The Point

The Point, April 27, 2023: Bill shielding kids' autopsy details nears passage

WUFT | By WUFT News

Published April 27, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m.

The stories near you

• Fresh Take Florida: After family murders, suicide, Florida nears passage of bill to shield kids’ autopsy details. "The bills would ban the public release of autopsy reports for minors killed by domestic violence – and also ban release of photographs, audio or video, such as police body camera recordings or in reports by child abuse investigators, in cases when a minor is killed, no matter the circumstances."

• Florida Storms: Significant severe weather expected across Florida today through this weekend. "The SPC has placed most of the Peninsula from Jacksonville down to Miami in a Slight Risk for severe weather. The greatest storm coverage is expected in the Enhanced Risk area from Ocala through Orlando and into Fort Pierce."

• The Alligator: Living in the CO2 Capitol: UF professor studies Indigenous issues in the Amazon. "A UF anthropology professor for over two decades, Heckenberger has authored several books on Amazonian Indigenous peoples as a result of living with the Kuikuro tribe in Brazil for two years."

• WCJB: Bradford County Fire Rescue puts out fire on Florida State Prison property. "Bradford County Fire Rescue crews want to know what started a fire on Florida State Prison property."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Interactive indoor playground opens near downtown. "The family-friendly playground holds more than 2,200 square feet of indoor play space that is divided into four spacious, air-conditioned activity rooms and more than 3,500 feet of outdoor play space."

• WCJB: Alachua elementary school celebrates 30th anniversary. "Hundreds of current students and alumni from Irby Elementary School gathered to celebrate the occasion, listening to live music performances and poetry readings."

Today's sponsored message

Around the state

• News Service of Florida: Florida House approves bill that would change rules around campus free speech. "The Florida House on Wednesday passed a measure that would put new requirements on universities related to debates and other campus forums, with supporters saying it would bolster free speech but critics arguing it could have unintended consequences."

• News Service of Florida: Florida Senate passes controversial elections changes. "The proposed bill would place additional restrictions on voter-registration groups and help clear the way for a potential White House bid by Gov. Ron DeSantis."

• Florida Politics: House passes ‘Florida Kratom Consumer Protection Act.' "Underage sales of kratom would be punishable by an up to $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail."

• WFSU-Tallahassee: The Andrew Gillum corruption trial may wrap up sooner than expected. "Gillum and co-defendant Sharon Lettman-Hicks are charged with several counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Gillum is also charged with lying to the FBI."

• WUSF-Tampa: A rising number of working Florida families are unable to afford basic necessities. "A report released Wednesday by United Way Suncoast and United for ALICE has found that nearly half of Florida households are struggling to afford basic needs, such as food, housing and healthcare."

• WFSU-Tallahassee: A bill to protect the habitat and food source of Florida manatees has the Senate's okay. "The full Florida Senate okayed a bill Wednesday aimed at addressing the state’s alarming rate of seagrass loss and record breaking manatee deaths."

• News Service of Florida: A Florida Senate panel backs a bathroom bill as drag queens protest. "A key Senate committee on Tuesday approved a scaled-back proposal aimed at requiring transgender men and women to use restrooms that line up with their sex assigned at birth, as protesters marched to the Capitol to speak out against bills targeting the LGBTQ community."

• WMFE-Orlando: The Mouse strikes back: Disney sues DeSantis, new district board over alleged retaliation. "In the complaint filed in federal court on Wednesday, Disney alleges, 'a targeted campaign of government retaliation.'"