In brief: Shriver files divorce papers

Los Angeles – Maria Shriver formally filed for divorce Friday, moving to end her 25-year marriage to Arnold Schwarzenegger just weeks after the former governor publicly acknowledged fathering a child with a member of their household staff.

Shriver cited “irreconcilable differences” and requested joint custody of their two minor children.

The formal filing was met with little surprise: In May, the two announced they were separating.

Judge blocks new abortion law

Kansas City, Kan. – A federal judge temporarily blocked Kansas from enforcing new abortion regulations Friday that would have prevented two of the state’s three abortion providers from continuing to terminate pregnancies.

U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia’s injunction will remain in effect until a trial is held in a lawsuit challenging the Kansas rules. A new licensing law and health department regulations had taken effect Friday.

The new law requires hospitals, clinics and doctor’s offices to obtain an annual license from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to perform more than five non-emergency abortions in a month. The regulations tell abortion providers what drugs and equipment they must stock, and establish minimum sizes and acceptable temperatures for procedure and recovery rooms.