Rosemary Westwood

2 weeks ago | wwno.org | Rosemary Westwood

A Louisiana lawmaker has introduced a bill to dramatically expand the definition of a coerced abortion to include any kind of intimidation or effort to pressure a pregnant woman to have an abortion. Louisiana law currently defines a coerced abortion as intentionally using or threatening to use force to compel a pregnant woman to have an abortion. The crime is a felony that carries a possible five-year prison sentence. House Rep.

3 weeks ago | wwno.org | Rosemary Westwood

Louisiana’s Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham confirmed Thursday that two infants have died in the last six months amid an ongoing whooping cough outbreak in the state, and said vaccines are the best way to protect against infections. The two deaths are the first in Louisiana since 2018, and among just 10 reported nationwide last year. Newborns are at the highest risk of severe complications and deaths from whooping cough, also known as pertussis, Abraham noted in a Facebook post Thursday.

4 weeks ago | wwno.org | Rosemary Westwood

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services appears to have abruptly slashed over $55 million in grants to the Louisiana Department of Health, according to a review of the Department of Government Efficiency website run by Elon Musk. The figure is five times the amount estimated by Deputy Secretary Dr. Pete Croughan earlier this week. The cuts target mental health and substance use programs, including crisis services, according to Louisiana health officials.

1 month ago | wwno.org | Rosemary Westwood

Mardi Gras gets a lot of (well-deserved) hype, but when the parades are over, many in Louisiana immediately enter a less-discussed season: Lent. Lent is 40 days of fasting, almsgiving and prayer. We’re looking to hear from Catholics and Presbyterians about how they’re spending Lent this year: What are you giving up? Who are you giving to? What’s on your mind during this quieter time to work on your faith? Is this year any different from previous years?

1 month ago | npr.org | Rosemary Westwood

At the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project (MAP), physicians use telehealth to prescribe and mail pills to people who live in states that ban or restrict abortion. Elissa Nadworny/NPR hide caption toggle caption Elissa Nadworny/NPR Editor's Note: Previous audio and web versions of this story incorrectly said that Maine Family Planning staff and the clinic's medical director, Dr. Kohar Der Simonian, mail abortion medication to patients in states where abortion is banned.