Most Texans Barred From An Abortion In State Had One Elsewhere: Studies
Two studies find that Texas' restrictive law kept about 10 percent of patients seeking abortion access from getting it. The rest went out of state for the procedure or were prescribed medication online.
The New York Times:
Most Women Denied Abortions By Texas Law Got Them Another Way
In the months after Texas banned all but the earliest abortions in September, the number of legal abortions in the state fell by about half. But two new studies suggest the total number among Texas women fell by far less — around 10 percent — because of large increases in the number of Texans who traveled to a clinic in a nearby state or ordered abortion pills online. Two groups of researchers at the University of Texas at Austin counted the number of women using these alternative options. They found that while the Texas law — which prohibits abortion after fetal cardiac activity can be detected, or around six weeks — lowered the number of abortions, it did so much more modestly than earlier measurements suggested. (Sanger-Katz, Miller and Bui, 3/6)
Axios:
Texans Overwhelmingly Traveled Out-Of-State To Get Abortions After Ban Took Effect
Newly released data shows that Planned Parenthood health centers in Texas' surrounding states saw a nearly 800% increase in abortion patients from Texas between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, 2021. Meanwhile in Texas, the number of clinic abortions performed in the state fell by approximately 60% in the first month after Senate Bill 8 was enacted. (Gonzalez, 3/5)
In abortion developments from Wyoming —
Wyoming Public Radio:
Anti-Abortion Rights Bills Move Forward, Creating Confusion On What Services Reproductive Healthcare Provides
Michelle Gutierrez pointed out pamphlets on the wall in the waiting room of the North West Health Care Center in Cody. "There are pamphlets about things like birth control and STDs, what else do we have? How to talk to your parents. How to talk to your kids. Safe sex and then, like, violence, date rape, drugs, things like that," she said as she showed me. Gutierrez is the executive director of the Title X clinic, which is located in a converted one-story house. It just has a couple of rooms. She opened the door to show me the exam room. (Kudelska, 3/4)
And in news from Planned Parenthood —
WMUR:
Health Secretary Visits Planned Parenthood After Granting Funds
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra spoke of the administration's support for abortion rights Friday as he visited Planned Parenthood in Manchester. Becerra's visit came after his department delivered a Title X Dire Need grant of $500,000 to Planned Parenthood to fill the gap left by funds rejected by New Hampshire's Executive Council over opposition to abortion. (Sexton, 3/4)
WATE.com:
Investigation Ongoing Into Planned Parenthood Fire As Nonprofit Plans To Rebuild
It’s been two months since a fire destroyed the Planned Parenthood clinic on North Cherry Street, and still no one has been charged. City of Knoxville Fire Department Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks said Wednesday investigators are still going through evidence and watching hours of nearby security camera video. Investigators revealed the day after the fire they believed the fire was set intentionally. (Stephens, 3/2)
Visalia Times-Delta:
Proposed Planned Parenthood Clinic In Visalia Shut Down By Pro-Life Residents
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte's plans for a new Visalia clinic were temporarily quashed amid mounting controversy from some residents. A public hearing had been scheduled for Monday's Visalia City Council meeting but was "continued indefinitely" at the request of Orosco Group, the project's developer. The hearing has since been removed from the meeting agenda. "Our intent was to lease or sell a building, not to invite a forum for a national debate about abortion to the city council of Visalia," co-partner Patrick Orosco said. "It has become that despite our best efforts." (Yeager, 3/6)
