Abortion

Democrats prove they have staying power in state elections

Plus, abortion rights and pot legalization win in Ohio, Philadelphia elects its first woman mayor, and a falsely accused member of "Central Park Five" joins New York City council.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

Ohio voted on abortion. Next year, 11 more states might, too.

The push for sending the contentious issue to voters comes on the heels of last year’s string of ballot measure wins for abortion rights in six states.

  • By Bram Sable-Smith, KFF Health News

What to watch for in Tuesday’s high-stakes elections

Abortion rights are playing a pivotal role in elections in Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

Missouri becomes the 14th state with a majority-women supreme court

Abortion and gender-affirming care for trans youth could be among the issues the court faces.

  • By Candice Norwood, The 19th

Report: Abortions up nationwide post-Dobbs, soared in some states

Despite some states' attempts to restrict abortion access, the number of abortions have increased nationwide since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Some observers say the rise in patients seeking abortions could put a strain on clinics with limited resources and staff.

  • By Julia Shumway

After power play fails, Ohio Republicans face more ballot measure challenges

State legislators wanted to stop the public from voting on abortion rights to redistricting. Similar fights are playing out nationwide, as conservative lawmakers try to make it harder for liberals to pass policies at the ballot box.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

After enacting strict abortion laws, many states are turning to tax breaks for expectant parents

Four states have approved new tax credits or deductions that allow taxpayers to claim unborn children. Nearly a dozen are expected to follow. But do these laws actually help expectant mothers?

  • By Liz Farmer

State Laws on Reproductive Services, Divisive Concepts Influence Enrollment Decisions

As students consider all the reasons to choose one college or another, state laws are a new factor for some to weigh.

  • By Molly Bolan

Fight Between States Could Determine Fate of Abortion Pills

A tangle of lawsuits has prohibited, protected and limited access to a common medication for abortion. While long-term decisions have yet to be made, some states are planning ahead. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.

  • By Molly Bolan, Daniel C. Vock and Elizabeth Daigneau

Top State Democrats Outline Legislative Priorities

Where the party has majorities, they hope to focus on issues like housing, voting rights and criminal justice. In GOP-controlled states, they want to hold the line against Republican proposals on abortion, school vouchers and guns.

  • By Kery Murakami

Kentucky Becomes Second Conservative State to Reject Anti-abortion Amendment This Year

Following this summer’s vote in Kansas, the race could strengthen an argument that abortion restrictions are a losing issue, even in conservative states.

  • By Shefali Luthra, The 19th

This Year's Hottest Contests to Control State Legislatures

Democrats hope concerns about abortion access will bolster their chances to retake key chambers. But Republicans say President Biden's flagging poll numbers will give GOP candidates an edge.

  • By Daniela Altimari
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Does a Fetus Count in the Carpool Lane? Texas' Abortion Law Creates New Questions About Legal Personhood

A pregnant Texas woman said her fetus should count as a person in an HOV lane. That legal question is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the thorny question of “personhood.”

  • By Pooja Salhotra, The Texas Tribune

Indiana Opens Special Session to Debate Near-total Abortion Ban

Lawmakers convene to introduce a near-total ban, just weeks after a 10-year-old had traveled to Indiana to receive an abortion unavailable in her home state.

  • By Mariel Padilla, The 19th

More Young Voters Could Come Out to Vote in November, Sparked by Abortion and Other Hot Political Issues

One survey taken shortly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade shows that 78% of young people favor legal abortion.

  • By Abby Kiesa, The Conversation

Abortion Providers are Trying to Open New Clinics as Close as Possible to States with Bans

Providers hope the new clinics can help serve the surge of patients now expected to travel for abortions.

  • By Shefali Luthra, The 19th

Combating Abortion Misinformation in the Post-Roe Environment

COMMENTARY | False information could get worse amid rapidly changing laws around abortion access. But states, employers and others have ways to quash these efforts.

  • By Julia Rollison

USPS: It's Up to Mailers to Comply With State Laws on Abortion Pills

The Postal Service says it will not crack down on the mailings, while the Biden administration promises to use the mail to expand access to the pills.

  • By Eric Katz

Roe is Gone. States and Localities Must Protect Reproductive Rights

COMMENTARY | The 50-year era of Roe v. Wade has ended. We need a new movement in America to elect leaders who will restore the rights that have been ripped away.

  • By Debbie Cox Bultan

State Courts From Oregon to Georgia Will Now Decide Who—If Anyone—Can Get an Abortion

COMMENTARY | There's likely to be a flood of litigation as people try to invalidate state laws on abortion.

  • By Stefanie Lindquist, The Conversation

The Next Chapter for Battles Over Abortion in the States

The Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade promises to bring a new wave of debate to statehouses on the issue, as conservatives move to restrict the procedure and liberals look to protect access. Meanwhile, anti-abortion activists say their work isn't finished.

  • By Daniela Altimari