abortions

A new bill in the California Legislature would give legal protections to doctors who mail abortion pills to patients in other states.

Bill sponsor Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka says the bill “promotes life” and supports families. Bill opponent Rep. Christine Hunschofsky describes it as a “de facto abortion ban.” A Senate panel considers the bill Monday.

The challenge comes as the Legislature considers bills that would prevent abortions after six weeks. A House panel is slated to take up the new measure Thursday. A Senate panel is scheduled to do so Monday.

If the case succeeds, it could have sweeping repercussions — for abortion providers and patients across the nation, as well as for the FDA's drug-approval process.

Florida is one of the least generous states when it comes to public health insurance. About 1 in 6 women of childbearing age here are uninsured, reducing their access to quality prenatal care and making it more difficult to begin a healthy pregnancy.

Many assault survivors feel like they can't report the abuse due to safety concerns or other reasons, abortion rights advocates say.

The stricter abortion law under consideration for Florida could have practical implications for women throughout the South and political implications for Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Doctors and advocates who help people access safe abortions say a 6-week ban may as well be a total ban. They say it will hurt women, trans and nonbinary people in Florida and around the Southeast.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said that the state would halt business with Walgreens after the pharmacy giant agreed to stop distributing mifepristone in some red states amid legal pressure.

The drugstore chain’s announcement that access to mifepristone may not expand as broadly as federal regulators intended when they finalized a rule change allowing more pharmacies to provide the pill. Here’s a closer look at the issue.