Women's Issues / Public News Service

Hot-button issues like gender roles, domestic violence, and equal pay have often graced the cover of Ms. Magazine. (Ms. Magazine)

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Ms. Magazine looks back on its first 50 years

This week, feminism passes a milestone of sorts as the iconic publication, Ms. Magazine, looks back on its first fifty years. A new book has just …

National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating democracy. It has gained momentum since it was first observed in 2012. (DEEP/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

About 1 in 3 Missourians Isn't Registered to Vote

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and Missourians have many locations where they can register to vote - from community colleges and …

The Indiana Girl Report says from 2015 to 2021, the rate of physical and sexual dating violence among high school girls in Indiana increased to 17%. (Adobe Stock).<br /><br /><br />

Coalition Highlights How Trauma Impacts IN Girls' Growth, Development

A new report focuses on "girl power" in Indiana - with an analysis of how young girls are faring in the state, and recommendations for improving …

The Massachusetts community action agency Citizens for Citizens prepares to distribute the first shipment of diapers and other necessary supplies to low-income families through the federal government's first diaper distribution pilot program. (MASSCAP)

Diaper Pilot Program Aims to Keep Families Healthy, Working

Massachusetts groups will be part of a new federal pilot program to help low-income families ensure they have the diapers they need to keep both babie…

Tennessee is among 17 states where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says infant mortality rates are

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Black Women Face Greater Risk for Maternal Mortality in Tennessee

In Tennessee, a pregnancy shouldn't be fatal - but Black women are three times more likely to die than white women from pregnancy-related causes…

At least 11 major cities across the United States are hosting National Day of Action rallies today to call attention to reforms they say are needed in the nation's immigration detention system. (Susan Vineyard/Adobe Stock)

Immigration Advocates Host National Day of Action Rally

Immigration advocacy groups are calling on New Yorkers to join them in Foley Square at noon today. It's a National Day of Action to call attention to …

Community health workers, as a profession, have a designated workforce classification by the U.S. Department of Labor, and are recognized health professionals by the Affordable Care Act. (N Felix/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Community Health Workers Take a Bow in Missouri

Some 450,000 Missourians get their medical care from Community Health Workers, and those workers are trying to raise public awareness about their …

More than 1,495,000 people are currently working as truck drivers in the United States. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Mississippi Black Women Make Strides in Trucking Careers

A Mississippi Black-owned business is cultivating solutions to the transportation industry by training women of color to get into trucking. Nearly 6…

The Coffee Creek Correctional Facility is located in Wilsonville, Oregon, south of Portland. (Twelvizm/Wikimedia Commons)

Panel Meets on Unsafe Condition at OR Women's Prison

A report on conditions in Oregon's only women's prison has prompted Gov. Tina Kotek to assemble an advisory panel which will meet for the first time …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says one in five people reports mistreatment while receiving maternity care. Mistreatment is reported most often by Black, Hispanic and multiracial moms, and those with public health insurance or no insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Pregnant Patients of Color Report Mistreatment by Medical Providers

A new study finds that people of color often experience different treatment during and after their pregnancy than do their white counterparts in encou…

The Right Time initiative conducted an online survey of 1,000 Missouri residents between April 27 and May 3. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Is Birth Control Legal? Many Missourians Unsure

One in four Missourians either doesn't believe or doesn't know that using birth control pills is legal in the state. The Right Time, an initiative …

Claire Gunderson is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, and the Jemez and Laguna Pueblo of New Mexico. (Charlie Leight/ASU News)

First-Year ASU Student Helps Close Engineering Gender Gap

The percentage of female engineers varies by specialty, but 2021 figures show only 9% of mechanical engineers are women. One Arizona State University …

Maternal mortality rates in the United States showed an alarming increase from 2018 to 2021, which highlights the preventable nature of over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths, according to the CDC. (Pixabay)

CDC Reports Mistreatment of Patients by Maternity Care Providers

People from some racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to have negative experiences during pregnancy and delivery affecting the quality of…

The CDC reported Maternal death rates in the United States rose from 2018 to 2021, noting more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. (Adobe Stock)

CDC: 1 in 5 Women in IL, US Report Mistreatment During Maternity Care

Women from some racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to have negative health care experiences during pregnancy and delivery affecting qua…

According to the American Heart Association, people feel more confident performing Hands-Only CPR and are more likely to remember the correct chest-compression rate when trained to the beat of a familiar song. (9dreamstudio/Adobe Stock)

From Beyoncé to 'Baby Shark,' the Right Tune Can Save a Life

With popular artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift touring Michigan this summer, the American Heart Association is reminding people that some of …

The National Organization for Women notes abusers might exploit a person's disability to further exert power and control over their victim. Life after a sexual assault for a disabled person can be challenging since trauma-informed services addressing sexual abuse and a person's disability are limited. (Adobe Stock)

Preventing Sexual Assault Against NY'ers with Developmental Disabilities

Advocates for New Yorkers with disabilities are voicing concerns about cases of sexual assault against people with developmental disabilities…

Detroit Action hosts a Black August event where it strives to reimagine a world through an abolitionist point of view and healing-justice policies. (SmartArt/Adobe Stock)

Art Collaboration This Weekend for Black August in Detroit

Communities around the country and in Michigan are celebrating Black August and promoting liberation of all diversities. Anthony Baber, director of …

In Ohio, 13 of 88 counties are maternity-care deserts, affecting approximately 97,000 women, according to data provided by March of Dimes. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Maternity Care Becoming Harder for Ohioans to Access, Experts Say

By Leah Shepard / Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. In Ohio, 13 of 88 counties …

The #MeToo Movement has been intersectional in the world of hip-hop. Some women of color in that world were silenced in reporting sexual abuse, which has become a lingering cultural force. (Adobe Stock)

Cinderella and the Glass Boombox: Women Help Shape First 50 Years of Hip-Hop

By Janell Hobson for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

Dr. Ruth Petersen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, says breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Month: Advocates Say Practice Needs 'Normalizing'

August is National Breastfeeding Month, focused on the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies as well as the restrictions some encounter…

The first ever FDA approved over-the-counter daily oral contraceptive is called Opill. (Adobe Stock)

NV Advocates Discuss Access to Birth Control

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., recently met with reproductive-rights advocates to discuss the need to ensure all Nevada women have access to …

Around 34% of Americans, a near record high, say abortion should be legal in all cases, according to a recent Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments on State's Abortion Trigger Ban

Tomorrow, the Utah Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in relation to the ongoing lawsuit against Senate Bill 174. Commonly known as the "trigger …

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Dobbs case last year sent abortion rights to states to decide. (Heidi/Adobe Stock)

Legal Challenges Bog Down Idaho's Abortion Travel Ban

An Idaho law banning interstate travel for abortion care to people under age 18 is facing legal challenges. This week, a federal judge barred …

Only 38% of U.S. women between ages 13 and 44 live in a state supportive of abortion rights, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (goodluz/AdobeStock)

NM Abortion Hotline Stays Busy; Medical Residents Seek Training

New Mexico has developed a two-pronged approach to safeguard access to abortion: offering an information hotline and instruction to medical residents …

If you are a victim of human trafficking or suspect you know someone who is, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, a national 24-hour, toll-free, multilingual resource: 1-888-373-7888. (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)

IA Marks World Anti-Trafficking Day: Hotline Reports up 61%

Sunday is World Day Against Trafficking in Humans, and in Iowa state officials are calling on residents to do more to help. Reports of trafficking …

Between 2018 and 2021, maternal mortality rates spiked, according to the CDC. They peaked in 2021 at around 32%, with mothers age 40 and over having the largest increase in maternal mortality. (Adobe Stock)

VA Group Works to Improve Maternal Health

A Virginia group is working to boost maternal health across the state. Since 2011, maternal mortality rates have increased across the U.S. but …

Ohio survivor Christa Hullaby now helps other domestic violence survivors working to build a new life. (Christa Hullaby)<br />

After Years of Budget Cuts, Ohio Boosts Support for Domestic Violence Survivors

Advocacy groups say a $20 million statewide funding increase will help rebuild community domestic violence services after years of budget cuts…

Sexual assault in the home is a leading cause of homelessness among women and girls, according to the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence. (Adobe Stock)

OH Program Provides Housing for Sexual Violence Survivors

Sexual assault survivors in Ohio can now access short-term emergency housing through a new program run by the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence…

Ohio and many other states have recently passed DEI-related legislation, calling into question what can be taught in classrooms. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Educators Concerned About Impact of DEI Legislation

By Nya Brunson / Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Central State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Higher education …

According to the American Heart Association, people feel more confident performing Hands-Only CPR and are more likely to remember the correct rate when trained to the beat of a familiar song. (9dreamstudio/Adobe Stock)

Beyoncé's 'Crazy in Love' Not Just Catchy – It's a Life Saver

With popular artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift touring Missouri this summer, the American Heart Association is reminding people some of …

About 173,000 women are incarcerated in local, state, youth, tribal, military or federal correctional facilities, nationwide, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Aims to Address Access to Feminine Hygiene Products in Ohio Prisons

By Faith Fistler / Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. While Christina Ray was …

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

WV Sees 'Alarming' Black Infant, Maternal Mortality Rates

In West Virginia, babies of Black mothers are dying at higher rates in childbirth compared to white infants - and experts say the lack of access to …

Rates of severe maternal morbidity for people with disabilities -- including intellectual, vision, and mobility-related disabilities -- were found to be significantly higher between 2011 and 2020 than those for people without disabilities, according to the Department of Public Health. (Adobe Stock)

Report Shows Steep Decline in MA Maternal Health

Racial and gender inequities in Massachusetts have contributed to a steep decline in maternal health, according to a new report. The Department of …

Care provided by millions of unpaid family caregivers across the United States was valued at $600 billion in 2021, a $130 billion increase in unpaid contributions since 2019, according to AARP. <br />(Adobe Stock)

Mainers Celebrate Passage of Paid Family Medical Leave Program

After years of grassroots advocacy, Maine will become the 13th state in the nation to adopt a mandatory paid family and medical leave program…

Florida lawmakers changed language in a higher ed bill which would have banned course topics on gender and women's studies. (Pixabay)

The Fight to Preserve the Future of Gender and Women's Studies

By Aviva Dove-Viebahn for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Trimmel Gomes for Florida News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

While some states require licensing, Texas doulas can offer physical, emotional and informational support to their clients without a certification. (AntonioDiaz/AdobeStock)

As Costs Escalate, Texas Increases Nonmedical Maternal Health Care

Texas is recognizing maternal health care is not just about doctor's visits, with a new law taking effect this fall to enhance screening for …

States that have implemented abortion bans saw a drop in the number of abortions, from an estimated 7,500 in Apr. 2022 to fewer than 10 abortions per month after Aug. 2022, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU of Iowa Critical of Reynolds' Special Session on Abortion

Gov. Kim Reynolds has called the Iowa Legislature back to Des Moines for a special session tomorrow to focus solely on abortion policy. The Iowa …

In 2020, 3,168 adult and children were served in Utah domestic violence shelters, but close to 2,200 requests for shelter were unmet. (Adobe Stock)

UT Measure Aims to Cut 'Lethal' Domestic Violence Incidents

It has been just days since Utah leaders enacted a bill that requires law enforcement agencies to conduct a 12-question assessment in response to dome…

Each year in the United States, RSV causes between 6,000 and 10,000 deaths among adults 65 years and older, and between 100 and 300 deaths in children younger than age 5, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

IA Doctors Behind New RSV Vaccines

For most people, Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV is a mild respiratory infection, but for at-risk infants and seniors, it can be much more …

According to the U.S. Census, Latinos make up an estimated 30% of the state's population. (Adobe Stock)

NV Advocates React to Lombardo's Veto of HOPE Act

Senate Bill 419 was one of many bills vetoed by Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo. The bill, also known as the HOPE Act, would have expanded Medicaid …

According to 2021 Census-based data, Medicaid was the most common type of needs-based assistance received by people ages 65 and over. About 10% received Medicaid, either as a supplement or an alternative to Medicare. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Employment Program Helps WV Seniors Increase Income

A West Virginia program helping adults age 55 and older return to the workforce is seeing renewed interest as inflation and high gas prices squeeze th…

In the past four decades, 29 out of 54 counties in Alabama have lost providers of hospital obstetric care, according to a report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Expanding Medicaid Means Better Maternal Health Care in AL

Alabama has the third-highest maternal mortality rate in the country, and some new research reinforces the view that expanding Medicaid could be the …

The average cost of center-based child care for a toddler in 2021 was nearly $9,000 in Texas, which is 9% of the median income of a couple and 28% of a single parent's income, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Children's Advocates Lament 'Missed Opportunities' by TX Lawmakers

A child advocacy group in Texas is already looking ahead to the 2025 legislative session, after several policy changes it supported this year failed …

Currently, 61% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 37% say it should be illegal in all or most cases, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU Vows to Block Abortion Restrictions; Reynolds: 'Fight not Over'

Civil liberties advocates in Iowa are vowing to fend off any new legislation to restrict abortion in the state. The Iowa Supreme Court recently …

Earlier this month, Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., joined their Senate colleagues to reintroduce the Right to Contraception Act. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed AZ Bill Could Codify Birth Control Access

Days prior to the first anniversary of Roe v. Wade being overturned, Gov. Katie Hobbs and Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, announced plans to introduce …

Black people, especially women and girls, have endured countless hair services, sometimes painful and damaging to the hair, to maintain hairstyles that might make them less likely to encounter discrimination. (chomplearn_2001/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Latest State to Make the CROWN Act Law

When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the CROWN Act into law this month, she tweeted she is "proud to take action to make Michigan a more equitable and …

Wyoming ranks in the bottom five states alongside South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, in children's health. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Wyoming Children Near Bottom Nationally for Health

Wyoming dropped from 14th to 27th nationally in this year's Kids Count Data Book published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which ranks states for …

The child care crisis is costing the American economy $122 billion a year in lost earnings, productivity and tax revenue and putting great stress on parents, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Inaccessible, Unaffordable Child Care Hurts MA Families

Massachusetts ranks first in the nation for education and children's health but a lack of quality child care poses great challenges for families…

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