Florida governor to sign controversial voter bill

Good morning, Daily Briefing readers. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign a controversial voter law into effect today. In lighter news, if you're a fan of the bright lights on Broadway, we've got some great news for you! And make sure you recognize the nurses in your life today too. 

Steve and Jane are here with Thursday's news.

💰 New this morning: States that lifted business restrictions early during the COVID-19 pandemic benefited from a boost in economic activity. Did those gains last or did other states catch up? 

🔴 The U.S. hit a new record for the killings of transgender people. And Puerto Rico is the epicenter of the violence. 

⚖ In a scathing editorial, Number 3 House Republican Liz Cheney called on the party to choose allegiance to the Constitution over the "cult of personality" of former President Donald Trump.

🏒 Last night's NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers started as an ugly, fight-filled affair. But thanks to T.J. Oshie, the game did produce a touching moment late. 

🎶 Robopine's time on "The Masked Singer" came to an end this week – and the eliminated artist was revealed to be one of the stars of the "Fast & Furious" franchise. 

🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, health reporter Elizabeth Weise explains what vaccine rate might be needed to reach a tipping point in the COVID-19 pandemic. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.

Here's what's happening today:

Florida governor to sign electoral reform bill

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected Thursday to sign into law the controversial election reform legislation SB 90 — one in a series of nationwide measures opponents say are aimed at suppressing voting. Some of the legislation's more contentious features are limits on drop boxes for hand-delivered voting, restrictions on third-party voter registration efforts and requirements that voters sign up for vote-by-mail in more frequent intervals. One voter advocacy group has vowed to lodge a legal challenge. “We have multiple grounds to challenge this, especially attacks on vote-by-mail,” said Jorge Vasquez, an attorney for the Advancement Project civil rights organization. However Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, a conservative group,  said the bill is a sensible, preventive measure. The signing ceremony at a West Palm Beach area hotel is scheduled to be hosted by the pro-Donald Trump fan organization Club 45. 

• Florida governor invalidates COVID-19 restrictions statewide: DeSantis says there's no need 'to be policing people at this point'

Biden to tout jobs plan during visit to Louisiana

President Joe Biden will visit Louisiana Thursday to tout the American Jobs Plan. Biden will deliver remarks in Lake Charles and then tour the Carrollton Water Plant in New Orleans later in the afternoon, according to president's official public schedule. Biden unveiled the massive $2 trillion plan March 31, which includes rebuilding the nation's aging infrastructure and boosting access to caregivers and their pay in a massive undertaking that would be the centerpiece of his economic agenda. On Wednesday, Biden touted another government program, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, while ordering tacos and enchiladas during a Cinco de Mayo visit to Taqueria Las Gemelas, a Mexican restaurant in Washington. The new $28.6 billion program offers grants to eateries slammed by the coronavirus pandemic.

What else people are reading:

🔵 A federal judge has thrown out a national moratorium on evictions enacted in 2020 to help Americans who have fallen behind on their rent. The Justice Department will appeal.

🔵 Is President Biden a giant? Is former President Jimmy Carter tiny? We know the answers are "no." But a wide-angle lens is likely what made Twitter explode.

🟢 More than 1.1 million economic stimulus checks worth more than $2 billion are on the way, the Internal Revenue Service announced.

🟣 Two California journalists argue that while Disneyland's revamped Snow White ride is "really good," Prince Charming kissing the sleeping princess without her consent is problematic and it "cannot possibly" be true love. 

🔵 The discovery in Africa of an ancient human burial offers insight into how people from 78,000 years ago treated their dead.

🟣 Josh Duggar will be released from jail, pending a trial scheduled for July. The former "19 Kids and Counting" star, who was arrested on child pornography charges last week, cannot go back to his home.

Charges could be announced in San Francisco stabbings

Two Asian women, ages 63 and 84, were stabbed without warning in downtown San Francisco on Tuesday. A man was arrested after the crime, and the District Attorney said charges could be announced Thursday. While police didn’t immediately say whether the victims — who remained hospitalized Wednesday — were targeted for their race, the incidents add to the growing number of recent attacks against people of Asian descent.  

The show will go on: Broadway tickets back on sale

The lights will go back on Broadway, as tickets will go on sale starting Thursday. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that shows will resume Sept. 14.  Broadway was forced to shutter more than a year ago because of the coronavirus pandemic. The move comes after New York lifted capacity restrictions on arts venues and restaurants, but there still may be some limit on attendance to ensure social distancing. Nonetheless, tickets for the shows this fall will be sold at 100% capacity, according to Cuomo, and any seating limits will be addressed in the coming months. The Broadway League said preparations are underway, and that specific plays and their reopenings will be announced in the coming weeks.

It's National Nurses Day! Thank a nurse

Kicking off with National Nurses Day Thursday, National Nurses Week goes through May 12, when health care pioneer Florence Nightingale was born. Nurses are some of the most trusted professionals: In a 2020 Gallup poll, they earned a record 89% very high/high score for their honesty and ethics, which was four percentage points greater than in 2019. Dunkin’ and Chipotle are just two of many businesses that are giving a little extra love to nurses with freebies and discounts. 

ICYMI: Some of our top stories Wednesday

🌎 Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday. So why does the United States celebrate it more?

⚖  A federal judge rebuked former Attorney General William Barr for his handling of the Mueller report and ordered the DOJ to release an obstruction memo regarding former President Donald Trump.

🟢 Peloton agreed to recall all of its treadmills and apologized for having fought the federal government's request to do so after the equipment came under scrutiny in the death of a child.

⚖ Donald Trump's Facebook ban could limit his fundraising and his work to impact the upcoming elections.