Tag Archives: Florida

Florida Politics reports: Sen. Rick Scott’s position on abortion continues to get scrutiny as he runs for a second term, with the former Governor distancing himself on the record from a law Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in 2023. “If I was writing a bill, I think 15 weeks is where the state is,” Scott said in an interview that ran …

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a controversial bill Friday stripping citizen oversight boards of their power to investigate police misconduct. The bill, HB 601, instead allows local chiefs of police agencies to create their own “civilian oversight” boards composed of three to seven members, all appointed by the chief or sheriff. But these boards can only …

Florida Politics reports: Florida cities and counties will be barred from requiring businesses to give water breaks or other “cooling measures” to employees who work outside after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 433. The measure also removes the power of local governments to require contractors to pay higher wages, or use higher pay as an incentive in awarding bids. The …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Four out of 10 Florida voters support a referendum that would enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution, a poll showed Thursday, far short of the 60% majority needed for passage. The Emerson College Polling survey found 42% of voters said they support the amendment. Another 25% said they would vote no. The fate of the …

CNN reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told donors and supporters at an appreciation retreat over the weekend that he would help fundraise for former presidential rival Donald Trump, two sources familiar with the details told CNN. “He’s committed to helping Trump in any and every way,” said Texas businessman Roy Bailey, who attended the retreat. “We are going to follow …

The Tampa Bay Times reports: While family and friends distributed posters of a missing Republican Party of Florida executive director last week, he was holed up in a Hampton Inn, where authorities say he trashed his room. George Riley Jr., who was reunited with his family this weekend, was kicked out of a room at the Hampton Inn in Kissimmee …

The Daily Beast reports: The sister of Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn and a band of conservative anti-vax activists are running for the board of a renowned public hospital in Florida under the banner of “medical freedom.” If they win, they’ll hold a majority over Sarasota’s award-winning facility where one of their allies—elected in 2022 with two other …

“The word ‘Christian’ means ‘Like Christ,’ and it was given to the followers of Christ because they acted just like Jesus. Remember those bracelets from the 2000s that asked, ‘WWJD?’ If Jesus Christ led Trinity, would HE have an Autism Awareness Week? Of course not! Why? Because anything that exalts itself above the name of Christ should be brought down. …

Via press release from the Florida Highway Patrol: Today, Florida Highway Patrol Troopers responded to a report of an active shooter in Holmes County. The suspect was reportedly a female who had recently checked out of a local hotel and told the staff she was going on a shooting spree, directed by “God” in relation to the solar eclipse. The …

Florida Politics reports: People arrested by law enforcement are in line to get guns back sooner from police forces after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation to that effect Friday. SB 1286, sponsored by Sen. Jay Collins, holds that “weapons, electric weapons or devices, or arms that are taken from a person … that are not either seized as evidence or …

The Associated Press reports: Rudy Giuliani will be allowed to remain in his Florida condo for now after a New York bankruptcy judge on Thursday declined to rule on a motion filed by his creditors that would’ve forced him to sell the Palm Beach estate. At a hearing, Judge Sean Lane acknowledged the “significant” concern that Giuliani was sinking money …

Miami’s NBC affiliate reports: A man who climbed a cell tower in Miami early Wednesday without safety gear, causing major damage and a service outage as he spent hours up on the structure before coming down, has been arrested, police said. The bizarre incident began when Miami Police said the man started climbing the cell tower at 29th Street and …

Miami’s ABC affiliate reports: A South Florida pastor accused of sexually battering a 15-year-old girl in his church became a wanted man Monday after skipping out on scheduled court hearings. He’s believed to be on the run. Monte Chitty, the 62-year-old pastor of First Baptist Marathon, had been released on a $75,000 bond soon after his March arrest. Prosecutors say …

Florida Politics reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis isn’t holding back when it comes to initiatives that would legalize adult-use cannabis and would enshrine reproductive rights. “Once voters figure out how radical both of those are, they’re going to fail. They are very, very extreme,” DeSantis said in Davie. “Look at the weed one. For example, the weed one is not just …

USA Today reports: An “extremely active” hurricane season is likely, top forecasters from Colorado State University announced Thursday. In fact, the forecast includes the highest number of hurricanes ever predicted in an April forecast by Colorado State since the team began issuing predictions in 1995. Colorado State hurricane forecaster Phil Klotzbach, the author of the forecast, knows what the models …

Law & Crime reports: The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday arrested 25-year-old Brad Markey-Perez after he allegedly shot his pal by mistake, authorities said. Deputies found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the jaw. Markey-Perez told deputies he and the victim like to have “drills” where they “practice with each other the importance of being vigilant of …

Florida Politics reports: Smart & Safe Florida, the campaign behind a recreational marijuana amendment, announced it has raised more than $15 million. While the campaign up until now has largely been backed by Trulieve, its financial support now comes from a number of cannabis businesses and investors across the country. Those include: Verano Holdings, Curaleaf Holdings, AYR Wellness, Cresco Labs, …

NPR reports: A federal judge in Boston has ruled that migrants flown from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard in 2022 can proceed with a lawsuit against the Florida company that took them there. The judge also dismissed claims against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other officials named in the suit. Three migrants from Venezuela, along with an immigrant rights group, filed …

From hate group leader Mat Staver: Today, the Florida Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that a deceptive ballot initiative that proposes to codify unrestricted abortion in the state’s constitution may appear on the November ballot. Now Floridians must defeat this deceptive amendment. This amendment is not about protecting women. In fact, this amendment will throw women into back-alley abortion butchers. The …

“We are very disappointed that a deceptively worded pro-abortion amendment is allowed to appear on Florida’s ballot in November. If passed, it will allow abortions up to 6 months of pregnancy and, thanks to a loophole, even to point of birth. “Florida will become the most pro-abortion state in the southern U.S. That is NOT what Florida wants, and the …