Wal-Mart to stock morning-after pill

Officials of Wal-Mart Stores said Friday the company will reverse its policy and stock emergency-contraception pills in all of its pharmacies effective March 20, saying the giant retailer could not justify being the country's only major pharmacy chain not to carry the morning-after pill.

The announcement comes after Massachusetts last month ordered the world's largest retailer to stock the so-called Plan B pill, after a lawsuit was filed against Wal-Mart by three Boston women.

Ron Chomiuk, Wal-Mart's vice president of pharmacy, said the company will maintain its conscientious-objection policy. The policy, except where prohibited by law, allows any pharmacy employee who does not feel comfortable dispensing a prescription to refer customers to another pharmacist or pharmacy.

Minister acquitted in gay weddings

Longtime Presbyterian minister the Rev. Jane Spahr, who was the first of her faith to be tried for officiating at the unions of gay couples, was acquitted Friday of violating her denomination's position on same-sex marriage.

A regional judicial commission of the Presbyterian Church (USA) ruled 6-1 that Spahr, 63, of San Rafael, acted within her rights as an ordained minister when she married two lesbian couples in 2004 and 2005.

Spahr, 63, could have faced sanctions ranging from a rebuke to removal from the ministry.

The tribunal of the Presbytery of the Redwoods, which oversees 52 churches from north of San Francisco to the Oregon border, was acting on a complaint brought by a minister from Bellevue last year.

Las Vegas

Security breach by "Idol" judge

Paula Abdul was allowed to board a plane at the Las Vegas airport without passing through a security checkpoint, prompting all passengers and luggage to be screened when they landed in California, officials said Friday.

A worker led the "American Idol" judge and a companion around mandatory screening before they boarded a Southwest Airlines flight headed to Burbank, Calif., Thursday afternoon, said Elaine Sanchez, a spokeswoman for McCarran International Airport.

The Federal Transportation Safety Administration is investigating.

New protections for zoo elephants?

The U.S. government plans to look into possible changes in laws protecting zoo elephants after an animal-welfare group complained many were kept in conditions that caused arthritis and foot disease and could be deadly.

The Agriculture Department said Friday it would seek public comment on a petition filed last month by the group, In Defense of Animals, accusing U.S. zoos of violating the Animal Welfare Act by keeping elephants in small, unnatural pens.

Compiled from The Associated Press and Reuters