Megan Willkens sramashwar June 16, 2026 Senior Research Assistant, AIU
Continue Reading
Need Support?
Find verified resources for reproductive healthcare, support services, and advocacy organizations.
Find Resources💰 Reach this audience.Local readers, real engagement — sponsorships from $250.
Advertise →Nexcom Media Network
Local journalism across Texas, Florida, and national newsrooms — part of the Nexcom Media network of independent publications.
Spring NewsSpring, TXWaco NewsWaco, TXBellaire NewsBellaire, TXWillis NewsWillis, TXThe Woodlands NewsThe Woodlands, TXThe Fort WorthFort Worth, TXThe BrownsvilleBrownsville, TXThe Palm BeachPalm Beach, FLThe MiamiMiami, FLVeterans NewsNationalLGBTQ NewsNationalChristgivingNationalLatinas MediaNationalVoz HispanoNationalNexcom MediaNetwork Hub
More stories from our newsroom
Recent reporting and curated coverage across every beat we cover.
Out-of-Pocket Costs for Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Among Individuals Enrolled in Employer Sponsored Insurance Plans
In this analysis, published in the journal Contraception, KFF’s Linda Li, Brittni Frederiksen, and Alina Salganicoff look at intrauterine device (IUD) and contraceptive implant insertion-related costs among privately insured individuals to better understand why patients are experiencing unexpected e…
KFF Women's Health PolicyJun 16contraception
State Choices, Unequal Access: Policies Shaping Reproductive Health Care Across the United States
Authored by KFF’s Alina Salganicoff, Ivette Gomez, and Usha Ranji, this article for The Milbank Quarterly examines how state policies create varying levels of access to reproductive healthcare services.
KFF Women's Health PolicyJun 16choice
Megan Willkens
Megan Willkens sramashwar June 16, 2026 Senior Research Assistant, AIU
Guttmacher InstituteJun 16breakthroughs
Nine days in June
As we await the usual late-June flurry of decisions – some of them quite significant – I wanted to reflect on what I believe to be the most extraordinary June in the modern Supreme Court, which took place four years ago in 2022. In decisions between June 21 and June 30, the court overruled Roe v.
SCOTUSblogJun 16politics
US Agriculture Bill Cuts Vital Nutrition Aid
Click to expand Image A woman and her daughter in Revere, Massachusetts, US, December 11, 2020. © 2020 Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images On June 4, the United States House of Representatives passed the 2027 agriculture appropriations bill.
Human Rights WatchJun 16health
Carré Otis Has Opened a Door for Survivors of Abuse in the Modeling Industry. Will Others Walk Through It?
A new legal door opened earlier this month in the fight for survivor justice. But it's not in the United States, where survivors and advocates continue to press for transparency and investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's larger network and the modeling industry's potential role in it. It's in France.
Ms. MagazineJun 16safety
Abortion Bans, Restrictions Could Cost U.S. Economy $140 Billion: New Report
State abortion restrictions and bans have done substantial damage to the U.S. economy since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022. A new report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research , a national think tank focused on economic equity and eliminating barriers for women, es…
Rewire News GroupJun 16choice
Many cancer survivors can’t breastfeed. Insurance often doesn’t cover alternatives.
Erika Nyhus thought she was done having children. The mother of two had required medical intervention to become pregnant in the past, and she’d been told that the breast cancer treatment she’d completed would further diminish her fertility.
The 19thJun 16breakthroughs
‘Nope, You’re Fine’: This Black Doctor Nearly Died After Giving Birth in Reno
Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell nearly died after childbirth when her symptoms were repeatedly brushed aside, despite her high-risk medical history. She says her experience reflects the broader maternal health crisis facing Black women in America.
Ms. MagazineJun 16resilience
In anti-LGBTQ+ Idaho, an Episcopal camp offers queer Christians a haven
This piece was copublished with FāVS News , America’s only digital newsroom devoted exclusively to local religion journalism. The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, Washington, has maintained Camp Cross—a 130-acre property on the west side of Lake Cœur D’Alene, Idaho—for more than a century.
The 19thJun 16resilience
Americans agree that childcare is expensive. Democrats are running on it.
Three top Senate Democrats are accusing the Trump administration and Republicans of “taking a wrecking ball” to childcare programs, highlighting the issue in a midterm year where many Democrats are running on inflation and the high cost of living.
The 19thJun 16politics
Why This New YSL Beauty Foundation Is Laura Summer Makeup Staple
For Laura Harrier, beauty is simple. “The goal isn’t perfection,” she tells ESSENCE. “It’s feeling like the best version of yourself.” And, this summer, her “best version” is wearing a foundation that feels like her skin, but cushier: YSL Beauty’s new Skin Affair Soft Glow Cushion Foundation .
EssenceJun 15global
Josh Hart’s NBA Finals Braids Were A Love Letter To New York
It’s the fifth game in the 2026 NBA Championship. The Knicks are playing on the San Antonio Spurs’ home court, yet the air is full of love for New York—and so are Josh Hart’s braids. The buzzer hits zero, the Knicks are up 4-1, and the guard just clutched his first-ever finals trophy, the first for …
EssenceJun 15resilience
As men fought in cages at the White House, women urged Americans to take a ‘deep breath’
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Tina Koumoutsos was inside a downtown events space organizing postcards about voting rights for the women’s issues group she leads for the county Democratic Party when she noticed a familiar face on the big screen Sunday night.
The 19thJun 15activism
JD Vance admits his ‘childless cat lady’ insult was ‘boneheaded’
Vice President JD Vance admits years later that it was a “boneheaded” move to impugn Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, as “childless cat ladies.” Vance calls the insults, which he made in 2021, “one of the dumbest things I ever said” in his forthcoming book “Communion,” accor…
The 19thJun 15politics
Dating Decoded: When There Are More Options, But Less Commitment
In modern dating, situationships are everywhere. People are hooking up, talking every day, even building routines together, but if you ask if they are in a relationship, the answer is no. Dating didn’t always look like this.
EssenceJun 15equality
Abusive Anti-LGBT Proposals Resurface in Türkiye
Click to expand Image In defiance of a ban on all Pride events in Istanbul and full police lockdown, demonstrators assembled in the backstreets of Nişantaşı neighborhood near Taksim, Istanbul, Turkey, June 25, 2023.
Human Rights WatchJun 15lgbtq
The dissent that became a statute
Near the end of her career, Lilly Ledbetter received an anonymous note: she was being paid far less than every man doing the same job. Ledbetter was one of the first female supervisors at an Alabama Goodyear tire plant, working the 12-hour 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. overnight shift for nearly 20 years.
SCOTUSblogJun 15politics
Wisconsin still allows child marriage — but efforts to end it have stalled
This story, originally published by Wisconsin Watch , was produced in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Investigative Journalism class taught in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
The 19thJun 15politics
Alabama responds to court’s order on nitrogen gas execution
We have reached the halfway point of June, meaning the justices have just over two weeks left to wrap up the current term if they want to begin their summer recess in early July. We are awaiting 20 more opinions in argued cases.
SCOTUSblogJun 15global
They Never Left Pulse Behind. They Just Learned to Carry it Differently.
This story was originally reported by Brooke Migdon of The 19th , and republished through Rewire News Group ‘s partnership with the 19th News Network. Ten years ago July 12, a man armed with a semi-automatic rifle and semi-automatic pistol opened fire at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
Rewire News GroupJun 15resilience
Star Gazing: Tribeca Film Festival, 2026 FIFA World Cup, ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Premiere, NBA Finals And More
Summer is in full swing, and the calendar reflected it this week. From New York to Los Angeles and beyond, celebrities stepped out for premieres, special events, and a few major sporting moments. Tribeca remained one of the busiest destinations in entertainment, while television, music, and sports e…
EssenceJun 15empowerment
High inflation is forcing older women on fixed incomes to make hard choices
Last month, inflation hit 4.2 percent, its highest level since early 2023, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Managing more expensive fuel, food and other necessities, like utilities and medical care, has been difficult for many, but older women — particularly those on a fixe…
The 19thJun 15breakthroughs
Global Surge in Attacks on Education Continues, Rising More Than 40 Percent Worldwide
Click to expand Image Gaza’s education system lies in ruins. © Plan International / Ahmed Salama (New York) – At least 8,500 attacks on education took place globally in 2024-2025, a more than 40 percent increase from the previous two-year period, according to Education Under Attack 2026, releas…
Human Rights WatchJun 15global
Kyrgyzstan: Anti-Trans Bill Threatens Rights
Click to expand Image Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov speaks during the first session of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of Kyrgyzstan of the 8th convocation in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, December 17, 2025. © 2025 Igor Yegorov / Sputnik via AP Photo (Bishkek, June 15, 2026) – A harmful draft law before the…
Human Rights WatchJun 15global
Shop The Best Black-Owned Father’s Day Gifts
We often hear dads complain that Father’s Day marketing is subpar, and in some cases, the gifts are too. Dads deserve to be celebrated—the value they add to our lives is invaluable. Those lucky enough to experience a present father know how precious the love, care, provision, wisdom, and play they p…
EssenceJun 14breakthroughs
The Untapped Power of Post-Menopausal Women
Melinda French Gates announced last week a historic $215 million commitment to women’s health, including a $10 million gift to the Menopause Society. It is a beautiful and necessary act of generosity. It arrives on the same day a new Mayo Clinic study showing hormone therapy use among menopausal wom…
Ms. MagazineJun 14equality
Houston Raised Them, Podcasting Made Them Global: Inside Pour Minds’ Houston Homecoming
Before there was a brand, before the tour dates and the national recognition and the half-million-strong fanbase , there were two Houston women bartending, figuring out Atlanta, and recording themselves talk.
EssenceJun 14resilience
Whose America Turns 250? Democracy Is Still a Feminist Fight
As the U.S. prepares to mark its 250th birthday, questions loom over the celebration (UFC Fight Club matches at the White House aside). Whose America gets remembered, whose gets erased? What can modern ebbs and flows of democratic principles teach us? And how do we imagine and build a bold, inclusiv…
Ms. MagazineJun 13politics
Tyra Banks Sues Netflix Over ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Documentary, Alleging Defamation
Tyra Banks has filed a lawsuit against Netflix over its docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model , alleging that producers selectively edited her interview and misrepresented her role in some of the show’s most controversial moments.
EssenceJun 13activism
ACCESS—The New Currency of Cannes
Under a canopy of stars, amid swaying palms, gleaming yachts, and the golden glow of the Riviera sun, flashbulbs erupt, diamonds shimmer, and cinematic magic unfolds as day dissolves effortlessly into night.
EssenceJun 13global
New Law Requires Parental Consent for Sex Ed in Italy
Click to expand Image OSA students perform a flash mob in front of the Ministry of Education and Merit to request sexual and affective education in schools in Rome, Italy, on October 31, 2024. © 2024 Andrea Ronchini/NurPhoto via Getty Images Last week, Italy’s senate passed the “Valditara bill,” a r…
Human Rights WatchJun 13global
This Week in Women’s Representation: LA’s Next Mayor Will Be a Woman; Ranked-Choice Voting in Maine May Help Elect Back-to-Back Woman Governors
Weekend Reading on Women’s Representation is a compilation of stories about women’s representation in politics, on boards, in sports and entertainment, in judicial offices and in the private sector in the U.S.
Ms. MagazineJun 12politics
Alissia Has Already Shaped The Sound Of Modern R&B. Now She’s Making Her Own.
Check the credits of your favorite records from the last few years and you’ll see Alissia’s name everywhere. Whether it’s the bounce of Kaytranada or the raw soul of Mary J. Blige, the Swiss born, Italy raised multi-instrumentalist has quietly become one of the industry’s most trusted secret weapons…
EssenceJun 12resilience
Gabrielle Union’s Secrets to Radiant Summer Self-Care & Flawless Hosting
The season many of us wait all year for is finally here. And with it comes major moments for celebration like 4th of July, The World Cup, Juneteenth, and more. You’re probably perusing Pinterest for everything from hosting tips and tricks, to the beauty looks you want to wear to the function.
EssenceJun 12global
What women love about the ‘unapologetically masculine’ UFC
It was 2012, and Keta Meggett was an actor in Los Angeles trying to land an audition. There was one problem: The audition was in two days and the role required grappling — the art of controlling an opponent through physical holds, locks and leverage — but she had no idea what that was, let alone how…
The 19thJun 12empowerment
In new documentary, Sarah McBride navigates anti-trans hate on her historic path to Congress
Sarah McBride is playing the long game. At 8 or 9 years old, she became enthralled with the lectern her father used to teach classes at their family church, so her mother bought one. McBride set it up with an American flag backdrop and a hand-drawn cardboard presidential seal so she could recite Pre…
The 19thJun 12politics
Federal Judge Rules Stanford Can’t Disclose Minors’ Gender-Affirming Care Records to DOJ—For Now
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. Hospitals in New York, Rhode Island indicate they will share patient records A federal judge in Ca…
Rewire News GroupJun 12politics
Court considers nitrogen gas execution
The NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Final, and World Cup may be dominating sports news right now, but some of us still want to talk about baseball. And as reporter Matt Rice noted on X this week, Justices Potter Stewart and Harry Blackmun would have approved .
SCOTUSblogJun 12politics
Erectile Dysfunction Is Common Among Men and Trans Women. Here’s How to Navigate It.
Erectile dysfunction is on the rise among young people. Some studies estimate that up to 35 percent of men under 40 say they can’t get it up or keep it up for satisfying sex, and urologists report seeing more and more young patients concerned about erectile dysfunction .
Rewire News GroupJun 12breakthroughs