First-of-their-kind abortion laws take effect in Nebraska

NEBRASKA

New abortion laws are firsts for U.S.

Two landmark measures putting new restrictions on abortion became law in Nebraska on Tuesday, including one that critics say breaks with court precedent by changing the legal rationale for a ban on later-term abortions.

Republican Gov. Dave Heineman (R) signed both bills, one barring abortions at and after 20 weeks of pregnancy and the other requiring women to be screened for mental health and other problems before having abortions. Both sides of the abortion debate say the laws are firsts of their kind in the country.

A national abortion rights group already appeared to be girding for a legal challenge, calling the ban after 20 weeks "flatly unconstitutional" because it is based on the assertion that fetuses feel pain, not on the ability of a fetus to survive outside the womb.

-- Associated Press

FLORIDA

State senator to fill seat in Congress

South Florida voters elected a Democratic state senator to the U.S. House on Tuesday, where he will fill the unexpired term of Rep. Robert Wexler (D), who is retiring.

With 59 percent of precincts reporting, Ted Deutch had 62 percent of the vote, compared with 36 percent for Republican Ed Lynch.

Lynch tried to use the public backlash against Congress's overhaul of health care to help his cause, but he faced a tough task: Democrats outnumber Republicans in Florida's 19th District by more than 2 to 1. The district includes parts of Broward County and Palm Beach County.

-- Associated Press