Morning Roundup: Operation Rescue Plans Carhart Harassment

Beth Saunders

Operation Rescue plans for a pre-March for Life harassment of Dr. Carhart, the abortion rate rises slightly, New Zealand McDonalds lifts Wi-Fi ban on gay websites, midwives may soon see increased reimbursements.

Operation Rescue plans for a pre-March for Life harassment of Dr. Carhart, the abortion rate rises slightly, New Zealand McDonalds lifts Wi-Fi ban on gay websites, midwives may soon see increased reimbursements.

  • Operation Rescue is planning a protest of Reproductive Health Services, the Germantown, Maryland, clinic where Dr. LeRoy Carhart now works, in advance of the March for Life, held Monday, January 24, in Washington, DC. Troy Newman, OR’s president says he expects 600 anti-choicers at Saturday’s rally and prayer service.
  • According to the latest survey by the Guttmacher Institute, the abortion rate in the United States has risen slightly, from 19.4 in 2005 to 19.6 in 2008. Disturbingly, the survey also found that harassment at abortion clinics around the country is nearly universal, although protesting is more common in the Midwest and South than in the Northeast and West.
  • McDonalds has been blocking non-explicit gay websites from the free Wi-Fi in its restaurants in New Zealand, but recently agreed to lift the ban on three sites, and is working with GayNZ.com to discuss how a ban could be lifted to that site. McDonald’s claims it is the largest provider of free internet in New Zealand.
  • Midwives may soon be seeing the same reimbursements as physicians, thanks to the new health care law. The law states that Medicaid must reimburse midwives at the same rate as physicians, rather than the 65% that had been customary. While Medicaid (a program for those over 65) may not see many deliveries, it tends to set insurance industry standards.  

Jan 11

Jan 10