Kansas activists’ hopes to be “first abortion-free state” have come up short.  

Only hours before new regulations were to take effect, news emerged late Thursday afternoon that Kansas officials reversed their decision to deny Planned Parenthood a license to perform abortions.

The news of the reversal dampened the celebrations of those who had expected Kansas to become the United States’ first abortion-free state when the regulations took effect Friday.

Two abortion clinics were denied licenses earlier this month. One has filed suit.

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