The Florida Senate on Monday approved a bill to ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a measure supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis as the Republican prepares to launch his expected presidential candidacy.
The vote prompted demonstrations at the state’s Capitol that resulted in the arrest of the leader of the Florida Democratic Party and a state senator.
Local state Sen. Clay Yarborough co-introduced the bill and provided WJCT News with the following statement:
“Children are a great blessing. Every abortion kills an innocent, helpless child — a unique, irreplaceable and unrepeatable human being, made in the image and likeness of God. Unborn children deserve the strongest protections possible under our laws. With the court overturning Roe v. Wade earlier this summer, I am honored that I will have the opportunity as a State Senator to support the strongest pro-life legislation in more than 50 years.”
Guests:
- Cathy Carter, WUSF reporter.
- Kelly Flynn, president and CEO of A Woman’s Choice in Jacksonville.
Expanding renewable natural gas infrastructure
Florida residents could see their electric bills increase again in the next two years.
That’s because utility companies want to build infrastructure to support the use of renewable natural gas, and bills making their way through the Florida Legislature would help them do so.
To create RNG, methane emitted from solid waste is captured and turned into natural gas. Like traditional natural gas, RNG is mostly methane, which has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide. That methane can leak into the atmosphere throughout the supply chain and when RNG is burned for energy, it produces carbon dioxide — the primary greenhouse gas driving climate change. However, using RNG over traditional natural gas does help reduce methane emissions from organic wastes.
Guests:
- Mary Ellen Klas, Capitol bureau chief for the Miami Herald.
- Emily Grubert, associate professor of sustainable energy policy at the University of Notre Dame.
Jax River Jams
Downtown Jacksonville’s free concert series, Jax River Jams presented by VyStar Credit Union, returns to Riverfront Plaza this Thursday night.
Guest: Kady Yellow, senior director of creative placemaking and events for Downtown Vision Inc.
What’s Good Wednesday
You can celebrate literacy, authors and books tomorrow at the One Book, One Community event on Amelia Island.
This author discussion and book signing is in partnership with the Amelia Island Book Festival and other groups celebrating books and reading. The idea is to get the whole community to read a single book and have a shared conversation. For tickets and information go to NassauReads.com.
More good news for your Wednesday:
- SkillsUSA Florida, a nonprofit career technical student organization, will hold its annual State Leadership and Skills Conference here in Jacksonville April 10-13.
- The Betty Griffin Center is asking for donations to create 80 Easter baskets for children staying in its shelter this year. Donations can be delivered to the Betty Griffin Center Outreach Center at 2450 Old Moultrie Rd., Suite 202, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Donations will be accepted through Friday.
- If you’re looking for another way to support the Betty Griffin Center, consider its Run for Peace 5K, which takes place at 8 a.m. Saturday at the St. Augustine Pier. You can sign up at RunForPeace5K.org through Friday.
- The Jacksonville Humane Society is hosting its third annual Mutt Market fundraising event at 10 a.m. Saturday at its space on Beach Boulevard. This event is free and reservations are preferred, but not required.
- The University of North Florida Wind Symphony is hosting renowned composer John Mackey for a three-day residency that will end with a concert at 7:30 p.m. today.
