MILPITAS — Early on Cyber ​​Monday, before many Bay Area residents picked up the phone to order products on the most important online shopping day of the 12 months, a neighborhood Amazon delivery station warehouse was already bustling with activity.

Inside, a whole bunch of employees sorted through Amazon packages arriving from across the state, arranging the packages in dozens of towering, straight rows. Silver delivery trucks were lined up within the warehouse with hazard lights on and doors wide open as employees stuffed packages into the back.

Once the products were secured, drivers left the warehouse like ants on a trail and headed to the packages' final destinations in Santa Clara County neighborhoods.

“It’s a very exciting time,” said Jae Garcia, senior station delivery manager at Amazon’s Milpitas warehouse. “With these mass gatherings and sending packages to customers buying holiday gifts for family, loved ones and friends, there is a lot more congestion and chaos.”

In some ways, Cyber ​​Monday has develop into synonymous with the beginning of the vacation season. The days following Thanksgiving offer hundreds of thousands of Americans the chance to buy home goods, electronics and toys at a reduced price – all without ever leaving their laptop.

For Hercules resident Janaiah McClure, Cyber ​​Monday means a likelihood to attain one of the best deals on clothing, tech and toys for her family, including three young children.

“When you have young children, with such a busy schedule you can't buy everything in the store,” McClure said. “It’s convenient and great to have access to deals like this during the holiday season.”

Consumers were expected to spend a record $13.2 billion on Monday, in response to Adobe Analytics, which tracks online shopping data. Online spending was expected to peak between 8 and 10 p.m. on Monday night, with an estimated $15.7 million spent per minute.

“Starting with Thanksgiving, discounts have exceeded expectations, and Cyber ​​Monday has effectively become the 'last call' for shoppers looking for the best deals this season,” Vivek Pandya, senior analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, said in a proof. “We are on track for a Cyber ​​Week, the five-day period between Thanksgiving and Cyber ​​Monday, that will surpass $40 billion online and set a new record for U.S. e-commerce.”

The Cyber ​​Monday sale is a week-long event for major retailers. Amazon launched its sale right after midnight on Saturday, while Walmart opened discounted deals for Walmart+ members on Sunday afternoon before opening them to all customers. Other retailers like Costco began offerings Monday morning.

At the Amazon delivery station in Milpitas, a whole bunch of hundreds of packages can flow through the warehouse on Cyber ​​Monday, which is twice the quantity employees typically handle on a mean workday, Garcia said. The variety of packages rivals the corporate's Prime Days, which took place Oct. 8-9 this 12 months and was the most important October shopping event in Amazon history.

“It shows us that customers continue to search for deals and continue to follow them while shopping,” said Natalie Banke, Amazon public relations manager.

Popular Cyber ​​Monday sellers should include electronics resembling televisions, Bluetooth headphones and speakers, digital cameras and smartwatches. But it's also a well-liked time for skincare products, discount clothing bikes, gift cards and jewellery.

The event also comes when small business owners like McClure see a rise in sales. McClure is co-founder of Jade&Kai, a Hercules-based company that sells baby clothes and essentials like pajamas, ponchos and sheets on Amazon. Jade&Kai's inventory is stored in an Amazon warehouse and employees help pack and ship orders to McClure customers across the country.

More than 60% of Amazon store sales come from independent sellers, including many small and medium-sized businesses.

“It takes the headache out of running the business,” McClure said. “With hundreds or thousands of orders, we would have to pack ourselves during the busy Christmas period. It’s amazing that Amazon can take care of this for us.”

Originally published: December 2, 2024 at 3:53 pm PST

By Patrick Clarke, TravelPulse (TNS)

If it looks like Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday sales start earlier yearly, that's because they do.

At least that's the way it feels.

But that doesn't mean these great discounts and special perks must be ignored when traveling. Timing is every thing.

Of course, an overflowing inbox might be daunting, but don't let a small annoyance cost you big savings this holiday season.

Airlines, cruise lines, hotels and resorts, tour operators and other travel suppliers are already offering remarkable travel deals, whether you're planning one last getaway in 2024 or planning your dream vacation for the brand new yr.

In many cases, travelers will must be patient and book throughout the special Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday windows, which begin just before Thanksgiving and end in early December.

Black Friday is November twenty ninth and Cyber ​​Monday is December 2nd, but often these deals extend beyond these dates.

Nonetheless, a plan could net you some big deals, akin to a further $1,055 in resort credits at Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts within the Caribbean and Mexico (November 21 through December 3).

Airlines like Southwest are even expanding their bookable schedules to permit fast-moving travelers to book their getaways well prematurely.

While it's true that some deals require travelers to depart the home by the tip of the yr, there are many savings for many who need to have something to sit up for in 2025 while keeping their budget intact.

When you’re employed with an experienced travel advisor, you’ll be able to rating much more special savings and perks, as these professionals have access to additional discounts and connections that may only enhance your trip while saving you a headache this holiday season.

1. Running to records

2. Focus on returns

3. Boeing is cutting back

4. Shall fly

5. Political challenges for 2024

Millions of DirecTV customers likely won't have the opportunity to look at the NFL's opening game, “Monday Night Football,” on ESPN because the corporate has yet to succeed in an agreement with the network's parent. Disney As of Monday evening.

Disney's television channels have been off the air for DirecTV customers since September 1 on account of a dispute over fees and package deals. These channels include the pay-TV channels ESPN and FX, in addition to the tv network ABC in some markets.

Disney and DirecTV are unlikely to succeed in an agreement in time for “Monday Night Football,” in keeping with people acquainted with the matter. But negotiations are still ongoing and things could change, they added. A deal could possibly come as soon as tomorrow.

The satellite and streaming company, which Disney, like DirecTV, describes as anti-consumer, is pushing for the potential for putting together genre-specific packages corresponding to kids, entertainment and news, which Disney rejects.

Because of the dispute, DirecTV customers were unable to look at the U.S. Open and the primary full weekend of the school football season.

Live sports proceed to attract huge audiences and result in hefty media rights deals, which in turn have produced among the most costly broadcast networks. ESPN is alleged to be collecting among the highest fees paid by pay-TV corporations to hold the network and its sister channels, CNBC previously reported.

Sports have long been seen because the glue that holds the normal pay-TV package together as customers migrate to streaming services. According to a recent report from MoffettNathanson, 4 million pay-TV customers have been lost to date this yr.

The dispute over DirecTV's broadcast rights comes at a time when the TV network's recent promoting campaign highlighted the channel's streaming options to draw consumers.

“The Walt Disney Co. once again disclaims any responsibility to consumers, distributors and now the American justice system,” said Rob Thun, DirecTV's chief content officer, in a press release last week.

Last month, a US judge temporarily blocked the sports streaming service Venu – a three way partnership between Disney, Fox Corp. And Warner Bros. Discovery — to begin in time for the NFL season. The lawsuit was filed by Internet TV bundle provider Fubo TV and supported by DirecTV and EchoStars Dish.

The lawsuit argued that there have been antitrust concerns related to Venu. The corporations also argued that Venu would hurt their businesses because it might offer a sports-only package. Pay-TV providers argued that they were quickly losing customers on account of high programming costs that drove up the worth of the package, despite the fact that streaming was originally a less expensive option.

DirecTV alarmed Customers were switched to competing alternatives for receiving ESPN on Friday and were also told they might receive a $30 credit.

DirecTV announced Saturday that it had filed a criticism with the Federal Communications Commission, saying Disney didn’t negotiate in good faith.

According to DirecTV, Disney insisted that DirecTV conform to a “clean slate” clause and an agreement to not sue, each of that are designed to forestall DirecTV from taking legal motion against Disney's anticompetitive claims, which would come with filing good faith complaints with the Commission.”

Disney has stated that the company is “willing to supply DirecTV the pliability and terms we have now granted to other distributors,” adding that it “won’t enter into any agreement that undervalues ​​our portfolio of television channels and programs.”

“We never wish to have a blackout. That's not good for either side. And in fact it's not good for the client. We've done every part we will,” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said on CNBC last week.

Disney later added that more than 90% of DirecTV households watched its channels each month last year and that it has the most successful content on the platform, citing Nielsen. The company also said it has offered DirecTV different packages and also charges rates that are consistent with other distribution partners.

The NFL in particular is often the reason why disputes over promotions are settled. The most recent case occurred just last year.

Last September Charter Communication and Disney engaged in a similar battle that ultimately lasted 10 days. However, Charter and Disney reached a settlement a few hours before “Monday Night Football” that allowed customers to tune in that evening.

Last year, Charter argued that the pay-TV business model was broken, pointing out that broadcasters like Disney had siphoned much of its content for their streaming services. In response, Charter pushed for its customers to have access to Disney's ad-supported streaming apps Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional cost.

ESPN's Pitaro referred to negotiations that took place with Charter a year ago in his remarks last week.

“We comprehend it was very difficult to get this deal done … but I give Charter plenty of credit because they got here into the room with very concrete ideas. They had a vision that they desired to execute,” Pitaro told CNBC.

The dispute between DirecTV and Disney has led to a mudslinging match between the two companies that is reminiscent of most disputes in the television industry.

In this case ESPN reporter Adam Schefter proclaimed on social media platform X, Monday's game between the New York Jets and the San Francisco 49ers on ESPN and pointed out which other platforms DirecTV subscribers can log into to watch the game.

DirecTV also expressed its displeasure.

“Disney is within the business of making alternate realities, but that is the actual world where we consider you’ve gotten to earn your way and answer for your individual actions,” DirecTV's Thun said in a press release. “They wish to proceed to pursue maximum profits and dominant control on the expense of consumers – making it harder for them to decide on the shows and sports they need at an inexpensive price.”

Local news

The wait is over, football fans.

Boston College opens the season on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at No. 10 Florida State (0-1).

Here are five storylines to follow because the Eagles embark on a fresh start under recent head coach Bill O'Brien.

1. Can Bill O'Brien breathe recent life into this system?

With O'Brien's arrival, the thrill surrounding Boston College football is at its highest in an extended time.

A fanbase desperate for a jolt might be energized by the hire and excited to see what he can do each within the short and long run. While it's necessary to do not forget that the Eagles haven't played a game yet, there’s reason for optimism.

O'Brien already has a track record of immediately strengthening programs. At Penn State, he brought stability after a baby sex abuse scandal in 2012 and led the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record during a turbulent period.

With the Houston Texans, he took over a team that had a dismal 2-14 season in 2014 and orchestrated a 9-7 season in his first yr.

O'Brien said that immediate success in a brand new place is essentially as a consequence of the people around you.

“When we came to Penn State, it was probably the most challenging thing that ever happened to me personally in my career, but we had great people,” O'Brien said. “We had a great team and great players who stayed. Similar to here.”

O'Brien emphasized the continuity of the BC roster, with 99 percent of the players remaining when he arrived and 68 percent of the production from last yr's 7-6 season returning. He repeatedly raved in regards to the regular improvement of quarterback Thomas Castellanos and said former coach Jeff Hafley told O'Brien this was probably his best team yet at BC.

O'Brien also has faith in his coaching staff and community, and it's already clear that his confidence is contagious.

“I noticed how detailed he is and what he asks of each individual,” said BC running backs coach Savon Huggins. “He doesn't ask you to do anything he wouldn't do himself.”

2. Can the Eagles reach the eight-win mark?

It's hard to imagine given the success of several other programs on campus, however the Boston College football team continues to be waiting for its first eight-win season since 2009.

The Eagles have come close several times with seven-win seasons in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2023, but they’ve did not take the following step.

It's a somewhat unusual begin to the season, with road games against Florida State and No. 11 Missouri sandwiched between the theoretically easy game against Duquesne. After that, the sport evens out, with loads of crucial matchups that might go either way. One advantage for the Eagles is that they’ve seven home games, including 4 of their last five at Alumni Stadium.

“We're all just trying to focus on the next game,” center Drew Kendall said. “Win the next game and go from there. We can't think too far ahead.”

3. Could an upset at Florida State set the tone?

Boston College is looking for its first season-opening win against a seeded opponent since 1976.

The Seminoles are still the clear favorites, however the line dropped from -21.5 to -15.5 after FSU suffered a surprise loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin in Week 0.

The BC players gathered within the locker room after practice that day to observe the second half. Of course, their eyes lit up somewhat, but they remembered that the result didn't change anything.

“We know it's going to be a huge challenge for us to go there,” O'Brien said.

O'Brien acknowledged that FSU's immediate presence ensured maximum focus throughout the offseason and training camp. The Eagles collectively understood they couldn't dawdle and had a palpable sense of urgency with a perennial power in sight.

FSU has won five straight against BC, but interestingly, 4 of those five meetings were decided by single digits. Last yr, the Eagles outplayed the Seminoles in lots of areas, but a whopping 18 penalties – a college record – ruined their possibilities of pulling off an upset.

O'Brien has placed tremendous emphasis on attention to detail throughout camp, repeatedly insisting that the Eagles must master the basics.

“We have to be a lot more disciplined than last year,” said linebacker Kam Arnold.

4. Can they increase their sack count?

The Eagles finished second to last within the Atlantic Coast Conference last season with just 13 sacks.

While O'Brien noted that the sack statistic will be misleading – and that pressure and coverage also play an important role – he did offer some insight into the way it may very well be improved.

“I think we're on the right track with that,” O'Brien said. “We have a lot of different ways to get higher, whether it's a four-man rush, sometimes a three-man rush, pressure, simulated pressure. We do all that on defense. It's a pro-style defense.”

Arnold, fellow linebackers Daveon Crouch and Sione Hala, and defensive linemen Donovan Ezeiruaku, George Rooks, Cam Horsley and Neto Okpala have something to prove.

Their first probability at redemption will come against FSU quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, an completed fifth-year senior with a talent for improvisation and game extension.

5. Will helmet communication improve the standard of play?

Players with a green dot on their helmet – one per team on offense and one on defense – can now communicate with coaches during games.

Conversations begin immediately and might proceed until 15 seconds remain on the sport clock or the ball is snapped. The goal is to enhance the flow and quality of play on each side.

While Castellanos will likely carry the purpose on offense, Arnold and safety KP Price might be on defense, in keeping with O'Brien.

“It helps tremendously to have that extra voice in your head announcing the call so you can get it out to people faster,” Arnold said.

The schedule

September 2, Florida State, 7:30 p.m.

September 7, against Duquesne, 3:30 p.m.

September 14, Missouri, 12:45 p.m.

September 21, vs. Michigan State, TBA

September 28, vs. Western Kentucky, TBA

Oct. 5, in Virginia, TBA

October 17, Virginia Tech, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 25, vs. Louisville, 7:30 p.m.

November 9, vs. Syracuse, TBA

November 16, SMU, TBA

November 23, vs. North Carolina, TBA

Nov. 30, vs. Pittsburgh, TBA

The shooting was reported around 1:40 a.m. within the 1700 block of Story Road near Emma Prusch Farm Park, San Jose police Officer Tanya Hernandez said in a news release. When officers arrived, they found a person in a car parking zone with not less than one gunshot wound.

The man was taken to a close-by hospital where he was pronounced dead, in response to Hernandez.

The motive and circumstances of the murder are currently under investigation. No arrests were announced on Monday.

The Santa Clara County Coroner's Office will release the person's identity once it’s confirmed and his next of kin have been notified, Hernandez said.

The death was the twenty third homicide in town in 2024. At the identical time last yr, San Jose police had investigated 25 homicides.

The killing is the second since Sunday, when a girl was run over and killed within the 400 block of North thirty third Street around 4:20 a.m. A suspect later turned himself in to authorities.

Anyone with information concerning the fatal shooting can contact Detective Sgt. John Van Den Broeck at 4692@sanjoseca.gov or Detective Amanda Estantino at 4339@sanjoseca.gov or each at 408-277-5283. Tips may also be reported to Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org.

Originally published: August 26, 2024 at 18:32

Many remarkable things are happening in space at once.

But Monday’s much-vaunted “super blue moon” just isn’t one in every of them – a minimum of not based on astronomers.

“I think this is completely made up,” says Andrew Fraknoi, who has taught astronomy and physics at Bay Area colleges and universities for 30 years.

The moon is full. But its technical peak shall be 11:26 a.m. Monday morning in Californiasays NASA. We won't see it – it’ll be on the opposite side of the Earth. We shall be bathed in sunshine. Our moonrise is just at 20:19

It's a “supermoon,” meaning it's at perigee, the closest point in its orbit to Earth. Compared to a median full moon, Monday's moon shall be about 7 percent larger and 15 percent brighter. But that won't be enough to be noticeable to the casual observer.

“If you're really into astronomy, you'll notice. But the word 'super' used to be reserved for things that were significant,” Fraknoi said. “That's a bit of an exaggeration.”

And it's not “blue.” Its color hasn't modified. It's gray and white, identical to it all the time was. The moon only seems to alter color when a volcanic eruption, wildfires, or pollution sends tons of particles into the air.

The term “blue moon” is generally defined because the second full moon of the month. Since the moon's orbit across the Earth takes 27 days and the calendar month is 30 to 31 days long, this does occur sometimes. In fact, it happened last 12 months: the second full moon of the calendar month reached its full lunar phase at its closest point to Earth last August.

That's not the case now. We only have 19 days within the month – so Monday's full moon is our first.

However, there’s one other definition: a “seasonal blue moon,” wherein a calendar season includes 4 full moons as a substitute of the standard three.

Monday's blue moon is the third of 4 full moons this summer. Well, the following seasonal blue moon is anticipated in 2027. (Why is the third full moon and never the fourth called the additional moon? It's complicated and never particularly interesting.)

In the meantime, there's news concerning the Moon: Thanks to a Chinese probe, the primary samples ever taken from its far side have just been brought back to Earth. The 4 kilos of fresh rock that arrived in June could provide latest insights into our closest neighbor.

Beyond the moon, geophysicists have found remarkable evidence of a giant underground reservoir of liquid water on Mars. It lies too deep to be of much use to anyone hoping to tap into it to power a future Mars colony. But data from NASA's Insight lander, reported this week within the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Michael Manga of UC Berkeley and others, could help answer questions on the planet's geologic history — and point to a promising place to look for all times.

Even further away, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope just discovered numerous carbon-containing molecules dancing around a really young and low-mass star. Until now, little was known concerning the atmospheric chemistry of worlds to date away.

Of course, a full moon – even when it just isn’t super shiny or blue – is all the time beautiful to take a look at.

“But there are so many really exciting things happening in astronomy,” Fraknoi said. “These are things I never thought I would experience in my career.”

“It was an incredible year,” he said.

Here is the TV schedule for the Paris Olympic Games for Monday, July 29, 2024.

Highlights include the U.S. women's water polo team vs. Spain (4:00 p.m., USA), the U.S. women's basketball team vs. Japan (11:45 a.m., USA) and in swimming, the ladies's 400-meter individual medley (11:30 a.m., NBC).

ARCHERY

10 am

• USA – Men’s team: Bronze, gold in the ultimate

BADMINTON

1 O 'clock

• E! — Group play: Singles, Doubles

BASKETBALL

11:45 am

• USA – Women’s Group C: USA vs. Japan

Midday

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

23 o'clock

midnight

3am

• TELEMUNDO — Beach volleyball and diving

3:15 am

7 o'clock within the morning

10 am

13 o'clock

14 o'clock

CANOEING

8 o'clock

• E! — Slalom: Canoe Men, Semifinal

17 o'clock

• USA – Slalom: Men’s Canoe, Semifinals

RIDE A BIKE

5:45 am

• USA — Mountain bike for men

DIVE

2 a.m

3am

• TELEMUNDO — Beach volleyball and diving

8pm

• NBC – Primetime in Paris (July 29)

EQUESTRIAN SPORTS

4 o'clock

• E! — Eventing: Team jumping, individual

6pm

• USA — Eventing: Show Jumping

FENCING

9:15 am

• E! — Eliminations in the ladies’s sabre and the boys’s foil

14 o'clock

• E! — Bronze/Gold finals in women’s sabre and men’s foil

FIELD HOCKEY

4 o'clock

• USA – Women’s Group B: Spain vs. USA

GOLF

3am

• GOLF — Golf Central – Paris Preview

GYMNASTICS

9 am

• UNIVERSO — Gymnastics and Swimming

8pm

• NBC – Primetime in Paris (July 29)

PLAY

3 pm

• USA – Men’s group match

ROWING

2 a.m

10:45 am

RUGBY

6.30 a.m.

• USA – Water polo, rugby

12:15 p.m.

• E! — Women’s quarterfinals

SHOOT

10 am

• USA – Men’s team: Bronze, gold in the ultimate

10:45 am

FOOTBALL

21 clock

• USA – Women’s Group B: USA vs. Germany

BATHE

2 a.m

• USA – Heats: Men’s 800m Freestyle and above

7 o'clock within the morning

• TELEMUNDO — Swimming and Volleyball

9 am

• UNIVERSO — Gymnastics and Swimming

11:30 am

• NBC – Final: Women’s 400 m Individual Medley and more

8pm

• NBC – Primetime in Paris (July 29)

TABLE TENNIS

1 O 'clock

• USA – M&W Singles: Round of 64

VOLLEYBALL

7 o'clock within the morning

• TELEMUNDO — Swimming and Volleyball

8 o'clock

• USA – Women’s Pool

14 o'clock

• NBC – Women’s Pool

8pm

• USA – Women’s Pool

WATER POLO

6.30 a.m.

• USA – Water polo, rugby

11 clock

• E! — Women’s Group: Hungary vs. Canada

4 p.m.

• USA – Women’s Group B: Spain vs. USA

Originally published: July 28, 2024 at 21:23

DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa judge has ruled that the state's strict abortion law will take effect Monday, stopping most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, before many ladies know they’re pregnant.

The law was passed last yr, but a judge had blocked its enforcement. The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed in June that there isn’t any constitutional right to abortion within the state and ordered the ban to be lifted. This led the district judge to rule Monday that the law should take effect next Monday at 8 a.m. Central Time.

Lawyers representing abortion providers asked Judge Jeffrey Farrell for a deadline before the law could take effect. They said a buffer period was needed to make sure continuity of services. In Iowa, pregnant women must wait 24 hours for an abortion after an initial consultation. Abortion was legal within the state until 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The Supreme Court's ruling marked a decisive victory for Iowa's Republican leadership after years of legislative and legal wrangling.

Iowa joins greater than a dozen states which have severely restricted access to abortion within the two years for the reason that U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Currently, 14 states have almost completely banned abortion in any respect stages of pregnancy, and three states – Iowa will develop into 4 – ban abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy.

Abortion access is more likely to be a serious issue within the 2024 election, especially as Vice President Kamala Harris seeks to steer the Democratic Party. Harris has said “everything is at stake” in relation to reproductive health within the November election and has traveled across the country to lift awareness of the problem, including in Des Moines a few yr ago after the stricter law was first passed.

Iowa's Republican-dominated legislature passed the law in a special session last July. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Planned Parenthood North Central States and the Emma Goldman Clinic immediately filed suit against the law. The law was in effect for just a couple of days before a district judge temporarily blocked it.

Republican Governor Kim Reynolds said the state Supreme Court had “vindicated the will of the people of Iowa,” and Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird called it a “landmark victory.”

Under Iowa law, there are a couple of circumstances through which abortion remains to be possible after the sixth week of pregnancy: rape, if reported to authorities or a health care provider inside 45 days; incest, if reported inside 145 days; if the fetus has an abnormality “incompatible with life”; or if the pregnancy endangers the lifetime of the mother.

The state medical board established medical standards earlier this yr, but the principles don’t specify how the board will handle noncompliance or what disciplinary motion can be appropriate.

Representatives from Planned Parenthood and the Emma Goldman Clinic have indicated that they may proceed to supply legal abortion services in Iowa once the law takes effect.

In June, Ruth Richardson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said the organization had made “long-term regional investments” over the past yr in preparation for that final result. These included expanding facilities in Mankato, Minnesota, and Omaha, Nebraska — each cities near Iowa.

Planned Parenthood in Iowa stopped providing abortion services in two cities within the state, including Des Moines, last yr. Two of the state's five Planned Parenthood clinics offer on-site abortion services, and three offer medication abortions.

People from Des Moines and the encompassing area looking for abortions have traveled about 35 miles north to Ames.

Alex Sharp, who runs the Ames facility, said that after the ban is lifted, conversations with patients can be difficult and that staff can be empathetic. It's “sensitive to hear that you're too far along and it's too late now: 'You have to, you know, leave and go somewhere else and you have to travel and you're going to miss work again.'”

“A lot of people don’t know this happened,” Sharp said of the stricter law.

Facilities that perform abortions offered additional appointments in June before the Iowa Supreme Court's decision, and appointments were fully booked for your entire month of July, Sharp said.

“It's quite possible they're older than six weeks, but we'll scan them,” she said of people that have made appointments for after the lockdown is lifted.

Sarah Traxler, regional medical director of Planned Parenthood, called a law banning abortions after cardiac activity may be detected “delicate.”

Since six weeks is an approximate time-frame, Traxler said, “we don't necessarily plan to terminate delivery at a certain gestational age.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 44% of the three,761 abortions performed in Iowa in 2021 occurred at six weeks of pregnancy or earlier. Only six abortions occurred at 21 weeks or later.

In other states, where the ban comes into effect across the sixth week of pregnancy, the variety of abortions has fallen by about half.

In its 4-3 ruling last month, the Iowa Supreme Court majority held that Iowa's abortion laws ought to be judged by whether the federal government has a legitimate interest in restricting the procedure, not by whether the burden on people looking for access to an abortion is simply too great.

While Hurley celebrated the victory and the “great progress made in protecting the most innocent among us,” he pointed to the work that also must be done.

“Fourteen states today protect babies from the moment of conception,” he said, “and Iowa should be the 15th.”