Even with a Growing Economy, U.S. Birthrate Craters, Hits Record Lows
By AP. America’s baby bust isn’t over. The nation’s birth rates last year reached record lows for women in their teens and 20s, a government report shows, leading to the fewest babies in 32 years.
The provisional report, released Wednesday and based on more than 99% of U.S. birth records, found 3.788 million births last year. It was the fourth year the number of births has fallen, the lowest since 1986 and a surprise to some experts given the improving economy.
The fertility rate of 1.7 births per U.S. woman also fell 2%, meaning the current generation isn’t making enough babies to replace itself. . . If trends continue, experts said, the U.S. can expect labor shortages including in elder care when aging baby boomers need the most support. (Read more from “Even with a Growing Economy, U.S. Birthrate Craters, Hits Record Lows” HERE)
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Alabama Governor Signs Near-Total Abortion Ban
By CBS News. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey just signed the state’s controversial near-total abortion ban. The new law is the most restrictive anti-abortion measure passed in the United States since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973.
The legislation — House Bill 314, “Human Life Protection Act” — bans all abortions in the state except when “abortion is necessary in order to prevent a serious health risk” to the woman, according to the bill’s text. It criminalizes the procedure, reclassifying abortion as a Class A felony, punishable by up to 99 years in prison for doctors. Attempted abortions will be reclassified as a Class C penalty.
The legislation makes no exceptions for victims or rape or incest.
“Today, I signed into law the Alabama Human Life Protection Act,” Ivey wrote in a statement Wednesday evening. “To the bill’s many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious & that every life is a sacred gift from God.” (Read more from “Alabama Governor Signs Near-Total Abortion Ban” HERE)
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