Supreme Court overturns abortion clinic restrictions

In a major ruling on abortion, the Supreme Court struck down parts of a Texas law that could have led to the closure of many abortion facilities, setting a precedent for abortion access nationwide.

The surprise 5-3 decision struck down two provisions of a law passed in 2013, requiring abortion clinics to meet strict regulations in order to operate. The first would have mandated that abortion facilities meet the same standards as surgical centers, which would mean — among other things — designing centers with wide hallways for gurneys and installing additional equipment. The second would have required doctors at clinics to be granted "admitting privileges" at a nearby hospital, which would involve meeting additional requirements and...