurfacing is a safety issue, and generally available public benefit and other examples available public safety for fire and police protection. i...

The bench because of cases like this that ultimately wound up in the supreme court. he is hearing this case today. how do you think it will go down? >> i'm optimistic. full disclosure we filed a brief with the supreme court in the case supporting the church. we think the church's position is correct. if you look at what it's really about, the idea a church would be excluded from a general welfare program. sounds so simple but it has major ramifications. that is excess rubber that is then purchased through state grants for non-profit groups for schools and to make the playground safer. it sound...