Health
If Louisiana bans abortion, will the state spend more money on pregnant people, children?
Anti-abortion Republican lawmakers who oversee the budget process in the Louisiana Legislature offered little to no insight on whether more money would be made available for increased maternal health and child care.
Pandemic twist: To-go cocktails make it harder to enforce underage drinking laws
During the COVID-19 pandemic, dozens of states have allowed struggling restaurants to sell cocktails to-go, but the expansion of alcohol to-go laws has placed a burden on understaffed alcohol enforcement agencies. (Canva image)
Lawyers, abortion advocates prepare for ‘sea change’ from Roe v. Wade decision
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The leak of a draft opinion appearing to spell drastic changes to abortion legalization in the country has caused many Ohio abortion advocates to accept what they’d been expecting for months. Roe v. Wade may be overturned this summer by the U.S. Supreme Court, and rather than deny what they’ve anticipated since […]
Louisiana Right to Life opposes bill that would classify abortion as homicide
“Our long-standing policy is that abortion-vulnerable women should not be treated as criminals,” the group said in a written statement released Friday night. “Instead, we should hold accountable the individuals performing the abortion or selling or providing the chemical abortion drugs.”
Edwards declines to share personal views on leaked draft of Supreme Court abortion opinion
Gov. John Bel Edwards declined Wednesday to share his personal views on a leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion that indicates the court is leaning toward overturning Roe vs. Wade – the landmark court decision that guarantees access to abortion across the country. When asked about the draft opinion, written by Justice Samuel […]
Abortion rights protests erupt, perhaps a prelude of more to come
The mood was similar to the George Floyd protests of the summer of 2020, as a diverse group of mostly young people marched, chanting slogans like “No justice, no peace” and “When women’s rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back.”
Bill advances to provide free, easy access to menstrual products in Louisiana schools
While some schools already provide these products in the nurse’s office or the main office, many do not. A trip to one of those offices can take up class time.
With leaked draft overturning Roe v. Wade, let’s look at Louisiana’s abortion law
If the leaked draft of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on a Mississippi abortion law overturns the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, laws in place in several states will take effect. More legal challenges are expected, but Louisiana’s 16-year-old abortion law would go into effect immediately and include only limited exceptions. The Louisiana Legislature approved […]
Residents split on abortion, death penalty in Louisiana, survey finds
Abortion in Louisiana is legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy, although the Supreme Court is expected in June to rule on a case challenging the Roe v. Wade decision. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)
Louisiana Senate overwhelmingly votes for abortion pill restrictions
The Louisiana Senate overwhelmingly approved more restrictions on abortion pills in a 33-2 vote Monday (April 25). Every Republican and eight out of 10 Democrats in the chamber supported the legislation carried by Sen. Sharon Hewitt, R-Slidell. No senator spoke out against the restrictions on the Senate floor before the vote took place. Senate Bill […]
Louisiana House votes to give health department authority over nursing home evacuation plans
The Louisiana House voted 101-0 Monday (April 25) to give the Louisiana Department of Health oversight over nursing home emergency preparedness plans in the wake of the horrific evacuation of nearly 850 nursing home residents to an old pesticide warehouse for Hurricane Ida. The Senate will now take up the proposal. House Bill 291, by […]
Rape survivors in Louisiana closer to gaining access to their written medical records
With no opposition, committees in the Louisiana Legislature moved forward two bills Wednesday that would guarantee sexual assault survivors access to their written medical records. The House Judiciary Committee advanced House Bill 313 from Rep. Thomas Pressly, R-Shreveport, which guarantees victims access to their written forensic medical exam report at no cost. The bill also […]