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A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order today barring the state of Missouri from enforcing a new law that would require abortion clinics in Columbia and Kansas City to upgrade their facilities.The law, which was to have gone into effect Tuesday, would have required the clinics to meet the stricter standards for ambulatory surgical centers. Opponents of the law have argued that such standards should not apply to the Kansas City clinic, which performs only medication-induced abortions. They also have argued that the Columbia center should be allowed to continue to operate because the new law should apply only to new, and not pre-existing, facilities.Supporters of the law say the state must ensure the highest quality care at such clinics.In approving the restraining order, U.S. District Judge Ortrie Smith set another hearing for Sept. 10 at which he will hear further evidence and arguments.As in the days of Noah....
