ABORTION CLINIC REOPENS IN WACO

  

Planned Parenthood has announced the reopening of its first abortion clinic in Texas since the U.S. Supreme Court last year struck down strict regulations that prompted more than half of the state's abortion facilities to close.

Waco lost its only abortion clinic after then-Gov. Rick Perry signed the regulations in 2013. The sweeping anti-abortion bill imposed costly operating standards on clinics and required doctors who perform abortions to obtain hospital admitting privileges.

The law virtually wiped out all Texas abortion clinics outside big metropolitan areas, such as Dallas and Houston, and a few cities on the border with Mexico. It was struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional nearly a year ago in a 5-3 ruling. But since then, only three of the more than 20 clinics that originally closed have reopened.

Kelly Hart, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, said the organization's data indicate women have been traveling 50 to 99 miles or more to the nearest abortion provider.

She said she was not aware of other Planned Parenthood facilities elsewhere in Texas that may be reopening. Cities such as Lubbock, Midland and College Station have also lost abortion clinics in recent years that have not been restored.