Iowa's restrictive abortion measure faces legal challenge as governor prepares to sign it into law

An Iowa judge will consider a request to postpone the state’s new ban on most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, just as Gov. Kim Reynolds is scheduled to sign the measure into law. The split screen on Friday punctuates a years-long battle between abortion advocates and opponents in Iowa. Abortion is currently legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. It would be far more restricted when Reynolds puts pen to paper, unless the judge issues a temporary hold. The legislation prohibits almost all abortions once cardiac activity can be detected, which is usually around six weeks of pregnancy and before many women know they are pregnant.