Judge blocks Missouri from pulling clinic's abortion license

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- A federal judge has temporarily blocked Missouri's health department from revoking the abortion license held by a Planned Parenthood clinic in Columbia.

The temporary restraining order issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughrey is set to expire Wednesday evening, following another hearing.

Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri filed a federal lawsuit Monday to preserve the Columbia clinic's abortion facility license from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The department had planned to revoke the license Monday evening.

The Columbia clinic last week stopped non-surgical abortions induced with a pill because physician Colleen McNicholas no longer has privileges with the University of Missouri Health Care system. The system's medical staff voted to discontinue the type of privileges McNicholas held amid a legislative investigation of abortion.

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Planned Parenthood has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block Missouri's health department from revoking the abortion license for the group's Columbia clinic.

Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri sued Monday. The group is seeking an injunction to preserve the Columbia clinic's abortion facility license from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The lawsuit said the department plans to revoke the license Monday evening.

The Columbia clinic last week stopped non-surgical abortions induced with a pill because physician Colleen McNicholas no longer has privileges with the University of Missouri Health Care system. The system's medical staff voted to discontinue the type of privileges McNicholas held amid a legislative investigation of abortion.

Missouri now has only one clinic that offers abortions. It's in St. Louis.