* Sen. Darren Bailey was on WIND this week and Amy Jacobson asked him this…

People don’t understand that there are no restrictions on abortions [in Illinois], and even 72% or 70% of Democrats want some restrictions on abortion, and I know that you’ve been hit hard about incest and rape and I just want to know where you stand on that.

Once again, here’s an explanation of Illinois law…

In Illinois, you can have an elective induced abortion until fetal viability, around 24-26 weeks of pregnancy. A fetus is considered viable if it is able to survive outside of the uterus with or without medical intervention. A healthcare provider must determine whether or not pregnancy has reached viability; viability varies and it is different for every pregnancy. After a pregnancy is determined to be viable, an induced abortion can only be done to protect the patient’s life or physical and mental health. If you are unsure whether or not your pregnancy is viable, speak to a healthcare provider to determine whether or not you can legally have an abortion in Illinois.

* Anyway, Bailey dodged the question about incest and rape…

People need to realize that all this fear mongering That JB Pritzker is doing that is exactly what he’s doing. He’s not talking about the issues of crime, taxes and our failed education and refuses to talk about that because he has created that problem, but instead he wants to fear monger, let people assume or saying that there’s something crazy is going to happen or change now when the reality is, nothing’s going to change. … but there is no reason in the world why we Illinois, our tax money should be paying for abortion. So two things, restoring parental notification and getting rid of taxpayer-funded abortions. Those two items will be front and center on my agenda on day one as governor.

* Let’s move on to other news stories. From WBEZ…

Chicago aldermen are considering an ordinance that aims to protect by law abortion providers and patients, as concerns grow that states restricting the procedure will next turn their attention toward trying to stop and criminalize people traveling across state lines for care.

The so-called “Bodily Autonomy Sanctuary City Ordinance” would prohibit the Chicago Police Department, or any other city employee, from carrying out search warrants, sharing data, or assisting in investigations related to other states’ laws that restrict “bodily autonomy” in a way that’s “inconsistent” with Illinois law.

* From Alabama…

On Wednesday, AL.com reported that a pregnant 23-year-old woman had been held in a jail for three months in Etowah County, Alabama. The reason for her imprisonment is a county rule that requires pregnant women arrested on drug charges to go through rehab and post $10,000 in cash bail before they can leave.

The woman, Ashley Banks, was arrested on charges of chemical endangerment of her fetus. She admitted she had smoked pot the day she learned she was pregnant, around six weeks into the pregnancy. Despite being ordered to attend rehab, the rehab center refused to take her, saying she didn’t meet a level of need that would warrant treatment. This left her stuck in jail, even after she developed a pregnancy complication that left her bleeding for weeks.

* Northeast Ohio Public Radio…

Women’s Med Center runs some of the only clinics in the region that provide abortions. They are set to close their Dayton and Indianapolis locations next week because of laws that restrict abortions in both states.

If Women’s Med does close in Ohio and Indiana, a few staff members are planning to open a new clinic in one of the closest states where abortion is legal.

A representative, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, confirmed to WYSO that a Women’s Med physician and manager are looking to open a new location in Eastern Illinois. The new location would be about three and a half hours away from Dayton.

Illinois clinics have seen increased demand since Roe vs. Wade was over turned in June because it’s one of the only states in the midwest with comprehensive abortion protections.

* Articles compiled by Isabel…

* Abortion bans could have far-reaching impacts on the Black community in the Midwest: “They’re disproportionately in that lower-income category… only having access to jobs, for instance, that don’t offer paid leave, or don’t offer time off to access the care that they need,” she said. … A peer-reviewed study published last year predicted the rate of Black women who would die from pregnancy-related causes would increase 33% in the years following a total abortion ban, compared to just 21% for the general population.

* Indiana abortion ban could lead to medical brain drain

* Startup Choix Will Sell Abortion Pills to Patients Who Aren’t Pregnant: The company will only offer the service, also known as “advanced provision,” in US states where it’s licensed to operate — California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine and New Mexico — all of which currently allow abortion.

* California Prosecutions for Pregnancy Loss Spark Outrage, and a Bill to Stop Future Investigations: California lawmakers are now trying to pass legislation reducing the chances of law enforcement involvement in someone’s pregnancy loss. Assembly Bill 2223, introduced this session by Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, a Democrat from Oakland, is a legislative attempt to codify Bonta’s guidance by preventing coroners, who often double as law enforcement officials in the state, from investigating pregnant people for stillbirths or miscarriages. It also includes a provision that would allow people criminalized for pregnancy outcomes to sue law enforcement civilly. Anti-abortion groups in California who oppose the bill have staged a public campaign falsely claiming it “decriminalizes infanticide.”

* Abortion rights take center stage in Illinois’ 13th Congressional race