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Planned Parenthood of Illinois Vows to Stay Open After Trump Defunding Bill

CHICAGO DEFENDER — Almost 30,000 PPIL patients rely on Medicaid for birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, prenatal services, gender-affirming care, and abortion. Tonya Tucker, Planned Parenthood of Illinois’ interim president and CEO, said those services will continue “with little to no disruption” in the months ahead.

Published

12 months ago

July 8, 2025

admin

The Chicago Defender

Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) promised Friday that no patient would be turned away, even after President Donald Trump signed a sweeping measure that cuts federal support for the organization and slashes Medicaid funding nationwide.

Almost 30,000 PPIL patients rely on Medicaid for birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, prenatal services, gender-affirming care, and abortion. Tonya Tucker, PPIL’s interim president and CEO, said those services will continue “with little to no disruption” in the months ahead.

“We refuse to stop providing care to our patients, especially those who are the most vulnerable,” Tucker said. “We are grateful that our state government and supporters understand that health care is a human right for everybody. Our doors remain open, and we are doing everything in our power to ensure our patients continue to receive the care they need and deserve for as long as we can.”

PPIL has served Illinois residents for a century and is the state’s largest provider of sexual and reproductive health care. In the last fiscal year alone, the organization:

Treated more than 66,000 patients
Logged nearly 30,000 contraception visits
Performed over 100,000 STI tests

The organization’s leaders have been working with state officials and private donors on contingency plans to offset the loss of federal dollars. While the exact timeline for funding reductions is still being finalized in Washington, Tucker stressed that patients should keep their appointments and expect regular service.

PPIL’s position underscores Illinois’s unique role in the Midwest’s reproductive health landscape. With neighboring states rolling back access, Illinois clinics have become a regional hub—one reason, advocates say, that maintaining Medicaid coverage is crucial.

For now, PPIL staffers are focused on business as usual. Clinics across the state remained open Friday, fielding calls from patients worried their insurance cards might suddenly decline.

Founded in 1923, PPIL offers comprehensive, inclusive, medically accurate care regardless of income, immigration status, or ZIP code. That mission, Tucker insisted, will not change.

About The Chicago Defender

The Chicago Defender is a multimedia news and information provider that offers marketing solutions, strategic partnerships, and custom events for the African American market. Our platform equips us to leverage audience influence to reach, connect, and impact the Black Community with culturally relevant content not often serviced by mainstream media.

Founded in 1905, The Chicago Defender will celebrate its 120th Anniversary on May 5, 2025. Nielson and Essence Survey 2014 recognized it nationally as the second most widely read and best African American Newspaper. In July 2019, the Chicago Defender transitioned from a printed newspaper into a digitally focused, high-traffic content platform dedicated to online editorials, premiere events, sponsored advertising, custom publishing, and archival merchandising. We distribute relevant and engaging news and information via multiple platforms daily.

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#NNPA BlackPress

Lock In Car Price: Avoid Dealer Payment Traps!

Watch the long-form video https://youtu.be/YANxGwD2CjI Don’t get swayed by monthly payments! Always settle the out-of-the-door price first, including all fees. Only then discuss monthly payments, terms, and potential add-ons. #AutoNetwork #CarBuyingTips #CarSales #DealershipSecrets #Negotiation
The post Lock In Car Price: Avoid Dealer Payment Traps! appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

5 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Oakland Post

Watch the long-form video

Don’t get swayed by monthly payments! Always settle the out-of-the-door price first, including all fees. Only then discuss monthly payments, terms, and potential add-ons. #AutoNetwork #CarBuyingTips #CarSales #DealershipSecrets #Negotiation

The post Lock In Car Price: Avoid Dealer Payment Traps! appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Sell Your Car: Get Offers BEFORE Visiting Dealerships!

Watch the video https://youtu.be/zJF32l2Fz8I. Before you step onto a lot, get a written offer for your trade-in from CarMax, Carvana, or even a competing dealer. Make them beat it, or they lose your business. Get that number on paper, not just in your head. #AutoNetwork #TradeInTips #CarBuying #Negotiation #SmartShopping
The post Sell Your Car: Get Offers BEFORE Visiting Dealerships! appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

7 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Oakland Post

Watch the video

https://youtu.be/zJF32l2Fz8I.

Before you step onto a lot, get a written offer for your trade-in from CarMax, Carvana, or even a competing dealer. Make them beat it, or they lose your business. Get that number on paper, not just in your head. #AutoNetwork #TradeInTips #CarBuying #Negotiation #SmartShopping

The post Sell Your Car: Get Offers BEFORE Visiting Dealerships! appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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California Birth Rate Falls Below “Replacement Level”

OAKLAND POST — Researchers project that by 2038, deaths will outnumber births in California, ending a long period in which natural population growth helped drive the state’s expansion. Without increased immigration or a rebound in birth rates, population growth could stagnate or decline.
The post California Birth Rate Falls Below “Replacement Level” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

7 days ago

June 17, 2026

Oakland Post

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

California’s birth rate has fallen to its lowest level on record, dropping well below the threshold needed to maintain population growth and signaling a major demographic shift that could reshape the state’s economy, schools, workforce and political influence in the decades ahead.

A new report from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that the state’s total fertility rate declined from 2.21 children per woman in 2007 to 1.48 in 2023 — far below the “replacement level” of 2.1 children per woman needed to sustain a population without migration.

“The significance of falling so far below replacement level cannot be overstated,” the report states. “It signals a fundamental shift in the state’s demographic trajectory.”

Researchers project that by 2038, deaths will outnumber births in California, ending a long period in which natural population growth helped drive the state’s expansion. Without increased immigration or a rebound in birth rates, population growth could stagnate or decline.
The report found that declining birth rates among younger women are largely responsible for the trend. Birth rates among women ages 20 to 24 fell by 54% between 2008 and 2023, while teen birth rates dropped nearly 90% since 1991. Researchers described the decline in teen births as a major public health success.

Birth rates declined across all racial and ethnic groups, with the steepest drops occurring among Latina women, particularly those born outside the United States.

The phenomenon is not unique to California. Birth rates have fallen in all 50 states, and every state now has fertility rates below replacement level.

“The decline in birth rates is one of the most important developments of recent decades and will structure policy debates for decades to come,” the report concludes.

Among the most immediate impacts could be shrinking school enrollment. PPIC projects California’s public school population will decline by roughly 630,000 students by 2038, while longer-term concerns include labor shortages, an aging population and the potential loss of congressional representation.

The post California Birth Rate Falls Below “Replacement Level” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.