Tag Archives: Florida

The Florida Phoenix reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis held a reception at the Governor’s Mansion Friday to honor Black History Month, just days after civil rights advocates marched to the Capitol and college students walked out of classrooms in Tallahassee to protest the DeSantis administration’s handling of a college-level African American studies course for Florida high …

Forbes reports: If the Lee County Republican Party has their way, the state of Florida will be banning the use of Covid-19 vaccines. Yes, you heard that correctly. Based on a majority vote, the Party has passed a so-called “Ban the jab” resolution that will now go to the desk of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) for his consideration. And …

The Miami New Times reports: A statehouse bill that would restrict what types of flags fly in Florida government buildings has civil rights advocates questioning whether the measure is aimed at promoting patriotism or exclusionism. “No other flag may be exposed to public view for exhibition or display, in any manner, by a governmental agency, local government, or unit of …

NBC News reports: House Bill 999, introduced this week by Rep. Alex Andrade, a Republican representing Pensacola, would allow the state Board of Governors to give direction to universities on removing majors and minors in such subjects as critical race theory and gender studies and bar spending on programs or activities that support such curricula. The Board of Governors oversees …

Law & Crime reports: A 64-year-old admitted double murderer who insisted upon receiving the death penalty in Florida bizarrely thanked his trial judge for the capital sentence Friday and asserted this his “soul is fine.” Steven Lorenzo had already confessed in December to murdering Jason Galehouse and Michael Wachholtz, both 26, in 2003. Prosecutors said that Lorenzo drugged, sexually assaulted, …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: For University of Central Florida students Izzie Uribe and Niyanna Jeffcoat, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts to dismantle diversity and inclusion programs and interrogate campuses about health services provided to transgender students pose an imminent threat to their campus. The pair stood with hundreds of their peers on the university’s Memory Mall on Thursday afternoon, protesting what …

The Guardian reports: A lawyer’s attempt to have his pregnant client released from jail ahead of trial by arguing that her fetus has been subject to “unlawful and illegal detention” could have profound consequences for the rights of women in Florida. Attorney William M Norris filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of the “unborn child” …

Miami’s ABC affiliate reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has formulated a so-called “target list” containing names of school board members across the state that he wants to challenge in their upcoming elections. DeSantis said those on the “target list” of 14 do not protect parental rights and have failed to protect students from what he calls “woke” ideologies. The announcement …

Politico reports: The Florida Department of Health’s inspector general last fall investigated Joseph Ladapo, the state’s surgeon general, after the agency received an anonymous complaint alleging he falsified a report focusing on the safety of Covid-19 vaccines for young men. Among other things, the complainant alleged Ladapo committed “scientific fraud” and “manipulated data” in a report that Ladapo later used …

Politico reports: The DeSantis administration now requires events held at the Florida state Capitol to “align” with its mission, a recent change that is sparking concerns that the governor’s office is trying to censor events it doesn’t like. The Department of Management Services, the administration department that oversees state facilities, over the past few months has changed rules for groups …

Jacksonville’s CBS affiliate reports: 50-year-old Paul Mauricio will be spending the next 25 years behind bars for sex crimes involving a 12-year-old girl. As part of a plea deal, Mauricio, who was an eight-year veteran of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, pleaded guilty to four out of seven sexual assault charges. A judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: State lawmakers are moving forward with a Gov. Ron DeSantis-inspired push to make it easier for prominent people to sue media outlets for defamation, setting the stage for a potential First Amendment clash in the courts. The Legislature is set to take up the measure that challenges longstanding protections for the press established by the U.S …

Pensacola’s NBC affiliate reports: The Escambia County school board voted Monday night to remove three challenged books from school libraries. The removed books below all contain LGBTQ+ characters. “All Boys Aren’t Blue” is a novel about a boy growing up Black and queer in America. It was available in all high schools. “And Tango Makes Three” is a real story …

Politico reports: The Florida Senate on Monday took its first step toward passing legislation that would remove the requirement that people have state permits to carry concealed firearms, a move that gun rights activists have long sought but for the first time appears to have political momentum. The Senate bill (SB 150), sponsored by state Sen. Jay Collins (R-Tampa), not …

Pro-DeSantis outlet The Floridian reports: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) appears to have decided not to speak at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), The Floridian has learned. According to a source, Gov. DeSantis was invited to attend and speak but appears to have a scheduling conflict with the event, which will be held at the Gaylord National Resort …

The Wall Street Journal reports: Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis have battled in polls for months over who has a better shot at the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. This week, in one of the country’s wealthiest enclaves, they will intensify the fight for campaign cash. Mr. Trump is scheduled to appear Thursday at a fundraiser for the super political-action committee …

Inside Higher Ed reports: An English professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University said his teaching contract has been put on hold after complaints about his instruction on race and racism. The professor, Samuel Joeckel, said in an email that the dean of his department and the university’s provost waited outside the class he was teaching last week to inform him …

Florida Politics reports: Former President Donald Trump is taking a victory lap in the wake of Saturday’s vote for Republican Party of Florida Chair. Commenting on the victory of Christian Ziegler of Sarasota, the former President posted to Truth Social Sunday. “We won a big Chairmanship in Florida over the DeSantis Reps, but actually, it’s a win for ALL. That’s …

“Too much power has accumulated in DC and the result is a detached administrative state that rules over us and imposes its will on us. While there are a host of things that need to be done to re-constitutionalize government, parceling out federal agencies to other parts of the country could help reduce the negative effects of this accumulation of …

The Daily Beast reports: When Florida Governor Ron DeSantis floated the possibility of eliminating Advanced Placement classes from his state’s curriculum, he conveniently left out an important fact. DeSantis was once the “AP US History student of the year,” according to his high school yearbook, pages of which were obtained by The Daily Beast. Before turning on AP classes in …