Combined WGCU/News Service of Florida dispatches

Environmental groups seek to keep scrub jay protections

Four conservation groups are seeking to help block an effort to remove federal Endangered Species Act protections for the Florida scrub jay, the Earthjustice legal organization announced Tuesday. The Florida Wildlife Federation, American Bird Conservancy, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida filed a request to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the protections.

Consumer affairs

FPL to file for new rate plan, would raise residential rates 2.5% through 2029; $2 billion in total

Combined WGCU/News Service of Florida dispatches

Residential rates would be raised about 2.5 percent through 2029 under a new rate plan Florida Power & Light said today that it plans to formally file. The new rates would be set once the utility's current base rate agreement concludes at the end of 2025.

Government & Politics

'Unborn Child' bill advances in House; Lee Now criticizes scope

Combined WGCU/News Service of Florida dispatches

Lee County's National Organization for Woman chapter is raising concerns over a piece of legislation sponsored by a Fort Myers Republican state representative.A House committee on Wednesday approved controversial HB 651 that would allow parents to file civil lawsuits seeking damages for the wrongful death of an “unborn child,” with critics of the bill saying it is too broad and could shrink the number of doctors who deliver babies in Florida.It now moves to the full House for approval.