Abortion-rights group navigates ‘unprecedented’ legal territory in Alabama

| July 6, 2022 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========1Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2022/07/MG_1320-scaled.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:7:{s:5:"width";i:2560;s:6:"height";i:1706;s:4:"file";s:26:"2022/07/MG_1320-scaled.jpg";s:8:"filesize";i:357911;s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_1320-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";i:24054;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_1320-771x514.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:514;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";i:61770;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_1320-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";i:13737;}s:12:"medium_large";a:5:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_1320-768x512.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:512;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";i:61108;}s:9:"1536x1536";a:5:{s:4:"file";s:21:"MG_1320-1536x1024.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1024;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";i:153669;}s:9:"2048x2048";a:5:{s:4:"file";s:21:"MG_1320-2048x1365.jpg";s:5:"width";i:2048;s:6:"height";i:1365;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";i:239267;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:4:"file";s:17:"MG_1320-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";i:10096;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_1320-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";i:57381;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_1320-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";i:55163;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_1320-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";i:34011;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_1320-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";i:28837;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_1320-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";i:12673;}s:13:"crp_thumbnail";a:5:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_1320-150x150.jpg";s:5:"width";i:150;s:6:"height";i:150;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";i:14196;}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:3:"2.8";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:20:"Canon EOS 5D Mark II";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:10:"1656211939";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:3:"200";s:3:"iso";s:3:"400";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:6:"0.0025";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}s:14:"original_image";s:11:"MG_1320.jpg";}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:14:{s:4:"full";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:357911;s:14:"optimized_size";i:99030;s:7:"percent";d:72.33;}s:6:"medium";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:120:"The size medium is not authorized to be optimized. Update your Imagify settings if you want to optimize it.";}s:5:"large";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:119:"The size large is not authorized to be optimized. Update your Imagify settings if you want to optimize it.";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:13737;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4643;s:7:"percent";d:66.2;}s:12:"medium_large";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:126:"The size medium_large is not authorized to be optimized. Update your Imagify settings if you want to optimize it.";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:123:"The size 1536x1536 is not authorized to be optimized. Update your Imagify settings if you want to optimize it.";}s:9:"2048x2048";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:123:"The size 2048x2048 is not authorized to be optimized. Update your Imagify settings if you want to optimize it.";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:10096;s:14:"optimized_size";i:2057;s:7:"percent";d:79.63;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:57381;s:14:"optimized_size";i:26611;s:7:"percent";d:53.62;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:55163;s:14:"optimized_size";i:25967;s:7:"percent";d:52.93;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:132:"The size wbhm-featured-home is not authorized to be optimized. Update your Imagify settings if you want to optimize it.";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:136:"The size wbhm-featured-carousel is not authorized to be optimized. Update your Imagify settings if you want to optimize it.";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:12673;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3823;s:7:"percent";d:69.83;}s:13:"crp_thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:127:"The size crp_thumbnail is not authorized to be optimized. Update your Imagify settings if you want to optimize it.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:506961;s:14:"optimized_size";i:162131;s:7:"percent";d:68.02;}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Rashah McChesney
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => Gulf States Newsroom -- WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

)
1680738545 
1657103666

A crowd gathers during a protest against the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade on Saturday, June 25, 2022, in Birmingham. Several hundred people massed in Linn Park for a rally organized by the Yellowhammer Fund which provides financial assistance for people seeking abortion care.

Rashah McChesney, Gulf States Newsroom -- WBHM

Earlier this year, Yellowhammer Fund was helping around 250-300 people access abortion care every month in Alabama. The non-profit connects clients to clinics both in and out of state and offers funding for abortion care, transportation and hotel stays

“For some of these folks, we are literally helping them figure out how to navigate air travel for the first time, how to get on a bus that goes outside of their city for the first time,” said Kelsea McLain, Yellowhammer’s director of health care access.

These services are likely to see increased demand now that elective abortion is outlawed in Alabama.

But last week, Yellowhammer announced that it would temporarily stop offering advice and distributing money for abortion care amid legal concerns about possible legal repercussions.

“We’re trying to figure out what kind of guidance we can give people without endangering them or provoking the state to start going after us or pursuing us as an organization,” McLain said. 

Last month, Alabama leaders celebrated a U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban and overturn Roe v. Wade, ending a federal right to abortion.

“The issue of abortion now returns to the States,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement, “Alabama has unequivocally elected to be a protector of unborn life.”

Under a 2019 abortion ban, performing the procedure is a felony punishable by 10 to 99 years in prison. There are no exceptions for age, rape or incest. Abortion is only allowed if there’s a serious health risk to the mother.

The law says women receiving abortions will not be criminalized. 

But McLain says it’s “new, unprecedented territory” and questions remain about how state leaders could apply the legislation in combination with other statutes, including Alabama’s Chemical Endangerment Law.

Yellowhammer is taking two weeks to research and meet with lawyers and telling clients in need of abortion funding to check back after July 15. 

“We didn’t want to just tell people we’re closed and we have no idea when we’re reopening because that’s hopeless and we don’t want to be that hopeless as an organization. We are filled with immense hope,” McLain said.

The non-profit continues to provide other services like emergency contraception and sex education. 

They’re directing clients seeking abortion care to websites with information about out-of-state clinics that perform abortion and groups that assist with funding. 

McLain says they’re keeping a list of everyone who’s been turned away for help, about 70 people as of last week.

 

Crew of fatal US military crash included Alabama father recently deployed

The six U.S. service members who died in the crash of a U.S. military refueling aircraft included an Alabama father who had just been promoted and deployed. The U.S. government released the identities of the deceased service members Saturday.

Alabama poised to drastically overhaul utility regulation. Will it lower electric bills?

The Alabama Senate unanimously voted to expand the public service commission, and create a Secretary of Energy to address rising electricity prices. A bill in the House would go even further, requiring rate case hearings and limiting utility profits.

Musher from Alabama is going for back-to-back Iditarod wins

Riches and paid appearances haven’t followed Jessie Holmes since he won the world’s most famous sled dog race, the Iditarod, last year. He doesn't mind.

Bill would move Alabama to closed primaries

Right now, any Alabama voter can participate in a primary election. Lawmakers in Montgomery took up a bill this week that would change that system.

Auburn football player uses NIL funds to open a community hub in Birmingham

Jourdin Crawford, a freshman defensive lineman at Auburn, used earnings from a Name, Image, and Likeness deal to give back to his hometown.

Ivey commutes death sentence of inmate whose accomplice fired fatal shot

Charles “Sonny” Burton was sentenced to death for the killing of Doug Battle during a 1991 robbery. However, another man shot Battle when Burton had left the building.

More Abortion Ban Coverage