Judge halts Missouri’s abortion law

A Jackson County judge on Monday blocked enforcement of a new law aimed at reducing abortions in Missouri and neighboring states. Circuit Court Judge Charles Atwell granted a request by Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri for a temporary restraining order against the bill Gov. Matt Blunt signed into law Sept. 16. The General Assembly passed the bill in a special session earlier this month. Under the law, anyone helping a Missouri girl under 18 get an abortion out of state without parental consent could be sued or face misdemeanor charges. The law also requires doctors to have hospital privileges within 30 miles of where they perform abortions. By:  Kevin Murphy, The Kansas City Star, kansascity.com.For the complete story, click here (last visited September 28, 2005, REO).