Judge denies Planned Parenthood's request to block Oklahoma from ending contracts

In a ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot denied Planned Parenthood's motion for a preliminary injunction that would have stopped the Oklahoma Health Department from ending its contracts with three Tulsa-area clinics.

Attorneys for Planned Parenthood have argued the organization's support for abortion rights played a role in the department's decision not to renew the contracts for the federal Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, program.

Oklahoma Commissioner of Health Terry Cline testified last week that was not the case. Health department officials say the decision was based on a variety of long-term managerial and administrative problems with Planned Parenthood.