Women's Issues / Public News Service

Rep. Mai Xiong, D-Warren, says her pending legislation is designed to provide financial relief to public employees and their families. (Xiong social media)

Friday, January 10, 2025

New MI legislator rings in new year with pending new law

Just nine months into her tenure, Michigan state Rep. Mai Xiong, D-Warren, is ringing in the new year with new legislation. Now on Gov. Gretchen …

Since launching in January of 2017, Run for Something has recruited nearly 100,000 people across all 50 states to run for state or local office. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Surge of people interested in running for office in battlegrounds postelection

More than 12,000 people nationwide have shown interest in wanting to learn more about running for office since last year's election and the share comi…

In a newly released book, Adriana Romero Olivares, assistant professor of biology at New Mexico State University, shared her not-so-perfect journey to a science career. (NMSU)

NM biology professor's success recognized in award-winning book

A New Mexico professor who was once encouraged to pursue a "more ladylike" career is now featured in a book about high-achieving women in STEM fields…

In South Dakota, 68% of missing persons are Native Americans even though they only make up 9% of the state's population. (Adobe Stock)

Resource gaps cloud efforts on cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. In South Dakota, the push to secure justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women remains …

A study by the Veterans Administration of Iraq or Afghanistan veterans found that those who experienced sexual trauma during their military service were twice as likely to become homeless. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of transportation leaves Maine women veterans stranded

A lack of reliable transportation for some women veterans in Maine is preventing them from getting the services they need. The Sisters in Arms …

Wyoming's territorial government was the first to recognize women's right to vote. The state has ranked in the bottom 10 in the U.S. for the proportion of women in the state legislature every year since 2009, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Women’s suffrage adds luster to WY Capitol’s historic status

Wyoming's State Capitol building has been a National Historic Landmark since 1987 and last month, the Department of the Interior updated the …

Alabama's maternal mortality rate is 36.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is more than double the national average of 17.4. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama Arise prepares to tackle poverty, health issues in 2025

With the 2025 legislative session around the corner, the nonprofit advocacy group Alabama Arise said it plans to take aim at poverty and systemic …

The Hispanic Leadership Network works to equip faith leaders with skills so they can build healthy and strong churches to impact and serve effectively in their communities. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Hispanic pastors across TX, U.S. wanted for leadership network

The deadline to apply is approaching for pastors who want to participate in the 2025 Hispanic Leadership Network. The 10-month program teaches …

According to the March of Dimes, 15.4% of Wyoming women did not have a birthing hospital within 30 minutes of home last year, compared to a U.S. average of 9.7%. (MANUEL/Adobe Stock)<br />

Another birthing center closes, WY maternal health struggles continue

Evanston Regional Hospital is discontinuing its labor and delivery services next week, citing a "steady decline of demand." It is the fourth Wyoming …

As of 2023, Wisconsin is home to over 450,000 small businesses, employing nearly 1 million people.<br />(Adobe Stock)

An Eau Claire small business braces for Trump tariffs

As the new year quickly approaches, Wisconsin business owners and shoppers alike are bracing for the prospect of tariffs from a new administration …

The work of GreenLatinos Texas, centers around empowering frontline environmental justice and conservation advocates. Members are actively engaging with local communities to understand their campaign goals and identify areas where support is needed. (Photo courtesy of Green Latinos)

TX group works to give Latinos seat at table in fight against methane

Members of the environmental nonprofit GreenLatinos are involved in a push to get more Latinos across Texas involved in the fight against methane gas…

The Doula Alliance of Arkansas (DAR) was formed with help from a $250,000 grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a group seeking to improve maternal health. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Doula Alliance of AR works to improve maternal health

Birth doulas across Arkansas have formed a new organization to improve maternal health care across the state and help pass legislation they hope will …

Julie Su, acting Secretary of Labor and Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior, joined labor advocates to celebrate President Joe Biden's establishment of the Frances Perkins National Monument in Newcastle, Maine. (Maine AFL-CIO)

National monument in Maine honors labor advocate Perkins

A new national monument in the town of Newcastle in Maine will honor FDR-era Labor Secretary Frances Perkins. The first woman to serve in a …

Only four Black women have been elected to the U.S. Senate, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Maryland Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks, Connecticut Senator-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester and former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley Braun. (Maryland GovPics/ Wikimedia Commons)

Maryland in top 10 for number of women state legislators

More than 2,400 women will serve in state legislatures across the U.S. in 2025. That's a new record, according to the Center for American Women and …

The Maternity Care Coalition connects families seeking doula services with providers from its doula network and offers free childbirth workshops to educate and empower those giving birth and their families. (Maternity Care Coalition)

Advocate: Doulas essential to birth justice in Pennsylvania

Nationwide, Black women face a maternal mortality rate three times higher than white women. To address the disparity, the Maternity Care Coalition …

Only 29% of municipal government seats in Ohio cities with populations over 10,000 are held by women, highlighting continued underrepresentation at the local level. (Kenny/Adobe Stock)

Ohio’s milestone moment for women in government

Ohio is seeing big gains in women's representation at the Statehouse, with the General Assembly poised to welcome seven additional women lawmakers in …

A September study by Pew Research showed Black women voters are more likely than Black men to view racial and ethnic inequality (79% vs. 70%) and violent crime (78% vs. 63%) as very important issues for the 2024 election. (Drazon/Adobe Stock)

After 92% of Black women Voted for Harris, what's next?

Some experts contended part of the reason Vice President Kamala Harris lost the 2024 presidential election was because of what they called "misogynoir…

If the STORK Act is passed, Ohio would join states such as Georgia, which already allow tax deductions for unborn children, a policy enacted in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio’s STORK Act: Tax relief for parents or a push against abortion rights?

By Vanessa Davidson / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Ohio Rep. Gary …

The orange bag inside the Safe Haven Baby Boxes includes information on trafficking and Safe Haven registry resources. The mothers also have the option to send back identity, ethnicity and medical information for the child if they wish. (Save Haven Baby Boxes)

Expansion of Safe Haven Baby Boxes across Mississippi counties underway

Advocates said Mississippi is taking a big step toward infant safety with the expansion of Safe Haven Baby Boxes in the state. Nationwide, more than …

At least 1,579 Democratic women and 851 Republican women will serve in state legislatures in 2025, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. (Anton Gvozdikov / Adobe Stock)

Report: UT ranks low for number of women as legislators

More than 2,400 women will serve in state legislatures in 2025, a record, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers …

Nationwide, more than 9,700 abortions per month were provided via telehealth under shield law protections in the second quarter of 2024, a 5% increase since the first quarter of 2024, according to WeCount. (Adobe Stock)

Wisconsinites seeking abortion telemedicine via shield laws face risks

Wisconsin law bans telemedicine abortion care, yet new data show an increasing number of Wisconsinites have been getting abortion pills through …

In 2020, Pennsylvania reported more than 32,000 abortions, with providers documenting only 239 cases that involved medical complications. (Longfin Media/Adobe Stock) <br />

PA advocates stand firm on reproductive health access

President-elect Donald Trump's second term has some Pennsylvania health care providers and legal experts voicing concern about potential changes to ab…

So far, the Safe Haven Baby Box hotline has handled more than 9,000 calls, supporting parents across all 50 states, including referring more than 500 women to crisis pregnancy centers, assisting with 10 adoption referrals, and facilitating more than 150 legal Safe Haven surrenders. (Tsado/Adobe)

Tennessee offers new Safe Haven Baby Boxes for parents

Advocates say Tennessee is taking a big step toward infant safety by installing new Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Chattanooga and Atoka. Nationwide…

Congresswoman-elect Yassamin Ansari was also elected as Democratic 'Freshman Class' President for the U.S. House of Representatives. (Yassamin Ansari )

Report: AZ ranks second for number of women as legislators

More than 2,400 women will serve in state legislatures in 2025. That's a new record, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at …

In the 2024 election results, the New Hampshire Senate decreased from 50% to 42% women and the House decreased from 37% to 36% women. (Adobe Stock)

Voters send record number of women to state legislatures nationwide

A record number of women will serve in legislatures nationwide in 2025. More than 2,400 women will hold state legislative offices, representing more …

At least 1,860 women will serve in state houses in 2025, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. (Adobe Stock)

NV leads nationally with the number of women elected to state legislature

A record number of women will serve in state legislatures across the nation in 2025. Nevada will be the first state to hold a female majority in its …

ALICE families say while wages have increased, it hasn't been enough to keep up with inflation and is sometimes hard to put food on the table. (Konstantin Yuganov/Adobe Stock)

'ALICE at Work' on paycheck-to-paycheck struggle

By Wesley Brown for the Arkansas Delta Informer.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Delta Informer-Wi…

Black women almost doubled their registration numbers from 2020, according to TargetSmart. (Adobe Stock)

92% of Black women voted for Harris. What happens now?

Some experts contend part of the reason Vice President Kamala Harris lost the 2024 presidential election was because of what they're calling "misogyno…

Based on the 2024 election results so far, Republican women will make up roughly 35% and Democratic women roughly 64% of all women state legislators nationwide, according to the Center for American Women in Politics. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Record number of women to serve in state legislatures nationwide

As 2025 begins, there will be a record number of women serving in state legislatures nationwide. More than 2,400 women will hold state legislative …

In 2023, nearly $30,000 of the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence's $3 million revenue came from donations, with 90 cents of every dollar allocated to survivor services. (ckybe/Adobe Stock)

Sustaining services for rural Ohio's sexual-violence survivors

The giving season offers Ohioans an opportunity to reflect on the importance of supporting community services. For survivors of sexual violence in …

Ballot measures to ensure access to abortion won in the 2024 election in red states like Arizona, Missouri and Montana. (tilialucida/Adobe Stock)

Pro-choice wins in election signal promise for potential ID initiative

Voters across the country approved a majority of measures in November to affirm abortion rights and supporters of an initiative to legalize abortion i…

The UMB program is self-paced and includes a two-day in-person simulation training. (Adobe Stock / AI)

Maryland trains more health workers to offer abortion care

By Sarah Varney for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Servi…

On the day after the Nov. 5th election, Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide reported a 1200% increase in scheduled vasectomy appointments and a 350% increase in birth control implant appointments. (Adobe Stock) <br />

New England clinics see post-election spike in contraceptive requests

Health clinics in New England and elsewhere are coping with a sharp uptick in requests for long-acting contraceptives in the wake of the election…

Following the Nov. 5th election, Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide reported a 760% increase in IUD appointments scheduled and a 350% increase in birth control implant appointments. (Adobe Stock)

Post-election contraceptive requests increase at ME clinics

Health clinics in Maine and elsewhere are coping with a sharp uptick in requests for long-acting contraceptives in the wake of the election. …

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women and one in 71 men will experience a violent sexual assault at some point in their lives. (Freepik)<br />

NE advocates: Anonymity an option in reporting sexual assault

More than 60% of sexual assaults are never reported to police, due to concerns like fear of retaliation or negative social interactions. But Nebraska …

The holidays can be hard for Texans dealing with loss or depression

The holiday season is not merry and bright for everyone. If you have experienced the loss of a loved one, lost your job or if you're going through a …

Changes could be coming to Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act as President-elect Donald Trump builds his administration. (I Viewfinder/Adobe Stock)

2nd Trump term to affect health coverage for Arkansans

Low-income Arkansas families could be in for some big cuts to health care under a second Trump administration, according to health experts. Policy …

Feeding Texas is advancing policy solutions to both prevent hunger and tackle its causes and consequences. (Daniel Vincek/Adobe Stock)

Feeding Texas Network prepares for legislative session

The nonprofit Feeding Texas Network has announced its priorities for the upcoming legislative session. The food insecurity rate continues to rise in …

Ohio's inadequate family leave policies and systemic gaps contribute to high rates of infant mortality (7.06 per 1,000 births) and maternal mortality (18.8 per 100,000 births) both above the U.S. average). (Best/Adobe Stock)

Report: Paid family leave and what it could mean for Ohio

Ohio is among the many states where a majority of workers lack access to paid family leave. A new report by Groundwork Ohio finds three in four …

After immigrating to the U.S. many immigrants and their families encounter challenges, including low-paying jobs, language barriers and navigating complex systems. (artiom.photo/Adobe Stock)

Immigrant families in northwest AR struggle to make ends meet

By Antoinette Grajeda for The Arkansas Advocate.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Advocate-Winthrop…

Five of its six neighboring states have fewer restrictive laws on reproductive care than South Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

SD keeps abortion ban, but 'the landscape is changing'

A majority of South Dakotans have voted to maintain a strict abortion ban but other factors are shifting the landscape for reproductive care in the st…

More than 2 million votes were cast for the Democratic ticket in Ohio, although more than 55% of Ohio voters supported the Republican ticket. (Wikimedia Commons)

Middletown looks to JD Vance to help improve local economy

Ohio Republicans will soon have stronger representation in Washington, D.C., as Buckeye State native and Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance is set to …

President-elect Donald Trump said during his campaign the issue of abortion access should be left to states. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has said he hopes Trump sticks to his viewpoint. (Adobe Stock)

WI Supreme Court hears case on 1849 abortion law

It is now up to Wisconsin Supreme Court justices to decide the fate of an abortion law from the mid-1800s. A circuit court determined last year an 18…

Approximately 560,000 Arkansas households live below the ALICE threshold of financial survival. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

More AR families struggle with food insecurity

By Mary Hennigan for The Arkansas Advocate.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Advocate-Winthrop Rock…

Four in ten women under the age of 30 said abortion was the number one most important issue this election cycle, according to the health policy nonprofit group KFF. (Feng Yu / Adobe Stock)

AZ passes abortion measure, advocates still concerned about a Trump presidency

Voters in Arizona overwhelmingly supported and approved Proposition 139 last week, which enshrines abortion rights into the state's constitution…

Nevada was one of seven states last week that passed pro-abortion ballot initiatives. (Adobe Stock)

Nevada, called for Trump, also passes abortion rights ballot measure

Nevada voters supported Question 6, which will protect abortion rights in the Silver State. The proposal will add language to the state …

While Amendment 3 protects the right to abortion in Missouri, it does not mandate state funding for abortion procedures, so Medicaid and state funds are not used for most abortions. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

Both sides react as Missouri reverses near-total abortion ban

Strong reactions are pouring in from both sides as Missouri voters made history by adding abortion rights to the state constitution. The decision to …

Some 43% of of municipal officeholders are women in Oregon, compared to 32% nationwide. (Dog Paw Productions/Adobe Stock)

Report: More OR women are running for office and winning

Oregon has the third highest percent of women in city government, according to a new report from Rutgers University. It may be proof of the success …

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