Florida
Florida legal fight related to abortion amendment intensifies as accusations fly
By Ana GonŽi-Lessan, Tallahassee Democrat
Both sides fighting over Florida’s abortion amendment have responded in a Florida Supreme Court case that will determine whether the ballot measure’s new financial statement will go on the November ballot.
Shock, frustration, anger, desperation: The real-life toll of Florida’s six-week abortion ban
By Cindy Krischer Goodman, South Florida Sun Sentinel
On a Wednesday afternoon in a Tamarac abortion clinic, Eileen Diamond delivers the same news to the fourth patient in a row: “I am unable to help you here.”
Florida Is Waging An All-Out War On Its Abortion Clinics
By Alanna Vagianos, HuffPost
Eileen Diamond was going over patient intake forms in her small office next to the waiting room at the abortion clinic she oversees in South Florida.
Floridians want to reverse 6-week abortion ban but will enough vote for it?
By Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today
More than half of Floridians support overturning a state abortion ban, according to a new USA TODAY/Suffolk University/WSVN-TV poll.
DeSantis: Florida abortion Amendment 4 means ‘end of the pro-life movement’
By Kirby Wilson, Tampa Bay Times
The opposition to Amendment 4 is getting organized, and Gov. Ron DeSantis is leading the resistance.
Sponsor of pro-abortion amendment wants Florida Supremes to thwart GOP leaders’ ‘dirty trick.’ Good luck with that
By Noreen Marcus, Florida Bulldog
Amendment 4’s sponsor claims Republican legislators went too far in a scheme to sabotage the measure to limit government interference with abortion that voters will see on the Nov. 5 ballot.
‘Nothing short of barbaric’: Harris’ Florida campaign highlights abortion ban horror stories
By Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is highlighting women who say their health was harmed because of restrictive abortion bans, hoping to build momentum in Florida where a new poll shows her narrowing the gap with former President Donald Trump.
Kamala Harris ascendance drives Hispanic group’s Central Florida door knocking for abortion rights amendment
By A.G. Gancarski, Florida Politics
Democratic enthusiasm continues as the Kamala Harris ticket establishes itself, and that’s translating to one organization ramping up its ground game in the Orlando area.
A Florida referendum is putting Trump in a bind on abortion
By Natalie Allison and Arek Sarkissian, Politico
Donald Trump still doesn’t have an answer on how he’ll vote on an abortion measure in his home state. And it’s about to become a lot harder for him to avoid it.
Poll: Abortion rights initiative short of 60% needed to pass, but nearly 1/4 of voters undecided
By Gabrielle Russon, Florida Politics
A new poll shows November’s abortion rights initiative might not have enough support to pass, although a high number of voters — 23% — are still undecided.
How your vote could affect abortion access in Florida
By Matthew Peddie and Gracyn Doctor, WUSF Tampa
Like voters in 11 other states this fall, Floridians will have the chance to vote on abortion access — in this case through a constitutional amendment.
Abortion numbers in Florida are down since the 6-week ban
By Jim Saunders, News Service of Florida
More than 40,000 abortions had been reported this year in Florida as of Aug. 1, but the number being performed is down after a law took effect preventing abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, according to newly released state data.
Florida politicians will go further to interfere with abortion – unless Florida voters stop them (audio)
By Jason Garcia, Seeking Rents
In this episode: Over the past few years, Republican politicians in Florida have enacted a near-total abortion ban, spent millions in taxpayer money on anti-abortion propaganda, and blocked funding for contraceptive care.
Meet the organizers trying to reverse Florida’s abortion ban (audio)
Post Reports Podcast, Washington Post
Against a contentious national backdrop, Floridians will vote in November on a measure that would reverse the state’s six-week abortion ban. Today, how grassroots organizers are targeting Florida’s pivotal Latino voters to pass the measure.
Abortion funds say they need more money as Florida’s six-week ban fuels demand for help
By Stephanie Colombini, WUSF Tampa
Getting an abortion can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, especially if travel is involved.
Women and Abortion in Florida: Findings from the 2024 KFF Women’s Health Survey
Staff Report, KFF
Abortion is a key issue in the upcoming 2024 election and voters in up to 11 states across the U.S. may have an opportunity to vote on abortion-related ballot measures.
Related: Nearly 30% of Florida women don’t know what the state’s abortion restrictions are, survey finds
Study Ranks Florida One of Worst States for Families With Newborns
By Julia Postell
Miami New Times
Dreaming of having a baby in the great state of Florida? Be prepared to face some challenges, as a recent study found that the Sunshine State could be far from the ideal setting for growing a family.
Crystal River council won’t issue Amendment 4 resolution. However, individual members will vote against
By Steve Steiner, Citrus County Chronicle
It was Strike 3 for advocates pushing for a resolution by the Crystal River City Council announcing opposition to proposed Amendment 4, which would legalize abortion in Florida.
Playing politics with abortion amendment’s costs
Editorial, South Florida Sun Sentinel
If Amendment 4 passes this November, the Florida Constitution will be amended to ensure that women and their health care providers, not lawmakers and their think tanks, will determine whether abortion is appropriate.
Florida’s abortion ballot item is confusing on purpose. The state Supreme Court can fix it
Editorial, Palm Beach Post
How many bites at the apple should Gov. Ron DeSantis and state Republican leaders have at derailing Amendment 4?
National
Dozens of pregnant women, some bleeding or in labor, being turned away from ERs despite federal law
By Amanda Seitz, Associated Press
Bleeding and in pain, Kyleigh Thurman didn’t know her doomed pregnancy could kill her.
‘Perfect storm’ of crises is leading to cutbacks in abortion care, advocates say
By Kelcie Moseley-Morris and Sofia Resnick, States Newsroom
Advocates for abortion access say compounding crises of abortion bans, rising economic costs and systemic health care issues are beginning to cause significant funding challenges and potential disruptions to reproductive care of all kinds.
Arizona and Missouri will join 5 other states with abortion on the ballot. Who are the others?
By Geoff Mulvihill and Kim Kruesi, Associated Press
Election officials in Arizona and Missouri this week announced that abortion-rights supporters in their states had gathered enough petition signatures to put proposed amendments enshrining abortion rights into their states’ constitutions, bringing to seven the number of states with abortion votes set for November.
Child rape survivors face extraordinary barriers in states with abortion bans
By Sara Cincurova and Virginia Williams, The Guardian
As children in Texas, A and her sister were raped multiple times by their stepfather and his friends before she found she was pregnant earlier this year.
Following National Funding Cuts, ‘July Was Pure Hell’ for Abortion Funds
By Garnet Henderson, Rewire
“We have a DC caller with an appointment this week and a $14,000 funding gap,” the organization said on X. “We are calling on this community to dig deep and help close this gap!”
Dobbs-Era Policy Has Irrevocably Changed Teenage Pregnancy
By Dr. Scott A. Rivkees, Time
The risk of teenage pregnancy continues to rise at alarming rates. Representing 5% of total births in the U.S. in 2022, there were more than 146,000 teen births—the overwhelming majority of which are oftentimes unintended.
Letters to the editor
Vote yes on Amendment 4
By K Finer, Ph.D., Naples, Fort Myers News-Press
The headline (“Amendment 4 will increase risk to women…”) of a guest editorial (NDN: 7-28) is blatantly false.
Prioritize autonomy of individuals & families
By Karyn Edison, Fort Myers, Cape Coral Breeze
The experience of a family member’s pregnancies and the choices our family had to make have shown me the importance of safe and accessible abortion protocols. My family member’s life was at risk during her second pregnancy, and the option of a safe abortion not only saved her life but also allowed her to have a healthy pregnancy and birth later on.