New figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health show the number of abortions performed in the state increased about seven percent from 2017 to 2018.
The increase mostly came from Illinois residents who were seeking the procedure.
The Chicago Tribune reports many abortion opponents link the increase to a state law that went into effect in 2018 expanding taxpayer-subsidized abortions. The law allows state health insurance and Medicaid coverage for abortions. It also made sure that abortions remain legal.
But, abortion-rights supporters say there's no way to know how the law affected the overall numbers.