By Jason Hancock | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning,
Springfield Healthcare Center closed on a Thursday in October 2005. It had performed about 1,000 abortions a year for three decades. Its doctor drove in from St. Louis. When he stopped, the clinic called 10 or 15 others. Every one said no.
Abortion access in Missouri has rarely depended only on what is legal. It also depends on whether a doctor is willing to provide it. In 2017, Planned Parenthood secured a favorable court ruling and applied for a Springfield license, but it could not find two OB-GYNs willing to take call. The application was denied.
Local access did not return until Monday.
Anna Spoerre reports on how a June court ruling allowed Planned Parenthood to begin offering medication abortions in Springfield — and why the return may be temporary. The state is appealing, and Missouri voters will decide in November whether abortion should remain legal.
(photo submitted)
by Anna Spoerre
It’s been nearly 21 years since Missourians living in Springfield could access abortion without driving at least a couple hours. That ended Monday.
(Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)
by Hannah Race
As the state pushes phonics-based methods to improve reading scores, some educators warn against limiting the tools teachers use in the classroom
(Darrin Klimek/Getty Images)
COMMENTARY
by Kenya Brumfield-Young
Accountability should require young people to face the harm they caused. It should also place them in systems capable of reducing the likelihood they will cause harm again.
NATIONAL HEADLINES
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