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U.S. Rep. Crist concerned about monkeypox cases likely to be higher than reported
In a letter to Florida’s Surgeon General, Congressman Charlie Crist expressed concerns Friday about what’s being done to slow the spread of monkeypox. “I am hearing from gay and bisexual Floridians that they are experiencing difficulty getting tested, which means the number of cases is likely higher than those reported,” Crist wrote to Surgeon General […]
Gubernatorial candidate Fried: ‘To allow assault weapons to be bought and sold by civilians is insane’
After the passage of a ban on semi-automatic firearms Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, in her role as a 2022 gubernatorial candidate, said in statement that, “To allow assault weapons to be bought and sold by civilians is insane.” In the brief statement, Fried also commended Democratic colleagues […]
FL closing in on 400 monkeypox cases, mostly in large urban enclaves
Florida is closing in on 400 monkeypox cases as of Friday, with the largest number of cases in South Florida and other urban settings. Data from the Florida Department of Health show monkeypox cases in 17 counties — roughly a quarter of the 67 counties in Florida. But those counties represent the largest population areas […]
U.S. leads the world in monkeypox cases, eclipsing nearly 80 countries where the disease occurs
The United States now leads the world in monkeypox cases where the disease has been detected, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a leap that has risen within a few months. The CDC reported 4,638 U.S. cases Thursday – the most out of 77 locations worldwide that have been […]
FL Agriculture Commissioner Fried asks DeSantis to stand up to ‘Nazi ideology’
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Tuesday asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to condemn the weekend’s hateful demonstrations in Tampa, saying in a letter that “given the level of criticism you have directed at me over policy differences, it is deeply concerning that you cannot muster even a tweet against a group that glorifies genocide while […]
Monkeypox now a public health emergency of international concern; FL cases rank 3rd in the U.S.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Saturday that the monkeypox outbreak that’s expanded globally is now a public health emergency of international concern. “In short, we have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly, through new modes of transmission, about which we understand too little, and which meets the criteria in the International […]
New FL survey: Inflation, economy, jobs, gun violence and crime on voters’ minds in November
In a broad look at what Floridians may be thinking when they go to the polls in November, a new statewide public opinion survey shows inflation is the top issue, followed by economy and jobs and gun violence and crime. Abortion ranked 4th among 12 specific policy issues listed in a poll posted Tuesday by […]
Aftermath of Roe v. Wade ruling: ‘Millions, millions will suffer because of this setback’
Hours after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion, protesters rallied Friday evening to support abortion rights and try to figure out what to do about the dramatic change in the abortion landscape. “We must organize or die,” said Barbara DeVane, a longtime Florida lobbyist and a lobbyist […]
GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis reacts to U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on overturning Roe v. Wade
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who recently signed a 15-week abortion ban in Florida, responded Friday to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in 1973. He did not reference a potential special session to further restrict or fully ban abortion in Florida. The current 15-week ban […]
At least seven deaths in FL from meningococcal disease; one of the worst outbreaks in U.S. history
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday reported at least seven deaths among gay and bisexual men from the serious meningococcal disease outbreak in Florida and at least 24 cases of the disease. The agency described the situation in a news release as “one of the worst outbreaks of meningococcal disease among […]
Protests against gun violence spread across FL and the nation Saturday: What will come from it?
A day after GOP lawmakers in the Legislature blocked a special session on expanded gun restrictions, Florida Democrats, other politicians, activists and citizens held rallies Saturday to protest continuing gun violence that has shocked the nation in recent weeks. The protests were scheduled from Alaska to Maine to Washington D.C. and down to Florida and […]
Monkeypox outbreak expanding in U.S., including in FL, and across the globe
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 21 cases of the rare monkeypox disease have now been confirmed in 11 states, including Florida. The other states are: California, New York, Utah, Colorado, Massachusetts, Georgia, Illinois, Washington state, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Both California and New York have four cases confirmed; Florida has three. […]