May 30 Louisiana’s Democratic governor signs abortion ban into law By Melinda Deslatte, Associated Press Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the measure Thursday, making Louisiana the fifth state to enact such a law, joining Mississippi, Kentucky, Ohio and Georgia. Continue reading
May 29 Louisiana abortion ban sent to governor’s desk By Melinda Deslatte, Associated Press Louisiana lawmakers on Wednesday passed a strict new abortion ban that would prohibit the procedure before some women even know they are pregnant, joining a half-dozen conservative states with similar measures. Continue reading
May 29 How this new pacemaker harvests energy from the heart By Harini Barath, Scientific American Scientists have successfully tested a heartbeat-powered pacemaker in living pigs, whose hearts are similar to humans’ in size and function. Continue reading
May 29 50 years later, a daunting cleanup of the Vietnam War’s toxic legacy continues By George Black, Yale Environment 360 From 1962 to 1971, the American military sprayed vast areas of Vietnam with Agent Orange, leaving dioxin contamination that has severely affected the health of three generations of Vietnamese. Now, the U.S. and Vietnamese governments have joined together in a… Continue reading
May 28 Thousands of unvaccinated kindergartners allowed to enroll without waivers By Julie Carr Smyth, Associated Press Unvaccinated or undervaccinated kindergartners in at least 10 states were allowed to enroll provisionally for the last school year, without any formal exemption. Continue reading
May 27 Watch 9:50 Why many combat veterans are still suffering, years after the fight ended On average, 20 U.S. military veterans daily die by suicide, and suicides among active duty personnel are increasing. A number of treatments for veterans with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder exist, but they have drawbacks. Special correspondent Mike Cerre looks… Continue watching
May 25 Watch 9:10 The fight to end Texas’ high maternal mortality rate By Kirsty Johansen, Zachary Green, Ivette Feliciano Texas made headlines in 2016 after a study claimed the state had the worst maternal mortality rate in the developed world. The study's numbers turned out to be inflated, but Texas still has one of the most concerning maternal mortality… Continue watching
May 24 Federal judge blocks Mississippi abortion ban By Emily Wagster Pettus, Associated Press "Here we go again," U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves wrote in his order. "Mississippi has passed another law banning abortions prior to viability." His new order stops the law from taking effect July 1. Continue reading
May 24 Trump administration moves to revoke transgender health protection By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press The Health and Human Services Department released a proposed regulation that in effect says "gender identity" is not protected under federal laws that prohibit sex discrimination in health care. Continue reading
May 24 Missouri governor signs bill banning abortions at 8 weeks By Summer Ballentine, Associated Press Gov. Mike Parson on Friday signed a bill that bans abortions on or beyond the eighth week of pregnancy without exceptions for cases of rape or incest, making it among the most restrictive abortion policies in the nation. Continue reading