Missouri Restores Abortion Access 

Abortion services resumed in Missouri on Friday after a judge ruled to remove regulations preventing providers from conducting abortions in the state. 

The Details: Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang ruled the licensing requirement for healthcare facilities is discriminatory because it does not treat abortion facilities equally to similar healthcare, such as miscarriage care. Following the ruling, the state's two Planned Parenthood affiliates said they planned to start providing abortions right away.

The Case: The requirements, according to Planned Parenthood, required providers to give medically unnecessary and invasive pelvic exams to anyone receiving an abortion, including medication abortions. The regulations also included size requirements for hallways, rooms, and doors that Planned Parenthood argued were irrelevant, and most medical centers did not meet.

For Context: Missouri passed a constitutional amendment establishing the right to abortion last November. Prior to the amendment, the state had a near-total abortion ban. There is continued polarization among the American public on how abortion should be regulated.

How The Media Covered It: While The Hill (Center bias), The Epoch Times (Lean Right), and TruthOut (Lean Left) did not include quotes from any pro-life organizations, Politico (Lean Left) quoted the executive director of Coalition Life. The Epoch Times used the term “pro-abortion advocates” and Politico called Trump's agenda “anti-abortion.”