In Oregon-Idaho border town, planned abortion clinic receives little welcome from locals

A month after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to put states in control of laws governing abortion, Planned Parenthood is working to open a new clinic — in Ontario, an Oregon town on the Idaho border.

A trigger law in Idaho that bans abortions with extremely limited exceptions could take effect on Aug. 25, if it doesn’t fall to legal challenges. And out-of-state patients are expected to add significantly to the demand for abortions in Oregon, where the procedure remains legal without restrictions.

Even before the final Supreme Court decision was announced, Planned Parenthood had leased space in a building on Second Avenue here, with plans to open with a small staff by early 2023.

The small city of Ontario sits on a bend in the Snake River, just an hour’s drive from Boise. On any given block, you might find a cannabis shop, catering to Boise clientele, or a church serving the locals. There’s a Catholic Church, a Church of Latter Day Saints and several evangelical Christian churches, among others.

Republicans outnumber Democrats three to one here. And if you ask most people in town what they think of abortion, their first answer is that they’re pro-life. And yet, the new clinic in their town will likely be the only place offering abortions for about 200 miles in any direction.