Briefs
U.S. House passes Wounded Knee memorial bill
The U.S. House approved by voice vote Wednesday a bill that would help protect land at the site of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota, where an estimated 350 Lakota were killed by U.S. soldiers. The site is within the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River […]
In FL, “Hope Cards” could help law enforcement and domestic violence survivors
Survivors of domestic violence would be able to carry “Hope Cards” that provide information about any protective court orders they have obtained, if new legislation passes in the upcoming Florida Legislature. The Hope Card would be issued by the Office of the State Courts Administrator and must be a durable, laminated, wallet-size card which would […]
UAW president sets new deadline for automakers, promising additional strikes
Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers union (UAW), on Monday night announced that more locations may be called to join the union’s strike on Friday. The UAW declared a historic strike against all three members of the Big Three automakers at midnight Thursday, after contracts expired with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. “I […]
FL law enforcement agencies endorse U.S. Sen. Rick Scott in his bid for reelection next year
The Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) announced Monday that they are endorsing U.S. Sen. Rick Scott’s reelection campaign, the second big endorsement from a Florida-based law enforcement organization for Scott going into next year’s U.S. Senate election. In July, 59 of the state’s 67 sheriffs announced that they were backing the incumbent senator in the […]
Attempting to reverse the tide, a South FL House Democrat files bill to protect tenant rights
The 2023 legislative session was a brutal one for tenant rights in Florida, with state lawmakers passing bills preempting local tenant protection ordinances and eliminating local governments from enacting rent control laws. Now a South Florida House Democrat is trying to bring back some rights to renters. West Palm Beach state Rep. Jervonte Edmonds has filed legislation for the […]
Florida Supreme Court begins oral arguments Friday on abortion access, state’s privacy clause
The atmosphere in the state capital early this morning was serene, as people began walking into the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee. Friday is the day of oral arguments that will begin at 9 a.m. on abortion access and the state’s privacy clause. A group of young abortion rights advocates gathered at the Supreme Court […]
Atlantic tropical depression likely to become hurricane this weekend
As Florida still undergoes efforts to recover from Hurricane Idalia’s landfall on Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center is eyeing a tropical depression it forecasts to become a major hurricane this weekend. The NHC said by the time it reaches hurricane status, with the name “Lee,” the storm could already could have affected the Leeward Islands, […]
President Biden says he’ll visit Florida on Saturday
Although no details have been officially announced, President Joe Biden said Thursday that he’ll visit Florida Saturday following Hurricane Idalia’s blast into the Big Bend area earlier this week. The announcement came from the president himself at the end of an exchange with reporters after his visit to the headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management […]
Tampa Bay area officials express concerns about King Tide, full moon approaching
Although Hurricane Idalia passed through the Tampa Bay area earlier Wednesday morning, local officials are still expressing caution. They say that the deleterious effects of the storm aren’t over yet. That’s in part because of an exceptionally high tide coming in the early afternoon – known as “King Tide” – a non-scientific term used to […]
DeSantis faces Idalia as storm heads to Big Bend region in FL: ‘Be ready for impact’
At a 6 p.m. news conference Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis made clear that Hurricane Idalia “is going to have major impacts,” as the hurricane churns toward the Big Bend coast of Florida on Wednesday morning. That’s the region in North Florida — the arch that connects the Panhandle to the peninsula. It’s also the area […]
DeSantis was off the campaign trail Sunday; he spoke again about the hate-crime killings in Jacksonville
At a Tallahassee news conference Sunday focused on upcoming storms, Gov. Ron DeSantis was off the presidential campaign trail — which is unusual — and spoke again about the hate-crime killings of three Black people in Jacksonville on Saturday. President Joe Biden, Congress members, state lawmakers, the NAACP and other advocates responded to the murders […]
DeSantis signs emergency declaration as tropical system forms off Mexico
Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 33 counties ahead of a tropical disturbance that could develop into a tropical storm and hit the Gulf Coast of Florida early next week. In a written statement, the governor’s office urged people in the area to get ready by reviewing their disaster preparedness plans […]