Legislation making animal cruelty a federal offense was unanimous approved by the U.S. Senate. The bill, introduced by U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan and Ted Deutch, both of Florida, already was passed in the House.

Before Congress is back in session on Sept. 9, U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, held two town halls in South Florida Wednesday evening.

One of the initiatives to keep the gun violence prevention movement going took shape on Tuesday night when the first “Town Hall For Our Lives,” hosted by U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, opened its microphones to the community.

Rep. Ted Deutch, a Jewish Democrat from South Florida, called out lawmakers from both parties for anti-Semitism in a passionate address on the House floor Thursday.