Doctor Explains Why He Violated Texas’s Extremist Abortion Ban

Dr. Alan Braid, a practicing OB/GYN in the state of Texas for 45 years, explains why he provided medical care in the form of an abortion to a woman in violation of the state’s absurd and dangerous new law.

A new Texas law, known as S.B. 8, virtually banned any abortion beyond about the sixth week of pregnancy. It shut down about 80 percent of the abortion services we provide. Anyone who suspects I have violated the new law can sue me for at least $10,000. They could also sue anybody who helps a person obtain an abortion past the new limit, including, apparently, the driver who brings a patient to my clinic.

For me, it is 1972 all over again.

And that is why, on the morning of Sept. 6, I provided an abortion to a woman who, though still in her first trimester, was beyond the state’s new limit. I acted because I had a duty of care to this patient, as I do for all patients, and because she has a fundamental right to receive this care.

I fully understood that there could be legal consequences — but I wanted to make sure that Texas didn’t get away with its bid to prevent this blatantly unconstitutional law from being tested.

Braid concluded his piece: “I believe abortion is an essential part of health care.” Absolutely.

• abortion
• Alan Braid
• medicine
• politics
• Texas

A debate over eminent domain in Texas

Will Texas, with five of the 15 largest cities in the U.S., have the first bullet train in the country? Curbed partnered with the Texas Tribune for a deep dive into the land rights and bureaucratic debate around the project that’s already raised $425 million. The goal is a 90-minute ride to cover the 240-miles from Dallas and Houston, and ultimately, a “super economy” created by linking half the state’s population.

At the state Capitol, the bullet train represents the collision of two things that Republicans—who control Texas government—hold dear: private property rights and an unrestrained free market. And for two legislative sessions in a row, the free market has largely come out on top. The project has emerged relatively unscathed after bills aimed at hamstringing or killing it failed to get much traction.

• Texas
• transportation

Tongans invade Texas town

The NY Times picks up the story of the high school football team with a number of Tongan players covered a couple of days ago on kottke.org.

City officials have patiently assisted Tongan residents acclimate to a new culture, Faiva-Siale said. Compromises have been reached to accommodate large family gatherings at funeral rituals that last for days. And the city has promoted alternatives to the slaughtering of pigs at home for open-pit cooking. A mobile health unit helps to provide free flu shots and medical checkups.

• football
• texas
• tonga

They’re building a Prada store just outside

They’re building a Prada store just outside the town of Valentine, TX (population: 187) with no door. It’s art!

• art
• fashion
• Prada
• texas