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Kentucky certified lactation consultant and birth doula Bonnie Logsdon has been vocal in her support for House Bill 10. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 12, 2024

Bipartisan KY bill would expand maternal care access

In the final days of the legislative session, Kentucky Senate lawmakers could consider the "Momnibus" bill, which would increase access to critical …

By the end of 2023, an estimated 13,960 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,310 will die from it, according to the American Cancer Society. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky leads nation in advanced cervical cancer fatalities

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and health experts said they are concerned about the growing number of cervical cancer diagnoses nationwide…

State data show in Kentucky, more than 45% of women and around 35% of men have experienced intimate partner violence. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY domestic violence data project aims to improve services

An effort is underway in Kentucky to better collect and analyze domestic violence data, with the goal of improving the lives of survivors and their …

Research shows Black women have a maternal mortality rate nearly three times that of white women in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Report finds Kentucky maternal deaths extend into postpartum period

Maternal mortality has increased in Kentucky, and the latest data from the United Health Foundation show more moms - especially those of color - are …

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

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 …

Kentucky is among around a dozen states with trigger laws that went into effect after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court earlier this summer, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (Adobe Stock)

After Voters Reject Amendment 2, KY Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments on Abortion Ban

Kentucky voters rejected a ballot measure that would have changed language in the state's constitution to permanently deny the right to an abortion…

In 2017, more than 3,000 abortions were provided in Kentucky, <a href=

according to data from the Guttmacher Institute. (Adobe Stock)">

Travel to IL, VA for Abortions Expected to Rise Among KY Women

Low-income, rural, and women of color will be most impacted by the state's trigger ban that has outlawed abortion in the Commonwealth. They'll now …

Las mujeres embarazadas vacunadas tienen menos probabilidades de tener partos prematuros que aquellas que no han recibido la vacuna contra el COVID-19, seg�n la Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. (Adobe Stock)

Instan a futuras madres de KY a vacunarse contra el COVID

Si bien muchos estadounidenses han reanudado su vida normal después de los últimos dos años, la pandemia de COVID no ha desaparecido…

Vaccinated pregnant women are less likely to experience still- or pre-term births than those that have not received the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. (Adobe Stock)

KY Mothers-to-Be Urged to Get Vaccinated Against COVID

While many Americans have resumed normal lives after the past two years, the COVID pandemic has not gone away, especially if you have a pre-existing …

Tornado damage in western Kentucky continues to affect the operations of domestic-violence shelters in the region. (Tori Henninger)

Experts: Natural Disasters Increase Risk of Domestic Violence, Abuse

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Shelters in western Kentucky face ongoing challenges helping domestic-violence survivors as communities continue to clean up …

In 2017, 99% of Kentucky counties lacked a clinic that would perform an abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on KY Abortion Law

FRANKFORT, Ky. - U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments Tuesday in a case involving a 2018 Kentucky abortion law that bans a medical …

Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than are white women, according to the CDC. (Adobe stock)

Pregnancy-Related Deaths Higher Among Black KY Women

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Racial gaps persist in pregnancy- and childbirth-related deaths across the state, and advocates say solutions to the problem lie …

Women between the ages of 75 and 79 are three times more likely than men to be living in poverty, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security. (Adobe Stock)

Retired Women More Likely to Face Financial Hardship

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The persistent pay gap often leads to less retirement income for women, and advocates say pensions offer a solution. According to …

Currently, family child-care operators are eligible to apply for up to $2,500 in start-up funds from the Kentucky Division of Child Care. (Adobe Stock)

COVID Crisis Puts Spotlight on Home-Based Child Care

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Community advocates say home-based family child care could play a major role in closing gaps in access across Kentucky during the …

Una ley estatal de 1996 proh�be que los estatutos locales de Kentucky dirijan la comercializaci�n y venta de productos de tabaco. (Adobe Stock)

Los condados de KY buscan el control local del comercio y venta de tabaco

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Los condados de Kentucky dicen que fumar y vapear están dañando sus economías locales y la salud de las personas…

Sixteen women have been executed in the United States since 1976. (Adobe Stock)

Neighboring IN Stops Execution of First Woman in More than Six Decades

UPDATE - Jan. 13, 2021 - Lisa Montgomery died today by lethal injection at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind. In late-night decisions, the U.S…

In 2019, 65% of female inmates in Kentucky state custody were parents, according to data from Kentucky Youth Advocates. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: More KY Moms Incarcerated, with Negative Impacts on Kids

MANCHESTER, Ky. -- A new report says the number of Kentucky women, including mothers, who are incarcerated has skyrocketed. Kentucky Youth …

Appalachian residents' household income is 82.5% of the U.S. average, and 16% of Appalachians live below the federal poverty level. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 'Diseases of Despair' Take Lives of Appalachian Women

PIKEVILLE, Ky. - A new report says women ages 35 to 44 in Appalachia are dying of drug overdose, suicide and alcoholic liver disease at rates 69% …

Moms now are the equal, primary, or sole household income earners in 40% of U.S. families. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Worsens Options for Parents Living in ‘Child-Care Deserts’

COVINGTON, Ky. -- Across the state, child care centers are struggling to stay open, and it's unclear how many will shut their doors for good…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four women will experience physical violence from an intimate partner at some point during her lifetime. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Pandemic Won't Deter KY Domestic Violence Shelters

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The state's 15 domestic-violence shelters say they have no plans to close their doors during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to …

Sexy Sex Ed's new online resource maps all reproductive health locations in Appalachia. (Sexy Sex Ed)

New Online Map Shows Sexual-Health Resources in Appalachia

WHITESBURG, Ky. -- The traveling sex-education workshop that teaches about consent and anatomy in rural Appalachia has created a unique new online …

Supreme Court, court of appeals and district court judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. (Adobe Stock)

Rapid Confirmations Reshaping Judicial Branch

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Over the past few years, the U.S. Senate has confirmed 185 of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees, the majority of whom have …

Around 700 women die each year in the United States as a result of pregnancy or delivery complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

KY Lawmakers Pre-file Bill Aimed at Addressing Maternal Deaths

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- State legislators have pre-filed a bill aimed at addressing racial bias in health care that contributes to Kentucky women dying …

The Ultrasound Informed Consent Act requires Kentucky doctors to perform ultrasounds and describe the images to women seeking abortions. (Adobe Stock)

New Barrier to Abortion in KY Cited After High Court's Refusal to Hear Challenge

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Advocates for reproductive rights say women in Kentucky face yet another obstacle to receiving an abortion after the U.S…

Microloans, matched savings accounts and emergency funds all can help empower women financially after they've left abusive relationships. (Adobe Stock)

Microloans Set KY Women on Paths to Financial Independence

FRANKFORT, Ky. – October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and one survivor in Fayette County recalls how a microloan helped her get back …

More Kentucky mothers are breastfeeding, according to a new America's Health Rankings report. (Adobe Stock)

America’s Health Rankings Report: More Kentucky Women are Breastfeeding

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky ranks 44th in the nation when it comes to the health of women and children, according to a new America's Health …

A farm in Berea has partnered with a local substance-abuse treatment center to help women in recovery with job training. (Facebook/Sustainable Berea)

Urban Farm Provides Job Skills to Women in Recovery

BEREA, Ky. — A pilot program in Berea where women in recovery learn job skills through farming saw its first batch of graduates this month…

Domestic violence shelters across Kentucky are offering financial education classes. (Adobe Stock)

Allstate Agents Offer Financial-Education Classes to KY Domestic-Violence Survivors

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Allstate insurance agents are helping domestic violence survivors with financial literacy by teaching financial education …

The agrotourism organization Black Soil: Our Better Nature aims to reconnect black Kentuckians to their legacy and heritage in agriculture. (Tehran Jewell, owner and operator of A Taste of Jewell Farm/AgZinger)

Report: Ag Lenders Still Discriminating Against Women, Farmers of Color

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Women and minority farmers are consistently denied agricultural loans, according to a report released this month by the U.S…

Cast and crew of the Kentucky storytelling project

Theatric Performance Aims to Reduce Abortion Stigma for KY Women

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A grassroots storytelling production focused on women's experiences with abortion performs its final show of the season …

Student loans, medical debt and car payments are some of the reasons Kentuckians are feeling financially pinched. (Adobe stock)

Survey Finds Student Loans #1 Cause of Financial Hardship for Kentuckians

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A new survey of nearly 400 Kentuckians finds that student loans are the number one cause of financial hardship for respondents…

A new $500,000 federal grant will help more domestic violence victims in Kentucky afford safe housing. (@TatianaMara/Twenty20)

Grant Helps Domestic-Violence Survivors Counter Financial Abuse

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A shelter in Bowling Green will be able to help more women fleeing abusive relationships afford safe housing, thanks to a …

Food and other donations from Kentuckians are helping domestic-violence shelters use their resources to fill the gaps in other services to help survivors. (KCADV)

Kentuckians Open Hearts, Wallets to Help Abuse Survivors

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Domestic-violence shelters throughout the Commonwealth have their hands full this month - but for a good reason. They're busy …

Sexual education in public schools in Kentucky does not require information on contraception. (Nate Grigg/Flickr)

Kentucky Continues to Fail on Reproductive Health

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A new report demonstrates the divide between states that prioritize reproductive health and those that do not - and Kentucky …

Life expectancy is on the rise around the globe, but not in the United States. (geralt/Pixabay)

United States Falls Behind in Life Expectancy

FRANKFORT, Ky. – It's no longer a secret that Americans are dying at an alarming rate from a nationwide opioid crisis and increased suicide …

Eileen Rektenwald, who heads the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, speaks at The Ending Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Conference in Lexington. (KCADV)

KY Lawmakers Honored for Protecting Survivors of Violence

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky advocates for sexual and domestic assault survivors are gathering in Lexington to reflect on their successes of the …

A lack of financial stability often prevent survivors of domestic violence from leaving an abusive situation. (Pixabay)

Domestic Violence: It Can Take More Than Courage to Leave

FRANKFORT, Ky. – It can take more than courage to leave an abusive situation, as money concerns often prevent survivors of domestic violence …

Polling shows eight in 10 Kentuckians believe the decision to get pregnant is one of the most important choices a person can make. (Pixabay)

Could Title X Changes Undermine Family Planning in KY?

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Groups are voicing concern that threats to the federal program known as Title X could undermine family-planning resources for …

Just 13 percent of moms are able to breastfeed their child six months after birth. (Pixabay)

KY Moms: U.S. Should Not Discourage Breastfeeding

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Some parents are still reeling from word of the United States' opposition to a global resolution supporting breastfeeding…

President Donald Trump has vowed to his supporters to nominate justices who oppose abortion to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Matt Wade/Flickr)

Women's Rights Groups: Roe v. Wade Faces its Greatest Threat

FRANKFORT, Ky. – With the announcement of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement, some women's groups predict urgent times …

Victims of domestic violence often leave abusive situations strapped by debt and bad credit. (Pixabay)

KY Abuse Survivors Get Help with "Financial Empowerment"

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Some financial specialists are helping survivors of partner abuse in Kentucky learn the power of financial fitness – and …

Women on average earn less than their male counterparts, a gap that's even wider for women of color. (Pixabay)

Equal Pay Still Decades Away for Kentucky Women

FRANKFORT, Ky. – It takes women about 15 months to earn what men earn in 12 – but pay inequality is not the only discrepancy Kentucky …

A Kentucky state senator says prisons are ill-equipped to handle the recent rise in the female population. (Pixabay)

Kentucky Dignity Bill: A Game-Changer for Women Behind Bars

FRANKFORT, Ky. - A Kentucky lawmaker is hopeful that a bill that would help improve outcomes for women in prison soon will be approved by the House…

One bright spot in new health rankings shows that women and children in Kentucky are getting their regular wellness checkups. (Pixabay)

KY Could Improve in Areas of Women's and Children’s Health

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A new report indicates there is much work to be done in Kentucky to improve health among women and children. The national …

Victims of human trafficking often need housing, therapy, legal and medical services on their road to recovery. (kstus16/Flickr)

Modern Slavery Occurs Every Day in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Human trafficking is considered the fastest growing crime, and advocates in Kentucky say they are more committed than ever to …

Three Kentucky state legislators are recipients of the

Three KY Lawmakers Deemed "Champions for Justice"

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Three Kentucky lawmakers are receiving special recognition today. State Rep. Melinda Gibbons Prunty, Sen. Ralph Alvarado and …

About 2,500 men in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. (Komen Austin/Flickr)

Think Pink? Breast Cancer Not Just a Woman's Disease

FRANKFORT, Ky. - "Think Pink" events throughout October are reminding Kentuckians about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while pink is a color …

An estimated one-in-four women will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime. (Helba Weber/Flickr)

A Purple Purse Challenge to Support Abuse Survivors

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A lack of adequate financial resources can make it difficult for survivors of domestic violence to leave an abusive situation…

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