Reproductive Health / Public News Service

Clinics providing abortions in Minnesota have reported a surge in patients since neighboring states were given the legal path to enact bans. It has fueled broader concerns about access to the procedure, as well as reproductive care. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

New Law Could Add Clarity to Reproductive Care in Rural MN

Reproductive rights advocates are cheering Minnesota's new law centering around abortion access. Supporters predict it could help in other ways for …

Callers to the newly launched Abortion Legal Hotline at 833-309-6301 can leave specific call-back or messaging instructions and someone will call or message that person back within two to three business days to gather information about the caller's legal questions. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

MA Launches Free Legal Advice Hotline Regarding Abortion Care

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office has announced the launch of a new hotline for abortion-care providers and people seeking confidential lega…

Although the Food and Drug Administration removed the in-person requirement for patients to get abortion pills, they must only be prescribed by health-care providers who are certified to treat such patients, and patients must complete a consent form. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation Would Expand NY Medication Abortion Access

New York pharmacists would be able to dispense abortion medication under newly proposed legislation, and a person could get the prescription from a …

Every four in a half minutes a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Elena/AdobeStock)

National Birth Defects Awareness Month in PA

This is National Birth Defects Awareness Month. Birth defects are common, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and they can …

Nearly one in five new mothers participating in Wyoming's Medicaid Pregnant Women Program lose their health insurance 60 days after giving birth. (Adobe Stock)

WY Lawmakers Consider Extended Health Coverage for New Moms

New mothers in Wyoming enrolled in the Medicaid Pregnant Women Program lose their health insurance 60 days after giving birth, but a new bill making …

The CDC reports about one in every 10 babies born in the United States is a preterm birth. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

New Research in MI on Preterm Births, Environmental Toxins

Wayne State University has received an $11 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate how volatile organic compounds contribu…

For Black women in Georgia, pregnancy-related maternal mortality is higher at 47 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to white women, at 14.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. (insta_photos/Adobe Stock)

Study: Medicaid Expansion Reduces Postpartum Hospitalizations

New research makes a compelling case for expanding Medicaid coverage in states like Georgia that have not. The study examines postpartum …

Medication abortion has been available in the United States since 2000, when the Food and Drug Administration <a href=

greenlighted the use of mifepristone for early nonsurgical abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (Adobe Stock)">

OTC Birth Control Urged as CVS, Walgreens Plan to Sell Abortion Pill

CVS and Walgreens have announced they will sell abortion medication at pharmacies, after the FDA announced it is allowing mifepristone to be bought …

The mortality rate among Black infants in Minnesota is nearly twice the rate for white infants. (Adobe Stock)

Minnesota Expands Postnatal Health Coverage

Minnesota lawmakers are back at work for a new legislative session, and changes approved last year are now being implemented, including efforts to …

Last March, Wyoming lawmakers passed a law that would ban abortions in most cases if the U.S. Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade, which the high court did in June. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming Supreme Court Sends Suit Over Abortion Ban Back to District

The Wyoming Supreme Court has decided it will not weigh in on a lawsuit that has temporarily halted a ban on abortions in the state. Citing a state …

A national advocacy group says three-quarters of women in the United States who are entering the workforce will be pregnant and employed at some point of their lives. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Clock Ticking on Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Protections are in place in North Dakota and at the federal level to prevent discrimination against pregnant workers. But advocates say these women …

Tamara Loertscher holds her son, Harmonious Ellner, weeks after his birth in 2015. Loertscher was detained and incarcerated in Taylor County, Wis., during her pregnancy after health officials alleged she was using drugs while pregnant, an allegation she denies. (Photo courtesy of Loertscher.)

Policing Pregnancy: WI ‘Fetal Protection’ Law Forces Treatment or Jail

By Phoebe Petrovic for Wisconsin Watch.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for Wisconsin Watch-Public News Service …

According to a survey from Power to Decide, about seven in 10 young adults incorrectly believe emergency contraception can end a pregnancy in its early stages. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Young Adults Concerned about Birth-Control Access

Results of a new survey show many young people are worried about losing access to birth control. The survey, by the nonprofit Power to Decide…

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 50-year ruling that guaranteed the right to abortion, emboldened conservative groups now want the courts to impose further restrictions. (Inna/AdobeStock)

Anti-Abortion Groups Ask Texas Judge to Ban Mailing Abortion Pills

By Carrie Baker for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

Despite the recent end to federal abortion protections, several states that followed through with strict bans have seen them put on hold through court challenges. (Adobe Stock)

ND Supreme Court Hears Arguments Tied to Abortion Law

The legal fight over North Dakota's abortion ban continues, and oral arguments about one element of the case were heard by the state Supreme Court …

According to the Guttmacher Institute, in 2017, some 95% of Georgia counties had no clinics that provided abortions, and 55% of Georgia women lived in those counties. (Longfin Media/Adobe Stock)

Georgia Supreme Court Reinstates 6-Week Abortion Ban

The Georgia Supreme Court granted an emergency stay of a lower court's ruling, once again allowing a six-week abortion ban to take effect in Georgia …

More than 800 health-care providers across Montana signed a letter opposing LR-131. (fizkes/Adobe Stock0

Montanans Reject 'Born-Alive' Measure

A Montana measure that would have implemented harsh penalties for medical providers who did not give life-sustaining care to newborns was voted down l…

Lander-based Chelsea's Fund provides funding for Wyoming women who cannot afford to pay the full cost of an abortion, and help accessing care in neighboring states. (Adobe Stock)

WY Abortion-Rights Advocates Set Sights on Next Session

Last week's midterm elections saw conservative Republicans shore up their majorities in Wyoming's legislature, and Janna Farley - communications …

Kentucky is among around a dozen states with trigger laws that went into effect after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court earlier this summer, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (Adobe Stock)

After Voters Reject Amendment 2, KY Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments on Abortion Ban

Kentucky voters rejected a ballot measure that would have changed language in the state's constitution to permanently deny the right to an abortion…

Along with Illinois, Minnesota is poised to be one of the last Midwestern states to still allow abortions following the recent Dobbs decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. (Adobe Stock)

MN Election Brings Clarity to Future of Abortion Policy

Minnesota is preparing for a state government described as a "pro-choice" trifecta. Those supporting abortion access say having Democrats in control …

A poll conducted in March found that 55% of Nebraskans oppose banning abortions, compared with 40% who support a ban. (Adobe Stock)

Five of Six Nebraska Municipalities Vote in Favor of Banning Abortion

Voters in five Nebraska towns approved local ordinances banning abortion care in this week's midterm elections, but reproductive health care …

Michigan is one of three states with abortion-rights referendums on the ballot for Tuesday's midterm elections. (Longfin Media/Adobe Stock)

MI Study: Banning Abortion Affects Women's Economic Well-Being

The debate surrounding abortion often turns on emotional and moral issues, but a Michigan-based policy institute says the economic impact of …

In a Sept. NPR/Marist Poll, 58% of Americans said the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has made them more likely to vote in this November's midterm elections. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Abortion Measures on Ballots the 'Most on Record'

By Carrie Baker for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

The Guttmacher Institute, a health-policy think tank, says as October began, 66 clinics across 15 states had been forced to stop offering abortions. (rocketimages/Adobe Stock)

Doctors Tell of Patients' Hardships after Roe is Overturned

By Belle Taylor-McGhee for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

According to the Maternal Mortality Annual Report, Tennessee's pregnancy-related mortality rate in 2020 was 58.5 deaths per 100,000 live births. That's a 51% increase from 2017-2019.(MonkeyBusiness/Adobe Stock)

Tennessee Works to Reduce Pregnancy-Related Deaths

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and the Tennessee Department of Health has received a $5 million federal grant to fund …

Media reports suggest women are registering to vote in higher numbers in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the federal right to an abortion. (Adobe Stock)

Abortion Rights: 'Lighting a Fire Under Women Voters'

By Roxy Szal for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Mary Schuermann for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

West Virginia became the second state, after Indiana, to pass a new abortion ban since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. (Adobe Stock)

WV Dems Criticize Legislative Process That Led to Near-Total Abortion Ban

An eight-week abortion ban signed into law last month by Gov. Jim Justice has received widespread criticism for its lack of exceptions and severity …

Planned Parenthood hopes this is an approach that can be replicated in other parts of the country. (Planned Parenthood)

Planned Parenthood to Open Mobile Abortion Clinic in Southern IL

With the Dobbs ruling allowing states to restrict abortion access, health care practitioners have been forced to innovate in order to deliver care…

Planned Parenthood seeks to reduce patient travel times and distances by positioning the mobile clinic at the Illinois border. (Adobe Stock)

Mobile Abortion Clinic to Operate in Southern Illinois

With the Dobbs ruling allowing states to restrict abortion access, health care practitioners have been forced to innovate in order to deliver care…

Abortion pills cannot legally be mailed in Arizona, so a Phoenix clinic is counseling women to pick them up in towns just inside the California border. (Kzenon/Adobe Stock)

Phoenix Clinic Develops Plan to Work Around Arizona's Strict Abortion Law

An Arizona women's health clinic has devised a novel workaround to help women end their pregnancy without running afoul of the state's strict anti-abo…

More than 75% of democratic voters say the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade makes them more likely to vote, according to an NPR/Marist Poll. (Adobe Stock)

KY Voter Registration Deadline is Oct. 11, Abortion Amendment on Ballot

With only four weeks left before the state's voter-registration deadline, advocacy groups say they are sounding the alarm on a ballot initiative …

Susie Martinez of the Nevada AFL-CIO speaks at a news conference organized by the Cortez Masto campaign on Wednesday. (Tony Hernandez)

Cortez Masto, Laxalt Campaigns Trade Abortion Accusations

U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and her Republican challenger, former state attorney general Adam Laxalt, are accusing each other of …

Pro-choice groups say Crisis Pregnancy Centers, sometimes called pregnancy resource or counseling centers, were created to talk people out of having abortions. (SHVETS production/Pexels)

Report: Crisis Pregnancy Centers Receive Billions in Funding

In the ongoing abortion debate, people are being warned to be mindful of deceptive practices in the facilities known as Crisis Pregnancy Centers…

A new report looks at the influence of Crisis Pregnancy Centers, which aim to deter people who are pregnant from considering abortion. (Fokussiert/Adobestock)

Report Finds Crisis Pregnancy Centers, Affiliates Get Billions in Funding

CLARIFICATION: Information was added to this story from the California Alliance of Pregnancy Care. (7:30 p.m. PDT, Nov. 1, 2022) In the wake of the …

Nearly half of Hispanic or Latina women of reproductive age in Georgia are uninsured. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Georgia Needs to Step Up for Women, Babies

While abortion care is in the headlines, a new report says accessing other health-care services is a challenge for many women in Georgia. Data from …

Abortions are still legal in Pennsylvania through the 23rd week of pregnancy. (TRAC1/Adobe Stock)

PA Groups' Call to Action for Reproductive Rights

The battle rages on after last month's last-minute move in the Pennsylvania Senate to include anti-abortion language in a budget bill, as well as …

In the decade preceding the pandemic, Colorado's child poverty rate fell by nearly 30%, one of the largest declines in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Ranks High in Child Well-Being as Kids Face Mental-Health Crisis

Colorado ranks 16th in the nation for promoting children's overall well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's latest report on child …

St. Louis city government is among localities in abortion-restrictive states seeking to help their residents access reproductive care. (Ted/Adobe Stock)

Missouri AG Sues St. Louis Over Reproductive Equity Fund

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is suing the City of St. Louis for its Reproductive Equity Fund, which Mayor Tishaura Jones signed into law …

Texas' House Bill 1280, soon to take effect, makes it a second-degree felony

Texas Abortion Poll: Lawmakers Out of Step With Constituents

Texas soon will enact one of the strictest abortion bans in the country - and a majority of voters don't like it. Three out of four - 77% of the …

Most pregnancies aren't detected until about four weeks. Under Ohio law, that means most women will have two weeks or fewer in which they can get an abortion in the state. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Abortion Access: Ohio's 6-Week Ban Could Be Just the Start

By Trista Bowser / Broadcast version by Mary Schuermann reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. After the Supreme Court …

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, roughly one in five abortions performed in Illinois in 2020 was for a patient from out-of-state. (Adobe Stock)

Two Planned Parenthood Groups Collaborate to Ensure WI Abortion Access

Planned Parenthood of Illinois and Wisconsin are partnering to improve abortion access for Wisconsinites. Abortion in Wisconsin was functionally …

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, roughly one in five of all abortions performed in Illinois in 2020 was for a patient from out of state. (Adobe Stock)

Planned Parenthood of IL, WI Partner to Bolster Abortion Access

Planned Parenthood of Illinois and Wisconsin are partnering to improve abortion access for Wisconsinites. Abortion in Wisconsin was functionally …

At least 40 states have used a variety of laws to punish certain behaviors during pregnancy over the last five decades, according to the group National Advocates for Pregnant Women. (Adobe Stock)

States Have Long Used Laws to Govern, and Sometimes Jail, Pregnant Women

The Conversation/Tennessee News Service Collaboration. Tennessee's trigger ban on abortion is slated to go into effect next month, and some experts …

Promote the Vote 2022 announced Monday it has collected nearly 670,000 signatures to get its amendment on the ballot. (Promote the Vote)

MI Voting, Reproductive Freedom Ballot Campaigns Submit Signatures

Two constitutional amendment campaigns submitted signatures Monday to qualify to appear on the November ballot, one called "Promote the Vote 2022" …

As neighboring states such as South and North Dakota implement abortion bans, Minnesota is building capacity to provide care for patients traveling from those areas. (Adobe Stock)

Certain Abortion Restrictions Lifted in MN

Minnesota's status as a "safe-haven" state was enhanced Monday after a court ruling lifted several abortion restrictions. The procedure remained …

Abortion now is banned in at least nine states. (Adobe Stock)

Reproductive Health Providers Urge NH to Pass Laws Protecting Abortion

New Hampshire is the only New England state without a law on the books protecting the right to an abortion. Still, providers want Granite Staters to …

In 2019, Maine passed a law requiring MaineCare to cover all pregnancy outcomes including abortion. (alexkoral/Adobe Stock)

ME to Protect Abortion Patients, Providers from Restrictive States

The legal status of abortion in various states is changing day-to-day with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, but Maine is among those taking action to …

North Dakota was one of nearly a dozen states that had so-called trigger bans on abortions ready to take place in the event of federal protections being overturned. (Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit Filed Against North Dakota's Abortion Ban

North Dakota's pending trigger law on abortions is being called unconstitutional in a new lawsuit. Separately, a handful of cities will see rallies …

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