The Florida House of Representatives has approved a bill that would ban most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for cases of risk to the mother's life and pregnancies caused by rape, incest or human trafficking. The bill, titled the "Heartbeat Protection Act," would make Florida one of the most restrictive states in the country to obtain an abortion and is headed to Governor Ron DeSantis' desk for approval. If approved, it would take effect July 1 and has been met with criticism from pro-choice advocates who argue it would limit access to safe and legal abortions.
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Florida's Republican-dominated Legislature has passed a bill banning most abortions after six weeks and allocating $25 million annually for anti-abortion pregnancy centers. Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the bill, which would make it the most restrictive abortion law in the country and a major victory for anti-abortion activists. The bill's implementation is contingent on the Florida Supreme Court ruling on the state's current 15-week ban on abortion.
Drake Bell, former Nickelodeon star and current Drake Campana, is missing and considered "endangered" according to the Daytona Beach Police Department in Florida. He was last seen near Mainland High School on Wednesday at 9 p.m. and may be traveling in a 2022 grey BMW. The police department is asking anyone with information to come forward and is actively searching for Bell.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is attempting to consolidate support from Florida's Republican congressional delegation ahead of his expected 2024 presidential bid. He has contacted four out of the six members of the delegation, asking them to hold off on making endorsements in the near future. Trump is currently leading in the polls for the GOP presidential nomination, and DeSantis is trying to prevent defections in his own backyard. So far, DeSantis has no endorsements from the 20 Republicans in the state congressional delegation, and is continuing to make his case to the delegation and build support for his potential presidential run.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida experienced heavy rainfall on Wednesday, resulting in widespread flooding, the closure of the city's airport, and the activation of the city's emergency operations center. The city is urging residents and visitors to stay off the roads until the water has subsided, and is responding with airboats and staff clearing drains and operating pumps to mitigate the water.
Pearl, a 2-year-old Chihuaha, has been officially named the world's shortest living dog by Guinness World Records. She is 5 inches long, shorter than a Popsicle stick at just 3.59 inches tall, and weighs 1.22 pounds - a huge gain on the less than one ounce she weighed at birth. Her owner, Vanesa Semler, said she is "blessed to have her" and Pearl has become an internet sensation, with thousands of people around the world celebrating her achievement.
Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against his former attorney Michael Cohen for more than $500 million in damages, claiming that Cohen's cooperation with investigators and public statements have caused "vast reputational harm" to the former president. The complaint accuses Cohen of violating his attorney-client relationship with Trump and breaching his contractual obligations to the former president. Trump's lawyer Alejandro Brito wrote in the complaint that Cohen's actions have caused "irreparable harm" to the former president's reputation.
On April 6th, a missing child alert was issued for two Florida girls, Jade Gregory, 12, and Khloe Larsen, 14, who had stolen Gregory's father's car and were believed to be traveling on Interstate 10 toward Louisiana. Fortunately, the girls were found the same day in Bayou La Batre, Alabama and the Union County Sheriff's Office is reminding parents to be aware of their children's online activities.