Women's Issues / Public News Service

In 2020, 35% of Idaho mothers had Medicaid at the time of their child's birth. (WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, March 23, 2023

ID Lawmakers Fail to Address Health Concerns for Pregnant Women

With concerning trends emerging for pregnant and postpartum women, frustration is growing that Idaho lawmakers could end the session without …

Across the 398 women surveyed, 57.8% occupied no marginalized social category, while 22.6% occupied at least one marginalized category and almost 20% occupied more than one. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Report Eyes Health Impacts of Social Belonging in UT Women

Research from The University of Utah explores the physical- and mental-health implications of social belonging in women. Study author Lisa Diamond …

In 2021, the U.S. maternal mortality rate was 33%. That compares to 24% in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 20, 2023

U.S. Sees Major Spike in Pregnancy-Linked Deaths

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show another increase in the nation's maternal mortality rate, and a Minnesota expert …

New Mexico's Human Rights Modernization Act now includes language to prohibit discriminatory practices from publicly funded entities. (ajr_images/AdobeStock)

NM Approves Expansion of LGBTQ+ Rights, Reproductive Protections

New Mexico's LGBTQ community will soon have additional protections after existing language in state law was updated by the Legislature. Sen…

Oregon nurses at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham filed a petition to have their union voluntarily recognized but were denied. (Oregon Nurses Association)

Nurses Fear Fallout from Closure of OR Birth Center

Nurses are concerned about the closure of a Portland-area birth center set to go through today. The Family Birth Center at Legacy Mount Hood …

Grace Raymond Hebard's second home, known as the Doctor's Inn at 318 S. 10th St. in Laramie, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the University Neighborhood Historic District. (Andrea Graham/Alliance for Historic Wyoming)

Project Highlights Women Who Forged, Documented Wyoming's History

Wyoming became the first U.S. territory to give women the right to vote in 1869, half a century before the nation finally followed the Cowboy State's …

Women's state legislative representation is at a record high in New Mexico, but nationwide they hold less than 33% of all seats, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. (theartofpics/AdobeStock)

New Mexico Women Move Toward Gender Parity in State Legislature

Voters in western states are more likely to elect women to the state Legislature, according to a new Center for American Women and Politics report…

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he would sign a proposed six-week abortion ban into law if it gets to his desk. (Pixabay)

'Scary Times,' as FL Republicans Propose 6-Week Abortion Ban

On the opening day of Florida's legislative session, Republican lawmakers filed bills in the House and Senate to ban abortions after six weeks…

A 2022 abortion bill failed to pass in the Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Bill 933 included criminal penalties for doctors who performed abortions, and the only exception was to save the life of the mother. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Nearly 60% of Nebraskans Oppose Abortion Bill in Legislature

Nebraska would have one of the strictest abortion laws in the country should Legislative Bill 626 become law. It recently passed out of committee…

According to the American Heart Association, among Black women ages 20 and older, nearly 58% have high blood pressure. (Adobe Stock)

UT Heart Attack Survivor Shares Importance of Women's Heart Health

American Heart Month may be coming to an end, but one Utah heart attack survivor wants to shed light on women's heart health ahead of Utah's Go Red …

In April 2019, the FDA approved the first generic form of mifepristone, following a review of the evidence that medication abortion is a safe, effective way to end an early pregnancy, according to Planned Parenthood. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV Faces Lawsuit after Blocking Access to Medication Abortion

It's the latest chapter in West Virginia's attempt to outlaw abortion. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is attempting to throw out a …

More than half of women and nearly one in four men have experienced sexual violence during their lifetime, according to the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio’s Rape Crisis Centers See Boost in State Funding

Gov. Mike DeWine recently announced he's providing $30 million to boost rape crisis services statewide, after years of federal funding cuts. …

Since 2022, nearly a quarter of Utah mayors are women, an almost 15% increase from 2017. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Female Representation in UT Government Trails National Averages

Research explored Utah's female representation in Congress, the Legislature and concluded the state's executive branch is not where it should be…

Katlyn Moss, pictured at the Clay County Recreation Center in Hayesville in November, had to travel more than an hour in the snow to give birth to her daughter in 2018. (Colby Rabon/Carolina Public Press)

Lack of Maternal Care Threatens Health of Western NC Mothers

By Shelby Harris and Sarah Melotte for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for North Carolina News Service Service for the Public New…

Peer-reviewed research on the use of misoprostol alone for abortion, published this month by the University of Texas at Austin, found it was 88% effective, with few serious adverse events or signs of complications. (ivanko80/AdobeStock)

TX Court Ruling with Nationwide Implications for Abortion Expected Soon

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

While many circumstances of Native American female homicide are unknown, the largest known circumstance involved an argument between the victim and the offender. (Adobe Stock)

ASU Research Shows Increasing Number of Missing Indigenous Women, Girls

Researchers at Arizona State University are tackling the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women in the state, trying to figure out why it is …

According to CDC data, more than 37,500 abortions were performed in 2020 in Georgia, a rate of just over 17 per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44. (Lomb/Adobe Stock)

Reproductive Freedom Act Takes Aim at Current GA Abortion Ban

Reproductive rights groups are supporting legislation to restore abortion access in Georgia. The Reproductive Freedom Act was filed to repeal House …

Even before the U.S .Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, many abortions were being sought out of state. In 2020, 9% of abortions were obtained by people away from their state of residence. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation Would Protect NY Abortion Providers

Proposed legislation in Albany would mean increased protections for women's healthcare providers. Brought forward by state Sen. Shelley Meyer - D-…

The 2020 Census estimates that Black residents are 14.2% of the total population, but nationwide they make up only 5.3% of all practicing physicians, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. (Adobe Stock)

Black History Month: Calling Attention to Women's Health Disparities

Black and African American communities are at greater risk for multiple health conditions, a health care disparity highlighted during February's …

The green scarf is a symbol of the abortion-rights movements, created in Argentina in 2003 and popularized in the United States in 2022. (Clara/Adobe Stock)

TX Judge to Decide Abortion Pill Case with Nationwide Repercussions

Medication is now believed to be used in more than half of all abortions in the U.S., but a Texas judge could soon force one of two abortion pills …

When the Equal Rights Amendment was first approved by Congress, 35 states adopted it within the seven-year time limit. Since then, three more have approved it, to reach the necessary 38: Nevada (2017), Illinois (2018), and Virginia (2020). (Adobe Stock)

VA Senator Wants to Remove Time Restraint on ERA

A growing group of U.S. Senators are supporting legislation to remove the time limit placed on ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. When originally …

According to Power To Decide, 14 states currently have no health clinics that provide abortion care, affecting an estimated 77 million people and 16 million women of reproductive age. (Adobe Stock)

Interactive Map Illustrates AZ Abortion Access

Some doctors and pro-choice advocates are urging people to pre-order so-called "abortion pills," citing a looming Texas court decision, which might …

According to Power To Decide's Abortion Finder map, centers began closing even before the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn 'Roe v. Wade' was officially released. (Adobe Stock)

States' Abortion Access Compiled on Interactive Map

Some doctors and pro-choice advocates are urging people to pre-order so-called "abortion pills," citing a looming Texas court decision which might ult…

Roughly 30,000 individuals across the Commonwealth access the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites, resulting in $60 million in tax credits for taxpayers each year. (Adobe Stock)

Bill to Expand Tax Credits Draws on Children's Health Data

A bill to increase tax credits in the Commonwealth is backed up by research showing the credits lead to better nutrition for working families and bett…

For every $1 invested in ARRIBA - El Paso's workforce development program - the local economy receives $28 back, according to a 2021 study by the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness. (Rob/Adobe Stock)

TX Model Transforms Low-Income Students Into Skilled Professionals

For more than two decades, a workforce development program in El Paso has invested in the economically disadvantaged to help them attain the …

Body Positivity Movement Helps Improve Body Image, Alleviate Shame

By Gabes Torres for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service, reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

While mortality rates for pregnant women have decreased globally, they continue to rise in the United States, with Black women three times more likely to die during pregnancy than white women. (Inez/Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Women’s Rights a Canary in Coal Mine for Democracy

By Jennifer Weiss-Wolf for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

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)

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…

Rural hospitals in Medicaid expansion states are 62% less likely to close, in large part because expansion reduces the burden of uncompensated care, when patients without insurance can't pay for services. (Adobe Stock)

Lawmakers Consider Expanding Health Coverage for 19,000 Workers

A bill that would expand Medicaid coverage for some 19,000 Wyoming workers who earn too much to qualify for standard Medicaid, but can't afford …

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 …

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 …

Child poverty rates worsened nationwide in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but improved slightly in New Mexico. (Rawpixel.com/AdobeStock)<br />

Report: NM Child Well-Being Fared Better Than Expected During Pandemic

New Mexico's Voices for Children has released its latest Kids Count Data Book - noting some quality-of-life improvements despite COVID, but also …

In fall 2020, among four-year universities and community colleges nationwide, male freshmen enrollment declined 1.3%, while female freshmen enrollment fell 3.2%. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Ahead of National Curve on Women Seeking Degrees, Certificates

Nationally, female students have been opting out of college at more than twice the rate of males since 2020, according to a new National Student …

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 …

Leading up to the pandemic, fewer men were attending college. But the pandemic appears to have prevented more women from enrolling soon after high school. (Adobe Stock)

Fewer Women Enroll in College; Racial Equity a Factor

Higher education experts say a concerning trend has emerged in the pandemic - declining college enrollment among young women. Those pushing for …

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 …

Over 37,000 abortions were performed in Georgia in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Trac1/Adobe Stock)

Women's Health Played Major Role in 2022 Midterms

By Jennifer Weitz-Wolf for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Georgia News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

In 2019, Ty'Lesha Yellowhair worked with the town of Gilbert as its Native American management intern, as part of its Family Violence Unit. (Photo courtesy of Yellowhair)

ASU Grad Wants to Make a Difference for AZ Tribal Members

Arizona tribal communities face inequalities every day, but a recent Arizona State University graduate said she wants to shape public policy to help …

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 …

The U.S. oil and gas industry emits 16 million metric tons of methane annually, which has the same near-term climate impact as 350 coal-fired power plants. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Methane Waste Rules Welcomed to Improve Public Health

Public-health advocates are welcoming a new proposal to reduce harmful air pollution by limiting methane waste at oil and gas facilities. Sabrina …

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 …

The gold dome on the Iowa Capitol has been gilded five times. The gold leaf covering the dome is 250,000th of an inch thick and is 23.75 karats. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa’s Governor Part of Historic Trend

2022 was a banner year for women elected as governor. Nearly one-third of America's governors will be women next year, which is a record. Iowa …

Research indicates the number of women who have experienced Traumatic Brain Injury secondary to domestic violence is 11 to 12 times greater than experienced by military personnel and athletes combined. (Adobe Stock)

Initiative Aims to Fill Health-Care Gap Among Domestic-Violence Survivors

A new statewide initiative aims to help connect domestic-violence survivors with medical providers, with a focus on treating traumatic brain injury…

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 …

Wages for healthcare workers in the U.S., primarily women of color, are among the lowest in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. (DraganaGordic/Adobe Stock)

DOL Recovers Over $1 Million in Back Wages for TX, LA Healthcare Workers

Women of color working in health care are the most likely to lose out on wages they have earned because employers fail to pay what they owe, …

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Women's

ID Lawmakers Fail to Address Health Concerns for Pregnant Women

Report Eyes Health Impacts of Social Belonging in UT Women

U.S. Sees Major Spike in Pregnancy-Linked Deaths

NM Approves Expansion of LGBTQ+ Rights, Reproductive Protections

Nurses Fear Fallout from Closure of OR Birth Center

Project Highlights Women Who Forged, Documented Wyoming's History

New Mexico Women Move Toward Gender Parity in State Legislature

'Scary Times,' as FL Republicans Propose 6-Week Abortion Ban

Survey: Nearly 60% of Nebraskans Oppose Abortion Bill in Legislature

UT Heart Attack Survivor Shares Importance of Women's Heart Health

WV Faces Lawsuit after Blocking Access to Medication Abortion

Ohio’s Rape Crisis Centers See Boost in State Funding

Report: Female Representation in UT Government Trails National Averages

Lack of Maternal Care Threatens Health of Western NC Mothers

TX Court Ruling with Nationwide Implications for Abortion Expected Soon

ASU Research Shows Increasing Number of Missing Indigenous Women, Girls

Reproductive Freedom Act Takes Aim at Current GA Abortion Ban

Legislation Would Protect NY Abortion Providers

Black History Month: Calling Attention to Women's Health Disparities

TX Judge to Decide Abortion Pill Case with Nationwide Repercussions

VA Senator Wants to Remove Time Restraint on ERA

Interactive Map Illustrates AZ Abortion Access

States' Abortion Access Compiled on Interactive Map

Bill to Expand Tax Credits Draws on Children's Health Data

TX Model Transforms Low-Income Students Into Skilled Professionals

Body Positivity Movement Helps Improve Body Image, Alleviate Shame

Report: Women’s Rights a Canary in Coal Mine for Democracy

MA Launches Free Legal Advice Hotline Regarding Abortion Care

Lawmakers Consider Expanding Health Coverage for 19,000 Workers

Legislation Would Expand NY Medication Abortion Access

WY Lawmakers Consider Extended Health Coverage for New Moms

Report: NM Child Well-Being Fared Better Than Expected During Pandemic

Colorado Ahead of National Curve on Women Seeking Degrees, Certificates

Study: Medicaid Expansion Reduces Postpartum Hospitalizations

Fewer Women Enroll in College; Racial Equity a Factor

Minnesota Expands Postnatal Health Coverage

Wyoming Supreme Court Sends Suit Over Abortion Ban Back to District

Women's Health Played Major Role in 2022 Midterms

ASU Grad Wants to Make a Difference for AZ Tribal Members

Advocates: Clock Ticking on Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

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

Federal Methane Waste Rules Welcomed to Improve Public Health

Survey: Young Adults Concerned about Birth-Control Access

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

Iowa’s Governor Part of Historic Trend

Initiative Aims to Fill Health-Care Gap Among Domestic-Violence Survivors

Georgia Supreme Court Reinstates 6-Week Abortion Ban

DOL Recovers Over $1 Million in Back Wages for TX, LA Healthcare Workers