All articles tagged with #reproductive rights
Gov. Maura Healey signed a law that removes the previous 24-week limit exceptions (lethal fetal diagnosis and maternal life) and puts abortion decisions in the hands of patients and doctors, expanding access within Massachusetts and reducing the need for out-of-state travel; opponents argue the measure goes too far, while supporters say it strengthens reproductive freedom.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed a sweeping law that removes gestational age limits on abortion, allowing late-term procedures up to birth with doctors’ discretion and taking effect in 90 days. The bill expands access to protect health in cases of maternal complications or fatal diagnoses and positions the state among a small group that have dropped limits; supporters say it safeguards women’s health, while opponents call it extreme.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced via social media that she is freezing her eggs, saying the private decision is about feeling more in control of her life. She has weighed the choice and saved for the costly procedure, which isn’t typically covered by insurance. Egg freezing has become more common, with studies noting a rise in elective cycles.
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez revealed she is freezing her eggs and posted early steps on social media, then told ABC News she has not ruled out a future presidential bid. She used the moment to discuss costs, procedures, and how fertility care works in the United States, arguing the system is broken and urging leaders to normalize conversations about reproductive health despite political risk. She offered a light, non-committal response when asked about a 2028 run.
Erica Schwartz was confirmed as CDC director, the first Black woman to hold the post, and she frames her tenure as science-driven while navigating vaccine-policy questions from RFK Jr. During confirmation she affirmed that abortion surveillance is a 'critical component' of the CDC’s work, prompting concerns from abortion-rights advocates who warn such data collection could be used to restrict care amid a broader politicization of public health and ongoing fights over abortion access.
Olivia Rodrigo uses her platform to advocate for reproductive rights, telling a Center for Reproductive Rights panel that abortion bans are about control rather than being truly 'pro-life,' ahead of her Daisy Chain Fields Festival which aims to raise awareness and funds for women's rights.
A Missouri judge ruled that state abortion restrictions violate a voter-approved constitutional amendment, potentially expanding access; the attorney general plans to appeal, and abortion is poised to be on November’s ballot to undo the amendment, highlighting ongoing debates over reproductive rights as Missourians have often traveled to neighboring states for abortion services.
After the 5th Circuit reinstated a requirement that mifepristone be dispensed in person, abortion-rights advocates warned telehealth access could falter. While that concern persists, many providers say they’ve prepared contingency plans—relying on in-person dispensing options where possible and adapting telehealth protocols—to preserve access as legal battles continue.
The Supreme Court issued a temporary order allowing patients to continue receiving the abortion pill mifepristone by mail for one week as it weighs emergency appeals from drugmakers challenging a lower-court ruling that required in-person pickup.
The Supreme Court temporarily blocks a lower-court decision that would have restricted nationwide access to the abortion pill mifepristone, keeping current federal rules in place at least until May 11 while it weighs emergency requests from drug makers; the case centers on whether the Biden administration’s Covid-era rules that eased dispensing should stand and how it affects in-person versus mailed access.
Elizabeth Banks discusses her advocacy for reproductive freedom and easier access to contraception, including her investment in Cadence OTC which aims to place OTC birth control and UTI relief in convenience stores and push toward an OTC birth control pill; she cites post-Dobbs barriers and maternity care deserts in the U.S., plus experiences abroad, to highlight the need for systemic change, while highlighting her new show The Miniature Wife and sharing personal menopause-related health changes to emphasize women's autonomy.
A Justice Department report from its Weaponization Working Group accuses the Biden administration of weaponizing the FACE Act to curb abortion access, highlighting the Houck case; however, the evidence is described as limited and critics note past administrations have misused law enforcement as well.
A 31-year-old Georgia woman, Alexia Moore, was charged with murder after allegedly taking abortion pills at home, going to the emergency room in severe pain, and delivering a fetus with cardiac activity that died within an hour. The incident occurs under Georgia’s six-week abortion ban and is described as the first murder charge of its kind tied to abortion under the new law, prompting debate over criminal liability for women seeking abortions.
A young woman in Zambia was sent to a maximum-security prison after authorities denied her a legal abortion and she terminated the pregnancy on her own.
Wyoming's top court has struck down laws that nearly banned abortion, affirming a woman's right to make healthcare decisions, including abortion, citing the state's constitution. The decision invalidates laws banning abortion in most cases and the use of abortion pills, despite opposition from Republican leaders who seek to enshrine bans through a constitutional amendment.