NBC News: The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to put a temporary hold on a controversial provision in the new health care law requiring employers to provide health insurance coverage for contraceptives.

Two businesses challenging the act — the nationwide chain of 500 Hobby Lobby Stores and Mardel, a chain of Christian bookstores — contended that the law violates their religious freedom. Their legal battle is continuing over the merits of their claim. In the meantime, they asked the US Supreme Court to put a temporary hold on the law, which takes effect January 1, 2013.

On Wednesday, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who handles emergency appeals from the courts where the companies are based, declined to grant an injunction.

The Supreme Court has upheld the individual insurance requirement at the heart of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul law, AP reports.

The US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals cleared the way for the Supreme Court to consider California’s gay marriage ban, declining an appeal to revisit the case, Reuters reports.

Read more about same-sex marriage in California on breakingnews.com.

UPDATE (1:45 p.m. EDT): Sponsors of California’s same-sex marriage ban plan to take case to US Supreme Court, AP reports.

AP: The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously today that twins born to a man’s surviving wife via artificial insemination after his death cannot get Social Security survivor benefits.