Phoenix Investigates
Biden administration offers temporary protection to Venezuelan migrants
WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced late Wednesday that the agency will expand protected status to nearly half a million Venezuelan nationals, allowing them to live and work in the United States. The move comes after multiple requests from cities that have struggled to house asylum seekers and calls from […]
Two FL Supreme Court justices left abruptly though they had 6-year terms; who else might go?
In a span of seven months, two Florida Supreme Court justices — one who resigned and another who retired — left the bench without finishing their six-year terms and after voters had agreed to retain them. They easily procured lucrative jobs in private practice and opened the way for Gov. Ron DeSantis to pick reliably […]
Data: Which FL counties might be interested in more school vouchers? Geography may play a part
As GOP lawmakers work to pass a massive expansion of school “vouchers” or “scholarships” — to allow families to use public dollars for private education — where would the demand be for the program? The Florida Phoenix ran some numbers to look at the current situation in Florida, seeing how many private schools are in […]
Huge $1.7 trillion spending package passes in U.S. Senate, backed by both parties
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate passed a massive $1.7 trillion funding package Thursday that carries emergency aid for natural disaster recovery and the Ukrainian war effort, pushing past disputes over immigration policy and barely meeting a Friday deadline when current funding runs out. The bill, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, now goes to the U.S. House, […]
Federal trial in Tampa begins after Jan. 6 defendant Jeremy Brown detained for 14 months
In a federal courtroom in Tampa, the trial of Jeremy Brown — a self-described Oath Keepers member, lauded 20-year U.S. Army Special Forces soldier and recently defeated Republican legislative candidate — is set to begin Monday, 14 months after he was arrested and detained in jail in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on […]
Who influenced divisive FL college survey on political leanings? Many questions still unanswered
Last summer, the state university system made a deal with Florida State University for up to $75,000 to develop an objective, nonpartisan, and statistically valid college survey — a project pursued by GOP lawmakers who felt the state’s campuses were too liberal leaning. Since then, not much is known about the survey that would go […]
Nation is watching: FL League of Women Voters president blasts SB 90 on Day 1 in federal trial
League of Women Voters of Florida President Cecile Scoon testified Monday in federal court that Florida’s new election laws — adopted in 2021 Senate Bill 90 — makes voter-registration drives, voting by mail, and rendering basic assistance to voters in line needlessly difficult, resulting in voting suppression. Scoon is the first witness to testify in […]
DeSantis would give parents the right to sue over vax mandates in special session
Parents could sue school districts for monetary damages if administrators require children to get vaccinated or wear a face mask against the coronavirus under legislation filed Monday for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ special session of the Florida Legislature. The legislative proposal would expand parents’ rights, part of a new law signed by the governor earlier this […]
FSU’s Askew School adopts rules forbidding unwanted sexual attention between students and faculty
Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part story about sexual harassment and misconduct allegations between a professor and female students and faculty during a period of more than 30 years at Florida State University. The professor resigned last year. TALLAHASSEE — Florida State University has launched a university-wide effort to address handling of sexual harassment […]
Former FSU grad student comes forward about professor’s unwanted touching: ‘I was petrified’
Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part story about sexual harassment and misconduct allegations between a professor and female students and faculty during a period of more than 30 years at Florida State University. The professor resigned last year. TALLAHASSEE — It was supposed to be a happy day. Claire Connolly had earned a master’s […]
COVID-19 booster shots to roll out starting next month
WASHINGTON — Top U.S. health officials announced a plan Wednesday to begin offering COVID-19 booster shots to Americans starting Sept. 20, with the scheduling of the additional shot to be based on when a person was fully vaccinated. The new round of jabs will be extended to those who received the two-dose vaccine from either […]
DeSantis goes nuclear on news report about COVID-19 therapy he’s promoting
The DeSantis administration is pushing back big against an Associated Press report about investments by a major donor in a COVID-19 therapy that the governor is promoting heavily in appearances across the state. Gov. Ron DeSantis himself, during a Wednesday news conference in Pembroke Pines, suggested a nefarious motive behind the report. “It’s important to […]