Women's Issues / Public News Service

A new study finds that about 30 percent of women work in the lower-paying nonprofit sector and ten percent work in state and local government. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Study: Female recent college grads earn 82% of what men make

Women in California and across the country earn an average of 82% of what men make in the first 10 years after graduating from college, according to …

A new study found about 30% of women work in the lower-paying nonprofit sector and 10% work in state and local government. (Drobot Dean/ Adobe Stock)

Study: Female recent college grads make 18% less than men

Women in Nevada and across the country earn an average of 82% of what men make in the first 10 years after graduating from college, according to a …

Men in Arizona typically paid about 18% more than women who are doing the same jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Gender pay gap persists in Arizona

A new report shows while the gender pay gap is closing, there is still a wide margin between what men and women are paid in Arizona for doing the …

Women in Iowa make roughly 79 cents for every dollar a man makes. The gap widens for women of color, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Despite recent progress, gender pay gap persists in Iowa

A new report shows while the gender pay gap is closing in Iowa, there is still a wide margin between what men and women are paid for doing the same …

On average, Nebraska women earn $13,365 less annually than men. The disparity is larger for women of color and LGBTQ+ people, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Despite progress, gender pay gap in Nebraska remains

A new report shows while the gender pay gap is closing, there is still a wide margin between what men and women are paid in Nebraska for doing the …

In 2024, women earned an average of 85% of what men earned, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings of both full- and part-time workers. (Nina Lawrenson/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Gender pay gap still a problem for TX women

Women who recently graduated from college are earning significantly less than their male counterparts. A new study reveals that women from Texas and …

A survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found among women graduating with a bachelor's degree, the average salary was $59,778; for men, the average was $72,190. (Adobe Stock)

Utah women often face career 'segregation,' significant pay gaps

Women who recently graduated from college are earning significantly less than their male counterparts. A new study revealed women from Utah and other …

Report: Colorado women face significant pay gap

Women from Colorado and other states who earned bachelor's degrees within the past seven years get paid an average of 18% less than similarly-educated…

Senate Bill 31 doesn't change the abortion law but clarifies when a doctor can perform an abortion to save a pregnant person's life. (AndriiKoval/Adobe Stock)

Texas doctors leery of changes to 'clarify' abortion law language

Texas lawmakers passed the Life of the Mother Act during the legislative session. It was billed as legislation to clarify when doctors in the state …

Study: Career 'segregation' means PA women face significant pay gap

Women who recently graduated from college are earning significantly less than their male counterparts. A new study revealed women from Pennsylvania …

More than 1.3 million women now work in construction nationwide but men still outnumber them nearly 10 to one. (A. Frank/peopleimages/Adobe Stock)

Philadelphia Women in Construction tout DEI for industry strength

As more women enter the construction industry, a group in Philadelphia is working to support them and advance diversity amid political challenges to …

The Montana Nurses Association said the decision from Providence Health Services to close St. Patrick Hospital's maternity center lacked

Negotiations begin next week on Montana maternity center closure

The multistate Providence Health System announced it will close the maternity center at one of its Montana hospitals in October. Opponents are …

The national organization RAINN says DNA evidence is a critical factor in achieving justice for survivors of sexual violence, but there are still challenges in the way evidence is collected, stored, tracked and used to hold perpetrators accountable. (Adobe Stock)

SD eyes possible reforms involving sexual assault kits

When South Dakota's new budget kicks in this week, there will be money to address potential funding shortfalls for rape kits. At the same time…

Planned Parenthood of Illinois is seeing an increase in out-of-state patients seeking gender-affirming care as neighboring states enact restrictions and bans. (Adobe Stock)

IL abortion services continue to skyrocket, straining provider resources

Illinois serves as a crucial access point for abortion services and sees the most out-of-state patients in the country. Since Roe v. Wade was …

Prairies once covered a significant portion of Wisconsin, but today less than 0.1% of original prairies remain, making them one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. (Adobe Stock)

WI group empowers women to restore prairies, pollinators

June is National Pollinator Month and a local agricultural group which aims to empower women in conservation is bringing awareness to how prairie rest…

The California Civil Rights Department website includes tips on how to file a complaint under state LGBTQ+ antidiscrimination laws. (Leonidkos/Adobe Stock)

Fighting discrimination on LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day

Today is LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day and California advocates are speaking out against federal attacks on workplace protections. On his first …

Rep. Melissa Hortman, D-Brooklyn Park, was Minnesota House speaker from 2019 to early 2025. In this spring's legislative session, through a power-sharing agreement between Democrats and Republicans, Hortman was named Speaker Emerita and DFL leader in the Minnesota House. (Photo courtesy Hortman's Facebook page)

Rep. Melissa Hortman leaves lasting legacy for women in MN politics

Fighting for a wide range of people with a skill for compromise, is how Rep. Melissa Hortman, D-Brooklyn Park, is being remembered for following her …

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, thousands of Arkansans could lose Medicaid coverage because of work requirements. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

AR residents could lose Medicaid under budget reconciliation bill

As Congress considers cuts to safety-net programs for what Republicans are calling the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," new analysis from the nonpartisan…

Nationwide, nearly 70% of rural counties lack a single obstetric hospital, according to a 2024 March of Dimes report. (Adobe Stock)<br />

End of hospital emergency abortion care rule will affect rural KY women

Abortion rights advocates in Kentucky are concerned as the Department of Health and Human Services has revoked a policy requiring hospitals to provide…

The temporary permitting process at Hobbs State Park includes specific collection zones, boundaries and safety requirements. Only dead trees impacted by the 2024 storm may be removed. (Kit Leong/Adobe Stock)

Firewood permits available for Arkansas' Hobbs Park

As the cleanup effort continues at Hobbs State Park Conservation Area in Rogers, officials with Arkansas State Parks have authorized a temporary …

Ohio allocates 85 cents per capita for domestic violence services, less than all five surrounding states, which range from $1.31 to $3.06 per person. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio domestic violence prevention programs face funding concerns

The federal budget proposal now being hashed out in Congress would significantly reduce funding for programs aiming to prevent domestic violence and a…

Violence against clinics decreased significantly after the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act was enacted. (Your Hand Please/Adobe Stock)

Michigan legislation targets violence against patients, abortion providers

By Alyssa Burr for the Michigan Independent.Broadcast version by Chrystal Blair for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Michigan Independent-Pu…

Some 17% of students surveyed said they felt like they could not express their opinion on a subject at least a couple of times a week because of how fellow students, a professor or the administration would respond. (Gatot/Adobe Stock)

Report: TX college students feel free speech is targeted

Texas colleges are getting mixed marks when it comes to protecting free speech on campus. The College Free Speech Rankings include survey results …

Summer food feeding sites can be found by texting

AR summer food programs prepare to feed students

With the start of summer, organizations across Arkansas are ramping up programs to ensure kids have access to healthy food. The No Kid Hungry …

Screening represents Mississippi's most severe failing in national rankings, as the state missed all six benchmarks for identifying maternal mental health needs, mirroring national struggles. (Pixabay/TC Torres)

Report: MS gets failing grade for maternal mental-health support

Mississippi ranks among the worst states for maternal mental health care, receiving an 'F' on a new national report card, far below the national …

Landfill regulations are managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In Harris County, 78% of the methane emissions come from three privately owned landfills over which the city has no jurisdiction. (rob245/Adobe Stock)

Houston officials look at options for growing trash problem

By Elena Bruess for Houston Landing.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Houston Landing/MIT Climate Change Engage…

Maryland passed a pay equity law in 2016 which dramatically expanded equal pay across the state.(Adobe Stock)<br />

Labor laws meant to 'protect' women benefitted men, study finds

A new study from Northwestern University examining the history of labor laws for women said men ultimately benefited from laws meant to protect women …

Only about 25% of the 1 million women in the United States experiencing a mental health crises during pregnancy or postpartum receive treatment. (Adobe Stock)

Postpartum depression rates, treatment higher among Medicaid recipients

Perinatal experts said postpartum depression is more common than most people think and those covered by Medicaid are at higher risk. Two of every …

Ohio's federal victim service funding dropped 77% from $117M in 2018 to $26M in 2024, forcing rape crisis centers to rely heavily on state support. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio advocates call to protect survivor services

Advocates are urging Ohio lawmakers to preserve critical funding for rape crisis centers in the upcoming state budget. The request comes amid deep …

According to USA Facts, 28 is the average age a woman in Indiana gets married. (Adobe Stock)

Study shows marriage habits straying from traditional patterns

Women college graduates are not sticking to traditional compatibility traits when choosing a husband, according to one study. Preferences are …

The Episcopal Health Foundation says the goal of the Collaborating for Healthy Communities Initiative is to improve and strengthen the effectiveness of existing health-focused coalitions and collaboratives. (ILIA/Adobe Stock)

Assistance available for TX coalitions fighting health disparities

Starting next week, the Episcopal Health Foundation will be accepting applications for its next "Collaborating for Healthy Communities Initiative" to …

While the pandemic amplified alcohol misuse among women, a trend of increased misuse dates back to at least 2019, when 32% of high school girls reported drinking, compared with 26% of boys. (Adobe Stock)

Officials encourage Colorado women to rethink relationship with alcohol

Women in Colorado and across the U.S. face greater health risks from drinking than men and health officials are urging people to rethink their …

In Illinois, laws like the Illinois Equal Pay Act and Pregnancy Discrimination Act serve to uphold equal pay, protections and accommodations for working women across the state. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Study: Past protective labor laws for women benefited men

A new Northwestern University study examining the history of labor laws for women says men ultimately benefited from laws meant to protect women in th…

A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association found that for the first time in history, women are now binge drinking more than men. (Roman/Adobe Stock)

Women contribute to NM's high alcohol-related death rate

Problem drinking among women is on the rise, according to the National Institutes of Health, and New Mexico is no exception. In the past two decades…

Texas women face rising health risks with excessive alcohol use

As research shows alcohol consumption among women is on the rise nationwide, health experts are voicing concern about the risks those in Texas and …

Many states, including Maryland, received their worst grades for maternal mental-health care in the category of screenings. (Adobe Stock)

MD fares well for maternal mental health, but work remains

Maryland ranks better than many states for the quality of its maternal mental-health care - but it could be doing more. Maryland receives a "C" …

The five-year average annual rate of excessive alcohol deaths per capita in Illinois increased by as much as 52% from 2015 to 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Evidence shows alcohol affects women more gravely than it does men

As Women's Health Month comes to an end, public health officials are urging Illinois women to be aware of the increased risks they face from any …

Excessive alcohol consumption is a leading cause of preventable death among women, contributing to nearly 59,000 deaths annually in the United States. (chika_milan/Adobe Stock)

Alcohol misuse growing among women in Missouri, nation

As Women's Health Month draws to a close, the focus in on the growing issue of alcohol misuse among women in Missouri and across the nation. Research …

Nothing to party about: More than 11 million women, or about 8.7% of those 18 or older, had alcohol use disorder in 2023. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

The female face of alcohol misuse in Michigan

As Women's Health Month wraps up, the focus shifts to the rising concern of alcohol misuse among women, in Michigan and nationwide. According to …

The five-year average annual rate of excessive alcohol deaths per capita in Wisconsin increased by as much as 51.4% from 2015 to 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Experts say effects of alcohol greater on women than on men

As Women's Health Month comes to an end, public health officials are urging Wisconsin women to be aware of the increased risks they face from any …

The average annual rate of stroke for the Medicare population in Arkansas is 4.1%, slightly higher than the national average of 3.7%. (ilovecoffeedesign/Adobe Stock)

AR stroke rate higher than national average

As end of American Stroke Month nears, officials want Arkansans to know their stroke risks. According to a registry from the Arkansas Department of …

Alcohol-related emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths have increased more sharply among women than men over the past 20 years. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio clinician flags neurological risk tied to alcohol use in women

As Women's Health Month wraps up, health experts are voicing concerns about the growing number of women who drink too much, especially in light of …

Studies show even small amounts of alcohol may increase a woman's risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which can cause lifelong developmental challenges. (Pixabay)

Women face rising health risks with alcohol use

As alcohol consumption among women rises nationwide, Florida health experts are voicing concern about the unique risks women face, from increased …

Research shows less than one ounce of alcohol each day is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. (encierro/Adobe Stock)

WA expert weighs in on higher rates of women binge drinking

As Women's Health Month winds down, experts in alcohol abuse are speaking out about an increase in binge drinking among women over the past five …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 9% of women have an alcohol use disorder. (Adobe Stock)

Alcohol emerges as prominent health concern for women

As Women's Health Month winds down, public health officials in Minnesota are joining the chorus of professionals warning about the prevalence of …

Binge drinking for women is defined as consuming more than four alcoholic beverages in a 2-3 hour window or eight alcoholic beverages in the course of a week. (Fizkes/Adobe Stock)

During Women’s Health Month, experts highlight alcohol abuse