In brief: North Dakota abortion ban overturned by judge

BISMARCK, N.D. – A federal judge on Wednesday overturned a North Dakota law that bans abortions when a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as six weeks into pregnancy and before many women know they’re pregnant.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland said the law is “invalid and unconstitutional” and that it “cannot withstand a constitutional challenge.”

North Dakota is among several conservative states that have passed new abortion restrictions in recent years, but abortion rights supporters called North Dakota’s fetal heartbeat law the most restrictive in the country. The state’s attorney general has said he will appeal.

TSA finds knife in enchilada in bag

SONOMA, Calif. – A woman is facing a possible fine after federal officials say they found a knife inside an enchilada in her bag during security screening at a northern California airport.

Transportation Security Administration spokesman Nico Melendez said the 8-inch-long blade was found Monday at the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport.

The passenger, who has not been identified, said she made the enchilada over the weekend and didn’t know how the knife got into the bag. She was questioned by Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies, but then cleared to board her flight.

New Jersey dog gets jury duty

BRIDGETON, N.J. – Could this prospective juror take a bite out of crime?

Cumberland County, N.J., has summoned IV Griner to jury duty. The only problem is that IV is a 5-year-old German shepherd.

Her owner told KYW-TV in Philadelphia he sorted out the confusion soon after the summons arrived at his Bridgeton home.

The dog’s owner is Barrett Griner IV. He uses the Roman numeral for four in his name. He named his dog using the letters “I” and “V.”

The county’s judiciary coordinator said the computer likely mistook the Roman numeral for Griner’s first name and mailed the summons.