Reproductive Rights

A Kansas City judge on Friday ruled that licensing requirements that were keeping clinics from providing abortions were discriminatory. Planned Parenthood Great Rivers this week will begin offering its first abortion appointments in years.

The move comes months after Missourians voted to enshrine abortion access in the state constitution.

The Rolla City Council turned away a first effort to make the city the first in the state to declare itself a “Sanctuary City for the Unborn.”

Anti-abortion rights groups and politicians argued before the November election that Amendment 3 would block most abortion restrictions. But Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is now arguing it doesn’t overturn some restrictions on clinics.

Religious leaders had challenged the state’s near-total ban on the grounds it contained explicitly religious language.

Clinics in states where most abortions are legal, are reporting an influx of inquiries from patients in states such as Missouri — and are expanding in response.

The campaign behind the reproductive-rights amendment plans to appeal the decision, and as part of the judge’s stipulations, Amendment 3 will not yet be taken off the ballot

With millions in expanded tax credits and direct state funding going to anti-abortion groups, the nonprofit Coalition Life has expanded its operations beyond Missouri and into states where the procedure is still legal.

Gov. JB Pritzker signs bills safeguarding various reproductive rights for residents, visitors of Illinois.

Records from Missouri election authorities show that the campaigns to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution and increase the minimum wage have both turned in more than enough valid signatures.