North Dakota anti-abortion amendment for state ballot clears senate

BISMARCK, North Dakota (Reuters) – The North Dakota Senate on Thursday approved placing on the state ballot a constitutional amendment that declares that life begins at conception. The state senate passed the measure 26 to 21. If the Republican-majority House goes along, as expected, it will be placed on the ballot for consideration by North Dakota voters in November 2014. Proponents seek to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. “This amendment is intended to present a direct challenge to Roe v. …