North Carolina - What to watch in 2026
As of October, North Carolina is a state where recent shifts in political control have directly shaped women's rights policy. Because many protections are established through state law …
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WRDI Watch
Earlier this year, someone close to me spent three months caring for a parent facing a major health crisis. During that time, Oregon's paid leave program meant she …
From whispered complaint to public priority: Menopause is finally a policy issue
For decades, menopause was treated as a private inconvenience, as something women managed quietly, insurers ignored, with little expectation of medical help or workplace acknowledgment. That is finally changing, and …
Federal Funding Cuts Harm N.J. Efforts to Help Domestic Violence Victims
Domestic violence is an ongoing crisis in New Jersey. In 2023, the state recorded 70,828 domestic violence incidents — a 15 percent increase from a decade earlier — and 57 domestic …
Questions to Ask Candidates About Issues Affecting Women
The questions below are designed for town halls, candidate forums, campaign events, debates, local meet-and-greets, and other opportunities where voters may be able to ask candidates directly about …
New law offers a blueprint for replacing lost Medicaid funding
The 2025 federal spending bill (OBBBA Act) blocked Medicaid reimbursements for Planned Parenthood and some other large reproductive health providers for one year, triggering lawsuits and emergency funding responses from …
WRDI Watch
When the Supreme Court issued its Voting Rights Act ruling on April 29, my first thought was simple: What does this mean for women? Much of the initial coverage focused …
A major pathway tied to Black women’s political representation is now weaker
Black women’s representation in Congress and state legislatures has reached record highs nationwide, but Black women remain significantly underrepresented at nearly every level of government. Many of the gains …
The states revisiting voting maps after the April VRA ruling
Redistricting usually happens once every 10 years after the census. But following the Supreme Court’s April ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, multiple states are now revisiting congressional and legislative …
What the latest VRA ruling could mean for women’s political influence
The Supreme Court’s April ruling weakened one of the country’s most important legal protections against racially discriminatory voting maps — raising new questions about how communities maintain political influence …
Karina’s Law: a step forward for domestic abuse victims
On February 10, 2025, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a law that could save lives. It’s called Karina’s Law (HB 4144), and it’s named after Karina Gonzalez …
Illinois eases access for cross-state abortion patients
Illinois has become the country’s most important access point for abortion care, especially since the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. Surrounded by states with strict limits or total …
Strong protections, but unequal maternal health outcomes in Illinois
Maternal health outcomes in Illinois reflect a mix of strong protections, expanded access, and persistent gaps in care. While the state has taken steps to improve coverage and support services, …