Deadline passes without word from Senate hopeful Akin

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A deadline passed on Tuesday evening with no indication from Republican U.S. Representative Todd Akin that he would bow to party pressure and quit the Missouri Senate race over his controversial remarks on abortion and rape. Missouri election law gave Akin until 5 p.m. local time (6 p.m. EDT) to take himself off the November 6 ballot in the Senate race against Democrat Claire McCaskill. Party leaders including Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell had strongly urged him to step down. …

Porn film production on hold after Los Angeles syphilis cases

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A porn industry trade group has announced a U.S. moratorium on production of adult sex films after several reported cases of syphilis among adult film actors, adding to the pressure on porn producers to require the use of condoms on sets. The actors can return to work in 10 days after taking antibiotics, and doctors have recommended treating all adult film actors as a precaution, the Los Angeles-based Free Speech Coalition said in a statement on its website late on Monday. It added that filming had been halted since the weekend. …

Appeals court rules Texas can cut off Planned Parenthood funding

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court ruled on Tuesday that Texas can deny funding to Planned Parenthood under a state women’s health program because the network of clinics provides abortions. The ruling reversed a lower court ruling that had temporarily stopped Texas from cutting off funding for the women’s health organization. The decision is a blow to Planned Parenthood, which is the nation’s largest abortion provider and has been under attack from conservatives across the country who worry government funding is going to support abortions. …

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