News & Commentary

Until recently, when you Googled “abortion clinics,” there was a high likelihood that ads for so-called “crisis pregnancy centers” (CPCs) would appear among the search results. According to research conducted by NARAL Pro-Choice America, ads for CPCs appeared 79% of the time when using Google to find abortion clinics. CPCs use lies and manipulation to discourage individuals from seeking an abortion. Contrary to what their ads imply, CPCs do not offer abortion services and counseling. When you call the center, you may be told that abortion is physically and psychologically damaging. You may also be told that birth control pills cause abortions, and that abortions cause breast cancer. None of this is truthful information. The deception begins even before you call. CPCs use ambiguous ads that prey upon the fear and concern someone facing an unwanted pregnancy might feel. Here are some examples of CPC ads.

Last week, the Department of Justice announced it will be expanding the criteria used to decide which drug offenders are eligible for presidential clemency. This is likely to affect thousands of federal inmates currently incarcerated for non-violent drug offenses. 

Each Friday, we’ll bring you updates on the latest civil liberties news from Maine and the nation.

Approximately 20 million Americans, myself included, report some type of hearing problems.  As we age, this problem only grows more acute.  Hearing loss affects a staggering 29% of persons 65 and older.

As the 2014 legislative session comes to a close, I’m still holding my breath for five bills that have made their way to the governor’s desk. The governor has until next week to decide whether to sign, veto, or let the bills pass into law without signature.

The passage of Roe v. Wade in 1973 didn’t just secure women’s constitutional rights to privacy and autonomy in their reproductive health decisions, it also drastically reduced the number of women who die due to complications from illegal abortions. The estimated number of abortions performed in the US has not changed much since the passage of Roe v. Wade. Prior to Roe, it was estimated that approximately 1 million women terminated their pregnancies. In 2008, that number was 1.21 million. In 2011, that number dropped to 1.06 million. These numbers tell us the importance of keeping abortion legal – regardless of legislation, women who find themselves facing an unwanted pregnancy may still attempt to terminate their pregnancies. If abortion isn’t legal, some women will seek out illegal means to end their pregnancies. 

This week PBS Frontline is airing “Solitary Nation” - a look at the use of solitary confinement here in Maine. Filmmakers spent hundreds of hours in the Maine State Prison documenting the facility’s use of the "Special Management Unit" or SMU.

Each Friday, we’ll bring you updates on the latest civil liberties news from Maine and the nation.

In case you forgot, TWELVE YEARS after the first detainees were brought to the detention center at Guantanano Bay, we still have not managed to complete the special military trials of the men who stand accused of the 9/11 attacks. Twelve years after those attacks, family members of the victims still travel to Gitmo to watch the trials, and they are still met with errors and delays.