Help Centers Join Abortion Lawsuit

     SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A federal judge is allowing two
pregnancy help centers to intervene in a court battle over a
requirement in South Dakota that women seeking an abortion wait 72
hours.
     Planned Parenthood has sued the state to stop the law that the
Legislature passed last year. U.S. District Chief Judge Karen
Schreier has ruled that the Alpha Center in Sioux Falls and the
Black Hills Crisis Pregnancy Center in Rapid City have an interest
in helping defend the law, which is on hold.
     The legislation requires women seeking abortions to face a
three-day waiting period and undergo counseling at pregnancy help
centers that discourage abortion. Planned Parenthood contends it's
unconstitutional.
     Schreier ruled that if Planned Parenthood prevails, the two
centers each would lose the referrals of 700 new clients each year.