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Louisiana bill to castrate sex offenders moving toward governor’s desk for signature

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Louisiana bill to castrate sex offenders moving toward governor’s desk for signature

A proposed Louisiana Senate bill allowing judges to sentence convicted child rapists to surgical castration may become law. 

Reversible chemical castration through medication is already approved as a criminal punishment in the state, but earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed Democratic Sen. Regina Barrow’s bill by a vote of 74 to 24, which would take the punishment a step further.

The law would allow judges to order the procedure for men or women who have committed an aggravated sexual offense against a child under 13, assuming that they are a viable candidate. The procedure would take place no less than one week after a convicted person finishes their prison sentence. If they don’t show up or refuse, per the proposed bill, they could be sentenced to an additional three to five years behind bars.

2 ESCAPED LOUISIANA INMATES FOUND HIDING IN DUMPSTER BEHIND DOLLAR GENERAL STORE, 2 OTHERS STILL AT LARGE

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry will decide whether SB371, which would allow judges to sentence child sex offenders to surgical castration, becomes law. (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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“We have to stand and fight for the children,” Democratic Rep. Delisha Boyd said when carrying the bill to the House, according to the Louisiana Illuminator. 

Boyd cited reports of a 51-year-old Baton Rouge man recently arrested for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl. The man was already on the sex offender registry after a previous offense in 2007, suggesting that the proposed bill could thwart repeat sexual predators.

The House approved the bill on several conditions, most notably that offenders younger than 17 would be excluded from the harsh new punishment, the outlet reported. Provided that the Senate approves the changes, the bill will be sent to the governor’s desk.

 LOUISIANA CLASSIFIES ABORTION DRUGS AS CONTROLLED, DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES AFTER GOV. LANDRY GREENLIGHTS PROPOSAL

Security gate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary

Vehicles enter the main security gate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary – Angola Prison, the largest high-security prison in the country, on Aug. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Judi Bottoni)

Louisiana’s state Department of Corrections and Public Safety said the cost of castration per prospective inmate would be $550 to $680 per offender, but did not provide a total yearly cost for the shift, per the outlet. 

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The bill is expected to face a legal challenge over its constitutionality, with Democratic State Sen. Edmond Jordan claiming that defending the statute in court would cost the state at least $100,000, per the outlet, citing conversations with opposing organizations. 

Jordan also objected to the bill’s “historical context,” arguing that it was reminiscent of unwarranted lynching and castrations of Black men in the Jim Crow era and that the punishment would inordinately be applied to Black men. 

USA TODAY NEWSPAPERS QUIETLY DELETE GOP SENATOR’S OP-ED ON TRANS ATHLETES WITHOUT TELLING HIM

Louisiana State Senator Regina Barrow

Louisiana State Sen. Regina Barrow introduced the bill. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 Essence Festival)

“Who does this affect most?” Jordan asked lawmakers, per the Illuminator. “I know it’s race neutral. I know we say it can apply to anybody, but we all know who it affects.”

Bruce Reilly, of Voice of the Experienced, told WWL Louisiana that his organization opposed the bill, and that “there’s not supposed to be any mutilation of people’s bodies” in crime and punishment. 

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“Now we’re going to add in cutting off somebody’s testicles,” he told the outlet. “Where do we draw the line on our punishments?”

Per the wording of the bill, female offenders ordered to undergo the procedure would have their ovaries removed.

The original version of the bill required all convicted sex offenders to undergo the procedure. The current version has been amended to let a judge make the decision. 

Boyd told the outlet that although she wasn’t “foolish [enough] to believe that if this gets on the books… all rapists are going to say I am not going to do it,” she believes the statute would be “a deterrent.” 

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But Reilly said Louisiana had one of the highest wrongful conviction rates in the country, and he “believe[s] there were 10 other people who may have been eligible for the punishment who have been exonerated.”

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Southeast

Lara Trump removes herself from consideration for Marco Rubio’s US Senate seat

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Lara Trump removes herself from consideration for Marco Rubio’s US Senate seat

Lara Trump, President-elect Trump’s daughter-in-law, said Saturday she is removing herself from consideration for Florida Republican Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate. 

“After an incredible amount of thought, contemplation, and encouragement from so many, I have decided to remove my name from consideration for the United States Senate,” she wrote on X Saturday. 

The president-elect has nominated Rubio to be secretary of state. 

“I could not have been more honored to serve as RNC co-chair during the most high-stakes election of our lifetime and I’m truly humbled by the unbelievable support shown to me by the people of our country, and here in the great state of Florida,” Lara Trump added.

TRUMP SAYS HE DOESN’T EXPECT DESANTIS TO NAME DAUGHTER-IN-LAW LARA TRUMP AS RUBIO’S SENATE REPLACEMENT

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Lara Trump, President-elect Trump’s daughter-in-law, said Saturday she is removing herself from consideration for Florida Republican Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Trump, the wife of Eric Trump, the president-elect’s son, stepped down as co-chair of the Republican National Committee earlier this month.

” I have read so many of your kind messages and I cannot thank you enough,” Lara Trump said, adding she has a “big announcement that I’m excited to share in January.”

She said she remains “incredibly passionate about public service and (looks) forward to serving our country again sometime in the future. In the meantime, I wish Governor DeSantis the best of luck with this appointment.”

The president-elect had previously pressed DeSantis to name Lara as Rubio’s replacement, a source in his political orbit told Fox News Digital, but he later told reporters he didn’t necessarily expect him to select her. 

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Marco Rubio at the RNC

The president-elect has nominated Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON THE TRUMP TRANSITION

“That’s his choice,” the president-elect added. 

Rubio’s senate replacement will be appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and will serve the remaining two years of Rubio’s term. 

In 2026, the seat will be open for a full six-year term. 

Lara Trump with her husband at President-elect Trump's election night party.

Lara Trump is married to President-elect Trump’s son, Eric Trump.  (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Lara Trump had previously said she was “seriously considering” the position, although she wasn’t sure it was right for her. 

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DeSantis previously said he would make an appointment by early January. 

Lara Trump did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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Southeast

Florida driver hits student with her truck, covers license plate before fleeing, deputies say

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Florida driver hits student with her truck, covers license plate before fleeing, deputies say

A Florida woman was arrested after she allegedly struck a teenager who was crossing the road with her truck, covered her license plate and sped off.

Sarah Wright, 37, was arrested Thursday and charged with leaving the scene of a crash with injuries and driving with a suspended license.

The crash happened shortly before 4 p.m. at the intersection of Gage Avenue and Noah Street in Deltona, Florida, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim, a 16-year-old boy, was riding his scooter home from Pine Ridge High School when he was struck by a black Chevrolet Silverado as he was using the crosswalk, the sheriff’s office said.

FLORIDA MAN BERATED, PHYSICALLY ABUSED CHILD FOR NEARLY 30 MINUTES OVER MISSING COUCH CUSHION: DEPUTIES

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Sarah Wright, 37, is facing charges of leaving the scene of a crash with injuries and driving with a suspended license. (Flagler County Jail)

The teenager fell to the ground, resulting in a serious laceration to the back of his head as well as an arm injury, but he remained alert and conscious after the incident.

A witness reported that she was checking her mailbox nearby when she heard the crash. She told investigators that the suspect, later identified as Wright, exited her truck after the crash and checked on the boy before she went back to her vehicle and covered her license plate with paper and tape.

But the witness still managed to see the first character of her tag. A neighborhood Ring camera also captured the truck fleeing the scene.

Sarah Wright's truck

A witness managed to see the first character on the truck’s tag and a neighborhood Ring camera captured the vehicle fleeing the scene. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)

The victim and the witness were also able to provide a detailed description of the suspect.

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Officials were then able to locate a suspect vehicle captured on a nearby License Plate Reader camera within minutes.

Wright was found in Flagler County and taken into custody with assistance from Florida Highway Patrol and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

FLORIDA SHERIFF MOURNS ‘REALLY GREAT’ DEPUTY KILLED DURING TRAFFIC STOP; SUSPECT LATER KILLED

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Sarah Wright was booked into the Flagler County Jail on a $3,500 bond. (iStock)

She was booked into the Flagler County Jail on a $3,500 bond.

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The teenage victim required staples for the laceration and treatment for his arm injury, but he is expected to make a full recovery.

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Southeast

Drone mishap during Orlando holiday aerial show sends child to hospital

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Drone mishap during Orlando holiday aerial show sends child to hospital

A child was hospitalized on Saturday after being hit by a drone that was part of an Orlando, Florida holiday drone show.

According to the Orlando Fire Department, a 7-year-old boy was transported to the hospital because of injuries sustained from the falling drones, FOX 35 in Orlando reported. 

In a video posted online by X user MosquitoCoFl, hundreds of drones being used as part of an aerial light show appeared to be flying into position before several started falling from the sky before slamming to the ground.

A man could be heard saying to children nearby, “Oh no! I don’t believe they’re supposed to be falling.”

MYSTERY DRONES COULD BE IDENTIFIED FASTER USING NEW DETECTION TOOL, BUT FAA LACKS RESOURCES

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Several drones malfunctioned during a drone show in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, sending the unmanned aerial objects crashing to the ground. (Credit – X/MosquitoCoFL)

Geese also appear on the water, flapping their wings to try and get out of the way of the chaotic scene.

City officials told the station the holiday drone show was permitted by the FAA.

Still, after one drone show went wrong, the city chose to cancel the second that night at 8 p.m. due to “technical difficulties.”

DRONES SPOTTED ACROSS NORTHEAST LIKELY COMING FROM ‘INSIDE THE US,’ MILITARY EXPERT SAYS

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several drones crashed during an aerial show in orlando, florida (2)

Several drones malfunctioned during a drone show in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, sending the unmanned aerial objects crashing to the ground. (Credit – X/MosquitoCoFL)

The FAA told Fox News Digital it will investigate the cause of the drone show malfunction.

“Several small drones collided and fell into a crowd during a holiday drone show over [Eola] Lake in Orlando, Florida,” the FAA said. “The incident occurred around 6:45 p.m. local time on Saturday, December 21.”

According to the agency, drone arrays and light shows are subject to FAA regulations and typically require a waiver to a regulation that prohibits operating more than one drone at a time.

For each drone show application, the FAA looks at things like the software controlling the drones, procedures for setting up safe and restricted areas to keep people a safe distance from the show, procedures if drones fail, and procedures for when an aircraft gets too close to the show.

DRONE MYSTERY: NEW JERSEY HOMEOWNERS THREATEN TO TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS IF GOVERNMENT DOESN’T ACT

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several drones crashed during an aerial show in orlando, florida (1)

Several drones malfunctioned during a drone show in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, sending the unmanned aerial objects crashing to the ground. (Credit – X/MosquitoCoFL)

Additionally, the FAA reviews how the operator will keep the drones inside a confined area using Geofencing, and whether the operator has an adequate number of people to run the show.

For the second year, the City of Orlando used Sky Elements Drones as its vendor to operate the drones, the station reported.

Sky Elements Drones did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter.

In a statement to Fox 35, the vendor said, “Sky Elements Drones wants to extend our sincere hope for a full and speedy recovery to those impacted at our Lake Eola show in Orlando on Saturday, Dec. 21.

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“The well-being of our audience is our utmost priority, and we regret any distress or inconvenience caused,” the company continued. “We are diligently working with the FAA and City of Orlando officials to determine the cause and are committed to establishing a clear picture of what transpired. Millions of people see our shows annually, and we are committed to maintaining the highest safety regulations set forth by the FAA.”

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