Author
State Sen. Shevrin Jones joins FL council on Black males that has faced some difficulties
A council created by the Florida Legislature to improve conditions for Black men and boys has faced myriad of challenges but gained a new member this week: State Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Black Democrat who recently joined the Biden administration for an end-of-year briefing at the White House. Just last year, the Florida Council on […]
‘Child well-being’ analysis: St. Johns County ranks No. 1 but FL shows disparities across the state
Children and their families in certain counties thrived more in categories such as education, economic well-being and health, but an analysis revealed disparities across the state, according to a new report released by the Orlando-based Florida Policy Institute. St. Johns County, in the coastal northeast area of Florida, ranked No. 1 overall for child well-being. […]
Cold snap expected across FL ahead of holidays, with some lows in the 20s and 30s
Residents at home and tourists visiting for Christmas, Hanukkah and other holidays in December can expect a plunge in temperatures across Florida, with some forecasts pointing to lows around 20s and 30s. The cold temperatures are a concern for various issues in Florida, from the possibility of citrus crops freezing to beloved manatees trying to […]
‘This is just the beginning’: DeSantis signs into law 1-year toll discount program, vows to do more
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed into law a new toll discount initiative for frequent commuters, but it will only last a year, from Jan. 1. to Dec. 31, 2023. “This is one thing we are going to do. But we are going to do much more in terms of tax relief for people throughout […]
DeSantis avoids specifics on future abortion restrictions; Passidomo reiterates a 12-week ban
On the abortion front Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis was asked, once again, about his stances on further abortion restrictions. He shied away from specifics at a press conference in Fort Lauderdale. The governor responded to a question from the crowd about whether he is willing “to take the lead” regarding the “heartbeat bill” in Florida. […]
FL Legislature approves discount toll program for frequent commuters only; but it’s only for a year
The Florida House on Wednesday unanimously voted to support a program to offer monthly toll discounts on several roads, turnpikes, and bridges in the state, but some Democrats wanted to expand eligibility to other Floridians who may not have a prepaid toll account. The initiative – a toll relief program that would be offered from […]
Gov. DeSantis, Surgeon General Ladapo go after COVID vaccines; request statewide grand jury
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday attacked COVID-19 vaccines as well as federal public health guidelines and petitioned to the Florida Supreme Court to order a statewide grand jury to investigate crimes and any wrongdoing on the vaccine front. The governor received a single shot of the COVID vaccine — Johnson & Johnson — in April […]
Toll relief: Not everyone would benefit even if residents are struggling in FL
State lawmakers are moving forward on a plan to provide discounts on toll charges, but the program would not apply to all residents who may be struggling to pay for tolls in Florida. Instead, the toll relief program would only benefit frequent commuters using Florida’s many toll roads, bridges, and lanes that charge a fee […]
‘Floridians are hurting’: House Democratic Leader asks for expanded legislation but GOP rejects it
On the first day of the special session on the troubled property insurance market and other issues, state House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell urged lawmakers to expand the call of the session because “Floridians are hurting.” But her attempt was rejected by the Republican-led state House. Both House and Senate chambers have supermajorities following the […]
New Legislative Black Caucus chair: ‘We have to figure out how we work together’
With state lawmakers convening Monday in the Capitol, the leader of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus is pushing issues facing Black communities statewide, including affordable housing, health care, and criminal justice reform. A special session is scheduled in the Florida Legislature to consider legislation that would reduce costs of property insurance and provide tax relief […]
Florida teacher’s anti-Muslim tirade illustrates widespread anti-Islam prejudice
Compared to other religious affiliations in the United States, American Muslims reported the most occurrences of discrimination based on their faith during the past year, according to a poll by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. At the same time, bullying based on bias against Muslims has harmed children in schools in Florida and […]
Advocates prepare for legal challenge to ban on transgender medical care for kids
The DeSantis administration’s drive to deny gender-affirming care to young people in Florida has been hitting snags, including a split between two key oversight boards and publication of the wrong email address to file public comments by one of those boards. At the same time, Southern Legal Counsel, which provides legal representation in civil rights […]