Planned Parenthood Files Suit Against South Dakota Abortion Pill Rule

AP: Planned Parenthood Sues To Stop South Dakota Abortion Rule
A federal lawsuit filed Wednesday by Planned Parenthood aims to prevent the state of South Dakota from implementing a new rule for medical abortions that would make the state one of the hardest places in the nation to get abortion pills. The rule approved by lawmakers earlier this month requires women to return to a doctor to receive the second of two drugs used to carry out a medication abortion. Usually women receive both drugs in one visit, taking the second medication at home. The regulation is expected to go into effect later this month. (1/20)

In other news from across the U.S. —

AP: Assisted Suicide Bill Narrowly Clears Delaware House Panel 
A bill allowing doctor-assisted suicide in Delaware cleared a Democrat-led House committee by a single vote Wednesday, paving the way for possible consideration by the full House. Committee members voted 8-7 to release the measure, with Wilmington Democrat Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha joining all Republicans in voting against it. (1/20)

Houston Chronicle: New Law On Helping Texans With Disabilities During Emergencies Could Still Leave Many At Risk
After the freeze, lawmakers passed SB 968, which required municipalities to check on their disabled residents in times of emergencies. The law requires cities and counties to check on certain residents — suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or debilitating chronic illnesses, dialysis patients, those dependent on oxygen treatment or who have medical conditions that require 24-hour medical supervision — who register on the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry. State Rep. John Bucy III, D-Austin, proposed the legislation after learning a constituent who lived a few streets over from him died, alone, because he failed to get critical dialysis treatment during the storm. (Barned-Smith, 1/20)

Texas Tribune: Trans Kids And Supporters Say New Texas Law Will Keep Them Out Of School Sports
Last year, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 25, which requires that student athletes play on sports teams that correspond to the sex listed on their birth certificate, and the certificate athletes present must have been issued near the time of birth. The law went into effect Tuesday, making Texas the 10th state in the U.S. to enact similar legislation. Supporters of the law argue it is necessary to protect women’s sports from what they deem unfair competition. State Rep. Valoree Swanson, R-Spring, said one of her main reasons for authoring the bill was to “protect girls’ safety.” She did not respond to requests for comment for this story, but in a news conference Tuesday, she hinted at introducing future legislation that would expand sports team restrictions to the college level. (Waller, 1/19)

Health News Florida: Project Opioid Launches Central Florida Campaign Aimed At Tackling Overdose Deaths
A new campaign throughout Central Florida aims to make it easier for people struggling with addiction to get help during the pandemic. Project Opioid’s Everyone Campaign will run billboards, public service announcements and social media adverts aimed at getting people help with addiction. Project Opioid CEO Andrae Bailey says these advertisements will hopefully prompt people struggling with addiction along with their loved ones to go to everyonecampaign.org and sign up to be connected with free recovery resources. (Prieur, 1/19)

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Complaint Filed On Behalf Of Deaf Inmates At County Jail
The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada has filed a complaint with the Department of Justice requesting an investigation into the Clark County Detention Center’s treatment of deaf inmates. According to the complaint, the Metropolitan Police Department, which operates the jail in downtown Las Vegas, has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by denying deaf inmates access to American Sign Language interpreters and up-to-date technology to make calls. (Newberg, 1/19)

Indianapolis Star: Indiana Anti-Retaliation Law: Evictions After Mold, Housing Violations
When rain began leaking through the window into Takila Walker’s bedroom this Christmas season, soaking her carpeted floor, she thought: “Here we go all over again.” Walker had been reporting the leaking window to her property manager for five years, she said. For Walker, it's worse than water damage; she's been to the emergency room more than a dozen times for exposure to toxic mold. Her property manager, Herman & Kittle, filed a lawsuit to evict her instead of fixing the problem after she made complaints to the health department and sued. Walker alleges that she is a victim of retaliatory eviction, which is illegal in Indiana. Herman & Kittle denies her allegation. (Cheang, 1/19)

In marijuana news —

Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Amended Medical Marijuana Bill Passes Mississippi House
The Mississippi House of Representatives approved an amended version of the Senate's medical marijuana bill, lowering the amount of cannabis a person can purchase each month. The House voted 104-14 in favor of the bill after over an hour of spirited debate. The bill will head back to the Senate where the changes can either be accepted or the two chambers can negotiate a compromise. "This bill has been vetted probably more than any bill in my history for sure," said Rep. Lee Yancey, R-Brandon, chair of the House Drug Policy Committee. (Sanderlin, 1/19)

Indianapolis Star: Indiana Weed, Marijuana Bills Introduced Into General Assembly 2022
Marijuana legislation from both sides of the aisle is once again being proposed during the 2022 legislative session. The likelihood of any of the 13 bills surviving session is slim, based on previous years' experience. In October 2020, Gov. Eric Holcomb noted his opposition to legalizing marijuana in the state as it would clash with federal marijuana law. A representative for Holcomb's office said "his stance hasn’t changed" but he will review all the legislation that comes to his desk. (Fradette, 1/19)

Also —

Politico: She Took On Trump, Juul And The Sacklers. Now She Wants To Run Massachusetts
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, a progressive lawyer known for taking on former President Donald Trump and Purdue Pharma, will launch her campaign for governor on Thursday, according to two people familiar with her planning. Healey’s entrance could maximize Democrats’ chances of retaking the office the party has so rarely held in recent decades. (Kashinsky, 1/19)

KHN: Wildfires And Omicron Prompt A Special Health Insurance Enrollment Period In Colorado
A wildfire displaced thousands of Coloradans just as the omicron surge began sweeping through the state, so health insurance was likely not on many people’s minds when the regular enrollment period for the state’s health insurance marketplace ended Jan. 15. But now, because of those twin emergencies, everyone in the state will get another chance to sign up. State officials on Wednesday launched a special marketplace enrollment period, through March 16, open to all uninsured Coloradans regardless of whether they’ve been directly affected by the fire or the covid-19 surge. (Hawryluk, 1/20)

KHN: ‘Heart’ Of Little Shell: Newest Federally Recognized Tribe To Open First Clinic
Louella Fredrickson has long created workarounds to fill gaps in the spotty medical care available to her as a member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. The 86-year-old uses dollar-store reading glasses to improve her blurry vision because she’s worried about the cost of an eye appointment. And when she needed hearing aids, she was told it would cost her more than $1,300. So Fredrickson asked a doctor to tweak her husband’s old pair to fit her smaller ears. “My husband had only used them for a few months before he died, so they work OK,” Fredrickson said. (Houghton, 1/20)