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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In Brief: Law forces closure of Texas abortion clinics

From Wire Reports

AUSTIN, Texas – Over a dozen abortion clinics will be forced to close immediately as Texas’ strict new abortion law is allowed to take effect in full following a federal appeals court ruling.

A three judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Thursday that it will allow the law to take effect for the duration of the trial over its constitutionality.

“This decision is a vindication of the careful deliberation by the Texas Legislature to craft a law to protect the health and safety of Texas women,” said Attorney General spokeswoman Lauren Bean.

District Judge Lee Yeakel struck down two portions of the law last month requiring doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and requiring facilities to meet hospital-like building standards, stating that together they create an unconstitutional obstacle for women seeking abortions in the state.

Sierra Nevada faces busy bear season

RENO, Nev. – An already busy bear season has exploded in the Sierra Nevada with nine hungry bruins captured since Wednesday morning near Reno and Lake Tahoe as an ongoing drought continues to make food scarce in the mountains. A 10th was hit and killed by a car Thursday in south Reno.

Since July 1, Nevada Department of Wildlife officials have caught 42 black bears and released all but two back into the wild. They said two repeat offenders had to be killed.

Cars have killed an additional 10 bears as the animals move into more populated areas from the parched foothills on the Sierra’s eastern front.

Men wearing GPS accused in killings

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Two sex offenders were indicted Thursday after authorities said they raped and killed four women while the men wore GPS tracking monitors.

Franc Cano, 28, and Steven Dean Gordon, 45, were charged with murder with special circumstances – including lying in wait, rape and kidnapping – and forcible rape, the Orange County District Attorney’s office said.

Prosecutors say Cano and Gordon worked together to sexually assault and kill the California women while the men were wearing the tracking devices ordered after prior sex crimes.