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Tag: APP Local & State Politics

  • The dismissal of Disney’s lawsuit against DeSantis

    The dismissal of Disney’s lawsuit against DeSantis

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    A federal judge ruled against Disney in its lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies, and activists on both sides of the aisle are still waiting to hear from the Florida Supreme Court about a proposed abortion amendment ballot initiative.


    Judge rules against Disney

    A federal judge has dismissed Disney’s lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Secretary of the Department of Commerce and members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board.

    The company had sued in April, claiming the state retaliated against it for publicly opposing the Parental Rights in Education law — called “Don’t Say Gay” by opponents.

    The governor responded at the time by pushing the Florida Legislature to strip Disney of its longtime self-governing power under the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

    Disney claimed the move violated the company’s First Amendment rights because the governor was punishing it for disagreeing with him.

    But the judge has now thrown that lawsuit out.

    The case against DeSantis and the commerce secretary were dismissed because the judge ruled Disney didn’t have standing to sue them.

    The judge dismissed the case against the CFTOB on the merits of the case, saying that Disney failed to state a claim.

    “At the end of the day, under the law of this Circuit, ‘courts shouldn’t look to a law’s legislative history to find an illegitimate motivation for an otherwise constitutional statute’ …  Because that is what Disney seeks here, its claim fails as a matter of law,” the ruling said.

    Florida Supreme Court weighs abortion amendment

    The Florida Supreme Court is getting ready to hear arguments regarding placing an abortion amendment on the ballot. The organization, Floridians Protecting Freedom, received over 900,000 signatures qualifying that amendment for voters to decide the state’s future on the abortion issue.

    Current Florida law allows abortion up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, but some say that’s not the only barrier women face when seeking an abortion.

    A woman, who did not give her name out of fear of retribution, says since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the violence is real and it’s not uncommon for an Orlando Police officer to be out front of the clinic protecting the peace.

    She is a volunteer with “Stand with Abortion Now” — also known as SWAN of Orlando. She’s a clinic escort, helping people needing to enter clinics.

    “Our main purpose for being here is shielding patients from harassment from protesters,” she said.

    Come November she’s hoping Florida voters can voice their opinion on the future of abortion in the state.

    “I’m born and raised in Florida, seeing the shift of the political landscape and the reproductive justice landscape in Florida change in a post-Roe world has made this so important for me,” she said. “Polls have shown that both democratic and republican voters in the state of Florida alike have signed onto this ballot initiative and believe this issue should be in the hands of the voters.”

    While her team at SWAN hope to continue defending what they say are reproductive rights in the state of Florida, they also know there are people who are always going to support anti-abortion policies.

    Some protesters show up at the clinic in hopes of changing a patient’s mind.

    “We understand the women are coming out here to make a hard decision,” said Alex Wright, who is against abortion rights. “But because we care and love for them, we want to see those babies be saved and see that mother not regret a decision she’s going to make.”

    Wright comes weekly, spreading the gospel, as well as adoption resources for potential patients. Wright says he’s for the Florida Supreme Court to strike down the potential amendment, but would love to see abortion illegal nationwide.

    “I hope that it gets struck down and hope they vote not to include it. I hope abortion never gets legalized fully. I hope it gets abolished,” said Wright.

    On Feb. 7, the Florida Supreme Court will hear the first oral arguments potentially allowing the abortion amendment on the November ballot.

    Lawmakers grill social media executives

    The top officers of some of the world’s biggest social media companies defended their commitment to protecting young people on their platforms on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as senators pressed the tech giants for less talk and more action. 

    “These companies must be reined in or the worst is yet to come,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the committee’s top Republican, said.

    Wednesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, featuring the CEOs of some of the best-known platforms, including Meta, TikTok and X, formerly Twitter, opened with a video of people sharing personal stories about how they, or their children, faced exploitation on social media.

    Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., pressed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about whether he has personally compensated any of the victims and their families for what they have been through.

    “I don’t think so,” Zuckerberg replied.

    “There’s families of victims here,” Hawley said. “Would you like to apologize to them?”

    Parents attending the hearing rose and held up pictures of their children. Zuckerberg stood as well, turning away from his microphone and the senators to address them directly.

    “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered,” he said, adding that Meta continues to invest and work on “industry-wide efforts” to protect children.

    The CEOs emphasized the existing tools they have in place on their platforms for users to report exploitation and protect children. The chief officer of Snap, Evan Spiegel, for instance, noted Snapchat does not have public friends lists and minors do not have public profile photos. 

    TikTok’s Zi Chew noted there is a specific experience on its app designed for younger children while Zuckerberg pointed out controls that allow parents to limit the time children spend on Meta’s services. 

    Ahead of the hearing, Snap announced it would support an act that would require platforms to report certain instances of drug trafficking. The CEO of X, formerly Twitter, Linda Yaccarino, said her site supports a bill that increases the ability of people who have experienced sexual exploitation to sue platforms. 

    Republican and Democratic senators came together in a rare show of agreement throughout the hearing, though it’s not yet clear if this will be enough to pass legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act, proposed in 2022 by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. 

    Google’s YouTube was notably missing from the list of companies called to the Senate Wednesday even though more kids use YouTube than any other platform, according to the Pew Research Center. Pew found that 93% of U.S. teens use YouTube, with TikTok a distant second at 63%.

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    Katie Streit

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  • Lawmakers in Tallahassee tackle monuments and gun violence

    Lawmakers in Tallahassee tackle monuments and gun violence

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    Lawmakers in Tallahassee are considering bills that would increase penalties for youth gun violence offenders and punish local governments that remove historical statues. 


    Lawmakers debate monument proposal

    Statues and monuments are the subject of ongoing debate in Tallahassee year after year.

    But in speaking to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, there are those who believe that this bill has some legs in this legislature.

    To remove or to preserve? In Tallahassee, state lawmakers are split. They’re wrestling with what to do with controversial monuments.

    House Bill 395 proposes the state “protection of historical monuments and memorials,” authorizing “all actions to protect and preserve all historical monuments and memorials from removal, damage or destruction.”

    “Over the past few years, local governments have made war on historic monuments and this recognizes that history belongs to all Floridians,” State Rep. Dean Black said.

    If local municipalities move or mess with a monument, HB 395 threatens penalties if passed as currently written. Violators could face fines or fees.

    As of 2022, roughly 75 Confederate monuments remain in Florida according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

    Supporters say the bill preserves history. They say the proposal protects all monuments.

    “The fact that this bill now is so hyper partisan I think is reflective of the country and how we’ve gotten even more partisan in the intervening six years,” State Rep. Spencer Roach said.

    Critics, however, call it offensive. They say cities, not the state, should make the call. They’re also calling it an affront to Florida’s black community.

    “Most I’ve ever been more offended by a bill. This bill is sending a message not only to Black folks in the state of Florida, but to your Black colleagues,” State Rep. Michele Rayner said.

    At the heart of this bill is the City of Jacksonville. Last month the city removed two confederate statutes, ending a nearly three-year debate.

    Youth gun violence bill would increase penalties

    As lawmakers consider toughen penalties for kids committing firearms violations, a new Florida bill is making its way through subcommittees in the Legislature.

    House Bill 1181, introduced by state Rep. Berny Jacques, would increase the punishment for juveniles caught with a gun — except in few specific scenarios — from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.

    Jacques told the House Criminal Justice Committee this week that accountability can be a deterrent for these kids.

    “In a situation where a known youth is always known to be carrying around a firearm, and have committed offenses before, if they are addressed early on, that may deter them from doing something else in the future, because these things escalate. Today is just riding a bike with a gun on your hip, with your crew thinking it’s cool. The next day, you’re in a convenience store using that gun. But if we had a strong measure when they were held and arrested for just the bike ride and they had a minor in possession of a firearm, and something clicked, then maybe they maybe they wouldn’t go to that convenience store and Lord knows what’s going to happen,” he said.

    But critics of the bill say the proposed punishment is too harsh for minors.

    Derrick Collins wants to make a difference in his community.

    “We see them at the schools, we see them at their homes, we see them wherever they are. If they’re in the detention center, we see them there,” said Collins, the program director at Mr. and Ms. Mentoring.

    But when he heard about House Bill 1181, he had some questions.

    “I do feel like they need to understand why they might be holding a firearm in the first place,” Collins said. “A lot of the time it’s more protective rather than them just having it just cause. There are kids who use it for show, but a lot of it is for protection because of the areas that they live in.”

    Collins said that while he has kids who may be deterred if the bill is passed, other kids, the ones who fear their safety if they’re unarmed, might not.

    Instead of enacting harsher punishments, Collins said legislators should focus more on alternative programs to get kids onto the road to success.

    “We do provide a lot of alternatives, reading is one of those alternatives,” he said. “So we provide free books for them. They take them as they come.”

    If passed, the bill would also extend how long minors are held at a detention center before the court begins criminal proceedings. It states the juvenile could remain in the facility anywhere between five and 21 days, depending on the crime.

    Collins said he would like to know the reasoning behind the bill.

    “What is the overall goal for them?” he asked. “Is the goal to deter them from having it? Or is the goal to put the ones that are having it behind bars?” 

    The juvenile justice bill had its first reading this week and is currently being considered in the Justice Appropriations subcommittee.

    Biden attends two fundraisers in Florida

    President Joe Biden, aboard Air Force One, touched down in West Palm Beach this afternoon. Two fundraisers for the Biden-Harris reelection campaign were set for Miami and Palm Beach.

    Florida Democrats were quick to capitalize on the president’s visit. Party Chair Nikki Fried issued a statement that said, in part,

    “President Biden’s early visibility in Florida shows that the Biden campaign is serious about competing in the Sunshine State, and the Florida Democratic Party is happy to welcome him and his campaign to our home,” Fried said.

    Meanwhile, Americans for Prosperity-Florida had another take on the president’s visit, noting, “Floridians’ paychecks don’t go as far at the grocery store or gas station since ‘Bidenomics,’ and instead of collecting campaign dollars in Florida the president should unleash economic potential in our state,” the group said in a statement.

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    Katie Streit

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  • Anti-sex trafficking nonprofits receiving less funding from state

    Anti-sex trafficking nonprofits receiving less funding from state

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Anti-human trafficking organizations in Manatee County are feeling the impact of low funding due to budget cuts from the state.

    One grant specifically affected is the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), providing money for direct services like counseling for victims.

    What You Need To Know

    • Anti-human trafficking organizations in Manatee County are experiencing funding issues due to budget cuts from the state

    • The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), which grants nonprofit organizations funding to pay for services, was cut by roughly $800,000 for this year 

    • According to Selah Freedom Executive Director Stacy Efaw, the money pays for counseling services, food, clothing, along with medical and dental coverage, and transportation
    • Efaw said her organization have to find other ways of funding those sex trafficking survivors that were covered by VOCA

    Dr. Jason Quintal is committed to researching extensively to help his patients.

    “I’ve been doing this since 2012, working with victims of sex trafficking,” he said.

    Despite being a mental health counselor for decades, he works with several anti-trafficking nonprofits like Selah Freedom, which deals with 300 sex trafficking victims annually, including 40 in Manatee County. The organization notes an increase in the number of victims.

    Quintal helps patients from there every week, stating, “I would say 90 percent of the time, we are getting people dramatically better from this stuff. The error in our profession is treating trauma as something buried that we have to get out. The real nature of why we are troubled is their brain emotionally never got the good news they survived the experience.”

    However, the nonprofits’ main source of funding to pay for counselors like Quintal comes from the Victims of Crime Act. The funding was cut by roughly $800,000 for this year and more than a million dollars the year before.

    “These are people that don’t have the funds themselves to be able to resolve the challenges they are having, and many nonprofits like Selah Freedom are providing an invaluable service,” he said.

    According to the executive director of Selah Freedom, the money pays for counseling services, food, clothing, along with medical and dental coverage, and transportation. In a statement to Spectrum News, Executive Director Stacy Efaw wrote, “Currently, the demand for service from survivors has increased significantly, to where we are on a 2-month wait to get someone into our assessment home. We have the physical room to add more beds for survivors but lack the funding. It’s heartbreaking to not be able to serve them only due to a lack of funding.”

    Regardless, the executive director tells us they have no plans on cutting any positions, but will have to find other ways of funding those sex trafficking survivors that were covered by VOCA. It’s a need to continue funding resources like counselors.

    “I don’t think that there could be anything better to do because the difference you are able to make with these women and with people, in general, you are healing wounds,” Quintal said.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • DeSantis gets involved in social media bill

    DeSantis gets involved in social media bill

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    Former President Donald Trump was dealt a major blow in the defamation case against him and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says a key Florida bill will need to be changed.


    Trump gets jury decision in defamation case

    Former President Donald Trump is on the campaign trail this weekend in Nevada. But across the country in a Manhattan courtroom, a big decision came down.

    A jury decided that Trump should pay writer E. Jean Carroll more than $83 million in damages for defamatory statements he made about her in 2019.

    The jury deliberated for less than three hours and ultimately awarded Carroll $7 million in emotional harm, $11 million in reputational repair, and $65 million in punitive damages. The award is more than eight times what Carroll asked for.

    Last year a separate jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages after they found Trump sexually abused her and then defamed her.

    Trump was not in the courtroom when the decision was read, but his attorney spoke afterward.

    “He took the stand. He abided by the rules of this corrupt system that I’ve seen,” Trump attorney Alina Habba said. “We will immediately appeal, we will set aside that ridiculous jury and I just want to remind you all of one thing: I will continue with President Trump to fight for everybody’s First Amendment right to speak.”

    Trump also went to his Truth Social account after the ruling to decry the jury’s decision.

    “Absolutely ridiculous! I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole Biden directed witch hunt focused on me and the Republican Party,” Trump wrote. “Our legal system is out of control and being used as a political weapon. They have taken away all first amendment rights. This is not America”

    In Georgia, Trump’s lawyers want to disqualify Fani Willis from leading the election interference case against him. His team says Willis created a conflict of interest by hiring her romantic partner to help with the case, Nathan Wade.

    His lawyers also accuse her of violating state rules when she claimed that racism was behind the efforts to remove her.

    Willis hasn’t confirmed nor denied a relationship with Wade, and she has to respond to the motion by next week.

    Meanwhile, the Georgia State Senate approved the creation of a special committee to investigate Willis. Six Republicans and three Democrats will have full subpoena power and the ability to require testimony under oath.

    DeSantis responds to social media restriction legislation

    In Kissimmee this morning, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was asked if he supported House Bill 1, which would ban social media use for minors younger than 16. The bill has been a priority for House Speaker Paul Renner. DeSantis took the opportunity to not only address the legislation itself, but what successful implementation of that bill would look like.

    “Anything I do. I want a pathway for this to actually stick. So we’re going to look through that. So what I would say is I’m sympathetic to, as a parent, what’s going on with our youth. But I also understand that to just say that, you know, someone that’s 15 just cannot have it no matter what, that may create some some legal issues. And so I told the speaker I’d work with them on it. So I would say that, you know, this is something that’s likely going to evolve as it gets through the House and makes its way through the Senate. And we’ll see if we get a product that is going to be something that’s good. But I, I am concerned about the breadth of it, and I want to empower parents. I want to give parents tools to to be able to do this. And so I just think you got to be smart about how you do it,” DeSantis said.

    After Wednesday’s passage of HB 1 in the House, it is now in the Senate’s hands for consideration.

    Biden to visit Florida

    President Joe Biden is coming to visit. He announced he will travel to the Palm Beach and Miami areas on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

    The president will participate in two campaign receptions. His wife, Dr. Jill Biden, is making a stop in Florida this weekend as well. She arrives tonight in Tampa and will speak at a fundraiser in Palm Harbor tomorrow.

    Lawmakers respond to gun proposal

    A call tonight for gun reform in Florida and across the country.

    Congresswoman Kathy Castor and State House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell both appeared in a virtual call today about what Democrats want to get passed.

    And they say they have support from the public and law enforcement.

    “I strongly support a ban on assault weapons. When you talk to local law enforcement, they do not want to be outgunned,” Castor said. “And so we should re-up the assault weapons ban. We need to work on safe storage of firearms and require background checks for all firearm purchases.”

    “Poll after poll shows us that the people of Florida overwhelmingly support common sense gun safety reforms,” Driskell said. “The people are on our side and they want to be able to go to school, work, shop in church, or just walk through their neighborhoods without the fear of being shot.”

    Last night we touched on proposed legislation that would roll back some of the gun reforms that were passed in Florida in 2018 after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting.

    One of those reforms was raising the age to buy a long-gun from 18 to 21. 

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    Phillip Stucky

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  • Lawmakers focus on border battle

    Lawmakers focus on border battle

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    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pledges to support the state of Texas in their dispute with the federal government about the Southern Border, and lawmakers tour Marjory Stoneman Douglas school.


    DeSantis to support Texas in border dispute

    Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida will stand with Texas in the border dispute with the federal government.

    Florida is one of about 15 red states vowing to support Texas Gov. Greg Abbot who says the federal government is failing to protect his state from an invasion.

    On Monday, the Supreme Court cleared the way for the federal government to remove razor wire installed by texas to help keep migrants out.

    Today DeSantis said Florida will continue sending personnel and assets to the Texas border, which is an extension of an earlier program.

    “You have Texas who is acting to enforce the laws on the books. To ensure they have a secure state and we have a secure country. So all of this is just nonsense what Biden is doing. Texas has every right to stand its ground. We even have been sending people from Florida to help for years now, because we understand it’s not just a Texas issue, it’s an American issue. And if we don’t have sovereignty in this country, then we are not going to be a county anymore. So they have every right to hold their ground, to stay the course, and Florida will continue to be there to help out every step of the way,” DeSantis said.

    There is a bill in the Florida Legislature that would expand the use of the Florida State Guard. It does not specifically mention Texas, but would allow the state guard to operate outside of Florida’s borders.

    Meanwhile, immigration is shaping up to be the defining issue of the 2024 election. Voters have consistently ranked it as a top issue in polling across the country.

    The U.S. Senate has been trying to craft immigration reform.

    Yesterday Sen. Rick Scott and conservative GOP colleagues made it clear they would not support the bill that the say would give a green light to letting in up to 5,000 migrants in per day.

    “Everyone up here would like to have a secure border. Most of us have always been very supportive of legal immigration. But what we don’t want, we don’t want drugs, criminals, terrorists, human traffickers. When President Trump was president, the border was secure. It’s not about the laws. We are talking about a new border bill, but it’s not about the laws, we actually have a lawless administration. The Biden administration is absolutely lawless. Senator Cruz is going to talk about this in regards to Texas. The Biden administration went to the Supreme Court to say they want to make sure that Texas cannot keep their border secure. Our federal government said they don’t want a secure border. They don’t want Texas to do their job to make sure their citizens stay safe. We haven’t seen the text yet, but one thing we do know about this bill, there will be nothing in there that will directly impact anything, whether it is Ukraine aid or anything else, if the border is not secure,” Scott said.

    A possible border deal that also would provide aid for Ukraine may be slipping away after months of intense negotiations.

    “I’m working with partners who want to deal. There are a lot of republican senators who want a bipartisan agreement,” Rep. Chris Murphy said.

    Former President Donald Trump, fresh off his victory in the New Hampshire primary, is amping up pressure on republicans to kill any agreement, demanding on his social media site that a border deal be “Perfect.”

    Trump is seeking to make the surge of migrants entering the U.S. A pillar of his presidential campaign, that strategy would be undercut by a border agreement.

    A deal also would give President Joe Biden a major legislative victory.

    Trump’s senate allies are welcoming his pressure campaign.

    “I hope that he’ll continue to be against it, be helpful on this, because I see absolutely no reason to give Joe Biden a pass,” Sen. Josh Hawley said.

    Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly told Republican colleagues they are in a quandary, especially since unlocking assistance for Ukraine and Israel depends on lawmakers reaching a border agreement.

    On Thursday he told reporters they’re still working toward a deal.

    Some senate Republicans are hitting back at attempts to block a deal for the sake of the 2024 election.

    “The fact that he would communicate to republican senators and congresspeople that he doesn’t want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it is really appalling,” Sen. Mitt Romney said.

    Even if the Senate reaches an agreement and passes it, the bill is likely to face an uphill fight in the House where the speaker, a fierce trump ally, has been demanding that it contain provisions most Democrats have called unacceptable.

    School safety and gun legislation

    School safety and gun reform is being discussed at the federal and state level.

    Today Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz and parkland victims’ families lead House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark on a guided visitation of Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school, the site of the February 2018 shooting that killed 17 people and injured 17 others.

    The building of the school where the massacre took place has been preserved just as it was immediately after the shooting. It is set to be demolished sometime this summer.

    U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona joined family members who lost loved ones on a tour of Marjory Stoneman Douglas.

    Afterwards, Cardona led a discussion with the parkland families on how to make changes to prevent the next school shooting

    “The visit this morning is the beginning of a relationship that I want to have with this community,” he said.

    Moskowitz says he is hopeful that a national red flag law can be passed.

    Red flag laws allow law enforcement to petition a judge to remove an individual’s firearms if it’s believed they pose a threat to someone or themselves.

    Moskowitz said Florida’s red flag law is supported by sheriffs statewide. That red flag law was just one of the reforms that happened after the Parkland massacre.

    Right after the shooting, the Florida Legislature implemented the first gun reform in the state in 2 decades.

    They raised the age to buy long guns from 18 to 21.

    Lawmakers may roll that back this session.

    A redistricting fight awaits a federal judge’s decision

    With the 2024 election quickly approaching, a federal court case is ongoing over the redistricting of Congressional District 5

    The North Florida district saw a major overhaul before the November 2022 election. In 2016, Democrat Al Lawson was elected in 2016.

    But after the state legislature changed the map after the 2020 census, Republicans won all the North Florida congressional seats in 2022.

    Voting rights groups are challenging the redistricting, saying it was unconstitutional.

    District 5 used to stretch from Jacksonville West to Gadsden county.

    After 2020, the borders were redrawn to cover the southern and eastern parts of Jacksonville and south down the St. Johns river through St. Augustine.

    “We’re arguing that there is intentional discrimination on the basis of race when DeSantis and the Florida Legislature approved that and drew the map that is currently in place,” Common Cause Executive Director Amy Keith said.

    The organization is a plaintiff along with the NAACP and others claiming the redistricting was unconstitutional and possibly involves racial discrimination. If they’re right, that could violate the 14th Amendment, which ensures equal protection of the Constitution.

    “In redistricting terminology, we would call that cracking. So what they did is they took a black community, and they cut it up into multiple districts to weaken their voice,” Keith said.

    The state argued the new map isn’t motivated by race

    “The result was a race-neutral map that prioritized traditional redistricting criteria like compactness and adherence to geographic and political boundaries, and gone was the district in North Florida where over 80% of the population came from only two counties at the extreme eastern and western edges of the district, separated by hundreds of miles, and connected by a narrow land bridge,” the state said in its arguments.

    Keith says the breakup of District 5 resulted in a change in representation

    “That is a district where black voters have the opportunity to elect a representative of their choice. The new map which you can see splits that district into 4 different districts across North Florida and all of those districts now have a white representative,” she said.

    The trial lasted 2 weeks late last year, and a decision has yet to be made by the federal judges.

    A ruling is expected before March.

    Meanwhile, a similar lawsuit in the state court system will now be taken up by the Florida Supreme Court.

    The lawsuit was first filed in April 2022.

    The Florida Supreme Court is giving plaintiffs until February 28 to file their initial brief. Subsequent filing deadlines could extend to the end of may before the case itself is heard before the court.

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    Phillip Stucky

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  • City Council to hear recommendations on future of Schwettman site

    City Council to hear recommendations on future of Schwettman site

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. —  The New Port Richey City Council is expected to discuss the future of the former Schwettman Education Center on Tuesday.

    What You Need To Know

    • The City of New Port Richey had originally bought the property in the fall for $1.7 million

    • The outcome would mean new economic development to the area

    • The redevelopment agency meeting is set for 5 p.m.

    The goal of these future projects would be to bring an economic development project to the area. The city originally had bought this property in the fall for $1.7 million.

    “The majority of (the) council thought that there was benefit in redevelopment of the piece, in large part because it is situated at a prominent corner in the city,” City Manager Debbie Manns said of the eight-acre property’s location at Grand Boulevard. and Gulf Drive.

    Manns said proposed development at the site of the former Community Hospital on Grand and Marine Parkway is seen as another benefit of redeveloping Schwettman.

    She is recommending the council look into selling it to a private developer. She said it would help in garnering a good amount of reinvestment in the Marine District and guide their plans to upgrade the neighborhood overall. Manns plans to suggest that the land not be re-purposed as residential space.

    Former Mayor Rob Marlowe says the area is underutilized and this would be a prime time to redo it all.

    “This is one of the last undeveloped sections of the Cotee River inside of New Port Richey. It’s totally undeveloped. That gets cleaned up, it would be easy enough to put in docks,” Marlowe said.

    Marlowe also said that if done right, the redevelopment of Schewettman could have a promising impact. He also would like to see the building used as a public space.

    Councilmembers are expected to talk about the future of Schwettman and other properties in store at today’s community redevelopment agency meeting at 5 p.m.

    The council may decide to take action Tuesday or choose to discuss the issue further at another time. There are currently plans to recommend the city issue a request for proposals on the site in the first quarter of 2024, according to Manns.

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    Reina Nieves

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  • Florida AG Moody to subpoena College Football Playoff committee

    Florida AG Moody to subpoena College Football Playoff committee

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — After Florida State became the first undefeated Power 5 team in the 10-year history of the College Football Playoff to be excluded from a chance to play for a national championship, state Attorney General Ashley Moody is planning to subpoena the CFP’s selection committee.

    What You Need To Know

    • State Attorney General Ashley Moody is planning to subpoena the CFP’s selection committee following FSU’s playoff snub

    • Moody says the investigation is focused on possible conspiracy and antitrust violations

    • The Seminoles are slated to play the Georgia Bulldogs in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30 

    Moody is asking the committee to hand over documents and records on everyone involved in the selection process.

    She’s also looking into pay records, communication records and more.

    Moody says the investigation is focused on possible conspiracy and antitrust violations.

    “I recognize when there needs to be answers,” she said. “There needs to be transparency for the sake of college football and the purity of the sport. This is an important investigation going forward. I think not just Floridians, but folks nationwide will want answers.”

    She adds that the omission will cost Florida State University and the Atlantic Coast Conference millions of dollars.

    Previously, Gov. Ron DeSantis pledged $1 million for “any litigation expenses that may come as a result of this really, really poor decision by the College Football Playoff.”

    Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) also sent a letter to CFP Selection Committee Chairman Boo Corrigan demanding full transparency from the committee regarding how the decision was reached.

    The two teams knocked out of the CFP, FSU and two-time defending champion Georgia, will meet in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.

    The Seminoles still have the opportunity to play for the third perfect season in school history. FSU went 14-0 in 2013 and 12-0 in 1999, both of those seasons ending with national titles.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Issue 2 becomes law making recreational marijuana legal – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Issue 2 becomes law making recreational marijuana legal – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Although Ohioans can now smoke marijuana recreationally, that doesn’t mean they can’t get in trouble at all for using it. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Employers are not required to revise their company drug policy 
    • Ohioans can still get fired if they fail a drug test 
    • It’s unlikely that corporations and organizations would change their drug policy until marijuana becomes legal on a federal level

    Issue 2, which legalizes recreational marijuana, has officially become law, but it doesn’t mean it comes without obstacles. As a citizen-initiated statute, the legislature is free to make provisions on it. Aside from the legal fate of the legislation, there can also be complications with employer policies. 

    “An employer is still well within its rights to still have a workplace program and include marijuana in that, just as if it were still a completely illegal drug,” said Chris Lalak, who has his own firm as a labor attorney. “They are allowed to test for that. They don’t have to accommodate for it, even if there is a medicinal use for it.”

    Ohio is the 24th state to legalize recreational marijuana, but it is still illegal on the federal level. Many corporations and businesses operate on a national or even global scale, which is why many employers have no concern or push to change or modify their drug policies anytime soon.  

    “The next step, as far as requiring employers to accommodate it, as I see it, there’s going to need to be some sort…

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  • Everything to know about voting by mail in Florida

    Everything to know about voting by mail in Florida

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    It has long been the voting method of choice – and necessity – for out-of-state college students and military service members serving overseas.

    The 2022 Legislative session produced a law that changed how mail in ballots are requested and collected, making it so that voters who want a mail-in ballot have to request one each year. That means that now is the time to check to see if your vote-by-mail request is still standing. 


    Is there a difference between a vote-by-mail ballot and an absentee ballot?

    No. 

    Florida lawmakers in 2016 changed the terminology from “absentee” to “vote-by-mail” because all registered voters in the state are allowed to cast a ballot without showing up at their assigned polling location. Other states require an accepted excuse for being unable to vote in person.

    Will my standing vote-by-mail ballot request be honored in 2023?

    No, the Florida legislature passed a law that only allows people to make ballot requests for up to two years, not four. This means that some voters who have had standing vote-by-mail requests in prior election years will need to request their earlier than anticipated. 

    Voters can check their vote-by-mail status and other election information by checking with their local county supervisor of elections. 

    Can anyone vote by mail?

    Yes. Please see above.

    How do I request a mail-in ballot?

    There are four options:

    1. Fill out an online application
    2. Request one in writing
    3. Go to the elections office
    4. Call the elections office

    You can find the mailing address, email address, phone number and fax number for your county’s Supervisor of Elections by clicking this link.

    What is the deadline for requesting a vote-by-mail ballot?

    It’s 10 days before an election at 5 p.m. However, the U.S. Post Service is asking voters to make the request no later than 15 days prior to the election, to give you time to get the ballot and mail it back in. 

    There are exceptions and alternatives for military service members serving overseas and American citizens living in other countries. That information can be found here.

    What information do I need to request a mail-in ballot?

    • Name
    • Address
    • Date of birth
    • The voter’s Florida driver license, Florida identification card, or last four digits of the elector’s social security number, whichever may be verified in the supervisor’s records;
    • Signature (If the request is being made in writing)

    You should also already be registered to vote in Florida elections. Check your voter registration status.

    If someone is requesting a ballot on your behalf, they need to include the following information:

    • The requestor’s address
    • The requestor’s driver license number, state identification card, or the last four digits of the elector’s social security number (if available)
    • The requestor’s relationship to the voter
    • The requestor’s signature (if the request is written)

    Can someone else pick up my mail-in ballot?

    Yes, no earlier than 9 days before Election Day, and as long as that person is someone you have officially designated to pick up your ballot by filling out this form.

    Here’s what they will need:

    • Your address
    • Your driver’s license number, if you have one
    • Your signature
    • A written authorization from the voter, and they will have to sign an affidavit

    It’s important to note that Florida law prohibits anyone from picking up more than two vote-by-mail ballots for other people who are not their immediate family members.

    When do I have to send in my vote-by-mail ballot?

    Your county’s Supervisor of Elections must receive the ballot by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Because of the expected influx of ballots, the U.S. Post Office suggests mailing your ballot in at least one week before Election Day to make sure it gets delivered on time.

    “Customers who opt to vote through the U.S. Mail must understand their local jurisdiction’s requirements for timely submission of absentee ballots, including postmarking requirements,” USPS said in a statement released to Spectrum News Tuesday. “Voters must use First-Class Mail or an expedited level of service to return their completed ballots.”

    Is the mail the only way to send in a vote-by-mail ballot?

    No.

    You can drop it off at your county’s Supervisor of Elections office. Florida law also requires all counties to accept vote-by-mail ballots at early voting locations.

    Florida law recently changed how “drop boxes” are allowed to be used. These drop boxes are secured metal boxes where a voter cand turn in their ballot. Now, drop boxes can only be used at Supervisor of Election offices, can only be open during regular voting hours, and have to be personally monitored at all times by an election worker. 

    Do I have to put stamps on my mail-in ballot?

    That depends on where you live. Some counties send out vote-by-mail ballots with pre-paid return postage. Others don’t.

    Where can I see if my mail-in ballot was received?

    You can check the status of your mail-in ballot by providing your name and birthdate on the Florida Division of Elections website. Your county’s Supervisor of Elections will also be able to provide that information.

    When are vote-by-mail ballots counted?

    Mail-in ballots are usually counted before all the in-person ballots, despite a common myth that suggests otherwise. Those numbers are among the first results reported on election night.

    Can I change my vote on a mail-in ballot if I change my mind?

    No.

    Unlike other states, Florida will not allow you to change your vote after you send in your vote-by-mail ballot. However, if you make a mistake while you’re filling it out, the Supervisor of Elections will send you up to two replacement ballots. 

    If you decide not to submit your mail in ballot, bring it with you to your assigned polling place so that you can cancel your mail in ballot and complete a new ballot in person. 

    If the local Supervisor of Elections can confirm that they have not received a mail in ballot with your name, you can fill out a ballot in person at your polling location. 

    If the supervisor is unable to confirm that they have not received your mail in ballot, and you assert that you did not vote, you can vote using a provisional ballot. 

    What if my vote-by-mail ballot signature doesn’t match the one on file?

    You will be notified by the Supervisor of Elections. That’s why it’s so important to include your contact information.

    You must complete a “Vote-By Mail Ballot Cure Affidavit” and send it to your county’s Supervisor of Elections by 5 p.m. two days after Election Day. It’s the same process if you forgot to sign your ballot, and if you miss the deadline, your vote will not be counted.

    Everyone’s signature changes over time, so you can always send in a new voter registration form to make sure your signature is up to date and avoid any issues.

    Can I vote in person if I requested a mail-in ballot?

    Yes.

    Bring your vote-by-mail ballot with you to the polls. If the poll workers can’t confirm that your vote hasn’t already been counted, you will be allowed to vote on a provisional ballot.

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  • Officials work to improve Florida’s mental health care system

    Officials work to improve Florida’s mental health care system

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Florida faces a challenge with a scarcity of mental health professionals throughout the entire state.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Florida ranks 49th in Mental Health Services according to the American Psychological Association

    •  Citrus County is facing a shortage of mental health clinicians

    •  County leaders are trying to find new solutions to combat growing mental health crisis

    Currently, Florida ranks 49th in mental health services, according to the American Psychological Association.

    In places like Citrus County, officials there are trying to find new solutions and approaches to treating mental health.

    Melissa Bowermaster is the Executive Director of Jessie’s Place Child Advocacy Center in Citrus County.

    The organization deals with kids who have experienced abuse and are given comfort, safety, and treatment.

    Bowermaster says she is dealing with a clinician shortage; she only has 4 on staff, and they treat anywhere from 80 to 90 kids a week. They are dealing with a long waitlist.

    “The waiting list is the one thing that keeps me up at night. There are a lot of stressors that come with running a non-profit organization, but the one thing that really bothers me is because I know what that means. I know it’s kids that have been through horrific traumas and they’re waiting for services and that’s the worst,” Bowermaster said.

    She says funding is also an issue and the need for more resources. Beket Lott is a therapist at Jessie’s Place. She says more people need to understand how crucial mental health care really is.

    “I think I would want legislatures to know that these are needs that need to be met. That we need more funding for more clinicians. We need more space and that our kids should be a priority,” Lott said.

    Citrus County Commissioner Rebecca Bays says she is working with local organizations like Jessie’s Place, county health officials, and the state to come up with better ideas to tackle the mental health problem.

    “I am willing to listen to anybody. What’s working for you? What did you try that was wrong and didn’t work? How do we find the blend and really get to the bottom of this?,” Bays said.

    Bays says she wants to identify those who need help and get them the services early on, saying this could help lower the number of those going to mental health facilities later in life or jail.

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    Jeff Van Sant

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  • OCM director talks marijuana market – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    OCM director talks marijuana market – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    Last week, the state’s Cannabis Control Board issued 212 operating licenses for adult use cannabis dispensaries.

    While New York has issued 463 legal licenses across the state, there are only a handful of brick-and-mortar operations up and running.

    Gov. Kathy Hochul has vowed to strengthen the emerging legal market by cracking down on unlicensed vendors through harsher fines and even store closures for repeat offenders.

    Chris Alexander, executive director of the State Office of Cannabis Management, joined NY1 political reporter Bobby Cuza on “Inside City Hall” Friday to discuss more.

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  • Some businesses struggling to obtain legal marijuana license – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Some businesses struggling to obtain legal marijuana license – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    After the long battle for businesses in the Finger Lakes region to be able to apply for marijuana licenses, some are still waiting for their time to come.

    FingerLakes Cannabis Company co-owners Mark Byassee and Tim Hay decided to get into the cannabis industry more than two years ago.

    “I had an illness. He went through an accident. It was during the COVID time period and we were both in sales jobs,” Byassee said.

    They saw it as an opportunity to do something they enjoyed, but getting into the industry has been harder than they first imagined.

    “Cannabis became legal and Mark and I thought that this would be relatively pretty quick,” Hay said. “They would issue licenses. We’d put an application in. They’d issue licenses and we’d be able to start selling recreational cannabis. It hasn’t been like that.”

    Business owners like Byassee and Hay had to go through the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, which made sure applicants for a card license followed protocols like securing a location, getting approval from local municipalities and that the dispensary is at least 30% owned by a justice-involved individual or someone with a marijuana conviction.

    “We checked off all those boxes and are currently still waiting for a license,” Hay said.

    Despite every effort, they say they were not granted a license. Then the process was delayed because of a lawsuit filed by another company also denied approval by the state.

    Byassee claims “because he wanted a…

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  • Could NC legalize medical pot? It’s coming up in the House – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Could NC legalize medical pot? It’s coming up in the House – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    The North Carolina Compassionate Care Act would legalize medical marijuana in the state. The bill has gotten further than earlier efforts to make prescription pot available in North Carolina.

    The legislation, SB3, passed the Senate in late February. On Tuesday, it will get its first hearing in the North Carolina House. The bill lays out tight regulations to make medical marijuana legal for a list of conditions, including cancer, AIDS/HIV and post-traumatic stress disorder.

    What You Need To Know

    •  A North Carolina House committee will take up legislation Tuesday that would legalize medical marijuana
    •  The Senate already passed the N.C. Compassionate Care Act with bipartisan support
    •  The bill lays out tight regulations for producing, prescribing and selling medical marijuana in North Carolina
    • The legislation limits the numbers of conditions for which patients could get a marijuana prescrption, incluing AIDS/HIV, cancer and PTSD

    Powerful Republican Sens. Bill Rabon and Michael Lee and Democrat Sen. Paul Lowe are the primary sponsors on the bill in the Senate. They shepherded the same bill through the Senate to pass last year, but that effort stalled out in the House.

    “It seems to me that the idea is gaining momentum and obviously there’s strong support in the Senate,” Rep. Jon Hardister, a Guilford County Republican and the majority whip in the House, said as the bill passed the Senate 36-10 in late February.

    “In general, it seems like the attitude among…

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  • Wide-range of topics discussed at NYSABPRHAL Conference – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Wide-range of topics discussed at NYSABPRHAL Conference – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    This weekend, the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, & Asian legislators celebrated their 52nd annual conference.

    “As one of the important things we do during our weekend, we have workshops called issue forums where we discuss a wide range of topics, including mental health, housing, nursing, union issues and community renewal,” NYSABPRHAL’s Executive Director Charlene Gayle said.

    The theme of this year’s conference was “Fight the Power,” and workshops addressed a wide range of issues, including health care inequities, housing insecurity and criminal justice reform.

    Recreational marijuana was one topic at the forefront, and how minority communities deserve to have equality when it comes to usage and retail licenses.

    “We need to understand what it means to have it in our community,” Yasmin Hurston Cornelius, treasurer of the New York CannaBusiness Chamber of Commerce, said. “It is important to understand our rights and the importance of hiring the right people to make your business succeed. Legislators and community organizers discussed climate change and environmental justice, as well as how to ensure that a more sustainable future can be achieved.”

    Public officials, legislators, community organizers, advocates and constituents filled the hallways and meeting rooms of Empire Plaza to have discussions regarding the latter. Health care disparities that came to light during the COVID-19 pandemic, sparked various panel…

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