Good morning! Thank goodness it’s Friday!! If you are looking to tickle your funny bone this weekend, be sure to check out comedians Tone X and Spanky Brown performing at the Charlotte Comedy Zone. But beware, if you sit too close to the stage, you may become part of the act.

This weekend, the weatherman is calling for a mix of sunshine and cloudy skies. Today is going to be humid with highs in the low 90s. Tomorrow’s forecast includes sunshine and gusty winds with a high of 89°. Sunday expect abundant sunshine with highs in the low 90s and lows in the mid 60s. 

Here’s what’s brewing in the news:

Unintended pregnancies increase for poor

The rate of unintended pregnancies for women living in poverty is rising as the rate among wealthy or educated women continues to decrease, according to a new study from the Guttmacher Institute.

About 5% of U.S. women have an unintended pregnancy every year and the rates among poor women are five times that of higher-income women, according to “Unintended Pregnancy in the United States: Incidence and Disparities, 2006,” by Lawrence B. Finer and Mia R. Zolna.

Poor women’s high rate of unintended pregnancy results in their also having high—and increasing—rates of both abortions (52 per 1,000) and unplanned births (66 per 1,000).

While some unintended pregnancies are welcomed, more than four in ten (43%) end in abortion. Unintended pregnancy rates have increased not only among poor and low-income women, but also among women aged 18–24, cohabiting women and minority women.

“Marriage is not, in and of itself, a solution to the problems women have in controlling their fertility,” said Finer. “In fact, poor women who are married have unintended pregnancy rates more than twice as high as those of higher-income women who are unmarried or cohabiting.”

Finer added, “These data suggest that women who lead stable lives—women who are older, more affluent and better-educated—tend to have better reproductive health outcomes, while women whose lives are less stable, such as younger, poorer or less educated women, have higher rates of unplanned pregnancies, unwanted births and abortions.”

QUESTION: As funding for such organizations as Planned Parenthood remain in jeopardy, what role (if any) do you think the government should play in reducing the rates of unintended pregnancies?
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1 in 5 children suffering from hunger

Millions of children in the U.S. are struggling with hunger. Feeding America, a hunger relief organization, released a study this week which is the first to break down data at the most basic, local levels. “Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity 2011,” revealed that food insecurity among children cuts across every congressional district and hunger is affecting children in every U.S. county, regardless of whether they live in homes below or above the poverty level. In fact, a significant proportion of food insecure children are likely not eligible for federal child nutrition programs because they live in a household with income over the threshold to qualify. (Read more)
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CDC: Minority teens less likely to finish the three-dose HPV vaccine series

About 6 million people become infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) each year, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that every year, about 12,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer. CDC recommends HPV vaccine for 11- or 12-year-old girls to protect against the types of HPV that cause cervical cancer. HPV vaccines are given in three doses (as shots) over six months, but data from the CDC shows that poor and minority teens are less likely to complete the series. Families in need of help paying for vaccines can ask about the Vaccines for Children program, which provides vaccines at no cost to uninsured children younger than 19 years. For help in finding a local health care provider who participates in the program, can call 800-CDC-INFO 800-CDC-INFO or go to www.cdc.gov/vaccines. (Read more)

*** What's brewing on your mind? Speak out in the comment section below.

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