Each week, Rewire News Group editors scour headlines nationwide—from lawsuits over abortion access to LGBTQ+ rights—to bring you the most urgent news in reproductive justice. Here’s this week’s latest.
Mifepristone, misoprostol must be dispensed in person: Iowa Law
As the future of mifepristone plays out in federal courts, states are restricting access to medication abortion and other reproductive health care. On Wednesday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation requiring in-person prescribing of the abortion pills mifepristone and misoprostol. The law takes effect July 1. Reynolds approved another law requiring parental consent for minors to get vaccinated for HPV. Oklahoma, too, recently passed a law making it a felony to provide abortion drugs to a pregnant person.
Woman forced to give birth in Brooklyn courtroom
A woman gave birth in a Brooklyn courtroom just before midnight on May 15—allegedly while still handcuffed. A paralegal who was there told the Brooklyn Paper it was “deeply troubling,” and medical staff took at least ten minutes to arrive. The woman—who was arraigned on low-level drug and trespassing charges—gave birth in her sweatpants in front of prosecutors, law enforcement, and court staff. New York City’s main public defenders union and legal advocacy groups condemned the incident.
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Veterans file lawsuit over VA abortion ban, calling it “a betrayal”
A veterans group is suing the Trump administration over its near-total abortion ban on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ 1,380 health facilities. Minority Veterans of America, which brought the suit, told the news site Military.com the 2025 policy harms its members, including a pregnant vet with chronic health issues who may need abortion care or counseling. She called the VA’s ban, which applies even in cases of rape or incest, “a betrayal of the sacrifices I have made for my country.”
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