Common abortion procedure banned

LITTLE RoCK, ARK. » Arkansas’ governor on Thursday approved a ban on a commonly used secondtrimester abortion procedure — restrictions that are expected to face a legal challenge.

Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed into law a measure banning the procedure known as dilation and evacuation, which abortion-rights supporters contend is the safest and most common procedure used in second-trimester abortions. Hutchinson signed the bill hours after it was approved by the majorityGOP Senate on a 25-6 vote. It won’t take effect until later this year.

Hutchinson, who had promised abortion opponents earlier this week he would sign the ban into law, didn’t issue a statement after approving the measure. Arkansas Right to Life has called the prohibition its top legislative priority in Arkansas, and the group’s president has called the procedure “barbaric.”