ReportWire

Tag: Marion County

  • Wyomina Park Elementary may follow year-round classes

    Wyomina Park Elementary may follow year-round classes

    [ad_1]

    MARION COUNTY, Fla. — In a meeting held Thursday night at Wyomina Park Elementary School, school officials in Marion County discussed with dozens of parents the possibility of migrating to a year-round academic calendar that would shorten summers and extend breaks throughout the year. 

    What You Need To Know

    • School officials in Marion County discussed with dozens of parents the possibility of migrating to a year-round academic calendar

    • A “year-round” academic calendar would start in mid-July rather than August 

    • The pilot program would not change the number of days children are legally required to attend school 

    “We are focused on growing our students and making sure they are reaching their full potential, and we feel that this could be an opportunity to continue to grow our students academically,” said Victoria Hunt, principal of Wyomina Park Elementary School. 

    The school is one of three schools in the state of Florida to participate in the program. 

    The move comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law the bipartisan HB 891 Year-round School Pilot Program bill that enables “the Department of Education (DOE) to assist school districts in establishing a year-round school program within at least one elementary school in the district to study issues, benefits, and scheduling options,” state lawmakers wrote in the law. 

    The pilot program would affect nearly 600 students at Wyomina Park Elementary School, but would not change the number of academic days children are legally required to attend nationwide. However, cchool could start in mid-July instead of August.

    “If we participate in this pilot here at Wyomina Park, students will still attend 180 instructional days just like all the other elementary schools in Marion County,” Hunt said. 

    Instead of having traditional three-month summer breaks, students would still be granted 12 weeks of vacation but would have their time off spread out throughout the year. According to the school’s principal, holidays that other public schools in the area observe will not be impacted. But students could potentially have slightly longer spring breaks. 

    And though the newly proposed calendar system is widely supported by academic officials in Marion County, the pilot program has faced mix emotions among parents.

    “If the school has frequent breaks in between, how will children who are on the autistic spectrum acclimate to so many frequent breaks within the school year?” asked Diana Garcia, parent of a special needs child at Wyomina Park. 

    Garcia worries whether the program can be molded to fit the needs of her autistic child, who she says relies heavily on routines and may have a hard time adjusting to having a shorter summer.

    Yet many parents who attended Thursday’s meeting believe the newly proposed academic calendar is a step in the right direction to ensuring their child does not fall behind after long summer breaks. 

    “It is going to help the children learn more,” said Amelia Mrsiz, whose children often struggle to keep up with their academic growth over the summer. “Especially with the reading, math, and writing. I feel like they need it a little more.” 

    The school is currently promoting outreach to parents to learn more about parents’ concerns and any feedback they may have before submitting a final academic calendar to Marion County’s school board, Hunt said. 

    It is unclear when a final calendar will be submitted for Marion County’s school board approval.

    [ad_2]

    Christian Peña

    Source link

  • Trump’s lawyers argue at the Supreme Court, and Florida considers a dog registry

    Trump’s lawyers argue at the Supreme Court, and Florida considers a dog registry

    [ad_1]

    The Supreme Court appeared poised to allow former President Donald Trump on the ballot in Colorado, and a debate rages in Tallahassee on a monument protection proposal. 


    Supreme Court hears arguments in Trump ballot question

    It was a historic day at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

    Justices heard arguments on whether former President Donald Trump can be disqualified from appearing on ballots this year due to his alleged involvement in the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in 2021.

    Trump was not present.

    The Supreme Court is reviewing a ruling by Colorado’s highest court that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on that state’s ballot under a Constitutional Amendment that bars insurrectionists from federal office.

    But during oral arguments Thursday, the high court’s liberal and conservative justices appeared unwilling to accept the Colorado decision.

    Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative, worried that allowing one state to knock a presidential candidate from the ballot could trigger a series of tit-for-tat decisions by other states.

    “I would expect that a goodly number of states will say wherever the Democratic candidate is, you’re off the ballot and others for the Republican candidate, you’re off the ballot, it will come down to just a handful of states that are going to decide the presidential election. That’s a pretty daunting consequence,” Roberts said.

    Justice Elena Kagan, one of the court’s liberals, said if the Colorado ruling stands, one state could decide for the rest of the country who is permitted to run.

    “Like what’s the state doing, deciding who gets to who other citizens get to vote for president?” Kagan said.

    The back and forth reflected a debate about whether individual states or congress should decide whether the 14th Amendment applies to presidential candidates.

    The justices indicated they believe such a determination only could be made by Congress.

    In knocking Trump from the ballot, Colorado’s top court cited his conduct before and during the riot by his supporters on January 6, 2021.

    But only a small part of Thursday’s hearing dealt with whether Trump should be considered an insurrectionist.

    Only Colorado and Maine have removed Trump from the ballot, although some other states appear to be waiting are waiting for the high court to rule.

    Debate rages on monument protection bill in committee hearing

    The Senate Community Affairs Committee in Tallahassee considered Senate Bill 1122, The Protection of Historical Monuments and Memorials.

    The debate, especially with public comment, was very heated, and went for an hour and 40 minutes, just on the one bill. We’re going beyond the soundbite tonight to give viewers a broader sense of the discussion between lawmakers and members of the public.

    The bill has one more scheduled committee stop, in fiscal policy, before it moves to the full Senate for a vote. The companion house bill, HB 395, has two more scheduled committee stops before heading to the house floor.

    A bill to keep track of dangerous dogs moves forward

    New restrictions and requirements could be coming for some dog owners in Florida.

    Proposed legislation in Tallahassee would create a registry for dangerous dogs where people can check on animals living in their neighborhood.

    The State Senate Agriculture Committee voted in favor of the bill last week.

    State Sen. Jay Collins discussed the potential registry, which is being named “The Pam Rock bill” in honor of a woman who was killed by five dogs in Putnam County.

    Rock’s brother, Tom, says it would give owners tougher penalties to prevent violent attacks.

    “This is sad. What’s worse is it’s preventable. So you can be on the good guy team and help us stop them. Hear the cries of the Florida victims and help us pass this legislation now,” Rock said.

    “Believe me when I tell you, it’s not something I’d ever want to do to take away someone’s dog rights or to grow government. It is one of those areas that I am diametrically opposed to. That being said, you’ve listened to the stories. It’s real,” Collins said. He sponsored the bill.

    The committee unanimously approved the bill. It would exclude police dogs and hunting dogs from the registry if passed.

    However, a dog expert we spoke to says he’d like to see an emphasis put on training and rehabilitation.

    Chris Meverden has been training dogs for years.

    “I’ve been doing this for 13 years, and this has been my dream is to have a facility like this,” Meverden said. He owns North Tampa Dog Training.

    In the last year, he moved his operation to nearly eight acres of land in New Port Richey, growing the real estate of his business and his home.

    “It just makes it great for, you know, the dogs as far as having all this, you know, resources for them to, you know, for training and stuff like that,” Meverden said.

    Doing what’s best for the betterment of the dogs he works with is always his primary goal.

    “Having a good relationship with their owners and the fact that the dog has a better quality of life, being able to experience the world, you know, instead of just being locked in the backyard or, you know, you know, in a crate or, you know, a kennel,” he said.

    He said it’s very rare to have a dog that can’t be rehabilitated from dangerous behavior like biting.

    So when Meverden sees state legislation like House Bill 873 and Senate Bill 1156 that would create a statewide registry for dogs deemed “dangerous,” he says it won’t get rid of the root issue.

    “I don’t think that the problem of dog bites, fatalities and stuff like that is going to be solved by legislatures in Tallahassee,” he said.

    According to the Senate bill, if a dog is declared dangerous, owners have to put them in a proper enclosure, get liability insurance, put permanent identification like a tattoo or microchip in the dog, and notify animal control if the dog is loose, sold, or moving to a new address.

    [ad_2]

    Gary Darling

    Source link

  • Florida Supreme Court considers abortion amendment

    Florida Supreme Court considers abortion amendment

    [ad_1]

    The Florida Supreme Court holds a hearing on a proposed abortion amendment to the state Constitution, and the economy is set to be a key issue in the 2024 presidential election.


    Florida Supreme Court considers abortion amendment

    Will an abortion rights amendment make it on the November ballot in Florida? That was the subject of arguments today in Florida’s Supreme Court.

    Floridians Protecting Freedom says it has the required signatures to place amendment 4 on the ballot.

    But Florida’s Attorney General Ashley Moody is arguing the language is too vague.

    The judges also are weighing a challenge to a 15-week abortion ban. And that ruling will also decide the fate of the six-week ban that was passed the following year.

    Abortion rights supporters and opponents gathered outside the Capitol today. State lawmakers on both sides of the debate spoke after the court hearing.

    “Look at all the people who are standing here behind me. There are folks who feel strongly on either side. But over a million Floridians signed these ballot petitions. This is the voice and the will of the people of Florida to protect a woman’s right to choose. And it would be wrong for the court to override that. Especially given that the language and the summary are so clear,” State Rep. Fentrice Driskell said.

    “The earth is the Lord’s. It does not belong to these baby killers. We’re here because we’re humans. Welcome to planet Earth, where we love people, from the womb to the tomb. And as lawmakers, we are doing everything possible to defend life,” State Rep. Webster Barnaby said about the proposal.

    Chair of the Florida Democratic Party Nikki Fried discussed whether she was worried about the proposal getting denied by the court.

    “Their job was again to examine it through the lens of a single subject and make sure it’s not confusing to the electorate. Every other argument or going into other parts of our constitution is not relevant. It is very simple, the people of the state are asking for an opportunity to vote on this issue, and the people deserve that chance,” Fried said.

    The court must rule by April 1.

    If the Supreme Court approves the wording in the amendment, it would appear on the November ballot where voters would have the final say.

    According to Florida law, it would need at least 60% approval to pass.

    Floridians struggle to afford food as economy takes center stage in 2024

    As we move closer to the 2024 election, it’s important to understand issues important to voters up and down the I-4 corridor, an area that could be key to who wins in November in Florida and the nation.

    The economy, and concerns about inflation, remain a top concern among voters.

    A recent government report shows inflation is slowing down, and a University of Michigan survey shows consumer sentiment jumped up in the last two months by 29%, the most it has since 1991.

    But some in Central Florida continue to struggle to with costs of living, including covering the cost of food, which could have an impact on how people vote.

    By the time this truck rolled in, there were already about 100 cars lined up waiting

    Some drivers lined up just after midnight to be first in line for the first-come first serve food drive.

    Amey Wilkins is in the fourth line of cars from the front, and she’s ready to wait as long as she needs to.

    “It’s cold when you come in the morning time, but later on it gets warm,” Wilkins said.

    She says with higher grocery prices she can no longer afford the food she needs.

    “I try to add up in my head how much it costs for the groceries, and whatever is there and I don’t think I can take it, I have to put it back,” she said.

    Wilkins isn’t alone. Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida says searches for food assistance have doubled in the last year. So the cost of living is on the minds of many Central Floridians heading into the 2024 election.

    “It’s the economy, the economy’s got to get better, because the prices are going up. It’s hard when you have a fixed income,” Wilkins said.

    About two years ago she began coming to this twice-monthly food drive at Patmos Chapel in Apopka.

    Church volunteers load up trunks full of several boxes of fresh produce and frozen meat, enough food for a couple of weeks.

    Arnel Smalley says demand picked up during the pandemic, and has only grown since.

    “When God said when they were hungry we gave them food, when they were thirsty we gave them something to drink, that’s what we’re trying to do here. If people are hungry, people are thirsty, we want to make sure we’re giving them ample opportunity to come through the line,” Smalley said.

    He says the church went from serving about 200 families to 600 families. Most drivers here aren’t picking up food for just themselves. Wilkins shares her food with several other families.

    “Even when I’m ready to deliver food I’m like, Amey you’ve got to this, get up let’s go, they need this just as much as you need it,” Wilkins said.

    Wilkins says because of health problems, she could no longer work as a caretaker in a hospital. But she never lost her urge to help others.

    “I care about people. I try to help whoever needs help. Friends who eat meat, whatever meat I have, I give it to them, and whatever food I don’t use, I give it to them. So, it’s a helping hand, just like I’m getting a helping hand,” she said.

    She stocked up with food to last for about two weeks. But with the fluctuating cost of gas, it’s still a struggle. She can’t do this forever. She says prices need to come down.

    “So many times when I fill my car up with gas, $50 worth of gas, and I have to take my runs to take food to other people, I’m like, God you’ve got to send me a blessing,” she said.

    The organizers of that food drive report they used to allow people to pick up food for five or six families, but they’re having to limit that now to food for two to three families, so they make sure there’s enough food to go around.

    Stories like Wilkins’ throughout Central Florida could have an impact on the presidential election. Despite some strong economic numbers, it’s really the public and the voters’ perception of the economy.

    Biden’s approval is at an all-time low.

    But a University of Michigan poll shows consumer sentiment is improving. That could be a sign that voters are having more faith in President Joe Biden to handle the economy, which could bode well for him in November.

    Harris prepares for abortion to be key issue in election

    Democrats have plotted a full-court press on the issue in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health in June of 2022, which overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing the right to an abortion. Since the ruling, the abortion rights movement has seen major victories when the issue has been on the ballot, including in traditionally red states like Kansas and Ohio, and Democrats credited their stance on abortion with stronger-than-expected results in the 2022 midterms, which saw Democrats expand their margin in the U.S. Senate and only narrowly lose the House of Representatives.

    “When we’ve seen it on the ballot … since this case came down over a year ago, from Kansas to California, Ohio to Virginia, red states, blue states, the American people voted in favor of freedom,” Harris said in Thursday’s interview. “I think that a lot of people who are now coming to realize the harm that has actually resulted from this ruling, do feel a level of compassion and don’t believe it’s right that people are suffering the way they are.”

    “The highest court in our land took a constitutional right that had been recognized from the people of America, from the women of America, which is the ability and the freedom that a woman should have have to make decisions about her own body,” the vice president said. 

    The interview comes as Harris — who has been the Biden administration’s point person on the issue since the Dobbs decision — has been criss-crossing the country on a tour aimed at promoting abortion rights, a key issue for Democrats ahead of November’s election. Harris’ “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour kicked off in the battleground state of Wisconsin last month and brought her to San Jose, Calif., earlier this week as the administration — and the president and vice president’s reelection campaign — seek to keep the issue of abortion at the forefront of Americans’ minds before they head to the ballot box.

    “So many women have been suffering, and many, most, silently suffering,” Harris said Thursday. “I’ve met women who’ve had miscarriages in toilets. There are women who have been denied emergency medical care during a miscarriage because the the people who worked at the hospital were so afraid that they might be sent to jail. And do you know why? Because around our country laws are being proposed and passed that include providing prison time for doctors or nurses that give emergency or even give any kind of reproductive health care.”

    “It is a big issue that is happening every day,” Harris said.  

    Abortion was also the topic of Biden and Harris’ first joint campaign event of the year, a rally in northern Virginia one day after the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade last month.

    “Former President Trump hand-picked three Supreme Court justices because he intended for them to overturn Roe,” Harris said at the event in Manassas, Va., last month. “He intended for them to take your freedoms. He is the architect of this healthcare crisis. And he is not done.”

    The choice to focus their first 2024 rally on abortion rights signaled the president’s reelection campaign is counting on the issue remaining salient in 2024 as Biden faces low approval ratings, struggles to convince voters the economy is doing well under his leadership — despite several recent indicators of Americans’ growing satisfaction with financial conditions — and navigates multiple global crises, including escalating conflicts with Iran-backed militant groups in the Middle East and tensions at the U.S.-Mexico border.

    While Democrats have employed this full-court press on abortion, any measure to restore the provisions of Roe v. Wade face an uphill battle, thanks in part to the Senate’s 60-vote legislative filibuster threshold. (It’s a similar reason why former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, one of the top contenders for the Republican presidential nomination, said last year it was “not honest” for her then-rivals to promise a national abortion ban, telling CBS’ “Face the Nation” that “Nothing’s gonna happen if we don’t get 60 votes in the Senate.”)

    Harris acknowledged that Democrats need to have a stronger majority in both chambers of Congress to codify abortion protections.

    “What the Supreme Court took away, Congress can put back in place,” Harris said. “But we do need a majority in Congress who will agree that … the government shouldn’t be telling her what to do.”

    “We’ve got to trust women to know what’s in their own best interest and to consult who they deem right to help them navigate a very difficult decision,” she said. “But the government shouldn’t be telling them what to do. It’s 2024. We’ve got laws on the books that don’t let women make decisions about their own bodies, so we need to have a majority in Congress who just agree with that point.”

    Harris’ tour continues next week in Savannah, Ga., another crucial battleground state that Biden narrowly won over Trump in 2020. 

    [ad_2]

    Gary Darling

    Source link

  • Biden urges lawmakers to pass border bill

    Biden urges lawmakers to pass border bill

    [ad_1]

    President Joe Biden is urging lawmakers to pass a sweeping bipartisan border policy proposal that Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, oppose. Meanwhile, some Republicans in Tallahassee are looking for ways to ensure control over marijuana potency in the state.


    Biden urges lawmakers to pass border deal as Democrats slam DeSantis for State Guard deployment

    President Joe Biden is urging Congress to pass the bipartisan border proposal that appears all but dead.

    A deal struck by members of the Senate this weekend has quickly fallen apart amid opposition from Republicans, including former President Donald Trump.

    If passed into law, it would provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and give the president money and tools to help secure the border and speed up asylum claims.

    “With the new policies in this bill and the additional 4,300 asylum officers, who spend hours, I might add, with each immigrant to consider their claims whether they qualify. We’ll be able to reduce that process to six months, not five to seven years,” Biden said about the proposal.

    The bill was deemed dead on arrival by House Republican Leadership.

    The southern border came up in a Senate committee meeting Monday in Tallahassee during confirmation questioning of Mark Thieme, who Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed to lead the Florida State Guard.

    Central Florida Sen. Victor Torres laid out his concerns over sending the Florida Guard to Texas to assist with border enforcement.

    “Being deployed from this state, what we do we’re covered, and I want our men and women who are deployed to make sure that they are — the legality of the circumstance of being sent to another state — that they are protected,” Torres said. “I don’t want them to go over to another state and be caught in something that could be dangerous for them, or involved in some kind of shooting.”

    Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried posted on X, saying:

    “Republicans are an existential threat to our national security. They care more about using the fear of migrants coming into our country to help trump than actually solving the problem. It’s like a 2 yo who has been screaming for his pacifier & once he gets it he still screams because he just wants to scream.”

    On Jan. 31, DeSantis called on the Florida National Guard plus the Florida State Guard to, “Stop the invasion.”

    “Let’s all band together as states,” he said. “Let’s say that our borders matter. Let’s say that we’re going to support Texas in making sure we can stop what is happening to our country.”

    The governor is offering up to 1,000 members of the National Guard to support Operation Lone Star. He is mobilizing the Florida State Guard, too, making this the organization’s first deployment in state history.

    DeSantis said the forces will build barriers, throw down wire and establish barricades along the southern border.

    “The federal government is no longer protecting the states,” State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia said. “Not the state of Texas, but all the states. The states have a right to protect their citizens.”

    Lawmakers tackle marijuana potency ahead of amendment vote

    A new proposal can be seen as Florida’s first effort to get ahead of the potential legalization of recreational marijuana in the state.

    It’s no secret that some Republicans are opposed to legalized recreational marijuana in Florida, but others say while they can’t necessarily stop it, they can try to contain it.

    Before a vote is cast in November on a potential amendment, some Republicans are trying to a put caps on marijuana potency with Senate Bill 7050.

    State Sen. Gayle Harrell was worried about the possibility of marijuana soon hitting Florida markets.

    “There is no doubt that this high-potency cannabis has a real risk of psychosis for many, many people, especially young people,” Harrell said.

    Voters in November will probably decide the fate of recreational marijuana, as the amendment on the ballot, if approved, would let Floridians to freely posses and smoke marijuana.

    But under Tuesday’s Republican bill, lawmakers could limit just how strong that marijuana is.

    “The problem is, it feels like a preemptive strike to regulate a future ballot initiative,” said Will Clark of the Libertarian Party of Florida. “Is that really what we want to do? Gov. DeSantis says this is the free state of Florida.”

    There is, however, bipartisan concern. Some lawmakers are calling these caps arbitrary. Others, meanwhile, feel it may promote a black market.

    “With a cap, now maybe we push a consumer to push to go in a different direction to find something higher on a market that is not safe or legal,” State Sen. Tracie Davis said.

    This effort comes as the Florida Supreme Court considers whether recreational marijuana will appear on the November ballot. Attorney General Ashley Moody is trying to kill the amendment, saying it’s confusing to voters.

    Immigration backlog grows in Florida

    Florida ranks No. 1 in the backlog of immigration cases, according to federal data collected by Syracuse University. 

    The data show the U.S. court backlog of cases involving immigrants and asylum seekers is more than 3 million — 481,000 of which are in Florida.

    Tampa immigration attorney Milton Toro Marquez has worked with immigrants for the past seven years and handles more than 100 clients, with a case list growing fast — especially over the last couple of years.

    “It’s something that’s very stressful, and at the same time very rewarding,” Marquez said.

    Marquez believes the immigration system is broken and that cases can take years to get resolved because of backlogs.

    He said each case is unique, and that each has a story of escaping a rough life.

    “People are sexually violated on their way here, people are robbed, people are beaten on their way here,” Marquez said.

    However, Marquez said despite the growing caseload, the work is important since most of his clients fear returning to their home country.

    [ad_2]

    Gary Darling

    Source link

  • Border Security considered in Washington

    Border Security considered in Washington

    [ad_1]

    Lawmakers in Florida reacted to a border security proposal in Washington that also provides funding for Ukraine and Israel. Meanwhile, legislators in Tallahassee considered how to alter a social media restrictions proposal.  


    Florida lawmakers react to border security bill

    The Senate eyes a test vote for Wednesday on the long-awaited budget security bill.

    Senate negotiators released the legislation yesterday. It was put together by a bipartisan group of lawmakers to try to curb the flow of migrants while also passing funding for the wars in Ukraine and Israel.

    But House Republicans already say this bill is going nowhere. The bill would give President Joe Biden more power to restrict migrant crossings during surges, allowing the Department of Homeland Security to restrict border crossings if migrant encounters reach more than 4,000 in a one week span.

    The bill also changes the asylum system by raising the standard for who can apply and also speeds up the process.

    The bill would also mean billions of dollars in funding for both foreign aid and border security.

    The current proposal would allocate $60 billion in aid for the war-torn country of Ukraine, and $14 billion for aid to Israel.

    “We have a huge issue in this country on our southern border. You can’t be a country if you can’t maintain control of your own territory. And really, this has been going on for many, many years, but it’s never been this bad,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said about the proposal. “They have now unveiled a piece of legislation, and I think people are seeing what a farce it is. To say that you only shut the border down once 5,000 people a day come in illegally, which is about 2 million a year. That’s basically legalizing illegal immigration. And there are so many other things wrong with it, but I just think it’s taking a step back. This shows me the contempt these people in D.C. have for American taxpayers,”

    Both of Florida’s Republican Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio have come out against the legislation.

    Rubio called the legislation “an easy no.” He argued that Biden doesn’t need new laws to stop the migrant crisis.

    Scott criticized the bill for allowing some migrants to receive work permits more easily.

    Nationally, there’s division among Republicans in the Senate on this even as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is supporting it.

    There’s been more unity among Democrats supporting the proposal, but not all are on board.

    New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez says the bill would make it harder for asylum seekers to have their claims heard. He also said that Senate leaders haven’t provided enough time to review the 400 page package.

    Social media restrictions up for debate in the Florida Senate

    Florida lawmakers are working out how a proposed social media bill should be written to ensure that it can pass.

    A Senate subcommittee considered House Bill 1 Monday. If passed, the bill would require social media companies to verify how old people using their platforms are, and bans people under the age of 16 from using them.

    Florida House Speaker Paul Renner discussed the bill, and where the defining line is between allowing parents to regulate their children, and where the government steps in.

    “The vast majority of things, we want the parents to make those decisions,” he said. “It’s time to act. We can’t allow to lose our kids, or to have kids engage in self harm or spend their childhood in depression.”

    He also discussed proposed changes to the legislation so that it can be stronger and stand up to court challenges.

    “They have to meet certain criteria,” he said. “They are really not interested in pulling away from what would be a lucrative business.”

    Last week Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants a pathway for the bill to withstand any legal challenges in court. But he also understands that could be an issue as the bill gets crafted in the state legislature.

    “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,” DeSantis said. “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.”

    Immigration bill could change some standards in Florida

    The clock is ticking for a bill being referred to as the “Welcoming Florida Act.” The bill was sponsored by State Sen. Victor Torres and is aimed at overturning some of the strict immigration laws put into place last session, but it needs to be heard before several committees before it can advance.

    Julia Aguayo de Hassler is no stranger to politics. Five years ago, she created the group known as the Libertad Club Hispano Republicano of Pasco County, which is a club aimed at educating people about the values of the Republican Party.

    “We meet the third Monday of every month, and we always invite people from our community,” she said.

    Members of the group also discuss legislation that they might not support. That’s the case with Senate Bill 1598.

    “It is important to realize there is a difference between the people that have been here for years and those people that this administration has let come by the thousands without properly being vetted,” she said.

    Bills like SB 1598 don’t help to strengthen the immigration system in the state, according to her.

    The bill would repeal provisions relating to patient status data collected by hospitals. It could also delete the requirement that an employer discontinues employing a person after learning that the person has no legal status in the state. 

    Those in favor of the bill say it is legislation that helps to combat last year’s immigration law, Senate Bill 1718.

    “What it does is it seems to clear up some misconceptions and probably some things that would have been challenged with SB 1718,” said Danielle Hernandez, founder of the DVH Law Group.

    Hernandez said last year’s law led the way to a town hall meeting to help educate the undocumented community about SB 1718.

    She said if SB 1598 is passed, it would be a is a step in the right direction toward protecting the immigrant community she serves.

    “This is an election year,” Hernandez said. “It’s also very important for people to understand what is coming in our laws.”

    SB 1598 is still in committee in the Florida Senate and has yet to see a vote that would advance it to the floor. 

    [ad_2]

    Gary Darling

    Source link

  • Florida’s House Speaker discusses his legislative agenda

    Florida’s House Speaker discusses his legislative agenda

    [ad_1]

    As the legislative session in Tallahassee nears its halfway point, lawmakers reflect on the success of their agenda. Meanwhile, Moms for Liberty takes center state at the State Capitol. 


    House Speaker Paul Renner discusses his legislative agenda

    Today was day 25 of the 60-day legislative session, which means we are just about halfway through the show. On the Senate side, the priorities have been health-related. We talked previously about Senate President Passidomo’s push for the Live Healthy Act.

    Senate Bills 7016 and 7018 both passed unanimously back on January 17. They are now “In messages” to the House, meaning that the bills are in a holding pattern until the house takes them up.

    Meanwhile, it’s the same situation for Speaker Paul Renner’s priority bills. House Bills 1 and 3, dealing with social media accounts and harmful materials for minors. The House passed both bills on January 24 and they are now sitting on the Senate side of the legislature awaiting further debate and action.

    Moms for Liberty takes center stage in Tallahassee

    The group “Moms for Liberty” formed just three years ago with three Florida moms in Brevard and Indian counties.

    Fast forward to today, where the group is a political force. They’re in 48 states and they’re fighting for what they’re calling “Parental rights in education.”

    Friday, Moms for Liberty took center stage at the Florida Capitol.

    January is the group’s three-year anniversary. Since 2021, they’ve fashioned themselves as advocates for parental rights.

    “Some of these wins happen on the school district level as you get pornographic books out of your schools, as you replace raging liberal school board members that don’t have children’s best interest at heart. And some of these wins happen here at the state,” Moms for Libery Co-founder Tiffany Justice said.

    Moms for Liberty is known as a group of outspoken critics. If you don’t know them, you’re probably familiar with their work.

    They helped push the Parental Rights bill in Florida, which was dubbed the “don’t say gay” law by opponents.

    Florida Republicans delivered the bill to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

    The law now bans preferred pronouns and LGBT lessons in Florida schools.

    “The thing is, they want to silence you. They want to get to feel ashamed. I’ll you what. They brought the war to us,” State Rep. David Borrero said.

    However, not everyone is a fan. The Southern Poverty Law Center lists Moms for Liberty as an extremist group.

    Democrats, meanwhile, say they’re damaging schools. Tampa Rep. Susan Valdes is a long time educator.

    “They have impacted politics in Florida in such a negative way. Instead of uniting people for the best for our children, they are dividing communities. They are dividing people. They are dividing kids,” Valdes said.

    For Democrats, Moms for Liberty is a problem, not a solution.

    Critics say the group should focus elsewhere. Things like teacher pay and retention, they say, need attention.

    “We have a teacher shortage. We know that many young students do not want to go into the profession of education because it doesn’t pay well and they see that they can’t teach,” Valdez said.

    While book bans and school board races are the group’s focus, it was the COVID-19 pandemic that helped propel the group into the national spotlight.

    They opposed school lockdowns and even rallied alongside former President Donald Trump and DeSantis.

    Biden prepares for projected win in South Carolina Primary

    Four years ago, reeling from losses in the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary and the Nevada caucuses, Joe Biden headed to South Carolina to make his last stand for the Democratic presidential nomination.

    His decisive win in the Palmetto State helped give his lagging campaign the boost it needed to capture the 2020 Democratic primary.

    “We are very much alive,” then-candidate Biden said in his victory speech at the University of South Carolina in Columbia at the time.

    On Saturday, President Biden will once again be on the ballot in South Carolina, the site of the first official contest of the Democratic presidential primary, in the hopes that the coalition that jumpstarted his last campaign — notably Black voters — can give this one a boost.

    “You’re the reason I am president,” Biden told voters last weekend at South Carolina’s First in the Nation Dinner in Columbia, the state’s capital. “You’re the reason Kamala Harris is a historic Vice President. And you’re the reason Donald Trump is a defeated former president. You’re the reason Donald Trump is a loser, and you’re the reason we’re gonna win and beat him again.”

    Democrats upended their primary calendar to make South Carolina their first-in-the-nation contest, a move the incumbent president backed in part to reflect the diversity of the party’s voters.

    While South Carolina, a ruby red state that last picked a Democrat for president in 1976, likely isn’t in play for the incumbent in November, it does underscore the inroads the president is aiming to make with Black voters, a group that fueled his 2020 win but has shown slight signs of waning support, per some recent polling. In the 2022 midterms, Black support for Republicans increased slightly, though they overwhelmingly backed Democrats, according to AP VoteCast data.

    [ad_2]

    Gary Darling

    Source link

  • DeSantis considers sending state guard to Texas and a public sleeping bill

    DeSantis considers sending state guard to Texas and a public sleeping bill

    [ad_1]

    Gov. Ron DeSantis prepares to send the State and National Guard to Texas to help with enforcing the southern border while a set of bills advance in Tallahassee that aim to ban sleeping in public.


    DeSantis prepares to send State and National Guard to Texas

    Florida is going all in on the southern border. State Republicans say the border crisis is a danger to the nation.

    But for Democrats, this is another political stunt by a governor who is still dreaming of the White House.

    Florida state guard troops are planning a surge on the southern border.

    Gov. Ron DeSantis Wednesday called on the Florida National Guard plus the Florida State Guard to, “Stop the invasion.”

    “Let’s all band together as states. Let’s say that our borders matter. Let’s say that we’re going to support Texas in making sure we can stop what is happening to our country,” DeSantis said.

    The governor is offering up to 1,000 national guardsmen to support Operation Lone Star. He is mobilizing the Florida State Guard too, making this their first deployment in state history.

    DeSantis says the forces will build barriers, throw down wire and establish barricades along the southern border.

    “The federal government is no longer protecting the states. Not the state of Texas, but all the states. The states have a right to protect their citizens,” State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia said.

    Democrats are urging him to reconsider. Better yet, they’d like him to focus on more pressing issues, like affordability.

    “We should let the feds do their job and DeSantis should focus on doing his. And let me tell you something. Leadership requires courage. It requires conviction. It requires making tough choices, but it also requires doing your damn job. And right now, DeSantis is not doing his,” House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said.

    DeSantis resurrected the state guard back in 2021. They’re a state paramilitary force, and they operate off state dollars and answer only to the governor.

    The Florida State Defense Force, the progenitor of the Florida State Guard, was created in 1941 to supplement the state’s National Guard, which was emptied as members of the guard were called into service during World War II.

    The force was deactivated and disbanded in 1947 shortly after members of the Florida National Guard returned from service.

    The state of Texas has a state guard that was used by Gov. Greg Abbott to monitor federal military exercises in his state in 2015. There are currently 22 states that have an active state guard force. 

    Bills could ban sleeping in public

    Florida lawmakers advanced a pair of bills this week that would prevent people from being able to sleep or camp on public property without permits.

    Senate Bill 1530 and House Bill 1365 are now in the Judiciary Committee.

    The bills would allow, but not require, counties and municipalities to create designated public areas for the homeless to sleep. However, these areas must fit certain criteria, including access to running water, access to behavioral health services and having security on site.

    Several local governments across the state have created their own laws on homelessness and public camping. In Miami Beach, for example, refusal to leave after camping in a public space can result in a fine of up to $500 or jail time up to 60 days.

    “Each individual person’s homelessness is just as individual as their personality, just as individual as their fingerprint,” Rick Morris said. He received help from Matthew’s Hope.

    For Morris, his story of homelessness began due to his health. He said he lost sight in one eye and ultimately lost his job.

    Now he puts in work like painting at Matthew’s Hope. In return, the organization pays for his condo, and also got him new glasses.

    “There’s no other place I’ve seen, throughout the whole central part of this state that even compares to this,” he said.

    Matthew’s Hope is geared towards long-term solutions, giving people the resources to finally get off the street for the long haul.

    Scott Billue with the organization says a new bill proposal could have negative impacts on the already-hurting homeless population.

    Senate Bill 1530 would force counties & cities to ban people from sleeping or camping on public property without a permit.

    “We’re criminalizing homelessness,” Billue said.

    He said he grew up homeless living in hotels. He saw how homelessness was treated with bandaids instead of working to get people independent.

    “We have three shelters in Orange County. And they’re all within walking distance of one another, which makes no sense at all, because your highest concentration of homeless people are in West Orange County and East Orange County and there’s nothing there,” he said.

    One area of concern for him is Apopka, where there is no homeless shelter and nowhere nearby to go if they are asked to leave.

    The sponsor of the house’s version of the bill says it’s time to come up with solutions, and sleeping on the street can’t be one of them.

    “The status quo is not okay. And it’s not okay to seek public spaces to become de facto homeless camps,” State Rep. Sam Garrison said.

    Disney files appeal to DeSantis suit ruling

    Disney has filed an appeal with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta to overturn Wednesday’s ruling from a federal judge, dismissing the company’s lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies: the Florida Secretary of the Department of Commerce and members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board.

    Disney had sued in April 2023, 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 supporting the Florida Legislature to strip Disney of its longtime self-governing power under the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

    For more than 50 years, Disney had significant control over its land in Central Florida, but the Legislature dissolved Reedy Creek and replaced it with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board in February 2023.

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

    But a U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of Florida in Tallahassee has now thrown that lawsuit out.

    The judge dismissed the case against DeSantis and the commerce secretary, saying Disney didn’t have standing to sue them. He also dismissed the case against the CFTOB, saying 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.

    Disney quickly responded yesterday, vowing to continue fighting the dissolution of Reedy Creek in the courts.

    [ad_2]

    Celeste Springer

    Source link

  • The dismissal of Disney’s lawsuit against DeSantis

    The dismissal of Disney’s lawsuit against DeSantis

    [ad_1]

    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%.

    [ad_2]

    Katie Streit

    Source link

  • Lawmakers in Tallahassee tackle monuments and gun violence

    Lawmakers in Tallahassee tackle monuments and gun violence

    [ad_1]

    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.

    [ad_2]

    Katie Streit

    Source link

  • DeSantis gets involved in social media bill

    DeSantis gets involved in social media bill

    [ad_1]

    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. 

    [ad_2]

    Phillip Stucky

    Source link

  • Lawmakers focus on border battle

    Lawmakers focus on border battle

    [ad_1]

    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.

    [ad_2]

    Phillip Stucky

    Source link

  • Catching up with Floridians whose stories inspired us in 2023

    Catching up with Floridians whose stories inspired us in 2023

    [ad_1]

    FLORIDA — As we reach the holiday season’s peak and look back at a year that brought happy times for many people but major struggles for even more, the stories of those who found the strength to overcome adversity often make the most inspiring impression.

    Spectrum News catches up with some of the incredible individuals who taught us all a little bit about the best of humanity in 2023.

    Storm devastation reveals strength of spirit

    When Category 4 Hurricane Idalia stormed Florida’s Big Bend, it sent destructive storm surge into the Tampa Bay area and left parts of Central Florida flooded.

    The floors of Beatrice Hall’s Rubonia home buckled and collapsed, but the great grandmother stood tall. She made fast friends with David Couzens, when he generously brought her a new refrigerator.

    Days later, when a fall landed Hall in the hospital for 60 days, Couzens and a friend got to work, making her home safe to live in once again.

    Some parts of hurricane recovery occur pretty rapidly, and areas that avoid a storm’s most destructive effects can sometimes slip from the headlines even fasterIn Orlo Vista, it didn’t take long for the waist-high flood waters to recede from Willie Wright Jr.’s family home on Hope Circle, but he’s been working to repair all the damage for more than a year.

    Help from neighbors and kindhearted strangers meant the world in the beginning. Now, Wright’s mission to move his father back into the home he built decades ago fuels his determination to complete the massive task at hand.

    Life’s obstacles provide unique perspectives

    At 15 years old, Jasmine Zipperer found herself in the foster care system. When she aged out and faced the prospect of figuring life out all alone, she found a place to call home — and a family to help her prepare for the opportunities and responsibilities of adulthood.

    It’s all because of a former NFL player, who was adopted by a loving family when he was just a week old. Jeff Faine says he always felt an obligation to share his blessings and give back. So he and his wife opened Faine House for 18-23-year-olds on the verge of homelessness.

    When James McCallum was born with a large, bulging birthmark on his neck and back, his parents didn’t know how it would affect him. But after three surgeries and numerous trips to his doctor in Chicago, the two-year-old continues to inspire with his simply effortless smiles.

    The painful process may not yet be over, but the McCallum family is certainly looking to the future. James’ mom, Kaitlyn, is pregnant.

    She shared the moment of concern they made their way through, wondering if their second child would face the same struggles as their first. Then, they realized — they would just have to follow James’ example.

    At this time last year, Janet Thompson had just undergone surgery for stage 1 pancreatic cancer and was scheduled to start chemotherapy right after Christmas. 

    The treatment took an expectedly harsher toll than she expected, but Thompson fought her way to ringing the cancer-free bell.

    With her follow-up scans since then all giving her a clean bill of health, she’s back in the holiday spirit at her home in Titusville and grateful for life’s simply joys — like gathering with family in the kitchen to decorate Christmas cookies.

    Culture fuels entrepreneurial purpose

    Floridians are from everywhere, and that natural diversity of culture has cooked up a wide range of culinary options in small towns and big cities across the state.

    An Orlando restaurant is serving up Filipino food that feeds a growing sense of community and is turning its small bungalow-style building into somewhat of a cultural center.

    Milosz Gasior doesn’t speak much — but he doesn’t have to. The 2023 Gibbs High School graduate has developed a remarkable talent for talking with 88 black and white keys that, his mother hopes, will open doors to a bright and successful future.

    Gasior has autism and is mostly non-verbal.

    With prospects for holding down a job after graduation unlikely to manifest, he was connected with a professional musician who has since gotten him several paid piano gigs. 

    Good people find cool ways to help

    Reasons for helping others vary as much as the ways people go about doing it.

    For Brian Farr, a family tragedy moved him to put smiles on the faces of some incredible children — and keep them safe.

    His daughter, Maddie, died three years ago. She had White-Sutton syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder, that caused her many difficulties in life. But every Friday night, they would head to the pool for swimming lessons, loving every minute of it.

    Farr created a foundation in his daughter’s name to help special needs children learn swimming safety.

    Now, Maddie’s legacy and love of the water lives on through other kids.

    At 10-years-old, Greshaun Dabrezil has already made quite a name for himself.

    You can call him “Cooler Boy.” It’s a moniker he both relishes and counts on to continue his mission, which is as simple as it is successful.

    Dabrezil is a decorated gymnast and certainly understands the importance of hydration. So when he noticed the people who spend hot days on street corners, he decided to help.

    For a while now, he has been handing out free bottles of water and leaving coolers at bus stops around Orlando. Each one has a straightforward sign on the handle. And Dabrezil isn’t finished. He hopes to partner with Lynx to put coolers on buses, too. 

    Sports can facilitate healing

    On a sports field, the prospect of injury always lingers. But when an athlete gets badly hurt away from the game, sport can drive them down the road toward recovery. 

    Mona Rodriguez was a professional soccer player, and fitness has always been paramount. She was riding her motorcycle to the gym, when a driver making a turn didn’t see her. 

    Rodriguez woke up in the hospital with multiple major injuries — but her spirit never shattered.

    Now, she lives by a simple mantra, and she’s using soccer to regain her mobility.

    When a player suffers a personal loss, teammates often help heal the invisible wounds. 

    Bella Rodrigues was a flag football star at Robinson High School, where she helped lead the team to their 7th-straight championship her senior year. She did that while dealing with the loss of her father, who died of cancer during the season.

    The Knights, and the rest of the school, rallied around her.

    Now, even though she’s in college, Rodrigues loves to return and just enjoy a grueling workout with her family.

    Faith inspires grand transformations

    From barber to YouTube star, life looks a lot different for Travis Settineri these days.

    He spent 18 years cutting hair for a living, but decided to take a leap of faith. He put a longtime passion for filming to use and started a channel focused on spreading kindness around Plant City and Lakeland.

    A year-and-a-half later, he’s introducing his almost 4 million subscribers to the many different people he meets and helps with food, finances and shelter.

    The massive following has given him the financial freedom to expand and focus all his time on making a difference.

    When a group of teenage boys dove into Spring Bayou in January on a quest to retrieve the Epiphany cross, they continued a 118-year Tarpon Springs tradition. 

    George Stamas surfaced victorious, and he says, as promised by his Greek Orthodox faith, the cross brought him numerous blessings over the last year. 

    He led his high school football team to a 9-1 season, and his coach says he’s made a number of positive changes in his life. 

    Stamas’ family is no stranger to the Epiphany cross. His cousin retrieved it a few years back, and his great grandfather did the same 85 years go.

    [ad_2]

    Curtis McCloud

    Source link

  • Everything to know about voting by mail in Florida

    Everything to know about voting by mail in Florida

    [ad_1]

    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.

    [ad_2]

    Dale Greenstein

    Source link

  • Where to find last-minute gas

    Where to find last-minute gas

    [ad_1]

    Many Floridians are preparing for Idalia, and soon many will be searching for gas as the storm gets closer.

    With the GasBuddy Outage Tracker, drivers can search for gas stations nearby, as well as filter by the following criteria:

    • Has Fuel & Power
    • Has No Power
    • Limited Fuel Options
    • Has No Fuel & Power

    Click/Tap on the image below to locate gas stations near you and check their status. For the best results, be sure to share you location. You can also track outages on your phone by downloading the GasBuddy app for Android or iOS.

    Screenshot of the GasBuddy Outage Tracker (Courtesy: GasBuddy.com)

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • A Raid On A Kansas Newspaper Likely Broke The Law, Experts Say. But Which One?

    A Raid On A Kansas Newspaper Likely Broke The Law, Experts Say. But Which One?

    [ad_1]

    TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A central Kansas police chief was not only on legally shaky ground when he ordered the raid of a weekly newspaper, experts said, but it may have been a criminal violation of civil rights, a former federal prosecutor added, saying: “I’d probably have the FBI starting to look.”

    Some legal experts believe the Aug. 11 raid on the Marion County Record’s offices and the home of its publisher violated a federal privacy law that protects journalists from having their newsrooms searched. Some believe it violated a Kansas law that makes it more difficult to force reporters and editors to disclose their sources or unpublished material.

    Part of the debate centers around Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody’s reasons for the raid. A warrant suggested that police were looking for evidence that the Record’s staff broke state laws against identity theft and computer crimes while verifying information about a local restaurant owner. But the police also seized the computer tower and personal cellphone belonging to a reporter who had investigated Cody’s background.

    The raid brought international attention to the newspaper and the small town of 1,900 — foisted to the center of a debate over press freedoms. Recent events have exposed roiling divisions over local politics and the newspaper’s aggressive coverage. But it also focused an intense spotlight on Cody in only his third month on the job.

    The investigation into whether the newspaper broke state laws continues, now led by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. State Attorney General Kris Kobach has said he doesn’t see the KBI’s role as investigating the police’s conduct, and that prompted some to question whether the federal government would get involved. Spokespersons for the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment.

    Stephen McAllister, a U.S. attorney for Kansas during former President Donald Trump’s administration, said the raid opened Cody, the city and others to lawsuits for alleged civil right violations. And, he added, “We also have some exposure to federal criminal prosecution.”

    “I would be surprised if they are not looking at this, if they haven’t already been asked by various interests to look at it, and I would think they would take it seriously,” McAllister, a University of Kansas law professor who also served as the state’s solicitor general, said of federal officials.

    Cody did not respond to an email seeking comment Friday, as he has not responded to other emails. But he did defend the raid in a Facebook post afterward, saying the federal law shielding journalists from newsroom searches makes an exception specifically for “when there is reason to believe the journalist is taking part in the underlying wrongdoing.”

    Television reporters and videographers from stations across the region prepare to do reports on the aftermath of local police raids on the Marion County Record, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023, in Marion, Kan. The raids on the newspaper’s offices and the home of its publisher received international attention and were widely condemned by press freedom watchdog groups. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

    Police seized computers, personal cellphones and a router from the newspaper. All items were released Wednesday to a computer forensics auditing firm hired by the newspaper’s attorney, after the local prosecutor concluded there wasn’t enough evidence to justify their seizure. The firm is examining whether files were accessed or copied.

    The five-member Marion City Council was scheduled to have its first meeting since the raid Monday afternoon.

    The agenda says, in red: “COUNCIL WILL NOT COMMENT ON THE ONGOING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AT THIS MEETING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

    The Record is known for its aggressive coverage of local politics and its community about 150 miles (161 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, Missouri. It received an outpouring of support from other news organizations and media groups after the raid, and Editor and Publisher Eric Meyer said Friday that it had picked up 4,000 additional subscribers, enough to double the size of its press run, though many of the new subscriptions are digital.

    But the raids did have some backers in town. Jared Smith blames the newspaper’s coverage for the demise of his wife’s day spa business and believes the newspaper is too negative.

    “I would love to see the paper go down,” he said.

    And Kari Newell, whose allegations that the newspaper violated her privacy have been cited as reasons for the raid, said of the paper, “They do twist and contort — misquote individuals in our community — all the time.”

    Meyer rejects criticism of his newspaper’s reporting and said critics are upset because it’s attempting to hold local officials accountable. And he blames the stress from the raid for the Aug. 12 death of his 98-year-old mother, Joan Meyer, the paper’s co-owner.

    Meyer said that after the mayor offered Cody the police chief’s job in late April, the newspaper received anonymous tips on “a variety of tales” about why Cody gave up a Kansas City position paying $115,848 a year to take a job paying $60,000, according to a sister paper. Meyer said the newspaper could not verify the tips to its satisfaction.

    Days before Cody was sworn in as chief on May 30, Meyer said that he asked Cody directly about the tips he received and Cody told him: “If you print that, I will sue you.”

    “We get confidential things from people all the time and we check them out,” said Doug Anstaett, a retired Kansas Press Association executive director. “And sometimes we know they’re silly, but most of the time we get a tip, we check it out. And that’s exactly what they’re doing.”

    Anstaett said he believes the state’s shield law for journalists, enacted in 2010 by the Republican-controlled Legislature, should have protected the paper. It allows law enforcement agencies to seek subpoenas to obtain confidential information from news organizations, but it requires them to show that they have a compelling interest and can’t obtain it in another way.

    Former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican who helped write the shield law as a state senator, said the law doesn’t contemplate law enforcement using a search warrant to get information without going to court to get a subpoena. Still, he said, “The spirit of the law is that it should be broadly applied.”

    Jeffrey Jackson, interim dean of the law school at Washburn University in Topeka, said he recently wrapped up a summer constitutional law course that dealt with press freedoms and the federal privacy law and told his students — before the Marion raid — that a police search of a newspaper “really just never happens.”

    Jackson said whether the raid violated the state’s shield law would depend on Cody’s motives, whether he was trying to identify sources. But even if Cody was searching for evidence of a crime by newspaper staff, Jackson believes he likely violated the federal privacy law because it, like the state law, contemplates a law enforcement agency getting a subpoena.

    “Either they violated the shield law or they probably violated the federal law,” Jackson said. “Either way, it’s a mess.”

    Hollingsworth reported from Mission, Kansas.

    The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Late Black farmer’s family challenges court’s rejection of marijuana license | Cannabis News | Orlando – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Late Black farmer’s family challenges court’s rejection of marijuana license | Cannabis News | Orlando – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    [ad_1]

    click to enlarge

    Heirs and business partners of a Black farmer who vied for a potentially lucrative medical-marijuana license are trying to persuade an appeals court that state health officials were wrong to scrap his application because he died before the licensing process was complete.

    The application of the late Moton Hopkins, a Marion County farmer and rancher, received the highest score of a dozen applicants who sought the license.

    An administrative law judge in February upheld the Department of Health’s decision to reject the application because the farmer died before officials finished evaluating the submissions.

    But lawyers for Hopkins’ heirs and partners on Tuesday filed a brief at the 1st District Court of Appeal seeking to overturn Administrative Law Judge Gary Early’s decision.

    Hopkins was among applicants who sought a medical-marijuana license earmarked for a Black farmer who was a “recognized class member” in class-action lawsuits over lending discrimination by the federal government, known as “Pigford” cases.

    State health officials began accepting applications for the license in March 2022, and in September announced they intended to grant a license to Suwannee County farmer Terry Donnell Gwinn.

    All of the applicants who lost out challenged the decision, putting Gwinn’s license on hold. In this week’s brief, Hopkins’ lawyers argued, in part, that the license should go to the entity — not the individual — affiliated with the…

    Original Author Link click here to read complete story..

    [ad_2]

    MMP News Author

    Source link