COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Abortion providers are trying to lengthen the narrow window when they can legally terminate a pregnancy under a strict new ban in South Carolina. Spokespeople for both the South Carolina Senate majority leader and speaker of the House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A decision in their favor would mark a big shift in the number of people able to legally obtain abortions at Planned Parenthood facilities in Columbia and Charleston. “It means the difference between turning away 50% of people and turning away 90% of people,” Susanna Birdsong, the general counsel for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, told the AP. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic Communications Director Molly Rivera said the group is now fighting “for every inch of ground" after failing to get the new law completely struck.

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Persons: John Kittredge, “, Catherine Humphreville, Spokespeople, ” Susanna Birdsong, Molly Rivera, ___ Pollard Organizations: COLUMBIA, —, Republican, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Associated Press, South, South Carolina Senate, South Carolina General Assembly, AP, Atlantic Communications, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: South Carolina, Columbia, Charleston