Nitty-gritty knocked Va. abortion bill off the fast track

RICHMOND — In the end, it took late-night comedians, a less genteel legislature and a backtracking governor to change the course of Virginia's highly contentious antiabortion bill.

The measure, which would require women to get an ultrasound before having an abortion, was headed for the law books late last week. But over the course of nine days, it became clear that the legislation's sponsors didn't realize one key fact — that for an ultrasound to determine the age of a fetus, as mandated by the bill, it would usually require a vaginal probe.

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