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Abortions in Arizona see sharp decline with overturning of Roe v. Wade; expected to remain big issue in 2024 races

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Abortions in Arizona see sharp decline with overturning of Roe v. Wade; expected to remain big issue in 2024 races


PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Arizona is reporting a significant drop in abortions, resulting in the lowest numbers the state has seen in more than a decade.

It comes as Arizona’s highest court weighs in on the topic and as an election year kicks off. Although doctors don’t think the report reflects all of the abortions in the state, they do believe it accurately reports some of the fallout from the Supreme Court decision. Abortions up to 15 weeks remain legal in Arizona, but that could soon change if an 1864 law goes into effect, meaning a near-total ban. “We’ve seen a pretty tremendous drop in the number of women seeking abortions,” said Valley OBGYN Greg Marchand.

He believes it’s a direct result of the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June of 2022. “When this immediately happened, there was a lot of confusion on whether the law from the 1800s would apply, whether criminal charges could be filed against doctors who performed abortions,” he said.

The Arizona Department of Health Services reported abortions in Arizona dropped by 81% in the month following the Supreme Court’s ruling. A few months later, leaders cleared up abortion law and ruled they are legal up to 15 weeks. Now, on average about 50% fewer people are getting abortions each month in Arizona. “We’ve seen a significant decrease in a request for terminations. In terminations performed in Arizona, they seemed to have stalled at about 600 to 700 a month. If you look at the data prior, we were looking at about 1,400 a month,” said Dr. Marchand, who also added many women now travel to nearby states if they’re seeing an abortion after 15 weeks.

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“Now the Legislature really does have the power to change law around this very important topic,” said political consultant Stan Barnes. He believes the topic of reproductive rights will continue into the 2024 political races. “Abortion politics will be top of mind for political consultants, strategists trying to win the election for their candidate,” Barnes said.

He believes it’s most difficult for Republican candidates who are navigating a Republican primary. “It’s proven difficult in the last cycle, and it’s proven difficult in other states. Abortion is a difficult topic for republicans in general elections. So does that mean democrats are just going to win the day? No, because people are not that unilateral,” he said.

Arizona for Abortion Access, a coalition of reproductive rights groups, is collecting signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot. The measure would guarantee a right to abortion up to 24 weeks. The Arizona Supreme Court is still weighing whether Arizona can continue following the 15-week law or if the state should return to a near-total abortion ban.

Planned Parenthood Arizona released this statement from Dr. Jill Gibson, the organization’s Arizona chief medical cfficer, regarding AZDHS’ report:

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Arizona

Love scores 24 points as Arizona rolls to a 94-41 win over Central Michigan

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Love scores 24 points as Arizona rolls to a 94-41 win over Central Michigan


Associated Press

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Caleb Love matched his season-high with 24 points to help power Arizona to a 94-41 rout of Central Michigan on Saturday.

The Wildcats (6-5) won back-to-back games for the first time since beating Canisius and Old Dominion to open the season.

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The Chippewas (5-6) scored the game’s first three points but Love knocked down three 3-pointers and scored 18 first-half points to put Arizona firmly in charge at intermission, 44-23.

Arizona shot 54.5% from the field, including 10 of 29 from distance, and got 44 points from its bench. K.J. Lewis hit 4 of 8 from the field and 5 of 5 from the line for 13 points to lead the reserves. Tobe Awaka added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats dominated the boards, outrebounding the Chippewas 45-27.

Central Michigan struggled from the field, hitting just 14 of 54 (25.9%), including just 3 of 16 from distance. Cayden Vasko hit 4 of 13, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range, to lead the team with 10 points.

Arizona opens Big 12 Conference play at home when it plays host to TCU on Dec. 30. Central Michigan will look to snap its three-game losing string on Dec. 30 when it plays host to Cleary.

___

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Ex-Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi commits to Arizona

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Ex-Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi commits to Arizona


After getting hired as Arizona’s offensive coordinator, Seth Doege said his scheme is one that can be effective through the air and on the ground. And now he’s added a playmaker who has shown the ability to produce in both areas in a similar system.

Former Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi has committed to Arizona, giving the Wildcats a versatile ball carrier who can also catch passes out of the backfield.

The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Mahdi ran for 2,322 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons with the Bobcats, adding 44 catches for 470 yards and three TDs as well as a score off a kick return. He has more than 3,500 all-purpose yards the last two seasons, with another 900 and five scores from the 2022 season at FCS Houston Christian.

Texas State runs a spread attack similar to what Doege used at Marshall, one that averaged 37.1 points and almost 475 yards per game this fall.

Ismail is Arizona’s 10th transfer pickup, fifth on offense and third at a skill position along with former New Mexico receiver Luke Wysong and ex-Washington State receiver Kris Hutson.

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New warning about valley fever as Arizona cases hit 13-year high

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New warning about valley fever as Arizona cases hit 13-year high


PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Do you know the signs and symptoms of valley fever?

Cases hit a decade-high, and doctors want to ensure you know what to look for, especially with friends and family coming into town for the holidays.

The Arizona Department of Health Services has seen more than 14,000 cases of valley fever so far this year.

Valley fever is caused by a fungal infection. It’s not contagious, but it is often misdiagnosed and can make you very sick.

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Its symptoms are the same as those of the flu or COVID-19, so many people brush it off as a virus – sometimes even doctors.

“That’s not an unusual situation where we have people visiting from out of state, and they go back to their home state, and then they develop an illness that ends up being diagnosed as valley fever,” said Dr. Wassim Ballan, an infectious disease specialist at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Ballan is encouraging Arizonans to educate visiting loved ones about the illness.

“Usually, we don’t expect that there would be this awareness of valley fever outside the state of Arizona, so it’s something we want people to keep in mind,” Ballan said.

The fungus that causes valley fever is unique to southwestern soil.

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According to CDC data, valley fever cases increase during hot and dry periods. The Phoenix area has not had rain in months.

“The fungus releasing, if you want to call them spores, they hang out in the air and then they get breathed in through the lungs,” Ballan said.

Ballan says about 40% of those infected get symptoms, which can worsen over time.

“They seek medical care. They get diagnosed with pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia, so they start on antibiotics, and they don’t respond. So they get on a different course of antibiotics and so on,” said Ballan.

He says many have never even heard of valley fever, especially if they aren’t from Arizona or recently moved here.

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This is the case with one Valley resident, Michael, who was hiking on Friday.

“I’ve not been here that long, maybe 18 months, so I’ve still got a lot to learn, I guess,” he said.

Ballan says it’s important to stay vigilant this holiday season.

“Because valley fever can present in a similar way to other respiratory infections, that’s a good reminder to try to prevent those other infections by making sure you’re vaccinated,” he said.

You can get valley fever from hiking or being out in the desert, but also, because it’s in the air, anyone can be exposed.

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Valley fever is treated with antifungal medications.

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