Bowling Green residents do not have to worry about the local Hobby Lobby closing.

Though there have been rumors that all of Hobby Lobby’s locations would close, the company actually plans to open 70 new locations in 2014, according to a Feb. 5 press release from Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

The press release said the rumors may have stemmed from the company’s founders’ objection to “providing certain contraception drugs and devices mandated by the Affordable Care Act.”

Casual crafters and art students alike would have felt the effects of Hobby Lobby closing.

Junior Cari Ritzenthaler said she had not heard the rumor, but would have been affected by the closure if it had happened.

“I would have nowhere to get my craft stuff,” Ritzenthaler said.

Ritzenthaler said she goes to Hobby Lobby at least once a month to buy craft supplies such as paint and yarn for crocheting.

Junior Courtney Calai said, “I’m an art student so it would really suck [if Hobby Lobby closed].”

Calai is a digital arts major who also needs supplies for glassblowing and painting.

“I’m a very varied artist,” Calai said.

Calai was at Hobby Lobby looking for an X-Acto knife for her 2-D animation class.

She said she could go to Wal-Mart for supplies if Hobby Lobby closed, but she would prefer not to. Hobby Lobby is more expensive than Wal-Mart, but worth it, she said.

Calai also prefers Hobby Lobby over the bookstore on campus.

“It’s just a tad cheaper than [the bookstore],” she said.

The art student visits Hobby Lobby once or twice a month.

“I try to stock up, especially when they have sales,” Calai said.

Hobby Lobby objects on religious grounds to four “potentially life-terminating drugs and devices” mandated by the Affordable Care Act, the Feb. 5 press release said.

In July 2013, a district court granted Hobby Lobby an injunction against the mandate, according to a July 19 press release from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. The injunction prevented the government from enforcing the mandate.

The Becket Fund is Hobby Lobby’s legal representation in this case.

The United States government asked the Supreme Court in September to review the case, according to a Sept. 19 press release from the Becket Fund. In October, Hobby Lobby also asked the Supreme Court to review the case; an “unusual step,” according to an Oct. 21 press release from the Becket Fund.

The case is set to be heard by the Supreme Court in March, Hobby Lobby’s Feb. 5 press release said. A decision is expected by June.