![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/static01.nyt.com/images/2024/07/29/multimedia/29nat-iowa-abortion-01-clhj/29nat-iowa-abortion-01-clhj-thumbWide.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)
Iowa’s 6-Week Abortion Ban Takes Effect
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled last month that the Republican-backed law could be enforced. Abortions had been legal in the state up until about 22 weeks.
By Mitch Smith
I travel regularly to cover stories across the American Midwest, a vast and fascinating region that spans parts of three time zones. My territory includes some of the country’s largest cities and some of its most remote places, presenting a range of topics. I write often about state-level politics, agriculture, property rights, gun violence, natural disasters and policing.
My reporting is focused on Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, but I have covered stories across the United States.
I have spent my life and career in the region that I cover. I joined the Chicago bureau of The Times in 2014 after working at The Chicago Tribune. I grew up in Kansas and have degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern University.
I am committed to journalism that is fair, complete and factual, and that respects the people and places I write about. Like all Times journalists, I work to uphold the standards outlined in our Ethical Journalism Handbook.
Email: mitch.smith@nytimes.com
X: @mitchksmith
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The Iowa Supreme Court ruled last month that the Republican-backed law could be enforced. Abortions had been legal in the state up until about 22 weeks.
By Mitch Smith
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This was featured in live coverage.
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