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Support for legal abortion in the U.S. has edged up to its highest level in the past two years, with an Associated Press-GfK poll showing an apparent increase in support among Democrats and Republicans alike over the last year. Nearly six in 10 Americans — 58 percent — now think abortion should be legal in most or all cases, up from 51 percent who said so at the beginning of the year, according to the AP-GfK survey. (12/22)

Republicans who control the Ohio legislature are pushing new measures to regulate the disposal of fetal remains by both abortion clinics and hospitals. But, essentially, only abortion facilities would be affected, judging by current practices of the four largest central Ohio hospital groups. (Johnson, Siegel and Candisky, 12/22)

KHN staff writer Julie Rovner joins The Diane Rehm Show to discuss California and Oregon's laws allowing women to bypass their doctors and get birth control prescribed by a pharmacist. Many doctors say this is safe, but others argue that these measures don’t go far enough in ensuring women have access to these contraceptives and would prefer birth control pills be offered over the counter. (Rovner, 12/21)