Mississippi

This doctor provides abortions at Mississippi’s last clinic. Now, she’s preparing for her final shift.

Published

3 years ago

May 10, 2022

This doctor provides abortions at Mississippi’s last clinic. Now, she’s preparing for her final shift.

Dr. Cheryl Hamlin added a line to her customary message for sufferers throughout their counseling periods at Mississippi’s solely abortion clinic final week.

“As you hopefully have heard, the Supreme Court docket might be going to overrule Roe v. Wade, which implies this clinic will shut,” she mentioned to dozens of people that had traveled to Jackson from as distant as Texas for an abortion.

About half of the sufferers hadn’t heard, she instructed Mississippi In the present day. So she defined: A draft opinion leaked Could 2 indicated the courtroom is poised to overturn the 1973 ruling that established a constitutional proper to abortion and assured at the very least a modicum of entry to the process in each state within the nation — even when states like Mississippi imposed such strict and medically pointless rules that just one clinic was left standing.

If the Supreme Court docket formally overturns Roe, Mississippi has a regulation on the books that may nearly instantly ban abortion in nearly all instances. The Jackson Ladies’s Well being Group, the clinic on the heart of the case earlier than the Supreme Court docket, will seemingly cease offering abortions.

One girl requested if that meant Hamlin could be out of a job. Hamlin, who lives in Massachusetts and visits Jackson about as soon as a month for 3 days of labor on the clinic, instructed her she could be all proper.

“Properly, I’m going to be wonderful,” Hamlin recalled the affected person saying. “I’m going to take these capsules and I’m by no means going to return again right here.”

“I mentioned, ‘Properly, you and I are going to be wonderful. There’s a complete bunch of folks that received’t be.”

As an OB-GYN within the Boston space, Hamlin says she has lived “in a fairly good bubble.” She acquired coaching in abortion care throughout her residency on the Boston Medical Middle within the late Eighties and early Nineties, and it was at all times part of her apply.

“They’d come to my workplace, say that’s what they wished, I scheduled them within the working room within the hospital, they usually went with out protesters and their insurance coverage paid for it and it was no large deal,” she mentioned. “I actually thought that was what folks did. And that was my job. I didn’t see it as any ethical crucial.”

Then, Donald J. Trump was elected president of the USA. Hamlin learn concerning the state of abortion entry in different components of the nation. She wished to do one thing.

She had by no means frolicked in Mississippi, however she obtained related to the medical director on the Jackson Ladies’s Well being Group. She went to go to, favored it, and obtained licensed in Mississippi.

Within the fall of 2017, she joined the staff of out-of-state medical doctors who fly in for shifts on the clinic. Nearly each month, she travels from Boston to Jackson for a three-day shift.

Her work days on the clinic begin round 8:30 a.m. Clinic employees spend the mornings offering state-mandated counseling, together with the declare that having an abortion will increase the chance of breast most cancers, though scientific research present that’s not true.

After that counseling, sufferers have to attend at the very least 24 hours for his or her subsequent go to, per state regulation.

Within the afternoons, Hamlin offers surgical procedures and administers the primary capsule for treatment abortions, as required by Mississippi regulation.

Sufferers take the remainder of the medicines at dwelling. Greater than half of the abortions supplied on the clinic are treatment abortions, Hamlin mentioned.

Throughout breaks within the day, Hamlin likes to go outdoors to go to with the clinic escorts. They name themselves the Pink Home Defenders, put on rainbow-colored vests and attempt to defend sufferers from the protestors jostling to influence them to show round.

When Hamlin got here to Mississippi, she anticipated the demonstrators and seeing sufferers compelled to journey lengthy distances. However she didn’t foresee what number of of her sufferers would lack entry to any type of common well being care.

Massachusetts has one of many nation’s lowest charges of individuals with out medical health insurance, at 2.4%. Mississippi has one of many highest, at 11.9%. Amongst folks beneath 65, the speed is 14.1%.

Hamlin repeatedly talks to sufferers who couldn’t afford to fill their contraception prescription as a result of they’re uninsured. When she asks if they’ve an everyday gynecologist, the reply is commonly no.

“That’s nearly unprecedented in Massachusetts,” she mentioned.

Hamlin, by way of her work on the Pink Home, has already glimpsed what the dismantling of Roe will appear like.

Final yr, the Jackson clinic started to see one thing fully new: sufferers from Texas.

The state banned abortions after six weeks of being pregnant final yr, with a novel and unprecedented enforcement mechanism.

Non-public residents can sue anybody who “aids and abets” an abortion, and win $10,000 in damages in the event that they’re profitable. (People who find themselves sued and win can’t recoup legal professional’s charges.)

The Supreme Court docket allowed the regulation to take impact. Since September, Texans have gone throughout the border to buy abortion treatment in Mexico. They’ve traveled to Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Louisiana, and the Pink Home.

Texas sufferers flooding Louisiana clinics pushed Louisiana sufferers to Mississippi. The Jackson clinic modified its opening hours from three days per week to 5.

Via all of it, Hamlin has stored working, questioning how lengthy it can final.

She arrived in Jackson for her shift on the night time of Could 2. She was checking emails when she noticed the information concerning the leaked draft opinion. It wasn’t a shock.

Since she began working in Mississippi, her counseling periods have at all times included details about the motion to overturn Roe. She reminds sufferers from Texas that Gov. Greg Abbott is up for re-election quickly.

But it surely was nonetheless a shock.

“Like yeah, that is actually going to occur,” she mentioned.

The subsequent morning, a Tuesday, was a quiet one on the clinic. Regulars handed the phrase that most of the normal anti-abortion demonstrators had gone to Ukraine for missionary work.

Hamlin and her colleagues on the clinic are nonetheless ready to see what the ultimate ruling might be – seemingly in June or July – and what legal guidelines Mississippi will move. The state’s set off ban, handed in 2007, will seemingly ban all abortions besides in instances of rape and to avoid wasting the lifetime of the mom.

Although they haven’t been launched within the state legislature, different potential legal guidelines might search to ban journey or referrals for abortions.

The Jackson clinic’s director, Shannon Brewer, instructed NBC final week she plans to open a clinic in New Mexico, about 1,000 miles away from Jackson. Getting sufferers there, or to southern Illinois, may very well be costly and logistically tough, however Southern abortion funds have vowed to maintain serving to folks entry abortions.

Hamlin worries what might occur to a Mississippian who will get an abortion out of state however develops problems again dwelling.

Within the many years earlier than Roe, going to a hospital after an abortion might set off a legal investigation wherein the affected person was compelled to take part.

“I believe individuals are going to be afraid to hunt care, emergency room care,” Hamlin mentioned. “They could be slightly bit now really. However I believe it’s going to get rather a lot worse.”

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Mississippi

Should Mississippi State basketball be concerned with Josh Hubbard’s shooting slump?

Published

3 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

Should Mississippi State basketball be concerned with Josh Hubbard’s shooting slump?

Josh Hubbard found himself open with the basketball underneath the basket. It was an open layup, with his defender a few steps behind in the dust.

The Mississippi State star leapt, but kissed the ball too hard off the glass and it fell off the rim. An open layup, missed.

It was that sort of game for Hubbard. And in reality, it’s been that sort of two months for Hubbard, who’s shooting slump continued on Tuesday. The No. 18 Bulldogs (14-3, 2-2 SEC) were smacked 88-66 at No. 1 Auburn (16-1, 4-0) for their second straight loss. Although Hubbard led them in scoring with 17 points, he shot 2-of-12 from the field, missing his first seven shots until 8:09 remained in the game.

How concerned should Mississippi State be? Here’s a look at the numbers.

What Josh Hubbard’s stats say

Hubbard is actually shooting more efficiently than his breakout freshman season. After Tuesday, the sophomore guard is shooting 40.7% from the field and 36.1% from 3. That’s up 2.2% from the field and 0.6% from 3-point range from last season. His 17.0 points per game are tops on the team.

However, Hubbard’s efficiency has declined since a hot start to the season.

Through the first four games, Hubbard shot 59.3% from the field and 60.0% from 3-point range. Since the Utah win on Nov. 17, Hubbard is 60-for-172 from the field (34.8%) and 34-for-114 from 3-point range (29.8%).

Why Mississippi State should be concerned with Josh Hubbard’s shooting

The worry with Hubbard’s efficiency is that it doesn’t seem to be improving. He’s shot at or below 33.3% in four of the last five and six of the last eight games. In the last three games, Hubbard is 10-of-37 from the field (27.0%) and 6-of-26 from 3 (23.1%).

Injuries are also mounting on the perimeter. Kanye Clary sat out again for the 10th consecutive game with a lower-leg injury. Mississippi State hasn’t provided an update on his status since the injury. Riley Kugel, who averages 9.6 points per game, also didn’t play after being a game-time decision. MSU has not said what his injury is or how long he could be out.

Why Mississippi State shouldn’t be concerned with Josh Hubbard’s shooting

Last season’s team that made the NCAA tournament needed Hubbard to be the go-to scorer. This season’s team has proven it can win games when Hubbard doesn’t have a great offensive performance.

Although the Bulldogs have lost two games in a row — both to top 10 teams in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll — they still began the season 14-1 for their best 15-game start in 21 years. Hubbard has been held under 15 points six times this season and MSU has won all of those games. That includes some of MSU’s biggest wins of the season against Vanderbilt, Memphis, Pittsburgh and Utah.

Hubbard also entered Tuesday third in the country with a 4.25 assist/turnover ratio. He didn’t record any assists against Auburn and had one turnover.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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Mississippi

Mississippi State basketball vs Auburn score today: Live updates, game highlights, how to watch

Published

11 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Press Room

Mississippi State basketball vs Auburn score today: Live updates, game highlights, how to watch

Mississippi State basketball saw its eight-game winning streak end Saturday against Kentucky and now has a date with the consensus No. 1 team in the country.

The Bulldogs (14-2, 2-1 SEC) are on the road Tuesday taking on Auburn (15-1, 3-0) at Neville Arena (6 p.m. CT, SEC Network).

The Tigers, whose only loss is at Duke, took the No. 1 ranking in both the USA TODAY Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25 this week. MSU dropped to No. 18 in the coaches poll. However, Auburn will be without star Johni Broome, who coach Bruce Pearl ruled out on Monday because of an ankle injury.

Follow along for live score updates.

Watch Mississippi State vs Auburn live on ESPN+ (subscribe today)

Mississippi State vs Auburn score updates

This section will be updated when the game begins.

What time does Mississippi State vs Auburn play today?

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 14
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Neville Arena

What channel is Mississippi State vs Auburn on today?

TV channel: SEC Network
Streaming: ESPN+ (subscribe here)
Radio: Mississippi State radio network 96.1 FM

Mississippi State vs Auburn will be broadcast on SEC Network with streaming available on ESPN+.

Mississippi State vs Auburn live stream options

Mississippi State basketball vs. Auburn will be broadcast on SEC Network. Streaming is available on ESPN+.

Mississippi State vs Auburn prediction

Mississippi State 81, Auburn 79: The loss of Broome is a massive for Auburn. This certainly would be a different game with him in the lineup. Mississippi State squeaks out a win on the road for the program’s first against the AP No. 1 team since 1996.

Mississippi State vs Auburn betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Tuesday:

Spread: Auburn -7.5
Over/under: 149.5
Moneyline: Auburn (-350), Mississippi State (+260)

Mississippi State vs Auburn injury updates

Mississippi State guard Kanye Clary remains out. Riley Kugel, who averages 9.6 points per game off the bench, is questionable. Auburn star Johni Broome is out too.

Mississippi State basketball schedule 2024-25

Record: 14-2

Next five games on the Mississippi State schedule:

Jan. 14: at Auburn
Jan. 18: vs. Ole Miss
Jan. 21: at Tennessee
Jan. 25: at South Carolina
Jan. 29: vs. Alabama

Buy Mississippi State basketball tickets this season on StubHub

Auburn basketball schedule 2024-25

Record: 15-1

Next five games on the Auburn schedule:

Jan. 14: vs. Mississippi State
Jan. 18: at Georgia
Jan. 25: vs. Tennessee
Jan. 29: at LSU
Feb. 1: at Ole Miss

Mississippi State basketball news

Mississippi State dropped to No. 18 in this week’s USA TODAY Coaches Poll.
MSU is playing its first game against the AP No. 1 team since 2015.
Cameron Matthews tied his career high with 19 points against Kentucky.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

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Mississippi

Senate resolution would bar press access to MS Senate floor. See its chances of passing

Published

19 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Press Room

Senate resolution would bar press access to MS Senate floor. See its chances of passing

A resolution filed in the Mississippi Senate would restrict press access to the Senate floor and move members of the media to the chamber’s gallery to cover the news.

However, the first person to decide whether the bill lives or dies through the legislative process told the Clarion Ledger he has no intentions of bringing up the legislation.

Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, filed Senate Resolution No. 5 on Friday. If passed into law, it would restrict access of reporters from the Senate floor but allow them to record and report on the chamber from the Senate gallery above.

“No person may be admitted to the floor of the Senate for the purpose of transcribing the debates and proceedings of the Senate,” states Senate Resolution No. 5. “No person except for news media with proper credentials issued by the Rules Committee shall take any photograph or transcribe debates and proceedings of the Senate in the Senate Gallery while the Senate is in session.”

In a written response given after initially declining to comment, Blackwell said the resolution practically changed nothing about the press’ access to the Senate. Blackwell did not respond to questions about why he believes reporters should not have access to the Senate floor.

“You will have access to everything you need,” Blackwell said on Monday. “Take pictures, listen to bill presentation. Just not on the floor with us. Your use of the word restricting access is horse hockey.”

Because the resolution would actually amend the rules of the Senate, it has been sent to the Rules Committee, chaired by Senate President Pro Tempore Dean Kirby, R-Pearl, who is second in command of the chamber behind Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann.

Kirby said he has long had good relations with the media and has no intentions of restricting floor access to news outlets. However, a long-standing but rarely enforced rule to allow only one member of a news organization on the floor at one time could be enforced.

“I personally don’t have a problem with allowing the press on the floor,” Kirby said. “Matter of fact, I appreciate the press what they do, as far as keeping their little area up there and not walking out on the floor.”

Kirby said that all news outlets must apply for floor privileges with the Senate Rules Committee before being allowed to cover the news from the floor. Not everyone gets approved.

“Some people are trying to get credentials to be on the floor that really aren’t press,” Kirby said. “They have maybe just a podcast or just whatever. They don’t really report news, and they don’t dig into facts and that kind of stuff. So everyone that applies for credentials does not get approved.”

How would this impact the public?

The Senate has for decades allowed members of the press to record the happenings of the chamber from the floor and recognized their role in facilitating public information to voters and state residents. By restricting floor access, the Senate would effectively be blocking the public from posing questions and ensuring a transparent and accountable legislative process, said Layne Bruce, Mississippi Press Association executive director.

“We are opposed to any efforts to limit capitol access for the press who act as important conduits of information for the citizens of Mississippi,” Bruce said. “An open legislature is an accountable legislature.”

Has legislation to restrict press access been introduced before?

This is not Blackwell’s first attempt to restrict access of the press in the capitol.

In 2024, he introduced legislation to remove the press from the Mississippi State Capitol press offices on the fourth floor, which have been in place since the 1960s. Those bills also died before ever being considered by the Senate Rules Committee.

Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.

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