Culture & Society
New study on best & worst states for teachers: Guess where Florida falls? (It isn’t good)
An analysis released Monday ranks the Sunshine State 47 out of the 50 states and Washington D.C. based on school-related data, according to the personal finance web site WalletHub. Florida’s overall score stems from myriad factors, including annual salaries, teacher turnover, pupil-teacher ratios and per-pupil spending, according to the study. “Teaching can be a profoundly […]
A closer look at Florida Constitutional Amendment 4
About this Florida Phoenix series: Florida voters could face a whopping twelve different proposed amendments to the state Constitution on Nov. 6 – one of the longest lists ever. The amendments cover a wild ride of subjects, including complex changes to tax policy, banning offshore oil drilling and greyhound racing, expanding gambling, automatically restoring voting […]
What’s up with Amendments 7, 9 and 11 — and 6, 8 and 10?
The fate of three Constitutional Amendments is still hanging in the balance about six weeks from election day Nov. 6, and another three Amendments may suddenly be in a quandary. The good news: There’s been some movement on reaching a conclusion on Amendments 7, 9 and 11 at the Florida Supreme Court. As of noon […]
“Impeachment Now” banner flying in Orlando skies over the weekend
People in Orlando will see a massive banner with the words “Impeachment Now” – addressing President Donald Trump – flying over the city for the next few days, the Orlando Weekly reports. The flight schedule will put the banner in view of people commuting or attending football games over the weekend. A group called Mad […]
League of Women Voters of Florida, Common Cause, refile lawsuit challenging governor’s power to choose incoming Supreme Court Justices
Two groups that filed a lawsuit last year challenging Gov. Rick Scott’s power to choose three incoming Florida Supreme Court Justices refiled the case on Thursday. The stakes are high: The case revolves around who gets the power to choose replacements for three Supreme Court Justices leaving the court in early January because they have […]
A closer look at Florida Constitutional Amendment 2
About this Florida Phoenix series: Florida voters could face a whopping twelve different proposed amendments to the state Constitution on Nov. 6 – one of the longest lists ever. The amendments cover a wild ride of subjects, including complex changes to tax policy, banning offshore oil drilling and greyhound racing, expanding gambling, automatically restoring voting […]
Florida helps victims of crime; Some rules apply.
When someone is the victim of a crime and has to miss work, the state of Florida has a program to help out. The state will also offset the costs of a funeral and grief counseling for people who have been victimized and will handle relocation when someone is fleeing domestic violence. But Florida won’t […]
A closer look at Florida Constitutional Amendment 1
About this Florida Phoenix series: Florida voters could face a whopping twelve different proposed amendments to the state Constitution on Nov. 6 – one of the longest lists ever. The amendments cover a wild ride of subjects, including complex changes to tax policy, banning offshore oil drilling and greyhound racing, expanding gambling, automatically restoring voting […]
Fifth trans woman killed in Florida.
A transgender woman found shot to death in Southwest Florida is the fifth trans woman murdered in Florida in the past seven months, and LGBTQ activists are calling for a larger investigation. News accounts say Londonn Moore, 20, was found lying in the road around 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 8 several miles from her hometown […]
Florida’s economy is booming, but not for everybody. How will that affect the governor’s race?
On the campaign trail, Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis, outgoing Gov. Rick Scott, and their GOP allies paint a rosy picture of the state’s job growth and economy. To hear them tell it, we Floridians are all doing a lot better than we were eight years ago. But that’s only for some people, particularly those […]
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says hearings should happen to hear Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser – Sen. Rubio laying low
Florida Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson said today that he believes that there should be an investigation into the allegations that surfaced over the past few days from a California woman who says that U.S. Supreme Court justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her decades ago. “I agree there should be an investigation of the […]
Census Bureau: Millions of people don’t have health insurance. Florida is no exception.
The Census Bureau is looking at how many people are uninsured in the U.S., and Florida’s numbers are in the millions. People nationwide without health insurance coverage increased by almost a million people, according to American Community Survey data and the Census Bureau; most of those people are “working-age” adults – 19- to 64-year-olds. Nationwide, […]