The Orlando Sentinel reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis’ handpicked board overseeing Disney World’s government services is gearing up for a potential legal battle over a 30-year development agreement they say effectively renders them powerless to manage the entertainment giant’s future growth in Central Florida. Ahead of an expected state takeover, the Walt Disney Co. quietly pushed through the pact and restrictive …

The Arizona Mirror reports: A bill that critics say violates students’ constitutional rights by forcing them to recite the Pledge of Allegiance has continued to make its way toward becoming law. The bill from Rep. Barbara Parker, R-Mesa, requires that school districts and charter schools set aside a specific time each day for K-12 students to recite the pledge of …

Mediaite reports: Rupert Murdoch, the chairman of Fox Corporation, wrote to Fox News CEO Suzanna Scott on Jan. 20, 2021 that he believed outgoing President Donald Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was stolen was “pretty much a crime” that led directly to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. “The more I think about McConnell’s remarks or complaint …

Santa Barbara’s ABC affiliate reports: Former youth pastor Jeffery York, 53, at New Beginnings Community Church in Nipomo was arrested Wednesday for child molestation and sexual abuse over a three-year period, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. SLO Sheriff’s arrested the 53-year-old from Portland following an investigation into York for child molestation of a male victim in …

NBC News reports: Pope Francis was admitted to a Rome hospital after complaining breathing difficulties in recent days, the Vatican said Wednesday after canceling his meetings for the next two days. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said medical checks had been carried out on the pontiff at the Gemelli hospital, where Francis underwent surgery in 2021. “In recent days Pope Francis …

The Hill reports: The results of an NPR-PBS NewsHour-Marist poll, released Wednesday, show 58 percent of respondents said they oppose laws restricting the performances, while 39 percent said they support them. Democrats are the most likely to oppose such laws, with almost three-quarters of them saying they are opposed, but 57 percent of independents and 37 percent of Republicans also …

CNN reports: First lady Dr. Jill Biden will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, later Wednesday to attend a vigil honoring the lives lost in the mass shooting at The Covenant School, the White House announced. “Following her visit to Ohio today to meet with military families, the First Lady will travel to Nashville, Tennessee to join a candlelight vigil to honor …

The Huffington Post reports: Mike Pence on Wednesday hinted that he may not pursue a legal battle to avoid testifying in the Justice Department’s criminal probe into Donald Trump’s attempts to steal the 2020 election. “I have nothing to hide. I have written and spoken extensively about that day,” Trump’s ex-vice president, who is now considering his own bid for …

The Freedom From Religion Foundation reports: A new national survey has reassuring findings that Americans of almost all religions and no religion are growing ever more supportive of LGBTQ rights. For instance, eight in 10 Americans (80 percent) in the Public Religion Research Institute survey support laws against discrimination in jobs, public accommodations and housing against gay, lesbian, bisexual and …

Arizona Central reports: Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ spokesperson has resigned amid controversy over a social media post suggesting violence posted hours after the deadly shooting at a Nashville school on Monday. Press Secretary Josselyn Berry’s post on Twitter late Monday caused uproar online, particularly among conservatives who dubbed it tone deaf, offensive and contrary to criticism from progressives that …

Politico reports: The Manhattan grand jury examining Donald Trump’s alleged role in a hush money payment to a porn star isn’t expected to hear evidence in the case for the next month largely due to a previously scheduled hiatus, according to a person familiar with the proceedings. The break would push any indictment of the former president to late April …

Florida Politics reports: Following extended scrutiny over his sex life, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz said he appreciates those publicly defending him. He’s now asking for love the way politicians often do, by soliciting political contributions. The Fort Walton Beach Republican is urging supporters to give to his principal campaign committee, Friends of Matt Gaetz. He said donations to the campaign …

The Associated Press reports: North Carolina residents can now buy a handgun without getting a permit from a local sheriff, after the Republican-controlled state legislature on Wednesday overrode the Democratic governor’s veto — a first since 2018. The House voted 71-46 to enact the bill, which eliminates the longstanding permit system requiring sheriffs to perform character evaluations and criminal history …

Orlando’s NBC affiliate reports: The longtime principal of a charter school in southeast Volusia County resigned under fire Tuesday night after it was discovered she wrote a $100,000 check out of the school’s account to an Internet scammer posing as Elon Musk. Jan McGee claims she was scammed online by a fake Elon Musk after spending months talking to this …

Mediaite reports: On Tuesday night, Trump threw some more fuel on the fire with a post on his Truth Social platform in which he posted a screed from Trump supporter Wayne Allyn Root entitled “Democrats Want to Indict & Arrest President Trump. They Want a War? Let’s Give It To Them.” The link leads to a falsehood-riddled commentary urging “red …

The Associated Press reports: During an interview on Manchester’s News Radio 610, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley contended that people are looking for something different than what’s being offered by the former President and the Florida Governor. The media, Haley said, is always going to “want to see fights.” “I mean, that’s what gives them ratings, that’s what they …

“Looking at the data, looking at recent history, it would seem that transgender is, potentially, more of a threat if applied recklessly than, say, white supremacy. Okay? We have actual documented episodes where we don’t have them from white supremacists over the past recent history. Look, let me ask you this – what’s the motivation here?  Why the emphasis all …

Sen. Rand Paul writes for the Louisville Courier-Journal: Congressional Republicans have come up with a national strategy to permanently lose elections for a generation: Ban a social media app called TikTok that 94 million, primarily young Americans, use. The banning TikTok strategy also comes while the GOP simultaneously complains of liberal U.S. social media companies canceling and censoring conservatives. So, …

Florida Politics reports: If the Legislature wants Floridians carrying guns anywhere, one Democratic state Senator has a suggestion: why not let the public bring firearms to legislative hearings? Sen. Jason Pizzo filed an amendment to a permitless carry bill (SB 150) that would allow individuals to carry firearms into legislative committee meetings. Pizzo’s amendment would take meetings of the Legislature …

Indianapolis’s Fox affiliate reports: An Indianapolis pastor who ran a non-profit to feed homeless people is now accused of rape and offering a 17-year-old $1000 to have sex with him. Tyree Coleman, 43, is charged with the promotion of child sex trafficking, rape, promotion of human sex trafficking and two counts of intimidation. According to court documents, a 17-year-old came …