Uptick In Abortions In Georgia Alarms Advocates While State Asks Judge To Dismiss Suit Against ‘Heartbeat Bill’
There was a similar spike in numbers in 2016, although the rates have been trending downward in the state over the past 25 years. Meanwhile, attorneys for the state defended recent anti-abortion legislation as "constitutional and justified."
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Abortions Increased Nearly 4% In Georgia In 2018
The number of abortions performed in Georgia increased by nearly 1,100 — or almost 4% — last year, according to new numbers from the state Department of Public Health. The latest figures, for 2018, were released about three months after Gov. Brian Kemp signed one of the country’s strictest abortion laws. (Prabhu, 8/19)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Georgia Asks Judge To Dismiss Lawsuit Challenging 'Heartbeat' Law
Attorneys representing the state told a federal judge that Georgia’s new anti-abortion law is “constitutional and justified” and asked him to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the measure. Filed in federal court Monday, attorneys representing the state said with House Bill 481 — which outlaws most abortions once a doctor can detect fetal cardiac activity — Georgia has an interest in “protecting the life of the unborn; promoting respect for life at all stages of pregnancy; protecting maternal health and safety; and safeguarding the ethics and integrity of the medical profession.” (Prabhu, 8/19)
In other news —
Arizona Republic:
Ex-Planned Parenthood Employee Mayra Rodriguez Awarded $3M By Jury
A Maricopa County jury awarded a former Planned Parenthood Arizona employee $3 million after she claimed she was wrongfully terminated when she alerted supervisors to unsafe medical practices. Mayra Rodriguez in her lawsuit alleged she was fired after being falsely accused of having narcotics inside her desk. (Castle, 8/19)
Iowa Public Radio:
Iowa Anti-Abortion Activists Try To Rally Support For Amending Constitution
Last year, Iowa lawmakers passed what was then considered the nation’s most restrictive abortion law. The “fetal heartbeat” law would have banned most abortions as early as six weeks of pregnancy. But Iowa courts stepped in, blocking that law and ensuring future attempts to restrict abortion rights would fail in the state. Now, abortion opponents in Iowa are trying to rally support for what they see as their only path to restricting or banning abortion. (Sostaric, 8/19)
Austin American-Statesman:
Austin City Council Members Propose Funding To Make Abortion Services More Accessible
Austin City Council members announced Monday that they are working on a proposal to make abortion more accessible to people who are seeking it by funding services such as transportation, emotional support and childcare. (Hall, 8/19)
The New York Times:
Chicago Man Charged With Making Online Death Threat Against Abortion Clinic
A Chicago man is accused of promising to “slaughter and murder” doctors, patients and visitors at an abortion clinic, a threat that the authorities said Monday he issued on iFunny.co, an online forum where he followed an Ohio man charged last week over similar threats, court records show. The man in Chicago, Farhan Sheikh, 19, has been charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois said on Monday in a news release. (Chokshi, 8/19)
