Here's your Thursday morning news briefing
Nikolas Cruz pleads guilty to the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Nikolas Cruz, 23, pleaded guilty Wednesday to killing 17 people — 14 students and three staff members — at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, avoiding a trial but setting up a fight over his punishment for the 2018 attack. Cruz's defense team is hoping to avoid the death sentence that prosecutors are seeking. Read more here.
Items linked to Brian Laundrie found in Florida
Items believed to belong to Brian Laundrie, whose girlfriend, Gabby Petito, was found slain after he returned home alone from their cross-country road trip, were discovered Wednesday in a Florida wilderness park, according to the FBI and a Laundrie family attorney. Read more here.
DeSantis says FBI investigations on parents
During a stop in Brevard County on Wednesday , Gov. Ron DeSantis said he doesn’t want the FBI investigating threats against school officials in Florida. Read more here.
Florida appeals sanctuary cities ruling
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office filed a notice Tuesday that was a first step in the state appealing a federal district judge’s ruling that struck down key parts of a controversial immigration law that banned so-called sanctuary cities. Read more here.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Angela Lane has been a longtime volunteer and committee chair for the American Cancer Society’s 2021 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Pensacola. She's also a breast cancer survivor. In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she shares her story. Read it here.