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A central Minnesota business has won state court approval to exclude birth control from its employees' health insurance plans. American Mfg Co., which makes mud pumps and pump parts, sought a religious exemption from the Affordable Care Act mandate, which requires contraceptive coverage in employers' health plans. The St. Joseph-based company won a preliminary injunction in 2013. (Zdechlik, 12/5)

Faith-based nonprofit organizations that object to covering birth control in their employee health plans are in federal court Monday to challenge a birth-control compromise they say still compels them to violate their religious beliefs. The plaintiffs include a group of Colorado nuns and four Christian colleges in Oklahoma. They are already exempt from covering contraceptives under the federal health care law. But they say the exemption doesn't go far enough because they must sign away the coverage to another party, making them feel complicit in providing the contraceptives. (Wyatt, 12/8)