Vice President Kamala Harris’ official acceptance of her presidential nomination was solidified Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention. In addition to the historic nature of Ms. Harris’ ascension, numerous stories shed light on some curious happenings near the event.

Planned Parenthood Great Rivers from the St. Louis region made medical abortions and vasectomies available free of charge near the convention site. The move naturally sparked plenty of headlines; ultimately the mobile clinic provided abortion pills to eight patients and performed nine vasectomies. And anti-Israel protesters were arrested after facing off with police.

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Pregnancy centers win temporary reprieve in NY

A federal judge blocked New York Attorney General Letitia James from taking legal action against pro-life pregnancy centers that promote the use of progesterone to reverse the abortion-pill process, citing the threat to their free-speech rights, reports The Washington Times’ Valerie Richardson.

U.S. District Judge John Sinatra granted the temporary injunction sought by the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates and two of its members — Gianna’s House and Options Care Center — which filed a First Amendment lawsuit against Ms. James in May.

Read more here.

British pro-lifer’s big win

Across the pond, a British pro-life advocate arrested twice for praying silently outside a closed abortion clinic has reached a financial settlement. Isabel Vaughan-Spruce will receive $16,900 after filing a claim against the West Midlands Police in Birmingham, England, for false imprisonment, assault and battery, and breaches of her human rights.

Her win comes amid concerns about a nationwide crackdown on prayer and other activities outside clinics, which could come under the newly installed Labour Party government. Read the full story here.

Disney+ cancels ‘woke’ series after one season

Disney+ is making headlines for canceling its original “Star Wars” show “The Acolyte,” a move that came after just one season. The big-budget show’s conclusion unfolded after some viewers accused the series of being “woke.”

From “lesbian space witches” to a gender debate over a rodent-like character, the contents of “The Acolyte” sparked no shortage of eyebrow-raising discussion. Here’s the full story.

Child online safety bill hits snags

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and an update to the 1998 Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) are both stalled.

The House doesn’t plan to take up the Senate-passed legislation — an effort to protect youths from harmful online content — which combined the two bills in a vote until Republican worries about the bill’s possible censorship and other related issues are addressed. It’s not clear if a compromise is possible. Here’s more.

University of California takes action

University of California President Michael Drake said the 10 campuses under his control are trying to stave off potential protest chaos in the coming school year. He’s planning to ban encampments, masking and barriers.

It’s a move that came after a federal judge ruled the university system had discriminated against Jewish students and denied them equal educational opportunities. Here are some of the other elements Mr. Drake said the university system will set into motion.

Podcast: Country music star leaves it all behind for Jesus

Country music star Granger Smith was a smash success when his son, River, drowned in 2019. Afterward, the trajectory of his life changed forever. In the end, Mr. Smith ended up leaving music for ministry.

Listen to him tell his story and share details about his new children’s book “Up Toward the Light” with Billy Hallowell on this week’s episode of “Higher Ground.”

In our opinion

Kamala Harris speaks at an event in Manassas, Va., Jan. 23, 2024, to campaign for abortion rights. Harris, the daughter of immigrants who rose through the California political and law enforcement ranks to become the first female vice president in U.S. history, is poised to secure the Democratic Party's presidential nomination Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)” width=”600” height=”355” data-bit=”iit” />

On the opinion pages: Everett Piper in his “Ask Dr. E” column responds to an important question: “Can faithful Christians support the Harris-Walz ticket?” Here’s what he had to say. 

And here are some other must-read columns: 

• Defending the unborn. Mr. Hallowell ponders whether Ms. Harris is “building a macabre campaign on the backs of the unborn.” “Liberals’ devotion to abortion rights feels almost sacramental, with this year’s Democratic National Convention and the antics surrounding it offering up some disturbing imagery, proclamations and activism,” he writes. Read more.

• Iranian-American says ‘no’ to Harris. Marziyeh Amirizadeh explains why, as a Christian, Iranian-American woman, she will “not be voting for Kamala,” charging Ms. Harris “represents exactly the values that endanger women in the Middle East and around the world.”

• Defending Israel. Jason Jimenez makes a compelling case for why he believes “Christians should stand with Israel.”