Midwest
Ohio surgeon allegedly forced abortion pills into sleeping girlfriend’s mouth after learning of pregnancy
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An Ohio surgeon has been indicted for allegedly crushing abortion pills and placing them in his pregnant girlfriend’s mouth as she slept, resulting in the suspension of his medical license ahead of a hearing.
Hassan-James Abbas, a 32-year-old surgical resident at the University of Toledo, allegedly administered the drugs in secret.
On Dec. 3, a Lucas County grand jury indicted him on six felony charges, including abduction, tampering with evidence, unlawful distribution of an abortion-inducing drug, disrupting public services, identity fraud and deception to obtain a dangerous drug, according to court documents.
MEDICAL GROUPS URGE KENNEDY, FDA TO REEXAMINE BROAD APPROVAL OF ABORTION DRUGS
Hassan-James Abbas, a 32-year-old surgical resident at the University of Toledo, allegedly forced abortion pills down the mouth of his pregnant girlfriend. (Google Maps; University of Toledo)
Hassan began a romantic relationship with the unnamed woman in 2024 after he separated from his wife, a notice of opportunity for hearing and summary suspension provided to Fox News Digital states.
On Dec. 7, 2024, when the woman — referred to as “Patient 1” — told Abbas she was pregnant, he told her he wanted her to get an abortion.
When the woman said she did not want one, Abbas allegedly ordered the abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol using his estranged wife’s identity without her knowledge. He later allegedly crushed the pills and attempted to force them into the woman’s mouth.
“Patient 1 woke up at 4:00 a.m. and saw that you were awake. She fell back asleep and then awoke to you physically on top of her,” the notice states. “She thought it was a hug, but then, holding her down, you took your fingers and forced a crushed powder inside her bottom lip, beside her gums. You continued to hold Patient 1 down.”
The woman left and called 911, but Abbas allegedly took her phone. She went to a hospital, where she was told the medication had ended the pregnancy.
MAJOR PRO-LIFE GROUP DEMANDS INVESTIGATION INTO ABORTION PILL BILLBOARDS IN FLORIDA
Boxes of the drug mifepristone sit on a shelf at the West Alabama Women’s Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)
Fox News Digital has reached out to Abbas’ attorney.
The University of Toledo said Abbas was placed on administrative leave after his medical license was suspended in November.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, the State Medical Board of Ohio said it issued the notice of opportunity for hearing and summary suspension to Abbas Nov. 5.
“The matter under investigation by the state is unrelated to his role at UToledo,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “UToledo holds its employees to the highest standards of professional conduct and will cooperate with the state medical board’s investigative processes.
“A summary suspension suspends a license to practice prior to a hearing,” the statement said. “The suspension must be based on clear and convincing evidence that continued practice by the licensee poses a danger of immediate and serious harm to the public.”
The woman’s attorney told Fox News Digital that the case was one of the most “heinous” she’s been involved in. Kelle Saull said the University of Toledo and ProMedica, where he accepted a fellowship, knew about the allegations and did nothing.
“Additionally, the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office has had this case under review for the better part of a year,” Saull said in a statement. “It wasn’t until the Ohio Medical Board took (immediate) action that my client finally started to get the results she deserves.”
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for May 14-15, 2026, the board said.
“After the hearing, the Hearing Examiner will prepare a Report & Recommendation (R&R) that includes the basis for the hearing, the findings of fact, conclusions of law and a proposed disciplinary sanction for consideration by the Board members,” it said.
The notice said Abbas cannot practice medicine or perform surgeries and must refer his patients to other doctors. In addition, the medical board determined his continued practice of medicine presents a “danger of immediate and serious harm to the public.”
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LINCOLN, NEB — With less than 1% of Nebraska’s native tallgrass prairie remaining, Lincoln officials say a newly acquired tract of land could help preserve a disappearing part of the state’s landscape while expanding outdoor recreation opportunities for future generations.
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and city leaders announced the purchase of nearly 100 acres southwest of Pioneers Park for $924,630 through a partnership involving the City of Lincoln, the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, and Solidago Conservancy.
The acquisition advances the Prairie Corridor on Haines Branch project, a long-term effort to establish a continuous conservation and recreation corridor stretching from Pioneers Park Nature Center in Lincoln to the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center near Denton.
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said the project will provide additional opportunities for residents and visitors to experience Nebraska’s prairie landscape while protecting natural resources.
“Advancing the Prairie Corridor, we create more opportunities for residents and visitors to hike, bike, explore nature, and experience the beautiful landscape that defines our region,” Gaylor Baird said. “We protect vital natural resources that improve water quality and help reduce flood risk downstream, and we preserve an important part of Nebraska’s natural heritage for future generations.”
The newly acquired Prairie Corridor Link property is intended to help connect Pioneers Park Nature Center and Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center through a continuous protected prairie and trail system.
Plans for the Prairie Corridor include restoring over 5,000 acres of prairie lands (~2,000 acres of tallgrass prairie, and ~3,400 acres of native prairie) and constructing a 14.5-mile multiuse trail that will connect to Lincoln’s existing trail network.
“This property is a piece of a long-term vision to connect Pioneers Park Nature Center and Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center through a continuous corridor, protected prairie, and trail,” Gaylor Baird said.
Parks and Recreation Director Maggie Stuckey-Ross said approximately over a majority of the Prairie Corridor Trail project has now been secured.
“Once complete, the corridor will include a continuous 7,400-acre passage of tallgrass prairie and a 14.5-mile multiuse trail, and in just nine years, nearly 70% of the Prairie Corridor trail corridor has been secured,” Stuckey-Ross said.
Project leaders say the Prairie Corridor has the potential to become a destination for hikers, cyclists, students, and nature enthusiasts from across Nebraska while helping preserve one of the state’s rarest ecosystems for future generations.
More information about the Prairie Corridor on Haines Branch is available at PrairieCorridor.org.
PAGE, N.D. — An annual celebration in a small Cass County community this year will be extra special.
Traditionally, Page Days is held Father’s Day weekend.
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LICKING COUNTY, Ohio (WCMH) — When you think of wild animals in central Ohio, a black bear likely isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. That’s why one Licking County family said they couldn’t believe their eyes.
It was an average afternoon drive home for father and son, Justin and Aaron Rhodes, when something walked into the road in front of them.
“I didn’t even think it was real at first, so that’s why I had to do the double take,” Justin said.
Aaron said he thought it was “just a weird looking dog”.
To their disbelief, it was a bear. The sighting comes just one year after the animal was spotted in Licking County for the first time in more than two decades.
“It’s kind of hard to believe that they’re even around this area,” Justin said. “I’ve lived in this area for about 24 years now, so it’s been quite a while, and I’ve never seen one before.”
These sightings are becoming more common. The Ohio Division of Wildlife said the black bear population is growing in the state, and they expect those trends to continue. Ohio saw a record number of confirmed sightings in 2025.
Lindsey Krusling, a wildlife communications specialist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, said they are seeing more breeding females establish homes in the state, signaling the species is returning. Experts said the work restoring natural forest land is a big reason why.
“We’re starting to get some black bears coming in from neighboring states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky,” Krusling said. “They’re naturally crossing those state borders and coming back to Ohio because we have more of that habitat available to them, especially those forested areas.”
As the black bear population grows, the Division of Wildlife is expanding its research. They are putting radio collars on some bears they find in the state to help track data, such as if the bears are staying here, how far they’ve traveled and if they’re successfully having cubs.
“We’re trying to get quite a bit of data from these bears, and we’re super excited to see where this takes us,” Krusling said.
The research is in the beginning stages, but they expect population growth to continue, Krusling said.
Sighting reports can be submitted here to help the Division of Wildlife track black bear populations throughout the state.
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