Iowa halts funding for rape victims' morning-after pills.

The Iowa Attorney General's Office has paused its long-standing practice of paying for emergency contraception and, in rare cases, abortions for victims of sexual assault. The state's victim compensation fund, which is used to directly compensate victims of crimes, has previously covered the cost of Plan B and similar treatments to prevent unwanted pregnancies. The pause on payments is part of a larger review of victim services by Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird, who defeated Democrat Tom Miller's bid for an 11th term last fall. Victim advocates say they hope the state will eventually resume covering these expenses.