Tag Archives: Florida

First Coast News reports: Worship services were interrupted by a police raid Wednesday night at the Jacksonville Assembly of the Body of Christ on Old Kings Road. The raid was the result of a long-term investigation that started with a tip regarding possible sexual abuse in 2020. The investigation uncovered sexual and physical abuse of minors in the church that …

Posted today to Franklin Graham’s Facebook page: Thank you for your bold stand Governor Ron DeSantis! Disney isn’t happy that the Florida Senate passed the PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION BILL which bans the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in schools for children from kindergarten to 3rd grade. Disney’s CEO contacted Gov. DeSantis to let him know of their …

Florida Politics reports: The House voted against the decriminalization of fentanyl test strips in Florida on Friday, angering some lawmakers in the closing hours of the 2022 Legislative Session. Brandon Democratic Rep. Andrew Learned urged House colleagues to decriminalize the strips, alongside other Democratic lawmakers on the House floor. “This is a product that doesn’t cause harm in any way,” …

NBC News reports: Negotiations between the Florida Senate and House of Representatives, both controlled by Republicans, broke down, with the two sides unable to agree on a bill that would require inspections of aging condo buildings and mandate that condo boards conduct studies to determine how much they need to set aside for repairs. The talks were undone by a …

Florida Politics reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Esther Byrd to the state’s Board of Education, a move that will almost certainly serve to further politicize that appointed panel. Byrd is the wife of Rep. Cord Byrd of Neptune Beach. Rep. Byrd, the incumbent in the current HD 11, is one of the House Republicans who sided with the Governor by …

The Hollywood Reporter reports: Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Chapek apologized to employees at the company for the company’s handling of Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and said that it would be pausing political donations in the state. Chapek also said that the company will be “increasing our support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states.” …

Orlando’s NBC News affiliate reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis has leveled a scathing attack statement against Disney on the day after the company’s CEO expressed “disappointment” in a controversial bill nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. “How do they possibly explain lining their pockets with their relationship from the Communist Party of China? Because that’s what they do, and they make …

The Associated Press reports: The Florida Senate approved legislation on Thursday that limits how workplaces and schools teach about race and identity. The measure prohibits trainings that cause someone to feel guilty or ashamed about the past collective actions of their race or sex, and its passage clears the way for Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign one of his top …

Via press release from the Human Rights Campaign: After remaining silent as the bill made its way through the Florida state legislature over the past few weeks, [Disney CEO Bob] Chapek spoke out against pending anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and spoke up for LGBTQ+ people in Florida and across the country. In his statement, Chapek shared that Disney recently joined more than …

“When did our public schools, any schools, become what are essentially grooming centers for gender identity radicals? As a mom, I think it’s appalling, it’s frightening, it’s disgusting, it’s despicable. “Florida just passed a bill to keep this type of sexual brainwashing out of schools. Democrats, though, claim the bill is bigoted, branding it as the ‘Don’t Say Gay Bill.’ …

CBS News reports: The Florida House on Wednesday passed a bill that would create a new state office dedicated to investigating election crimes. The bill passed the GOP-controlled House along party lines and will head to Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’ desk. He is expected to sign it into law. The Office of Election Crimes and Security would review allegations of …

Orlando’s NBC News affiliate reports: Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, has now made comments opposing a controversial bill nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.  House bill 1557 received 22 “yes” votes and 17 “no” votes in the Senate on Tuesday. Gov. Ron DeSantis has indicated he will sign the bill into law. During a Disney …

Florida Politics reports: Florida health care providers could be disciplined if they do not correctly identify their name and profession under a bill headed to the full Senate. The committee, which approved the bill on a 12-3 vote, agreed to make a major revision to the legislation at the urging of Sen. Ben Albritton. The underlying bill opened up health …

From the Orlando Sentinel editorial board: Don’t bother vaccinating your kids against COVID, even though the CDC says it’s a good idea. Quit fussing; they’ll be fine. Dr. Joseph Ladapo promises. You don’t have to wear that mask, either. Dr. Ladapo says it’s a lie that they save lives, and that doctors who believe otherwise are “zombies.” That was his …

From Education Secretary Miguel Cardona: Parents across the country are looking to national, state, and district leaders to support our nation’s students, help them recover from the pandemic, and provide them the academic and mental health supports they need. Instead, leaders in Florida are prioritizing hateful bills that hurt some of the students most in need. The Department of Education …

Via press release from Equality Florida: The Don’t Say Gay bill has passed the FL legislature and now goes to the governor’s desk. Let us be clear: should its vague language be interpreted in any way that causes harm to a single child, teacher, or family, we will lead legal action against the State of Florida to challenge this bigoted …

Raw Story reports: Florida state Sen. Ileana Garcia (R) expressed her support for a so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill on Tuesday by arguing that “LGBT is not a permanent thing.” During a 15-minute speech on the Senate floor, Garcia argued in favor of a bill that would prevent teachers from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity with younger students. “Gay …

The Associated Press reports: The Florida Senate on Tuesday passed controversial legislation that regulates lessons about sexual orientation and gender identity in public school classrooms, despite concerns from activists and student groups that argued the bill would have a chilling impact on gay, lesbian and transgender students. The legislation, which Florida Democrats and LGBTQ activist refer to as the “Don’t …

The Florida Phoenix reports: The Florida Phoenix reached out to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary, Christina Pushaw, about calls from Florida lawmakers for her firing or resignation regarding tweets she made over the weekend on controversial legislation restricting classroom instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity. She provided her response in an email Monday afternoon: “I don’t regret raising concerns …

The Hill reports: Florida’s Department of Health will recommend against coronavirus vaccination for “healthy children,” the state’s surgeon general said Monday, contradicting the guidance from the CDC and other experts. Florida “is going to be the first state to officially recommend against the COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children,” state surgeon general Joseph Ladapo said at the end of a roundtable …