Public News Service

A 2023 Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce survey of adults ages 20 to 30 found that Black women and LGBTQ+ people were more likely to consider leaving the region due to economic concerns. (Adobe Stock) <br />

New MA wage equity law tackles gender, racial wage gap

Supporters of a new wage equity law in Massachusetts say it will help close the state's gender and racial wage gap. Starting next year, companies …

Communities nationwide are facing a shortage of maternity health care providers with nearly 7 million women living in so-called

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MA lawmakers push Medicaid expansion to improve maternal mortality rates

On the heels of Mother's Day, Massachusetts lawmakers are backing legislation to address the country's high rates of maternal mortality. The "Mamas …

More than 75% of Massachusetts mothers with infants also work. For those who rely on child care facilities, the majority require parents to supply a week's worth of diapers at a time or find alternative care. (Adobe Stock) <br />

MA diaper distribution program helps families make ends meet

Supporters of a federal pilot program to distribute diapers to low-income families in Massachusetts hope to build upon its success. More than 1 …

Following the Supreme Court's 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, Massachusetts lawmakers strengthened legal protections for abortion providers, mandated insurance companies cover abortion services, and expanded stockpiles of medication abortion drugs. (Kulbako) <br /><br />

'Deceptive' tactics by crisis pregnancy centers focus of MA legislation

Legislation in Massachusetts would ban some of the tactics used by "crisis pregnancy centers" to prevent people from having abortions. Many of the …

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…

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 …

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…

Democratic lawmakers are calling for term limits to ensure each president has the opportunity to appoint the same number of Supreme Court justices each term, in an effort to make the high court more democratically representative. (Adobe Stock)

MA Lawmakers Call for Expansion of U.S. Supreme Court

Massachusetts lawmakers in Congress are calling for an expansion of the U.S. Supreme Court due to what they said are "ethical lapses" and "partisan …

Data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows Massachusetts has four counties in the top 20 list of most expensive places for child care, including Middlesex and Norfolk counties, where families pay more than $26,000 annually in child care expenses. (Adobe Stock)

MA Bill Would Let Candidates Use Campaign Funds for Child Care

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill to allow candidates seeking state or local office to use campaign funds for child care. Child care is …

Health care advocates fear restrictions on abortion medication could be especially harmful to African American women, who are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (ACLU Mass.)

MA Lawmakers Vow to Protect Abortion Medication Access

Massachusetts lawmakers are vowing to protect access to the abortion drug mifepristone, after two competing rulings by federal judges has left access …

Roughly 30,000 individuals across the Commonwealth access the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites, resulting in $60 million in tax credits for taxpayers each year. (Adobe Stock)

Bill to Expand Tax Credits Draws on Children's Health Data

A bill to increase tax credits in the Commonwealth is backed up by research showing the credits lead to better nutrition for working families and bett…

Callers to the newly launched Abortion Legal Hotline at 833-309-6301 can leave specific call-back or messaging instructions and someone will call or message that person back within two to three business days to gather information about the caller's legal questions. (Adobe Stock)

MA Launches Free Legal Advice Hotline Regarding Abortion Care

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office has announced the launch of a new hotline for abortion-care providers and people seeking confidential lega…

Massachusetts currently does not have Certified Professional Midwives integrated into the health-=care system. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge MA Lawmakers to Bring Maternal-Health Bills Back

Groups that advocate for maternal health in Massachusetts are urging the General Court not to let legislation to increase access to out-of-hospital bi…

Just 2.3% of plumbers in the United States are women. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Pay Equity Coalition: With Job Creation, Increase Access for Women

Many backers of the bipartisan infrastructure package hail the number of jobs it's supposed to create - an average of 1.5 million jobs annually for 10…

According to The Pew Research Center, liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans are more likely to have heard about

MA College Course Explores Holding People Accountable with Respect

By Sonali Kolhatkar for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Lily Bohlke for Commonwealth News Service reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

Some 87% of registered nurses are women, yet they make 85 cents on the dollar compared to their male colleagues. (Charles Edward Miller/Flickr)

From Nursing to Truck Driving, Wage Gap Persists

BOSTON -- Despite significant gains for women in the workplace in recent decades, the wage gap persists in nearly every occupation, from nursing to …

Black and Indigenous women die at rates three to four times the rate of Caucasian women due to pregnancy-related causes. (Wikimedia Commons)

Sen. Warren, Rep. Pressley Push Anti-Racism in Public Health

BOSTON -- Massachusetts members of Congress are among the sponsors renewing the push to pass the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act. It would expand …

It's estimated that globally, about 2,220 metric tons of mercury are emitted each year. (Denny Franzkowiak/Pixabay)

Harvard Prof.: EPA Off-Base with New Mercury Rule Analysis

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The Environmental Protection Agency says air-pollution controls placed in 2016 on mercury emitted from coal-fired power plants …

Studies on the MERS, SARS and H1N1 pandemics found that pregnant women were more likely to become severely ill. However, this has not been the case so far with COVID-19. (Syda Productions/Adobe Stock)

Study: Pregnant Women Not at Higher Risk for COVID-19

BOSTON - One small piece of good news - initial indications are that pregnant women are no more susceptible to COVID-19 infection than other people…

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary race last week after performing worse than polls expected. The question of her

Expert: Warren May Have Lost Because Voters Overestimate Others’ Bias

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Why are the last two major Democratic primary candidates older white men? According to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology …

Protesters in Boston denounce anti-abortion violence, holding a sign to honor Dr. George Tiller, an abortion provider who was murdered in Kansas in 2009. (Tim Pierce/Wikipedia)

Mass. Abortion Providers Fear Rise in Anti-Abortion Protests, Threats

BOSTON — Physicians for Reproductive Health says a recent threat against an abortion clinic in Chicago has rattled providers across the country…

The signature fund-raising cocktails for Sipping for Sisterhood included Simone Biles and Amelia Earhart. (Sportello Boston/Instagram)

Area Bars Raise Money for Reproductive Health Care

BOSTON – Patrons of a few Boston area bars are making some decisions that are a lot more important than “Shaken or stirred?" Local night…

The Full Frame Initiative is part of a Massachusetts pilot project to pinpoint not only the needs, but also the strengths of domestic-violence survivors. (Fibonacci Blue/Flickr)

A New Approach to Serving MA Survivors of Domestic Violence

GREENFIELD, Mass. — Massachusetts is trying a new approach to help survivors of domestic violence at risk of homelessness. Five state agencies …

Pregnant women are advised not to eat fish with high mercury levels, one of the reasons some are concerned about the new head of the EPA's deregulatory agenda, including efforts to roll back the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule. (Dale Cruse/Flickr)

Mass. Mom Questions Wheeler as Choice to Head EPA

AMHERST, Mass. – A group of ten moms visited Capitol Hill this week to oppose Andrew Wheeler's confirmation as EPA administrator. This …

Women are much more likely to develop thyroid disorders than men, although the reasons are not well understood. (ryanrao/Pixabay)

Thyroid Medication Among Most Prescribed in U.S.

BOSTON – January is Thyroid Awareness Month, and thyroid medication is among the most prescribed in the U.S. Levothyroxine, a common thyroid …

While 18 percent of women in the workforce are in the healthcare sector, more than one-third of them earn less than $15 an hour. (travisdmchenry/Pixabay)

Many Women in Healthcare Earn Less than $15 an Hour

BOSTON – About three-quarters of the people working in healthcare jobs are women, and a new national study from Massachusetts General Hospital …

The Trump administration's zero tolerance immigration policy, which has separated families, has stoked protests throughout the nation. (Fibonacci Blue/Flickr)

Red Tape Delayed Reunion of Mother, Child Seeking Refuge in MA

BOSTON – While the Justice Department asks for more time to reunite children and parents separated at the southern U.S. border, it was red tape …

Paid family and sick leave is considered a victory for moms who need to take time off with a new baby, an aging parent or in case of family illness. (RaiseUpMA)

Grassroots Campaigners Bask in MA Minimum-Wage "Victory"

BOSTON – Paid family and medical leave and a $15 minimum wage is cause for celebration for tens of thousands of Massachusetts workers this Inde…

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, on the steps of the Supreme Court, told the crowd,

Dems Sound Off on Supreme Court Replacement

BOSTON – A fight is already brewing over the replacement for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced his retirement this week…

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is hearing this week from his counterparts in more than 20 states. (Wikimedia Commons)

Mass. AG to Sessions: Stop Draconian Border Policy

BOSTON – A coalition of state attorneys general, including Maura Healy in Massachusetts, sent a letter on Tuesday to U.S. Attorney General Jeff …

Activists vow to protest the Trump administration's plan to defund Planned Parenthood as they did in 2017. (Linda Barr)

Trump Attempts Gag Rule On Reproductive Health (Again)

BOSTON – If President Donald Trump's new effort succeeds to impose a so-called gag rule on family planning centers, access to women's health …

In 2016, women working full-time earned an average of $41,557, compared with $51,640 for men. (Pixabay)

Equal Pay Day Shows Pay Gap Persists

BOSTON – Today is Equal Pay Day, marking the 99 extra days women have to work this year to equal the pay men were paid last year. Data from …

After 1978, the number of women in prison nationwide increased at twice the rate of men. (jaroas/Pixabay)

Reductions in Prison Population Lag for Women

BOSTON – Prison populations are dropping in most states, but a new study finds that the number of incarcerated women is not falling as fast as …

The latest FDA guidelines say more than 90 percent of fish species are safe to eat, but there are exceptions. (aimworld/Google Plus)

New Health, Safety Guidelines for Fish Lovers

BOSTON – Good news for Bay Staters who love fresh fish. Two U.S. agencies have released new advice on how much and which types of fish are …

Women lawmakers are taking the lead on a bill pending at the State House that would ensure doctor-patient confidentiality when it comes to insurance companies' explanation of benefits. (Scholars Strategy Network)

MA Women Patients Shine Light on Doctor-Patient Confidentiality Issue

BOSTON - A legislative effort led by women involves doctor-patient confidentiality. Shauna Shames, an assistant professor of political science at …

Whether it is riding to work, the store or just for fun, Bay Staters have plenty of riding opportunities during National Bike Month. (Mike Clifford)

Plenty of Reasons for Bay Staters to Pedal During National Bike Month

BOSTON - It's National Bike Month, offering plenty of opportunities for folks in Massachusetts to press their feet to the pedals and get on the road…

A Boston nonprofit is ditching the fancy banquet tables in favor of soapboxes Tuesday night in an event that will focus on patient-centered care. (National Institutes of Health)

Nonprofit Tosses Fancy Banquet Tables in Favor of Speaker Soapboxes

BOSTON - Forget the banquet table with expensive flowers and a fancy meal. A major Boston nonprofit is replacing that with soapboxes for speakers to …

Five percent of kids in Massachusetts grow up missing a parent who is incarcerated and a new report examines what can be done to make the experience less traumatic for children. (Matt Crampton)

69,000 Commonwealth Kids with Parents in Prison

BOSTON - About 69,000 children in the Commonwealth are growing up with a parent who is or has been incarcerated, and a new report says that can have …

Spring flowers are blooming with seasonal allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, affects more than 35 million people in the United States. (Anita Martinz)

Medical Advice: How to Handle Spring Allergies

BOSTON - It's the beginning of April, which means flowers are blooming, pollen is plentiful, and allergy sufferers are feeling the itchy effects…

A Boston-based children's advocacy group has filed a complaint against the

Consumer Watchdog: "Your Baby Still Can't Read" Despite Product's Claim

BOSTON - A Boston-based children's advocacy group says a video learning series is back at it again, making "unfounded claims" about infants' ability …

Kheila Cox is among the Logan Airport workers applauding a planned measure that would boost the pay of workers a Logan Airport to 15 dollars an hour. Courtesy: 32BJ SEIU

"Fight for $15" Lands at Logan Airport

BOSTON - Low-wage workers in Massachusetts have been busy in a nationwide effort to boost the minimum wage and now legislation is planned to boost air…

While the U.S. is the only industrialized western nation that doesn't provide paid family leave to citizens, the city of Boston is cited as an example of progress with an ordinance signed into law in May. Credit: Robert Whitehead/Flickr.

Magazine: U.S. Failing Moms on Paid Maternity Leave

BOSTON – The U.S. is dramatically behind the rest of the world in providing adequate support for mothers to spend time with their newborn …

PHOTO: Massachusetts gets only a C in a report analyzing how each state in the union supports � or doesn�t support � new parents in terms of leave time and job protection. The study is timed for the White House Summit on Working Families. Photo credit: National Partnership for Women and Families.

MA Gets a C in Helping Parents in the Workplace

BOSTON – Massachusetts gets just a C in a report analyzing how each state supports – or doesn't support – new parents in terms of su…

PHOTO: Sabine and Aiden lived out of the boy's stroller at South Station and in an emergency room until qualifying for shelter admission. Commonwealth doctors and educators are joining advocates urging a change in eligibility requirements for emergency shelter. Credit: MLRI.

Doctors: Stop Making MA Homeless Families Jump Through This Hoop

BOSTON – Advocates for the homeless say they'll continue to fight to change a regulation that sometimes requires homeless families with children…

PHOTO: The Affordable Care Act is expected to help in the fight against breast cancer. CREDIT: Army Medicine.

Affordable Care Act: Newest Tool in Fight Against Breast Cancer

BOSTON - October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this year's event marks a major shift for women's ability to access the health care …

PHOTO: Gail Alexander-Wright had a heart attack at age 37. Now, she's educating women about how their signs and symptoms can be different than those experienced by men. Courtesy American Heart Assn.

Heart Dangers for Women Sometimes Not Obvious

BOSTON - A sharp pain or a tight feeling in the chest, along with shortness of breath. By now, most of us have been briefed on the warning signs of a …

PHOTO: 30 percent of teen girls reported having offline meetings with people they met on the Internet.

Study Confirms Risky Online Teenage Behavior

BOSTON - New research finds that the Internet can be a particularly dangerous place for teenaged girls. The lead author of the study, Jennie Noll…

GRAPHIC: Domestic violence prevention groups across the country are spreading the word about National Stalking Awareness Month.

“Know it. Name it. Stop it.” Stalking Awareness Month in MA

BOSTON - January is Stalking Awareness Month in Massachusetts, and a national campaign is underway to "Know it. Name it. Stop it." State law lists …

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