Tag Archives: Florida

Florida Politics reports: The Senate continues to adjust a controversial ban on social media for Floridians under age 16. But legislation (HB 1) ready for a vote in the Senate still doesn’t allow parents final say whether kids can log into platforms. Sen. Erin Grall, a Fort Pierce Republican, said the state needs to treat access to addictive platforms the …

The Daily Beast reports: Newsmax has joined the legions of conservative media outlets and figures who have trashed a pair of Florida GOP bills that ostensibly aim to curb so-called “liberal media” by loosening the definition of defamation. “Newsmax strongly opposes both bills and any proposed law that makes it easy to sue media companies,” Chris Ruddy, Newsmax’s CEO, said …

The Daily Beast reports: While measles cases are popping up across the country, nowhere has been hit as hard as Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, just west of Fort Lauderdale. There, a single case reported Thursday spiraled into a half-dozen infected students by Tuesday evening. John J. Sullivan, a spokesperson for Broward County Public Schools, said the school underwent …

Florida Politics reports: A third and final House committee has advanced a contentious defamation bill. But one critic testified the legislation will help its sponsor bring forward lawsuits against anyone criticizing his political allies. At a House Judiciary Committee meeting, Milton gun shop owner Chris Smith discussed a lawsuit filed against his business. Santa Rosa County Commissioner Sam Parker filed …

The Associated Press reports: South Florida prosecutors dropped criminal charges on Tuesday against a couple and their adult son who had been accused of severely beating a man who had been in a relationship with the son. Yevhen Makarenko, his wife, Inna, and their son Oleh had each been charged with attempted murder, burglary and kidnapping in the August 2021 …

Miami’s ABC affiliate reports: Officials with Broward County Public Schools announced a fifth confirmed measles case at an elementary school in Weston Monday. The additional case at Manatee Bay Elementary School, located at 19200 Manatee Isles Drive, adds to the four reported since Friday. The Florida Department of Health is working to track down the origin of the case cluster. …

Florida Politics reports: A national group of Christian broadcasters is asking lawmakers not to pass legislation that would make it easier to sue journalists and news outlets for defamation. Michael Farris [photo], general counsel for National Religious Broadcasters, wrote a letter to House Speaker Paul Renner, a Palm Coast Republican, on Monday asking him to drop HB 757. He called …

Via press release from the Liberty Counsel: The Alabama Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that an embryo created through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a “minor child” and is no different under the law from an unborn child in the womb. Due to the 2018 Sanctity of Unborn Life Amendment in the state’s constitution, which declares it is “public policy” in Alabama …

Miami’s CBS affiliate reports: The Florida Department of Health is carrying out an epidemiological investigation surrounding the multiple cases of measles at a Broward County elementary school over the weekend. DOH-Broward announced on Sunday that it is investigating the cases in response to the four reported cases that appeared at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston over the weekend. “Please …

The Tallahassee Democrat reports: A Florida Panhandle lawmaker has filed the “Right to Rock Act.” Rep. Joel Rudman, R-Navarre, wants to prohibit the cancellation of performances because of an artist’s social media comments or their political affiliation. HB 15 would forbid entertainment venues that have accepted taxpayer funding to cancel contracts for a live presentation by a singer, musicians, dancers, …

Florida Politics reports: A Miami-Dade County woman is running a GoFundMe page to help former President Donald Trump cover a $355 million civil court judgment. Elena Cardone, an Aventura resident, launched the page Friday to assist Trump in facing an “unprecedented and unfair treatment by certain judicial elements in New York.” By 3 p.m. Sunday, the page recorded 6,300 donations …

Florida Politics reports: The three Rs (reading, writin’, and arithmetic) are slated to have a new addition soon in public schools: religion. The Senate legislation (SB 1044) is slated to be heard in Tuesday morning’s Appropriations Committee on Education. That bill, sponsored by Sen. Erin Grall, would “authorize volunteer school chaplains to provide support, services, and programs to students as …

The Florida Trident reports: The Sarasota Police Department today released the audio recording of its interview with Moms for Liberty co-founder and Sarasota County School Board Member Bridget Ziegler in the now-closed rape investigation of her husband, former Florida GOP chairman Christian Ziegler. “We are looking at an allegation of sexual assault by your husband,” Det. Maria Llovio informed Bridget …

Florida Politics reports: A bill to make it easier for Florida residents to kill bears without fear of punishment is bound for Senate consideration after clearing the Legislature’s lower chamber amid ample opposition. The measure (HB 87), dubbed the “Self Defense Act,” drew sharp criticism as it advanced through the committee process this Session, and it did not escape the …

Florida Politics reports: Florida may have fewer left-lane laggards on high-speed roadways next year if the Senate approves legislation that just zipped through the House. The bill (HB 317) cleared the Legislature’s lower chamber on a 113-3 vote. Its twin companion (SB 258) now awaits consideration beside it on the Senate floor. If approved, the measure would provide that the …

The New Republic reports: Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday came out in support of a proposal to limit book bans in schools—the direct result of his own stupid policies. In a press conference, DeSantis tried to claim that accusations that he has enabled book bans in the state of Florida are “a fraud” and “a big hoax.” He blamed “activists” …

“What we are seeing here in our country is actually a nation that is losing its morals and turning away from and turning its back on God, perverting the innocence of children, pushing sex, perversion and inappropriate content younger and younger. When we look at the big picture, this isn’t so much about books. This battle is between good and …

Tampa’s Fox affiliate reports: A Clearwater man was arrested after police say he intentionally did burnouts in his truck through an LGBTQ Pride crosswalk in South Florida. According to the Delray Beach Police Department, Dylan Brewer, 19, of Clearwater, was arrested and charged with felony criminal mischief over $1,000 and reckless driving. On the night of Sunday, Feb. 4, witnesses …

Florida Politics reports: Florida’s Governor is again throwing cold water on a legislative proposal to ban youth social media use because he doesn’t know if the “expansion beyond the current federal law” would hold up in court. “I think that I’m not going to be supporting if I don’t think it’s going to be something that’s going to pass legal …

The Daily Beast reports: About a decade before Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler championed Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, she was a Sarasota socialite who partied with a coterie of gay friends. “From the very get-go, we hit it off,” Nishit Patel said. “Of course the gay guy is going to gravitate toward the gorgeous blonde.” Patel is just …