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U.S. Senate confirms a military nominee, the first since Tuberville blockade began
The U.S. Senate confirmed a nominee for a high-ranking military post Wednesday night and advanced another, the first votes on military nominations or promotions since Alabama Republican Tommy Tuberville started blocking them seven months ago to protest Defense Department abortion policies. Tuberville did not object to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, […]
Strike! United Auto Workers declares historic strike against Detroit Three automakers
The United Auto Workers (UAW) declared a strike at midnight Thursday after negotiations for a new contract failed with “Detroit Three” auto manufacturers: Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. This is the first time in the union’s history it has gone on strike against all three automakers. UAW President Shawn Fain told members at the picket […]
Hospitals plead with Congress to avert $8 billion in cuts in Medicaid funding
WASHINGTON — Health care representatives from across the United States are urging Congress to halt cuts to funding that helps hospitals care for uninsured or low-income patients who rely on Medicaid. More than 250 hospitals and health systems appealed to House and Senate leadership in a letter Thursday asking the lawmakers to avert or delay a forthcoming […]
FL’s state guidance on new COVID boosters isn’t backed by its own references, experts say
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has provided state guidance advising people under 65 not to get the updated COVID-19 booster — but several of the references listed in the guidance document state that boosters help. Ladapo’s three-page document posted Wednesday points to “outstanding safety and efficacy concerns.” Those concerns include the negative effectiveness of the […]
Malaria no longer spreading in FL; other mosquito-borne diseases still a threat; chickens affected
After a flurry of malaria cases in Sarasota the past few months, the county and adjacent Manatee County are no longer under a mosquito-borne illness alert. However, other parts of Florida are still under the threat of dengue, West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus. No one has obtained malaria in the state since […]
Judge rejects Meadows’ bid to move Georgia 2020 election racketeering case to federal court
Donald Trump’s former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows suffered a legal setback Friday afternoon when a federal judge ordered that his Fulton County election interference case remain in state court. U.S. District Court Steve Jones’ decision to reject Meadows’ attempt to thwart the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office sweeping racketeering and conspiracy case could signal […]
Anti-abortion ‘abolitionists’ take slavery rhetoric to the next level
The first time Tina Marshall heard anti-abortion protesters call themselves “abolitionists,’” she said, she burst out laughing. Marshall, a Black woman who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, was counter-protesting at an abortion clinic when a mostly white group — save one Black woman — surrounded her and told her they were abolitionists. “I rolled my […]
McConnell again falls silent, this time while speaking to reporters in Northern Kentucky
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell fell silent and appeared to freeze while speaking to reporters Wednesday in Covington, his second such public episode in as many months. A spokesman for the Senate Republican leader told the Lantern that McConnell “felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today.” “While he feels fine, as a prudential measure, the […]
At FL’s community colleges, can students get in trouble if they use the wrong bathrooms?
Under a new rule, Florida community colleges must restrict bathroom usage to the state’s definition of biological sex at birth. But it’s unclear what specific discipline students could face if they don’t use their assigned bathroom. At a Florida Board of Education meeting Wednesday, the issue of bathrooms and biological sex became contentious. Some public […]
That 1% cut in federal spending in the debt limit law? It’s complicated
WASHINGTON — The debt limit law Congress approved earlier this year included a much-publicized provision that would cut all federal spending by 1% if Republicans and Democrats fail to reach agreement on the dozen government funding bills before Jan. 1. That sounds pretty threatening. But, the across-the-board automatic spending cut wouldn’t actually have any real-world […]
Why the next big hope for Alzheimer’s might not help most Black patients
The FDA has given full approval to what many scientists and doctors believe is the first drug to show promise of slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. But while patient advocates are celebrating, critics see it as the unfortunate triumph of a flawed theory of the disease’s cause and predict the rollout of the drug […]
With pharmaceutical drug shortages at near all-time high, Tampa Dem calls on Congress to act now
During the COVID pandemic, Americans became all too aware of supply chain problems that affected every part of the economy. In the case of pharmaceutical drugs, however, the delays causing these shortages are creating a huge problem that could make the difference in whether people live or die. A Tampa Bay area lawmaker and the […]