 The amendment would have legalized abortion up to 18 weeks of pregnancy and made exceptions in the case of rape and incest and the risk of life to the mother. In Arkansas, abortion is completely banned with very limited exceptions. Alyssa Nadworny, NPR News. At least a dozen western states have broken heat records in the past week, and NPR's Julia Simon reports that scientists blame climate change. When Joe Paschal moved to Palm Springs, California about 17 years ago, he'd get a break from the summer heat in the evening and mornings.