Planned Parenthood Minnesota North Dakota South Dakota

A report by the Guttmacher Institute released on Wednesday shows that women are choosing to delay having children due to the recession. At the same time, the cost of family planning and reproductive health services have put a strain on those women’s finances.

Women living in rural Minnesota face poor health outcomes according to a report released by Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota on Wednesday. A lack of health insurance and clinics, along with factors like poverty, geographic isolation and even Minnesota’s extreme winters all impact the ability of rural women to access health care. The organization says that as Congress debates health care reform, the needs of rural women must be addressed.

Al Franken will become Minnesota’s junior senator — and everyone wants to weigh in on the development. Here’s a round-up of the latest statements about the end of the bruising U.S. Senate contest. We’ll continue to update as reactions come in.