Alabama Abortion Laws Face Challenge

Lawyers for abortion providers have asked a federal judge to block new Alabama laws that ban abortion clinics near schools as well as the procedure most commonly used in the second trimester.  Earlier this year state lawmakers approved legislation banning abortion clinics within two-thousand feet of a K-8 public school. They also banned an abortion procedure called dilation and evacuation. The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging the restrictions as an undue burden on abortion access. The group says the location restriction would close two of the state's busiest abortion clinics, while the procedure ban would severely curtail second-trimester abortion access in Alabama. The laws, unless blocked by the court, will go into effect August 1.