South Carolina Supreme Court strikes down fetal heartbeat abortion ban

The South Carolina ban on abortions after cardiac activity is no more after the latest legal challenge to the state's 2021 law proved successful.The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the restrictions violate the state constitution’s right to privacy. The measure banned abortions after cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks into a pregnancy, with exceptions for those caused by rape and incest or endangering the patient’s life.Plus, Carolyn Bruck connects the dots on how a deadly plane crash in Charlotte 20 years ago forever changed air travel in the United States. It's the story of Air Midwest Flight 5481, which resulted in safety changes that are implemented for every flight across the country. And finally, Friday is National Take Down Your Christmas Tree Day. It sounds silly, but it's a thing, we promise. And while most folks who bought a real tree will throw it out or recycle theirs ... a viral article has another suggestion: Eating it! But can you actually do that? Meghan Bragg sets the record straight in this morning's VERIFY fact check. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!