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CNWEEKLYNE WS.COM
THURSDAY MAY 2, 2024
42 Broward schools could close due to
Under-enrollment
The Broward County Public Schools Board has shared specific plans on how the district plans to address the severe decline in student enrollment. At a recent Town Hall gathering hosted at Hollywood Hills High School, newly appointed Superintendent Howard Hepburn outlined two distinct proposals: one involving the closure of three schools, and the other, a more extensive plan that would close 42 schools. Under the first proposal, 30 schools would undergo changes, with three slated for closure: Oakridge Elementary in Hollywood, Broward Estates Elementary in Lauderhill, and Olsen Middle School in Dania Beach. While Broward Estates and Olsen are both identified as severely under-enrolled, Oakridge Elementary operates at 76% capacity and hasn't previously been flagged for enrollment issues. But its outdated facilities and D-grade status prompted consideration for closure, according to Alan Strauss, a district official addressing attendees at the town hall. Broward Estates could become an early learning center, Olsen may be converted into district administrative space, while Oakridge could be sold and possibly used for workforce housing, Strauss said. Plans for repurposing include converting Broward continues on B2 – Under-enrollment
Florida’s New Abortion Law Takes Effect Florida implemented a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, commencing just after midnight on Wednesday. Prior to this, the state served as a haven for abortion access in the Southern region subsequent to the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. Initially, Florida restricted abortions after 15 weeks in 2022; however, neighboring states Uzra Zeya imposed even stricter regulations, prompting over 9,300 individuals to seek abortion care
here last year, more than double the number in 2020, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion access research organization. Approximately 84,000 abortions were conducted in Florida last year, constituting about 1 in 12 nationwide. The new law in Florida aims to reverse this trend by criminalizing the
performance or active participation in an abortion after six weeks of gestation, roughly two weeks post a missed period. Exceptions are granted for cases of rape, incest, and human trafficking up to 15 weeks into pregnancy. While state law permits abortions to safeguard a woman's life or prevent "substantial and irreversible"
physical impairment, concerns regarding legal liability may still linger among healthcare providers. Abortion providers in Florida made concerted efforts to accommodate as many patients as possible in the weeks leading up to the ban's enforcement. However, some patients encountered confusion regarding the state's restrictions and timelines, particularly since continues on B2 – Abortion ban
WHAT’S INSIDE NEWSMAKER Jamaican-American media mogul inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame A3
CARIBBEAN Dodridge D. Miller appointed as seventh Chancellor of UWI A4
HEALTH & WELLNESS Unregulated Cannabis Poses Health Risks A8
ENTERTAINMENT Sean Paul scores rst Latin American Music Award C1