Women's Issues / Public News Service

Women ages 35 and older in Arkansas have the highest mortality rate, which was 3.9 times the rate of women younger than 25. (Andrey Popov)

Monday, April 15, 2024

Arkansas group raising awareness during Black Maternal Health Week

Arkansas is taking critical steps to address its high maternal mortality rate, especially among women of color. In the Natural State, Black women …

The Indiana Department of Health 2022 Pregnancy Termination Report showed March as the month when the most abortions were performed. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 15, 2024

Advocates: Ease of access to contraception could lower accidental pregnancies

Vending machines commonly found in workplace break rooms generally contain soft drinks or snacks but one machine in Indianapolis dispenses unconventio…

Kentucky certified lactation consultant and birth doula Bonnie Logsdon has been vocal in her support for House Bill 10. (Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan KY bill would expand maternal care access

In the final days of the legislative session, Kentucky Senate lawmakers could consider the "Momnibus" bill, which would increase access to critical …

The majority of women veterans are not enrolled in Veteran Health Administration care, yet these women have experienced a more than sixty-percent increase in suicide rates over the past two decades. (Adobe Stock)

ME women veterans request counselors for military sexual trauma

Advocates for women veterans, who've experienced sexual trauma while serving in the military, are asking state lawmakers for much-needed funding…

Some 60% of Arizona voters consider themselves pro-choice rather than anti-abortion, according to the grassroots organization Indivisible. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Supreme Court reinstates 160-year-old, near-total abortion ban

On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an 1864 ban on nearly all abortions, except in situations when it is necessary to save the life of a …

A majority of women living in states where abortion is banned want abortion to be legal and support laws protecting abortion access, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

NV pro-choice advocates break down upcoming SCOTUS cases

Nevada reproductive-rights advocates are breaking down the importance of two looming Supreme Court abortion cases. In Moyle v. United States…

Almost 50% of Arizona adults believe abortion should be legal

AZ pro-choice advocates secure signatures for 2024 ballot measure

Pro-choice advocates in Arizona said they have surpassed the threshold of required signatures to put a measure on the November ballot which would add …

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Missourians anxious over future birth control access

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…

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Missouri's 'Taylor Swift Act' targets AI image threats

Missouri lawmakers are concerned with protecting people from the potential risks of the increasing accessibility of AI-generated images and videos…

More than six in 10 Americans favor keeping the abortion pill mifepristone available in the U.S. as a prescription drug, while over a third are opposed, according to a Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock)

NV senator pushes to protect access to abortion pill

New research shows more than six in 10 abortions in the U.S. last year were medically induced, and U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto - D-NV - is …

A new Prison Policy Initiative report revealed the number of deaths by suicide among women in jails increased by almost 65% between the periods of 2000-2004 and 2015-2019. (Karen/Adobe Stock)

New report details harsh realities of women in jail, prison

Women are treated much differently than men by the criminal justice system, according to a new report detailing how and why mass incarceration is …

Around 42% of U.S. adults say they or someone they know has used fertility treatments, according to Pew Research Center. (Tatiana Shepeleva / Adobe Stock)

NV leaders discuss future of IVF, abortion in the Silver State

State Rep. Susie Lee - D-Las Vegas - said she wants women in Nevada and across the country to wake up, as she contends far-right extremists are …

A new AARP survey of California women age 40 and older found 71% are concerned about affordable health care and 68% are worried about access to affordable long-term care. (Ink drop/Adobestock) A new AARP survey of California women age 40 and older found that 71% are concerned about affordable health care, and 68% are worried about access to affordable long-term care. (Ink drop/Adobestock)

Survey: CA women age 40-plus highly likely to vote

Nearly 80% of California women age 40 and older say they are highly motivated to vote, according to a new survey from AARP. Researchers for the new …

More than 75% of Massachusetts mothers with infants also work. For those who rely on child care facilities, the majority require parents to supply a week's worth of diapers at a time or find alternative care. (Adobe Stock) <br />

MA diaper distribution program helps families make ends meet

Supporters of a federal pilot program to distribute diapers to low-income families in Massachusetts hope to build upon its success. More than 1 …

Large numbers of women have entered the workforce in the past 50 years, but the Institute for Women's Policy Research warns it could be decades before they are paid the same as men for the same job. (Adobe Stock)

Pay Equity Day measures salary gap between working women, men

CORRECTION: The AAUW of Indiana co-president is Sherry Watkins. An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated her last name as Watson…

When part-time and part-year workers are included in the comparison, Latinas were typically paid only 52 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men in 2022. (Sanele Gobinduku/peopleimages.com)

Equal Pay Day sheds light on AR women's wage disparities

Today is Equal Pay Day, which calls attention to the wage gap between women and men - a disparity that's even more pronounced in the Natural State…

An AARP New York report finds almost 80% of New York City's 300 nursing homes, assisted-living and adult-care facilities didn't receive a single visit from the state's Long Term Care Ombudsman Program during three months in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

NYS budget missing key funding for seniors, older adults

Senior and older-adult groups are frustrated by cuts to services in New York's budget proposal. This includes cuts to home-care programs and the Long-…

An Institute for Women's Policy Research report finds the profession with the largest wage gap is financial manager, with women earning 71% of what men earn. The profession with the smallest gap is cashier, with women earning 98% of what men do. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Wage gap declines, but won’t close for 30 years

Today is Equal Pay Day, and a new report finds the wage gap between men and women is closing. The Institute for Women's Policy Research data show …

Women have worked at the historic Wyoming State Hospital as doctors, nurses, administrators, secretaries, security guards, and in departments such as the post office, purchasing, and scheduling. Some families have several generations of women who have worked at the facility. <br />(Courtesy of Save the Old WSH)<br />

Wyoming women’s history rooted in hospital campus set for demolition

The state has plans to demolish 26 Wyoming State Hospital buildings in Evanston, but some local residents believe the site, which dates back to 1886…

Less than half of adults said they consider the right to contraception a

AZ Democrats rally for contraception access

Last week, Gov. Katie Hobbs called on the state Legislature to pass a law to guarantee women the right to contraception. Making birth control a …

According to the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, 43.8% of Nevada women experience intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence or stalking at some point in their life. (Adobe Stock)

Attorney has advice for NV women for Int'l. Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day, and one Nevada attorney sees it as an opportunity to remind women of their rights. Las Vegas attorney Adriana …

Voting women age 50 and older are split on this year's presidential candidates. (Simone/Adobe Stock)

International Women's Day: 50+ women make up influential voting bloc

It's International Women's Day, and AARP is highlighting the important role older women will play in this year's election. The organization recently …

The world celebrates International Women's Day March 8. The goal is to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. (Adobe Stock)

Notre Dame sophomore inspires on International Women's Day

A Hungarian-born girl who grew up in Terre Haute is reminding Hoosiers only they control their destiny - by sharing her inspirational story in celebra…

Mississippi is one of 14 states that has banned abortion completely. Before the Dobbs decision, the monthly average number of abortions in April and May 2022 was 350 each. (Parilov/AdobeStock)

Group offers abortion travel benefits for Mississippi women

Amid ongoing concerns about reproductive access in the Magnolia State, a Jackson-based organization is offering financial help and other support …

A 2023 article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science reports that adults in the United States living with at least one child are twice as likely to be evicted as adults without children, and that Black Americans make up more than 51% of those experiencing eviction filings. (Lyndon Stratford/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

NE bill would reduce eviction impact, increase gender, racial equity

Evictions are on the rise in Nebraska and in many places around the country. Nearly 2,500 more eviction proceedings were initiated in Nebraska courts …

One in four Wyoming kids lives in single-parent families, according to Wyoming Community Foundation data. Such children are more likely to live in poverty compared with their peers in married-parent families. (Adobe Stock)

Training, mental health recovery called key for single moms to escape poverty

A Wyoming nonprofit is helping single mothers climb out of poverty by connecting them with the training and support they need to step into and succeed…

House Bill passed with an overwhelming vote of 94-6, with three abstentions. Its companion, Senate Bill 159, passed unanimously with a vote of 34-0. (Chad Robertson/Adobe Stock)

Alabama passes bills to protect IVF, but concerns remain

The Alabama House and Senate both passed bills this week that would help people resume in vitro fertilization and provide legal protections for provid…

Missouri's Senate Bill 1314, similar to House Bill 2365, prohibits funds from being expended by any state department for interdepartmental programs, staffing or other initiatives associated with

New report reveals high economic risk of anti-DEI laws in Missouri

A new report finds some Missouri laws and prospective laws are perceived as discriminatory regardless of their actual intent - and it outlines some bi…

In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for White women, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ohio Black maternal mortality rates continue to spike

The number of Black mothers in Ohio who die during or following pregnancy continues to climb and health advocates said they hope to shine a light on t…

If performed immediately, CPR can double or triple the chance of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association. (Adobe Stock)

NV cardiology expert shares tips for better heart health

It may be the last week of American Heart Month, but one Nevada cardiovascular expert said it isn't too late to prioritize heart health. Richard …

Many New Mexico lawmakers travel hundreds of miles for annual legislative sessions and must rent lodging for 30 to 60 days. (JohnMcGrawPhotog/Adobe Stock)

Women in NM Legislature make the case for an annual salary

New Mexico's Legislature is becoming more diverse but its lawmakers are still the only ones unpaid in the nation, limiting who can afford to serve…

Following the Supreme Court's 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, Massachusetts lawmakers strengthened legal protections for abortion providers, mandated insurance companies cover abortion services, and expanded stockpiles of medication abortion drugs. (Kulbako) <br /><br />

'Deceptive' tactics by crisis pregnancy centers focus of MA legislation

Legislation in Massachusetts would ban some of the tactics used by "crisis pregnancy centers" to prevent people from having abortions. Many of the …

Stephanie Bowden is pictured with her mother and sister. (Courtesy Hannah Booth Photography)

NC survivor empowers young women to protect their heart health

February is American Heart Month and according to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women…

Doctors say people should get regular checkups to ensure their hearts are healthy. (rocketclips/Adobe Stock)

American Heart Month: Heart disease treatment often delayed for women

February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on potential cardiovascular risks. Health experts said women especially should consider their …

Since 2004, Go Red for Women has addressed the awareness and clinical care gaps of women's greatest health threat, cardiovascular disease. The Utah Go Red for Women luncheon will take place at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center on March 8. (Adobe Stock)

UT heart survivor shares story to spread awareness for American Heart Month

One Utah woman is sharing her story during American Heart Month to spread awareness about how important preventive heart health care is. Claire …

According to the National Institutes of Health, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. About 80% of women ages 40 to 60 have one or more risk factors for coronary heart disease. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: Heart disease on rise among young women

Nationwide, heart-disease awareness among women has declined, particularly among Black and Hispanic women. This Valentine's Day, health experts are …

An American Express report notes there are nearly 13 million women-owned businesses in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Women business owners in ND take on risks to thrive

National Entrepreneurship Week runs through Saturday. In North Dakota, outreach continues to ensure women business owners face fewer obstacles in …

Many people do not realize heart disease is the top cause of death for women. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Focus on women's health during American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on potential cardiovascular risks. Health experts said women, especially, should consider their …

Millions expected to wear red today for start of 'American Heart Month'

Today is National Wear Red Day, part of American Heart Month in February. Lots of celebrities and news anchors will be wearing red, and many iconic …

Women are less likely to receive CPR from a bystander. Barriers include fear of legal ramifications and accusations of inappropriate touching, according to the American Heart Association. (Adobe Stock)

Health experts call for Arizonans to learn hands-only CPR

Today is the first day of American Heart Month - and one Arizona cardiology nurse practitioner wants to shed light on the importance of good heart hea…

Neighborhoods lacking sidewalks can discourage people from getting exercise which could improve their health. (JacobLund/AdobeStock)

TX health foundation broadens focus beyond the doctor's office

There are Texas ZIP codes where people with lower incomes and few health services have a 20-year difference in life expectancy than those who are more…

Did Parson's abortion stance prompt historic family, education funding?

State legislators applauded Missouri Gov. Mike Parson's State of the State address last week - although for very different reasons. The governor's …

The HPV vaccine is usually divided into two doses. (Sherry Young/Adobe Stock)

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month: HPV vaccine crucial in prevention

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and a vaccine for young people can reduce the risk of developing this disease. Cervical cancer typically …

Around 30% of registered voters say they will only vote for a candidate who shares their views on abortion, according to a KFF poll. (Adobe Stock)

Maine lawmakers consider constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights

Lawmakers in Maine will hear hours of emotional public testimony today regarding a potential constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights…

A police officer stands in the doorway of the Washington Surgi-Center during the clinic blockade on Oct. 22, 2020. (We Engage)

On Roe v. Wade anniversary, investigation into abortion clinic violence

By Amanda Robb for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service Collaboration At 9:05 a.m. on Thursday…

Restaurant workers are among the groups most likely to earn minimum wage, which in Mississippi is $7.25 an hour. It was last changed in 2008, when it was raised $0.70 from $6.55. (Joshua Resnick/Adobe Stock)

MLK Day highlights wage disparities for Black women

In observance of Martin Luther King Junior Day, there's a call to action to address the persistent wage disparity between Black women and their …

The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, Feeding Colorado, Hunger Free Colorado, Nourish Colorado and other advocates across the state are calling on Colorado's Congressional delegation to help avoid massive funding cuts for WIC in the federal government's 2024 budget. (Adobe Stock)

25,000 Colorado families could lose access to food and health assistance

Congress is running out of time to fully fund a program that provides food and health support for breastfeeding moms, and kids up to age five…

Six states have passed laws requiring state-regulated private health plans to cover certain over-the-counter forms of contraception, without the need for a prescription and without cost-sharing. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Mississippi 'Right to Contraception Act' to be filed in 2024

Amid ongoing concerns about reproductive access in the Magnolia State, Mississippi's Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups are slated to introduce …

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