A St. Joseph company's group health insurance plan won't have to pay for abortions, birth control or sterilization after a landmark ruling in U.S. District Court in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Health says the number of abortions last year dropped to the lowest level since the state began keeping track in 1975. In its annual report released Monday, the department says 11,071 abortions were performed in 2011.
The number of abortions has declined for the fourth consecutive year in Minnesota. The state Department of Health says 11,505 abortions were performed by physicians in 2010, a decrease of 7 percent from the number done in 2009.