Midweek News Roundup: 03/16/11

Domestic News: In Montgomery County, Maryland, a Judge struck down laws targeting crisis pregnancy centers. The law required crisis pregnancy centers to post that they do not have a medical person on-staff. Planned Parenthood locations are not bound by that same requirement. In New York City, Mayor Bloomberg signed into law legislation requiring the very thing overturned in Montgomery County. The American Center for Law and Justice plans to protest the law, who claim that the signing of this bill violates city ordinances. Specifically, “The law provides that no local law shall be approved by the Mayor unless a public hearing has been held before him and that notice of the public hearing must be made at least five days before the hearing and within ten days of presentation of the introduction.” In an oddity of Illinois legislative convention, a bill requiring abortion clinics to meet the same requirements as outpatient medical facilities passed the State House’s Agricultural Committee 13-0. Two other bills passed committee, including one to require abortion clinics to report cases of child abuse and one which “…would impose longer waiting periods on women seeking abortions and require them to view an ultrasound of the fetus one hour before an abortion is performed.” It’s unclear if these laws will pass the greater Illinois House. In New Hampshire, a bill requiring parental notification before a minor can have an abortion passed their State House. The bill should move on to the State Senate.

International News: In Justin Bieber news…the Canadian pop star’s quote where he admitted that he was pro-life, was modified by Rolling Stone. They claim, it was because they omitted part of his quote in the original piece. Here’s the new quote with the additional section bolded:

It’s unclear exactly how that changes the meaning or context of the quote on abortion. An Algerian singer will be released on parole in France after two years in prison for attempting to force a woman to have an abortion. In 2005, the singer Cheb Mami, attempted to force his then girlfriend to have an abortion and fled the country. She delivered the child, a little girl, in France. In 2009, Mami was finally tried for his crime.