Tag Archives: Florida

“He wears like sweatshirts and hoodies and shorts, and that’s his thing. So he would campaign in that — which is your prerogative, right? I mean, if that’s what you want to do. But to show up in the United States Senate with that and not have the decency to put on proper attire? “I think it’s disrespectful to the …

ABC News reports: A 78-year-old Florida man allegedly shot and killed his neighbor who was trimming trees along their property lines, authorities said. The shooting was reported around 7:13 p.m. Sunday in DeLeon Springs, about 45 miles north of Orlando, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office said. Brian Ford, 42, was trimming tree limbs along the fence line between two properties when …

NBC News reports: The idea that Rep. Matt Gaetz will run for Florida governor in 2026 has been the topic of several conversations in Tallahassee over the past few days, including during a reception Sunday night for the incoming speaker of the Florida House. Gaetz has long been considered on the shortlist of those who will try to seek the …

“This particular vaccine is quite safe. It’s a tiny bit different than the previous one. It’s been looked at. Yes, the pharmaceutical companies should be more transparent. Yes, I’m very confident in this vaccine. “But let me tell you where this vaccine decision should be made: not at a governor pulpit, but in a doctor’s office. It shouldn’t be vilified. …

“They are breaking and violating the law by funding abortion tourism with tax dollars. When agencies do that, the Congress has to stand up and push back against it. Our recruiting is in the absolute gutter now, and you’re funding abortion tourism? Is that really something helping to protect this country? So we need to fight back against it and …

The Miami News Times reports: City of Miami Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla was arrested Thursday afternoon on counts of money laundering, bribery, and criminal conspiracy in an alleged scheme to conceal political contributions. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) claims that among other misconduct, Díaz de la Portilla accepted bribes from William W. Riley Jr., a lobbyist …

Via press release from Ron DeSantis: Governor Ron DeSantis has requested a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Disaster Declaration to support Florida’s farmers who were impacted by Hurricane Idalia. In addition to impacting crop yields, Hurricane Idalia also impacted barns, fencing and other equipment. The Governor has requested that the USDA provide all available resources including loans and grants to …

The Messenger reports: The Republican Party of Florida is now Donald Trump’s GOP as well. In a rebuke to Gov. Ron DeSantis, the state party’s executive board Friday rejected his wishes and acceded to Trump’s by voting to scrap a newly instituted loyalty oath it wanted presidential candidates to sign in order to appear on the March 19 primary ballot. …

Tampa’s CBS affiliate reports: Deputies say David Robinson, a 34-year-old youth pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church in Plant City, sent several text messages with sexual content to at least two juveniles between January and June 2023. In addition to his role as a youth pastor, Robinson volunteered at various Christian schools in east Hillsborough County. He is facing nine counts …

The Tallahassee Democrat reports: Florida’s former top public health official criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis’ latest foray into COVID-19 vaccine skepticism, saying the state is wrong to discourage those under age 65 from getting the new booster. Dr. Scott Rivkees, who preceded Dr. Joseph Ladapo as the state’s surgeon general, said the move runs counter to the goals of public health. …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: The University of South Florida/Florida Atlantic University public opinion survey that probed what people know — or think they know — revealed sizable numbers of Florida residents believe inaccurate assertions about the vaccines. The biggest factor associated with beliefs in misinformation was political affiliation, with Republicans far more likely than Democrats and independents to agree with …

Tampa’s CBS affiliate reports: According to a list released by Florida’s Department of Education, school districts across the state issued a combined total of 386 book bans after receiving a total of 1,218 objections in 2022. More than half of the objections were raised by the same two people: Bruce Friedman, the founder of the Florida chapter of the activist …

Gainesville’s CW affiliate reports: The Marion County County Sheriff’s Office arrested a pastor after two underage girls described the sexual abuse they endured at his hands. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Derrell Redding, 54, of Ocala, on Wednesday after two girls gave detailed reports at the Kimberly Center of the many instances of abuse they faced. Redding is charged with two counts …

CBS News reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the NAACP is pulling a “stunt” by calling Florida hostile to Black Americans, other minorities and LGBTQ+ people. In an interview with DeSantis, CBS asked if he would represent the entire country, and whether everyone could feel welcome in DeSantis’ America. “A hundred percent,” DeSantis responded. “And that is politics. That’s a …

The Hill reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and the state’s surgeon general are advising against the use of updated COVID-19 vaccines for anyone under the age of 65, a move that counters a new recommendation from the CDC. “I will not stand by and let the FDA and CDC use healthy Floridians as guinea pigs for new booster shots …

Florida Politics reports: Florida law enforcement officials arrested a Cape Canaveral man who led a Nazi demonstration in Orlando in June. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announced Jason Brown, 48, was arrested for violating a new Florida law forbidding the display of images on structures without permission. Officials said Brown has claimed membership in the Order of the …

“You have to identify them as being hostile. I mean, if there’s a woman with a baby, they are not a cartel member. There’s not going to be authorization to just shoot somebody like that. But when somebody’s got a backpack on and they’re breaking through the wall, you know that that’s hostile intent, and you have every right to …

The Tallahassee Democrat reports: Manatee County officials have removed “Christian, the Hugging Lion” by Justin Richardson, a 32-page children’s book about two men who raise a lion named Christian in a London apartment. When Christian becomes too big, the two men release the lion into the wild in Africa. When the men go to visit Christian in Africa, they find …

Fox News reports: While speaking at a Thursday news conference for Gov. Ron DeSantis in Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, that state’s surgeon general, advised people to steer clear of the updated booster vaccine for COVID-19. “There’s a new vaccine that’s coming around the corner, a new mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, and there’s essentially no evidence for it,” Ladapo said during …

Tampa’s CBS affiliate reports: A Polk County man who spent much of his professional and church life working with children was arrested in November 2020 after investigators found more than 700 pictures and videos of child porn on his phone, the sheriff’s office reported. Shawn Fitzgerald, 49, — a former Lakeland High School teacher, soccer coach and youth minister — …