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| The Lone Star state is back at the national forefront as a controversial Texas abortion law went into effect Wednesday. |
| The law, which prohibits the procedure after about six weeks of pregnancy, is one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation. |
| Advocates on both sides of the nation's abortion debate were watching whether the Supreme Court's handling of a Texas ban on the procedure will offer clues about an even more significant case on the horizon later this year. |
| It's Mabinty, with the day's top news. |
Is this the beginning of the end of Roe v. Wade? |
| A Texas law banning most abortions after six weeks took effect at midnight after the Supreme Court did not immediately rule in the case. |
| The lack of word from the high court meant Texas successfully implemented the most restrictive abortion law in the nation – at least for now – prompting an outcry from abortion rights groups and praise from advocates who favor limiting access. |
| Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the legislation, known as the "fetal heartbeat" bill, into law in May. It bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy and before many people realize they are pregnant. |
| There are no exemptions in cases of rape or incest. |
| The Texas law is different from other restrictive abortion laws because instead of relying on officials to enforce the law, private citizens are allowed to sue abortion providers and anyone involved in "aiding and abetting" abortions. |
| Abortion rights advocates say the law is written in a way to prevent federal courts from striking it down, in part because it's hard to know whom to sue. |
| What's next? The high court is expected to rule in the Texas matter on an emergency basis as it is also preparing to consider a case challenging Mississippi's ban on most abortions after 15 weeks. |
Real quick: stories you'll want to read |
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A desperate plea to leave Afghanistan |
| The White House responded Tuesday to the plea of an Afghan interpreter who helped rescue then-Sen. Joe Biden and two other senators in a 2008 snowstorm, reiterating the president's pledge to use diplomacy to work to evacuate remaining allies still in Afghanistan who wish to leave. |
| "We will get you out, we will honor your service, and we're committed to doing exactly that," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. |
| The Wall Street Journal reported the interpreter – only identified as Mohammed by the newspaper – his wife and four children are in hiding from the Taliban after a "years-long attempt" to leave Afghanistan got mired in bureaucracy. As the final troops left Afghanistan on Monday, Mohammed asked Biden to save his family. |
| "First, our message to him is thank you for fighting by our side for the last 20 years," Psaki said at a White House press briefing when asked for a response to Mohammed's plea. "Thank you for the role you played in helping a number of my favorite people out of a snowstorm, and for all of the work you did." |
| Breathe. Stretch. Shake. Let it go. — Mabinty |
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