'My daughter is missing'

Why Native American women are murdered or go missing at higher rates. How many abortions are performed in the USA? And that's not a horse, it's a really tall dog.

👋 Hey! Laura here with Thursday's news, just for you. And a quick reminder to take care of yourself! The news has been pretty heavy this week, so make sure you take time to disconnect if you feel like it's too much. I like to go stare at trees, visit the animals at the SPCA or take a walk on one of my favorite trails. For a quick break right now, here's a photo gallery of just pretty pictures of flowers.

But first, it's Cinco de Mayo! 🥳 Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday. So why do Americans celebrate it more? Read more about it here. And check out these photos of people celebrating at events across the country!

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here or text messages here.

A crisis new laws can't stop

There are so many missing and murdered Indigenous women, they have their own acronym: MMIW. The crisis continues despite new laws and federal vows. On the national day of awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, we tell the story of Malinda Harris Limberhand, a member of the Cheyenne tribe from Montana. After tribal police brushed off her concerns when her 21-year-old daughter didn’t return from a Fourth of July fireworks show, she took matters into her own hands. She organized searches, acquired security footage tracking her daughter’s whereabouts and even drove a suspect to a police station for an interview. Her story highlights the jurisdictional morass – unlike any other in American law enforcement – that complicates Native Americans’ pursuit of justice.

• Slow Amber Alert rollout reflects missing, murdered Indigenous crisis.

• A Native woman's killing remains unsolved in California. There are many others like her.

How many abortions are performed in the USA?

Abortion rates have fallen steadily for decades, long before restrictive statutes made the procedure difficult to obtain in some areas. Experts say access to better birth control is one of the main reasons. Abortions in the USA peaked in 1981, at a rate of 29.3 per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since then, the number has fallen by three-fifths. In 2019, the last year for which numbers are available, the rate was 11.4. That could change if the sweeping protections of Roe v. Wade are overturned.

Thursday's news: Senate Democrats will vote next week on a bill that would make Roe v. Wade the law of the land and head off a Supreme Court decision that could leave states the sole authority on whether to restrict abortion. The bill does not have the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster in the 50-50 Senate, but it marks Democrats' first legislative attempt to enshrine the right to abortion into law since a draft of a court decision against Roe v. Wade leaked this week.

• Will companies step in on abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned?

• Overturning Roe v. Wade could force some to travel for abortions.

• Louisiana lawmakers want to make abortion a crime of murder.

• A clerk? A justice? Who leaked the Supreme Court draft abortion opinion?

What everyone's talking about

• Bad time to buy a house? Most Americans say so.

• Arrests of accused imposters has ex-Secret Service officials concerned.

• Amber Heard, Johnny Depp and when recreational drug use turns toxic.

• College grads expect to make $103,880 after graduation – almost twice the reality.

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What now for Kherson?

In the Ukrainian city of Kherson, there are signs that Russia could be in control for the long term. The Russian currency is being introduced, and reports mount that a sham referendum could be held to legitimize Russian annexation, some locals say. Military checkpoints are everywhere. Kherson, a southern city of about 280,000 and home to ship-building industry on the Dnieper River, became the first major Ukrainian city to fall to Russian forces on March 2. Since then, Russia's actions to cement control and warnings from U.S. and Ukrainian officials of possible annexation plans have ramped up fear and uncertainty in the strategic provincial capital. After weeks under Russian occupation, Tetiana Danets decided it was time to flee Kherson. “If we don’t go now ... we go never,” Danets, 22, said from Romania about two weeks after she fled by car. Read more here.

👉 More news: Ukraine soldiers 'dying in agony'; Israel says Putin apologized over minister's remarks. Thursday's updates.

Biden declares disaster in New Mexico as wildfire rages

Firefighters slowed the advance of the largest wildfire in the USA as heavy winds relented. President Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration that will brings financial resources to remote stretches of New Mexico devastated by fire since early April. U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez announced the presidential disaster declaration Wednesday evening. The sprawling wildfire in northeastern New Mexico fanned across 250 square miles of high alpine forest and grasslands at the southern tip of the Rocky Mountains. Fire officials said they seized upon an interlude of relatively calm and cool weather to keep the fire from pushing closer to the small New Mexico city of Las Vegas and other villages scattered along the fire’s shifting fronts. About 15,500 homes have been affected by mandatory evacuations. The tally of homes destroyed by the fire stands around 170.

• Photos: New Mexico wildfire burns at southern tip of Rocky Mountains.

• 'Definitely not working': Wildfires destroy trees meant to fight climate change.

⛈ Weather watch: Hours after damaging tornadoes swept through Texas and Oklahoma on Wednesday night, portions of the South braced for more severe weather Thursday. Check what the weather is up to in your neck of the woods with a forecast here.

Real quick

• 8-month-old baby dies in car after father was arrested, police say.

• Amber Heard testifies on James Franco, Johnny Depp's alleged abuse.

• Sheriff: Alabama officer had 2-year relationship with escaped inmate.

• Zandon's human namesake is part of intriguing story surrounding Kentucky Derby favorite.

The world's tallest living dog is a Great Dane named Zeus

A couple of weeks ago, we met the world's oldest living dog, 21-year-old TobyKeith the chihuahua. Now, meet the world's TALLEST living dog, a Great Dane named Zeus. Guinness World Records crowned a new pup that stands more than 3 feet tall. Zeus is a 2-year-old American Great Dane from Texas owned by Brittany Davis, who got her "fur-ever" friend when he was 8 weeks old, according to Guinness. Davis said Zeus, who is 3 feet, 5.18 inches, takes comfort in walking around the neighborhood with his human brother and sleeping by his window. He's famous at the Dallas Farmer's Market. "The comment that we hear most often is 'Wow, that’s a horse!,' 'Can I ride him?' or 'Does he have a saddle?'" she told Guinness. "The answer to all those questions is 'no.'"

• Florida chihuahua named TobyKeith named oldest living dog at 21.

• A family took a lost puppy home. They didn't know it was a coyote.

A break from the news

• 🤔 Does it actually prevent hangovers? The benefits of activated charcoal.

• 🛋 Whether you're streaming or snoozing, these 14 sofas fit any style.

• 🔐 Password123 is a terrible password. Tighten up your security – it's World Password Day.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Roe v. Wade, New Mexico wildfires. It's Thursday's news.