Planned Parenthood to open mega-clinic in Illinois, a 'regional haven' for abortion access
CHICAGO — As Missouri clings to its last remaining abortion clinic, Planned Parenthood is opening an 18,000-square-foot clinic in southern Illinois to serve as a "regional haven for abortion access," according to a press release Wednesday.The new facility is located in Fairview Heights, Illinois, just 13 miles from the last remaining abortion clinic in St. Louis, Missouri, one of several states that has seen recent rollbacks in abortion access.
Planned Parenthood employed a shell company to construct the clinic in order to avoid drawing protesters, CBS reported. The organization faced dozens of protesters this summer in Birmingham, Alabama, where it is constructing a new clinic, according to local news outlets. Story continuesThe new facility will begin seeing patients in mid-October. Planned Parenthood told CBS News that the clinic can accommodate up to 11,000 patients a year.
According to a recent report from the Guttmacher Institute, the increase of state abortion restrictions in recent years does not appear to be the primary driver of declining abortion rates. Instead, much of the recent decline has occurred in states that did not adopt restrictions. The St. Louis location nearly closed in June, after state officials refused to renew the facility's license to perform abortions. But a judge issued a stay just hours before the license was set to expire.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Planned Parenthood quietly constructs massive 'megaclinic' in Illinois near Missouri borderThe 18,000-square-foot clinic which will open later this month in Fairview Heights, Illinois and is equipped to provide services to 11,000 patients, Planned Parenthood announced Tuesday.
Read more »
Planned Parenthood builds secret 'mega-clinic' after Missouri abortion clampdown: 'We saw the writing on the wall'The 18,000-square-foot Illinois abortion clinic, providing care to over 10,000 women, will be among the biggest in the country.
Read more »
Why It's So Hard to Open a New Abortion ClinicOpening a new abortion clinic involves first jumping through a series of hoops, especially in Republican-controlled states where legislators and state officials have made it increasingly difficult to be a provider. From abortion restrictions that make running a clinic more and more expensive, the prospect of protesters, and administrative hurdles that make getting a license difficult, many abortion providers are finding that building a new facility is, for all intents and purposes, out of reach.
Read more »
Jonathan Van Ness Elaborates on Why He's Backing Elizabeth Warren for PresidentThe 'Queer Eye' star also spoke about how the Trump administration's 'demonization' of Planned Parenthood inspired him to speak out about being HIV positive.
Read more »
Amazon’s Grocery-Store Plan Moves Ahead With Los Angeles LeasesAmazon is pressing ahead with its plan to open a chain of U.S. grocery stores and it has signed more than a dozen leases in the Los Angeles area, people familiar with the matter say
Read more »