Your Florida Daily: Abortion rights proposal qualifies for 2024 ballot, house explosion sends family to hospital

ORLANDO, Fla. – A group looking to protect abortion rights in Florida now says it submitted enough signatures to get the issue on the ballot in 2024.

The group Floridians Protecting Freedom is proposing an amendment that would allow abortions to remain legal until the fetus is viable.

The group says it’s now submitted 1.4 million signatures to the state — well above the nearly 900,000 that need to be validated to make the ballot.

The proposal is still facing a legal challenge from Attorney General Ashley Moody and if it is on the ballot next year, 60% of voters would need to say yes for it to pass.

Florida house explosion injures 4 and investigators are eyeing gas as the cause

An apparent gas leak caused a massive explosion at a home outside Fort Lauderdale, and investigators are trying to figure out the exact source of the blast.

A family of four, including two children, were seriously hurt and rushed to the hospital.

“Of the four injuries include burns, traumatic injuries, broken bones, things of that nature, things that would be consistent with an explosion,” Broward County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Michael Kane said.

The explosion happened early Monday in West Park. It was so powerful several nearby homes were also damaged.

At this point the explosion is not considered to be suspicious.

Sanibel Island beach begins sand renourishment project after Hurricane Ian damage

After Hurricane Ian tore up the beaches of Sanibel Island, 400,000 tons of sand is being delivered.

The city says the beach will remain open as dozens of dump trucks deposit sand along miles of coastline.

The project is expected to be completed in April 2024, just in time for sea turtle nesting season.

Random Florida Fact

In the City of Orlando, local lore suggests a tunnel under Orange Avenue connects the historic Beacham Theater to the Angebilt Hotel.

Legend has it that the tunnel allowed vaudeville performers at the Beacham Theater an easy way to get to the Hotel to escape the crowds.

News 6′s Jacob Langston actually got permission to go under the Beacham and check out the tunnel and got some answers from a historian.

You can see video and read about it here.