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The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with doctors who challenged the law, ruling that abortion restrictions must be based on a fetus' ability to live outside the womb, not the presence of a fetal heartbeat that can be detected weeks earlier. The court said that standard was established by previous U.S. Supreme Court rulings. (5/27)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit has blocked an Arkansas law that bans abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy. The case was filed by two doctors on their own and their patients' behalf. (Chappell, 5/27)

A state Senate committee approved a proposal Wednesday for North Carolina to join the handful of states that require a 72-hour waiting period for abortions. The bill advanced by a Senate judiciary committee would extend the waiting period from the current 24 hours, which became law less than four years ago. The bill would also require that the procedure be performed by a specialist in obstetrics or gynecology. (Drew, 5/27)

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker defended his decision to sign a law in Wisconsin mandating ultrasounds for women before they get abortions, calling ultrasounds “just a cool thing out there.” (Lerner, 5/27)

An Oregon Senate committee has advanced legislation requiring private insurers to cover up to 12 months of birth control at a time. Currently, women can access a 30- or 90-day supply of contraception. Under the bill, private insurers would have to cover up to 12 months of contraception without requiring women to make multiple trips to the pharmacy. (5/27)