Women's Issues / Public News Service

Wisconsin is among the handful of states that have yet to formally adopt expanded postpartum health coverage through Medicaid. So far, nearly 40 states have done so. (Adobe Stock)

WI Budget: Renewed Push to Include Expanded Postpartum Health Care

Wisconsin policymakers have less than a month to adopt a new state budget. Advocates for extending postpartum health coverage through Medicaid hope …

Rates of mental and behavioral health challenges have increased broadly among women and children across the nation in recent years, according to the UnitedHealth Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Expert Stresses Importance of Health Care, Screenings for NC Women

As National Women's Health Month comes to an end, an expert emphasized the need for increased health care and screenings for women in North Carolina …

Michigan reached a historic low in teen pregnancies in 2020, at just over 12 births per 1,000 females ages 15-19. (Nicholas Felix/peopleimages.com)

MI Women's Health Needs Begin in Adolescence

The need for Michigan women to prioritize their health doesn't stop when National Women's Health Month ends this week. One expert said it is time to …

Either the Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokia or Dr. Caitlin Bernard can appeal the Indiana Medical Licensing Board's decision in Marion County Superior Court. (Adobe Stock)

Board Fines Indiana Doc for Speaking about 10-Year-Old's Abortion

An Indiana licensing board has fined a local physician $3,000 and handed her a letter of reprimand after she went public about a 10-year-old Ohio pati…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends women who are 50 to 74 years old and are at average risk for breast cancer to get screened every two years. (Adobe Stock)

Mammography Among UT Women Ranks Below National Average

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Utah women. According to the Utah Women and Leadership Project at Utah State University…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults do at least 2 hours and 30 minutes each week of aerobic physical activity that requires moderate effort. (TMdlungu/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Experts: Women's Health Month Prioritizes Health, Well-Being

May is National Women's Health Month, and experts are reminding women to prioritize their health and well-being. Brenda Shelton-Dunston, executive …

Beyond wellness checks and important screenings, health experts recommend women take personal time to reflect or relax to keep the stress from building up. (Adobe Stock)

Women's Health Month: Adding Personal Wellness to Your To-Do List

As Women's Health Month continues, experts in Minnesota and elsewhere are reminding women to prioritize their well-being. The Centers for Disease …

Nineteen states have passed laws banning or restricted abortion since the overturning of Roe versus Wade in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

In Ohio, Abortion Rights Fuel Fight Over Ballot Measures

By Belle Taylor-McGhee for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

A recent CDC survey found 13% of young girls attempted suicide in 2021. (Magryt/Adobe Stock)

Prioritizing Mental Health During Women's Health Week

To wrap up Women's Health Week, doctors are urging women to take stock of their mental health. Dr. Sharon Eloranta, medical director at the …

The global trucking industry is estimated to reach $1 trillion by 2025. (Carolyn Franks/Adobe Stock)

Groups Help Reduce Barriers for GA Women in Trucking

Two groups are working to create equal opportunities for Black and Latina women in the trucking industry. The Truist Foundation has pledged $1.5 …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends every woman get a well-woman checkup once a year. (Adobe Stock)

Health Experts to Women: Put Your Personal Health on the Front Burner

As Women's Health Week continues, experts in Wisconsin and elsewhere are reminding women to prioritize their well-being. The Centers for Disease …

Beyond extending postnatal health coverage, some health leaders say improving paid-leave benefits can help address health complications that pregnant women can face, such as an elevated risk for stroke. (Adobe Stock)

A Spotlight on Stroke Risks for Pregnant Women

Research has emerged about the link between pregnancy complications and a higher risk of stroke, and a Wisconsin health expert suggested it is a risk …

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation's 2022 Women's Health Survey, 21% of women, including 38% of uninsured women, said it is difficult to find a doctor who can explain things so they are easy to understand. (Adobe Stock)

NY Works to Improve Women’s Health

This week is National Women's Health Week, and New York is taking steps to improve women's health. The New York state Legislature has passed …

More than 4,000 women die of cervical cancer each year. (Adobe Stock)

HPV Self-Collection May Increase Testing Among Under-Screened NC Women

Researchers from the University of North Carolina's School of Medicine and Gillings School of Public Health are exploring the potential of HPV self-co…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends every woman get a well-woman checkup once a year. (Bnenin/Adobestock)

Mother’s Day Kicks Off National Women’s Health Week

Mother's Day kicked off Women's Health Week this week, and experts are reminding women to prioritize their well-being. The Centers for Disease …

Florida's new six-week abortion limit is contingent on the outcome of a Florida Supreme Court case about the privacy clause in the Constitution. Until then, the state's current 15-week abortion ban remains in place. (Pixabay)

New Campaign for Florida Voters to Decide on Abortion Protections

Arguing politicians should never be able to force a person to carry a pregnancy against their will, a coalition of abortion rights groups is now …

In 2002, women working full and part-time earned 80% of what men earned. By 2022, that had risen to just 82%, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio’s Gender Wage Gap: Women Earn 79 cents for Every Dollar a Man Earns

By Nathalia Teixeira / Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. In Ohio, women earn on …

Gov. Jay Inlsee has signed a slate of bills passed by lawmakers protecting access to abortions in Washington state. (CrackerClips/Adobe Stock)

After Legislative Session, WA Leads Nation in Protections for Abortion

Washington state lawmakers have passed some of the strongest protections for abortion access in the country. With another session in the books…

By federal law, all states provide Medicaid coverage for pregnancy-related services to pregnant women with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level and cover them up to 60 days postpartum, according to KFF. Missouri lawmakers are considering expanding these services to cover a year. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Push for More Postpartum Healthcare Funding

Healthcare advocates in Missouri are urging support for a measure that would expand health care services for new mothers on Medicaid. Senate Bill 45…

Every 80 seconds, the American Heart Association says, cardiovascular disease kills one woman. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Mom Warns of Signs During American Stroke Month

May is National Stroke Month, and one young Arizona mom wants to share her experience to let Arizonans know stroke can happen to anyone and at any …

Reproductive-Rights Supporters See Path to Victory: Letting Voters Decide

By Belle Taylor-McGhee for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

Officials encourage victims to report sexual and domestic abuse to a national hotline, 800-799-7233. It provides 24/7 service in English, Spanish and 200 other languages through interpreters. (Adobe Stock)

IA Looks to Shelter Victims, Survivors of Sexual Assault

Iowa groups have spent the past month focused on finding shelter and support for victims of sexual assault, to help them stay anonymous and safe…

Around the world, Denim Day is observed to show support for victims and survivors of sexual assault. RAINN says females ages 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault. (Adobe Stock)

NV Lawmakers Recognize 'Denim Day' in Support of Sexual Violence Survivors

Nevada lawmakers on Wednesday recognized 'Denim Day,' to rally against sexual violence by wearing denim during the Senate floor session. Denim Day …

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, more than 50 countries have

Faith Leaders On Nebraska's LB 626, Religious Freedom and Maternal Care

Identifying as a person of faith is not synonymous with supporting Legislative Bill 626, the six-week abortion ban bill in the Nebraska legislature…

Democratic lawmakers are calling for term limits to ensure each president has the opportunity to appoint the same number of Supreme Court justices each term, in an effort to make the high court more democratically representative. (Adobe Stock)

MA Lawmakers Call for Expansion of U.S. Supreme Court

Massachusetts lawmakers in Congress are calling for an expansion of the U.S. Supreme Court due to what they said are "ethical lapses" and "partisan …

Data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows Massachusetts has four counties in the top 20 list of most expensive places for child care, including Middlesex and Norfolk counties, where families pay more than $26,000 annually in child care expenses. (Adobe Stock)

MA Bill Would Let Candidates Use Campaign Funds for Child Care

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill to allow candidates seeking state or local office to use campaign funds for child care. Child care is …

In Texas, abortion is completely banned with very limited exceptions. This forces patients to make two trips out of state, one for in-person counseling and another at least 24 hours later for the abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Showdown Over Abortion Medication Continues

The battle over a prescription drug used in abortions continues, now to be heard by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on May 17. The pill…

In Maine, an estimated 92% of abortions occur by the 12th week of pregnancy, with nearly 70% occurring before nine weeks. Abortions at or after 21 weeks are rare, representing 1% of abortions in the U.S. (Adobe Stock)

ME Medical Community Reaffirms Support for Abortion Medication

Maine's medical community is applauding the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to preserve access to the abortion medication mifepristone. The justices …

In North Dakota, opponents of a proposed abortion ban which cleared the Legislature said anti-abortion politicians are trying to control women's bodies and lives. Supporters contend they are trying to protect the unborn. (Adobe Stock)

As Court Case Plays Out, ND Lawmakers Approve Abortion Ban

North Dakota has been steeped in a legal challenge to the state's trigger ban on abortions, which is currently blocked. Now, the Legislature has …

Recognizing urgent maternal warning signs, providing timely treatment, and delivering respectful, quality care can prevent many pregnancy-related deaths. (Adobe Stock)

Drilling Down Into Social Factors Linked to Unequal Health Outcomes

Black women are three times more likely to die during pregnancy than white women, even though more than eight in 10 pregnancy-related deaths are …

The abortion drug mifepristone remains available in 19 states, including Illinois, while a pair of federal rulings are heard by a federal appeals court. (Adobe Stock)

Planned Parenthood IL: Abortion Pill Ruling a 'Political Stunt'

Women's health groups in Illinois and across the country are angered by a pair of federal court rulings last week on the abortion drug mifepristone…

Health care advocates fear restrictions on abortion medication could be especially harmful to African American women, who are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (ACLU Mass.)

MA Lawmakers Vow to Protect Abortion Medication Access

Massachusetts lawmakers are vowing to protect access to the abortion drug mifepristone, after two competing rulings by federal judges has left access …

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, many states have passed near-total bans on abortion, with some states criminalizing the procedure and those who assist others in obtaining one. (traci1/Adobe Stock)

Dueling Opinions Likely to Send Abortion Issue to U.S. Supreme Court

Access to medication abortion will be front and center this week after two competing court rulings, in Texas and Washington, were handed down Friday…

Idaho is surrounded by states where abortion is legal, including Montana, Oregon and Washington. (trac1/Adobe Stock)

ID Criminalizes Helping Minors Travel Out-of-State for Abortions

Idaho is the first state in the nation to criminalize the act of helping people younger than age 18 get an abortion in another state. House Bill 242…

There are more than 7,004 certified nurse midwives currently employed in the United States, according to Zippia. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Midwife Law a Step Closer

The Iowa House has passed a measure to establish a licensing board for midwives. Iowa is one of 15 states currently without such a program, often …

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

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)

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)

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…

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