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Tag: Pinellas County

  • Some vape shop owners worry Florida bills will put them out of business

    Some vape shop owners worry Florida bills will put them out of business

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    LARGO, Fla. — Florida Senate Bill 1006 and its counterpart House Bill 1007 are heading toward a floor vote. The bills would limit all vape shops to only carry FDA approved products.

    What You Need To Know

    • Companion bills that would limit vape shops to only carry FDA approved products are heading for a vote in the Florida legislature

    • There are more than 10,000 vape businesses in the state, and an advocate for those shops says many could shut down

    • A state senator says Florida leads the nation in sales of illegal vape products 

    Florida State Senator Keith Perry is a sponsor of SB 1006 and says the move is meant to protect children and consumers from unsafe products.

    “Florida now has the dubious distinction of being the number one state in the country for illegal and illicit vapes,” Perry said.

    Perry says illegal vape product sales are more than 360 million a year in Florida alone. The Bill would create a state registry and only FDA products will be eligible.

    Some vape shop owners oppose the legislation, including Nick Orlando. He owns four different stores, including Vapors Depot in Largo. Orlando is also President of Florida Smoke Free Association, and advocates for the vape industry at the state capital. He says the proposals will hurt shop owners.

    “Over 10,000 mom and pop businesses would shut down. Over 50,000 Floridians would lose their jobs and we would have a huge gap in our economy of $1.2 billion,” Orlando said.

    Orlando says the Food and Drug Administration is very tough when it comes to approving products.

    “What I mean is these people in our industry that have been around for years helping people get off combustible tobacco, who have filed these applications with our FDA, 99% of those companies have been denied market orders and cannot sell their product if this bill goes into effect,” Orlando said.

    He has been traveling to the state capital and trying to work with lawmakers to produce a compromise.

    SB 1006 now will head to the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee, then off to a floor vote. Its counterpart, HB 1007, is also heading toward a full vote.

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    Jeff Van Sant

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  • Civil liability and abortions; ‘momnibus’ considered

    Civil liability and abortions; ‘momnibus’ considered

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    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joined a list of five others as potential VP contenders for former President Donald Trump’s run for the White House. In Tallahassee, lawmakers advanced a bill that would provide for civil liabilities involving the death of a fetus. 


    DeSantis joins list of potential VP candidates for Trump

    The latest developments in the Republican presidential primary, and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ latest actions.

    About a month after he ended his presidential campaign, DeSantis traveled to South Carolina.

    Tuesday’s visit was official state business for the governor, but it also didn’t stop him from commenting on the race for president.

    “And there’s no question that South Carolina is going to be a big victory for Donald Trump because he appeals to core Republicans in a way that Nikki Haley just does not or is not trying to,” DeSantis said in South Carolina.

    Former President Donald Trump was also in South Carolina last night. He participated in a town hall event with Fox News.

    During this, Trump confirmed a list of names floated to be on his shortlist for vice president. The list includes three former GOP candidates, including DeSantis.

    Laura Ingraham asked Trump if the rumored names were true, and the former president said that the list was full of good people.

    “You would like to get someone who could help you from the voter’s standpoint. And honestly, all of those people are good. They are all good, all solid,” Trump said.

    A civil liabilities bill advances despite opposition

    Negligence can land someone in some serious legal trouble. But Florida doesn’t recognize negligence against an unborn child in civil court.

    House Bill 651 is trying to change that. Or at least, that’s what the bill sponsor is saying.

    What is House Bill 651? Is it an abortion bill? Or is this about the law and grieving families?

    That’s a question that divided Florida lawmakers Wednesday.

    “This bill is about giving parents the opportunity to seek recovery when a wrong has been committed that took away their child and that child has value,” Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulika said.

    Proponents say this bill makes grieving parents whole.

    After the wrongful death of an unborn child, the bill empowers parents to sue for damages. As of now, Florida is just one of six states without such protections.

    “If you commit a negligent act or a wrongful act, you should be liable. We are protecting the very most vulnerable and those that should be able to recover from those situations,” Rep. Will Robinson Jr. said.

    Indeed, it sounds good on the surface. But for Democrats, this bill is a concern.

    They say it’s too broad and too vague. Critics also say the bill is dangerous to abortion providers in Florida.

    “The most dangerous 60 days in the state of Florida is a legislative session for creating fear in the hearts and minds of the people in Florida. I’m so tired of it. If you really want to stop abortions, get a vasectomy,” Rep. Yvonna Hinson said.

    Under the bill, mothers are immune to any sort of prosecution. That comes as good news to critics.

    But it’s not enough for those who want Florida to rethink its laws on abortion, sex and much more.

    This bill passed Wednesday along party lines. It goes next to the House floor.

    “Momnibus” package seeks to bolster parents

    Studies have found that Black women in the U.S. are far more likely than white women to die during or soon after childbirth. Several members of Congress are seeking to pass more than a dozen bills to address this disparity. A package of bills in Congress is normally called an “Omnibus.” The maternal health legislation is being called the “momnibus.”

    Giving birth to a child is supposed to be one of the happiest moments in a parent’s life, but for some women, and especially Black women in America, it can be a different story.

    “It has actively gotten more dangerous in the United States for women to give birth in our country. And that should never be the case,” Rep. Lauren Underwood said.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1,205 women died from pregnancy-related complications in the United States in 2021, up from 861 in 2020. The problem is especially acute for Black women, who are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.

    “There’s no genetic issue or there’s something about Black women where we can’t survive childbirth, absolutely not. This is about, you know, what’s going on with our health care system and the lack of providers,” Underwood said.

    Reps. Underwood and Alma Adams launched the Black Maternal Health Caucus four years ago to address the problem.

    “We have a lot of insensitivity toward women who look like me. I recall my daughter telling me that she was having, experiencing some difficulty. This was before she even wanted to give birth. And so they said, well go home and lie down on your side,” Adams said.

    Experts blame the racial disparity in maternal death rates on everything from bias in the health care system to a lack of equal access to quality care.

    Adams and Underwood have created a package of 13 bills they call the “momnibus.” They collectively aim to address every aspect of maternal health.

    One of those bills would provide funding to community-based organizations like Mamatoto Village in Washington, D.C.

    “We found ourselves on this motherhood journey, pretty lonely and needing community meeting women who were navigating motherhood in similar ways. And so this space for us became a sanctuary and a refuge,” Mamatoto Village co-founder Aza Nedhari said.

    Mamatoto Village supports women during their pregnancies and into postpartum with a range of services from childbirth education to lactation consultations.

    “We have to address the root causes of what is leading to maternal death, whether that is housing, whether that is safety, education, economics, all of these things that intersect and culminate into the maternal health crisis that we are seeing today,” Nedhari said.

    Many of the “momnibus” bills have bipartisan support. But so far, only one has passed.

    “We’re looking for legislative vehicles that are moving right. Let’s get this attached to a federal funding package or another must pass bill. So we can get this signed into law this year,” Underwood said.

    For community organizations working with women every day, the “momnibus” is a measure that can’t wait.

    “We can’t compel congress anymore. We can no longer beg for our lives, or beg for our futures. But there has to be that same urgency and will and desire to make it right for Black women,” Nedhari said.

    Underwood and Adams are also encouraging people to contact their representatives in Congress to urge them to support the momnibus package.

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    Gary Darling

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  • Election law change; requiring communist history in schools

    Election law change; requiring communist history in schools

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    A bill that could change how elections are run in Florida advances in Tallahassee and lawmakers consider a requirement to teach the history of communism in schools. 


    A potential change to Florida elections

    A proposed committee bill in the State House could re-institute runoff elections.

    This would force candidates to run in what’s called a double primary system.

    Under that format, the first and second place candidates in the first primary would be placed on the ballot in the second primary election.

    Lawmakers consider mandatory communism education in schools

    State lawmakers are considering legislation that would require K-12 schools to teach what they consider the history of communism.

    The lessons would have to be both age appropriate and developmentally appropriate.

    The courses include:

    • The history of communism in the United States
    • Atrocities committed in foreign countries, the philosophy and lineages of communistic thoughts
    • What supporters view as the increasing threat of communism in the U.S
    • The events that led up to communist revolutions

    Each school would have to provide evidence these classes are being taught and the material would be recommended for a state “Communism Education Task Force”

    The Senate version of the bill is sponsored by Tampa State Sen. Jay Collins, and he spoke about it today in a committee meeting.

    “Thirty to 38% of our youth feel that communism or socialism could be better than what we have,” Collins said. “But stop and think about that. That’s pretty frightening … If we fail in this generation to teach our children about the horrors of socialism, communism, or anything else that strives to strip freedom and liberty from our persons and our people, we’re failing.”

    Today, the Appropriations Committee on Education advanced the Senate bill unanimously. 

    Haley announced she’s staying in the race against Trump

    Four days before she faces former President Donald Trump in a primary in her home state — a race that, per polling, she is expected to lose — Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley insisted she’s not on the verge of dropping out of the race.

    “I’m not going anywhere,” the former United Nations ambassador said during a speech Tuesday in Greenville, S.C.. “I’m campaigning every day until the last person votes.”

    Haley clarified her intentions during what her campaign called a “state of the race” speech. The scheduled address stirred some speculation that she might announce her exit from the race days ahead of the primary in the Palmetto State. 

    “Some of you, perhaps a few of you in the media, came here today to see if I’m dropping out of the race,” the former South Carolina governor said. “Well, I’m not. Far from it.”

    The rest of the speech largely included familiar talking points from Haley’s campaign events. She reiterated she’s running for president to address issues such as education, cost of living, crime and U.S.-Mexico border security.

    She attacked President Joe Biden on those issues as well as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Haley also criticized Trump for insulting military veterans, spending $50 million in campaign contributions on his legal fees, threatening donors who support Haley’s campaign and saying he would encourage Russia to attack NATO countries that did not meet their financial obligations to the alliance.

    According to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average, Trump is leading Haley in South Carolina, 63.6%-33.2%. 

    Trump soundly defeated Haley in Iowa and New Hampshire. They competed in separate contests in Nevada — Trump won the caucuses while voters in the state’s primary picked “none of these candidates” over Haley.

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    Ryan Chatelain

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  • Public hearings begin for insurance companies seeking over 50% rate hike

    Public hearings begin for insurance companies seeking over 50% rate hike

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    TALLAHASSEE, FLA.  — Over the next two days, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation will hold public hearings to see if two private insurance companies will be free to increase their rates more than 50%.

    Castle Key, which is owned by Allstate and primarily covers condos, wants an average rate increase of just under 54% while Amica Mutual Insurance Company is filing for a 54.1% increase.


    Only specific types of policies would be affected and differs for each company.

    Paul Handerhan, the president and executive director of the Federal Association For Insurance Reform, says data shows changes made by the state legislature have made an impact when it comes to claim frequency and litigation rates going down. He says that isn’t outweighing other macroeconomic factors.

    “You would think that since we got a handle on the claims situation that rates would go down and that would be true if not for these macroeconomics factors like rising inflation, rising cost of real estate properties, and then these increased claims we’re experiencing in Florida for weather events,” Handerhan said.

    Insurance companies have been paying out more because of the numerous powerful storms that have damaged parts of the state.

    Handerhan says that’s a big reason why we’re seeing this request for rate hikes.

    “These are not just hurricanes, these are severe storms we’re experiencing like tornadoes and hailstorms,” he said. “These are occurring with more frequency and it’s being put into the rate base for consumers, which is unfortunate because nobody wants to have higher rates but some of these things are just out of our control.”

    Wednesday’s public hearing will be available for viewing online. Pre-registration is required.

    Castle Key – Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Public hearings begin for insurance companies seeking over 50% rate hike

    Public hearings begin for insurance companies seeking over 50% rate hike

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    TALLAHASSEE, FLA.  — Over the next two days, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation will hold public hearings to see if two private insurance companies will be free to increase their rates more than 50%.

    Castle Key, which is owned by Allstate and primarily covers condos, wants an average rate increase of just under 54% while Amica Mutual Insurance Company is filing for a 54.1% increase.


    Only specific types of policies would be affected and differs for each company.

    Paul Handerhan, the president and executive director of the Federal Association For Insurance Reform, says data shows changes made by the state legislature have made an impact when it comes to claim frequency and litigation rates going down. He says that isn’t outweighing other macroeconomic factors.

    “You would think that since we got a handle on the claims situation that rates would go down and that would be true if not for these macroeconomics factors like rising inflation, rising cost of real estate properties, and then these increased claims we’re experiencing in Florida for weather events,” Handerhan said.

    Insurance companies have been paying out more because of the numerous powerful storms that have damaged parts of the state.

    Handerhan says that’s a big reason why we’re seeing this request for rate hikes.

    “These are not just hurricanes, these are severe storms we’re experiencing like tornadoes and hailstorms,” he said. “These are occurring with more frequency and it’s being put into the rate base for consumers, which is unfortunate because nobody wants to have higher rates but some of these things are just out of our control.”

    Wednesday’s public hearing will be available for viewing online. Pre-registration is required.

    Castle Key – Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Home insurance tax breaks; social media restriction reaction

    Home insurance tax breaks; social media restriction reaction

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    Florida Governor Ron DeSantis joins Democrats in advocating for a home insurance tax breaks for consumers, and lawmakers advance a bill that would increase information for those with disabilities.


    Lawmakers tackle budget and proposed tax breaks

    This year’s legislative session has three weeks left. Lawmakers this week will dive into finalizing the state budget.

    The budget is the only thing that lawmakers are required to pass under the constitution.

    This year, the budget is anticipated to include roughly $115 billion in spending, plus a property insurance tax break. 

    The state can’t control insurance rates, but they can offer tax breaks.

    DeSantis wants to give a one-time, one-year property insurance tax break to consumers.

    “The state cannot control the different rates. A consumer has half a dozen options and then they compete for your business. That’s the only way you’re able to do it,” DeSantis said about insurance rates. 

    But in the House, they’re offering a similar break that would benefit companies instead.

    “You might wanna pause and think about it awhile about whether it will make sense. Unless you’re you’re just gonna say you’re gonna do that in perpetuity. Depending on how you structure it, it could be a lot of money,” House Speaker Paul Renner said.

    For Democrats, it’s a rare moment of solidarity. They, like DeSantis, want a consumer tax break. If passed, it would apply also to property insurance assessments. 

    All this comes as more than one million Floridians remain reliant upon state backed insurance plans.

    “We have to be very thoughtful as a legislature regarding the policy choices that we make when it comes to providing tax relief. If we can provide that sort of relief to large corporations, we certainly need to take into account the people,” House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said.

    Now lawmakers are optimistic that Florida avoided a market collapse. The problem is that they say consumer relief will take time. Meanwhile, at least six more home insurance companies entered Florida in the new year.

    That’s something leaders say is a very, very good sign.

    Bill to increase disability information advances

    Florida legislators are working on a bill that would require motor vehicle registrations to allow people to include information about specific disabilities or disorders.

    It’s called the Safeguarding American Families Everywhere (SAFE) Act, and advocates say one of the goals is to help first responders who may come in contact with that person.

    Holly Alexander, who has a disability with her spine, believes the bill would make details about her condition more accessible to people like her.

    “It would be nice to understand that somebody could be able to read or look up my profile and be able to see I am a person with a physical disability,” she said. “I am more frail than an average 30-year-old.”

    She would also not have to rely on a disability placard to relay information. The bill’s text says it would allow first responders to potentially get a heads up on who they are about to interact with and “will improve communication, reduce unnecessary adverse actions, and ensure that the person receives the specific response and care he or she requires.”

    Holly’s mother, Kandi, is a local volunteer advocate for special needs families and people with disabilities in Lake County.

    Kandi said the SAFE Act is a step in the right direction and hopes it’ll lead to first responders receiving more training on how to help people with disabilities.

    “It’s recognizing there’s more need for awareness, there’s more need for training, and fiscal budgeting,” she said.

    Holly is currently training a service dog, Zeus, to help her stand, and says making these distinctions about her condition more available to first responders could be the difference in life-or-death situations.

    “I lose stability with my legs so I can fall at any point in time,” she said. “Having that promptness availability to me could help me and potentially save my life.”

    Parent reacts to social media restriction bill

    The Florida Senate recently altered a bill to keep kids under 16 off of major social media platforms and it is now one step closer to the governor’s desk.

    Lawmakers included pornographic websites in the list of social media sites that minors would be barred from joining. All sites on the list will need users to verify that they are 18 or older.

    But the legality of the bill is still a primary concern for top lawmakers, including Gov. Ron DeSantis.

    For parents, their primary concern is their kids and how they are using the devices.

    “I’m afraid she won’t know what’s real anymore and try to make herself something she’s not,” Jaime Marco said about her 8-year-old daughter.

    To comply with the legislation as currently written, the platforms would be required to perform age verification of their users.

    “I think the concept is great,” Marco said. “It’s just for Florida, though, and Florida is just one state out of 50. It crosses over lines. It should be a federal bill if we are going to do that.”

    While she supports the idea, she doesn’t know if the restrictions are the right way to address social media and its impact on kids.

    “I don’t think it’s the government’s role to decide that, but I do think it’s the government’s role and responsibility to protect its citizens,” Marco said.

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    Gary Darling

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  • Important election deadlines for Florida’s upcoming Presidential Primary

    Important election deadlines for Florida’s upcoming Presidential Primary

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    The 2024 presidential race is well underway, with several states already holding their primary elections to decide who will top the Republican and Democratic tickets in November. Floridians across the state will have a chance to make their voice heard on Tuesday, March 19.


    Before that can happen, there are some important dates for voters in Central Florida to be aware of.

    In addition to the Presidential Preference Primary election for Republicans, both Orange and Flagler counties will hold municipal elections that day.

    Tuesday, Feb. 20, is the last day to register to vote or change your party affiliation ahead of the Presidential Preference Primaries.

    Voters looking to vote by mail should make sure to get their applications in before Thursday, March 7.

    Residents of Central Florida looking to avoid potentially long lines at their polling places can take part in early voting, which will be open from March 9 through March 16. Voters in Orange and Osceola counties will be able to vote early on March 17 as well.

    Here are the municipal elections taking place in Orange County on March 19:

    Municipal Candidates / Amendments:

    • City of Apopka – (City Council Seats 3, 4) 
    • City of Eatonville – (Council Seats 4, 5 and 5 Charter questions)
    • City of Edgewood – (9 Charter questions)
    • City of Maitland – (1 question)
    • City of Ocoee – (City Comm. Dist. 4 and 13 Charter questions)
    • City of Winter Garden – (City Comm. Dist. 2, 3) 
    • City of Winter Park – (Mayor and City Comm. Seat 2) 
    • Town of Oakland – (Mayor) 

    Voters in Flagler County can vote for the City of Flagler Beach Mayor, and 1 City Commissioner.

    After the Presidential Preference Primary, there’s the statewide primary election, which will host other local offices across the state on Aug. 20. Voters will need to adjust or confirm their registration by July 22 in order to vote in that election.

    The General Election will take place on Nov. 5 this year, with a voter registration deadline of Oct. 7.

    Early voting dates for the primary and general elections have yet to be confirmed.

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    Phillip Stucky

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  • Construction to begin on Sundial renovations

    Construction to begin on Sundial renovations

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Walking past the Sundial in downtown St. Petersburg, patrons have probably noticed a fence around the courtyard. The shopping and dining center is getting a new look. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Sundial in downtown St. Petersburg is undergoing renovation

    • Construction is scheduled to start this week and developers hope to finish by September

    • A local business owner is hopeful the new and improved space will attract more people

    This is the third time the property will undergo renovation since it opened as BayWalk in 2000. Mike Connor, CEO of Paradise Ventures, said the plaza needed a new look, and he felt it’s the right time to match the growth happening downtown.

    “We’re excited to be a part of it,” Connor said. “The Sundial has been a fixture in the community since BayWalk. I’ve always loved the real estate. I know it’s had some ups and downs, but I think our timing is really ideal now from what’s going on in downtown St. Pete. I think we’re hitting it at the right time.”

    Connor said he hopes the re-vamped Sundial will become a meeting place for the community and attract a younger audience. 

    “The courtyard is going to be a completely different look,” he said. “Much more open, much more inviting, much more interactive. It’ll be an event space where we hope to do at least weekly activities, if not more.”

    As part of the new design, the planters and sundial sculpture will be taken out and replaced with green space. Connor said there will also be new local and regional tenants, including Forbici Modern Italian and Serotonin Health and Wellness, in addition to some national chains.

    Rendering of renovations coming to the Sundial in St. Petersburg. (Behar + Peteranecz Architecture)

    Jackie Zumba owns Jackie Z Style Co., one of the few local businesses in the Sundial. Zumba opened her boutique shortly after the Sundial’s last renovation.

    “It was amazing, it was booming, it was so happening,” Zumba said. “We would have like Chris Archer in the courtyard eating at Locale Market and then they’d come in and shop. It was super fun and vibrant and then people started closing and it got a little bit more dreary.”

    Zumba said a lot of her neighboring stores closed during the pandemic and even before then, which slowed down foot traffic. But she’s confident this revitalization will create a huge boom for business.

    “People kind of stopped coming here and maybe some people don’t even know it’s here already because there are some great diamonds in the rough here already,” Zumba said. “But with all the new excitement and things, everyone’s going to step up their game and they’re adding some great retailers and that amazing restaurant Forbici is coming.”

    Zumba is also taking over the space adjacent to her boutique in anticipation of more shoppers. 

    Construction at the Sundial is scheduled to begin on Thursday. Developers are aiming to have the renovation complete by September. Businesses will still be open during construction.

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    Brian Rea

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  • Trump ordered to pay in fraud trial and Donalds seeks to rename press gallery

    Trump ordered to pay in fraud trial and Donalds seeks to rename press gallery

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    Former President Donald Trump was ordered to pay $355 million in a civil fraud trial in New York City, and Rep. Byron Donalds discusses a push to rename the House Press Gallery for Frederick Douglass. 


    Trump fined $355 million in civil fraud trial

    A New York judge imposed $364 million in penalties in a civil fraud trial against former President Donald Trump accusing him of a scheme to dupe banks and others with financial statements that inflated his wealth.

    Trump himself was fined nearly $355 million and was barred from serving as an officer or director at a company in the state for three years.

    His adult sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., both officers with the company, were fined more than $4 million each and received a similar punishment for two years. Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg was also fined $1 million.

    Weisselberg and former Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney were permanently barred from serving in the financial control function of any New York corporation.

    The ruling from Judge Arthur Engoron is the culmination of a years-long effort from New York Attorney General Letitia James, who sued Trump in 2022 over what she said was years of deceptive practices as he built the multinational collection of skyscrapers, golf courses and other properties that catapulted him to wealth, fame and eventually the White House.

    Engoron determined that Trump was involved in a lengthy scheme to mislead banks and others with financial statements that inflated his wealth.

    “In order to borrow more and at lower rates, defendants submitted blatantly false financial data to the accountants, resulting in fraudulent financial statements,” Engoron wrote in his ruling. “When confronted at trial with the statements, defendants’ fact and expert witnesses simply denied reality, and defendants failed to accept responsibility or to impose internal controls to prevent future recurrences.”

    The suit accused Trump and his co-defendants of routinely puffing up his financial statements to create an illusion his properties were more valuable than they really were. State lawyers said Trump exaggerated his wealth by as much as $3.6 billion one year.

    Donalds discusses push to rename House press gallery

    The legendary abolitionist Frederick Douglass is already celebrated with a statue and a plaque on capitol hill.

    A Florida representative is proposing one more honor for Douglass: Highlighting a part of his extraordinary career that most Americans know little about.

    Douglass was one of the most well-known abolitionists in American history.

    Born enslaved in Maryland in 1818, he escaped to New York City 20 years later and became a leader in the effort to end slavery.

    “Frederick Douglass is somebody in American history and Black history, who’s been a critical contributor to the fabric of our country, and even moving our country from, you know, the, one of the great sins in humanity, slavery, and moving us through from slavery to where we are right now,” Rep. Byron Donalds said.

    Although Douglass is well known as a skilled orator, it’s not as widely known that he was also a journalist.

    While living in Rochester,N.Y., Douglass founded the North Star in 1847, which later became Frederick Douglass’ paper in 1851. Both publications advocated against slavery.

    Then, in 1870, five years after the end of slavery, Douglass worked in the nation’s Capitol as part owner and editor-in-chief of the New National Era, a Black newspaper. He was the first Black reporter to become a member of the congressional press galleries, where journalists watch lawmakers on the floor of the Senate and House.

    Donalds is seeking to honor that work by designating the area where Douglass worked as the “Frederick Douglass Press Gallery”.

    “Frederick Douglass, obviously being born a slave, working his way into freedom, earning his freedom, I think it’s really a demonstration of what’s possible in his country,”Donalds said. “Especially going forward, considering all he did, all he provided, all he contributed to America.”

    A statue of Douglass stands in the capitol visitor center’s emancipation hall. And in 2007, the committee of reporters that controls access to the galleries dedicated a plaque and portrait to the abolitionist.

    Donalds’ resolution to name the galleries after Douglass was introduced in November, and it now has about a dozen co-sponsors, including fellow Florida Republican Cory Mills.

    “I think overall, this is something that every member can vote for with pride, something that can become really a part of the fabric of the House of Representatives going forward,” Donalds said.

    The resolution was referred to the House Committee on House Administration. A vote has not yet been scheduled. 

    Parent reacts to social media restriction bill

    The Florida Senate recently altered a bill to keep kids under 16 off of major social media platforms and it is now one step closer to the governor’s desk.

    Lawmakers included pornographic websites in the list of social media sites that minors would be barred from joining. All sites on the list will need users to verify that they are 18 or older.

    But the legality of the bill is still a primary concern for top lawmakers, including Gov. Ron DeSantis.

    For parents, their primary concern is their kids and how they are using the devices.

    “I’m afraid she won’t know what’s real anymore and try to make herself something she’s not,” Jaime Marco said about her 8-year-old daughter.

    To comply with the legislation as currently written, the platforms would be required to perform age verification of their users.

    “I think the concept is great,” Marco said. “It’s just for Florida, though, and Florida is just one state out of 50. It crosses over lines. It should be a federal bill if we are going to do that.”

    While she supports the idea, she doesn’t know if the restrictions are the right way to address social media and its impact on kids.

    “I don’t think it’s the government’s role to decide that, but I do think it’s the government’s role and responsibility to protect its citizens,” Marco said.

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    Gary Darling

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  • Chief reflects on 100 years of changes as Largo PD marks its centennial

    Chief reflects on 100 years of changes as Largo PD marks its centennial

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    LARGO, Fla. — The Largo Police Department is marking its 100th anniversary this weekend.

    In order to celebrate its centennial, the department will have activities for kids, face painting, free food, vehicle displays and tours of the police department.

    The free community event will be held rain or shine on Sunday, Feb. 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Largo Police Department headquarters on Highland Avenue North.

    What You Need To Know

    • Largo Police Department is marking its 100th anniversary this weekend
    • Department hosting celebration event, with activities for kids, face painting, free food, vehicle displays and tours of the police department

    • Free community event will be held rain or shine on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

    Covering just under 20 square miles in the center of Pinellas County, the Largo Police Department has had to change and adapt as the city has grown.

    “I think as time changes, the face of law enforcement and what we do changes,” said Chief Mike Loux.

    As the story goes, the police department was formed after a band of robbers broke into the Largo Bank located at 1st and 3rd SW in 1921. They cut telephone lines and blew up the safe with explosives, making off with $25,000. That spurred the commission to start the police department a few years later.

    The original Largo Police Department had one chief and one officer with a primary job of providing security.

    From there, the department grew as the community did. Protests and social movements in the 1970s pushed the department to make their first major round of changes. They began hiring with diversity, created the SWAT team, and got their first police K9.

    “Largo, like most agencies, had to respond to that and how do you do that? By getting better trained and more equipment,” Loux explained.

    In more recent years, policing has shifted and expanded once again. Now, the focus isn’t just on enforcing the law and responding to 911 calls, it’s also about trying to get to the cause of the problem.

    “100 years later, we now need to be responsive to people that are in mental health crisis and people who are going though bouts of homelessness,” Loux said.

    The Largo Police Department created its Problem Oriented Policing unit (POP) in order to get to the bottom of the issues people in the community are facing. The POP team consists of officers that work in crime prevention for the elderly, providing resources for the homeless, and a system navigator who follows through with each individual case to set people up for long-term success. 

    “We’ve gotten to the point now where the social services aspect of law enforcement is so important because there are people who aren’t committing crimes but they need our assistance,” Ofc. Stephen Malandro explained.

    The Largo Police Department has between 150-160 sworn officers.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Florida social media bill advances, DeSantis on book bans

    Florida social media bill advances, DeSantis on book bans

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    Lawmakers in Tallahassee move forward with a proposal to remove minors from social media in the state while Gov. Ron DeSantis defends book removal policies. 


    Lawmakers advance social media proposal despite concerns from DeSantis

    State lawmakers are pushing forward with a bill to ban most minors from social media despite concerns about whether the proposal can withstand a court challenge.

    Republican state leaders, led by DeSantis, expressed concern about potential challenges to the proposal this week.

    “These things have huge legal hurdles, they’ve been held up in courts,” DeSantis said. “I don’t want to go down the road of doing something that is not gonna pass muster legally.”

    Senate President Kathleen Passidomo joined DeSantis in sharing her concerns.

    “I don’t know. I know that’s part of the discussion. I know there’s a lot of discussion, a lot of interest in that bill,” she said. “Either way, it has to go back to the house, so we’ll see how that goes.”

    Despite those concerns, Florida’s social media ban is now one step closer to the governor’s desk.

    Republicans in Tallahassee are muscling House Bill 1 closer and closer to the finish line. After a few tweaks, the bill is now up for a final Senate vote. The measure threatens to kick kids in Florida off social media unless they pass an age verification check from a third-party source.

    “These platforms are designed to employ features, including addictive algorithms and continuous scrolling, that are intentionally designed and used by the social media platforms in particular to hook kids and keep them on these platforms for an excessive amount of time,” Sen. Erin Grall said of the proposal.

    HB 1 would, in theory, bar kids 16 and younger from major social media platforms.

    Lawmakers agree that social media may pose risks, but not all agree that this is the best path forward.

    “A parent can choose to take a child to an R-rated movie if he or she so chooses, and censorship is not the role of government,” Sen. Geraldine Thompson said.

    Notably, HB 1 denies parents any option in giving permission to use the platforms — a provision that critics say violates the First Amendment.

    Meanwhile, even some supporters say they would prefer the bill allowed at least some parental control.

    “My concern is that the bill replaces the parent in that decision and replaces it with a far-reaching government edict,” Sen. Jay Trumbull said.

    DeSantis addresses book removal controversy during Orlando visit 

    DeSantis was in Orlando today to defend the state’s policy over controversial books in schools and a parent’s right to their own child’s education.

    The governor pushed back against the narrative that the state bans books. Instead, he claims the state gives parents the rights to object to classroom material they deem inappropriate.

    DeSantis is calling on lawmakers to tighten up the state’s book laws to prevent people who do not have a student enrolled in a school from calling for certain books to be banned. While state laws are designed to remove obscene material from the classroom, the governor also says some teachers are taking it a step too far and politicizing the issue by banning all books from classrooms.

    “I am proud to be able to direct the department of education to take appropriate action to deal with some of the bad actors who are intentionally depriving students of a rightful education by politicizing this process,” DeSantis said. “If you take a position as a teacher that no books are appropriate because the state is telling you this, first of all that is a lie, second of all you are depriving students of an ability to achieve what we are trying to do, which is to give them a good education.”

    There is a bill making its way through the legislature that looks to lessen the number of challenges people can make to books. The legislation would allow people to make five objections to books, and every complaint after that would result in a $100 fee.

    While many have objected to state policies concerning books and the process for their removal in schools, DeSantis has argued that there are no “book bans” in the state’s public schools. Instead, the governor insists his policies have empowered parents to decide which content their child will be exposed to and enforced Florida laws outlawing “pornography” and inappropriate content in schools. 

    “They say Florida doesn’t want books, they’re trying to censor books,” DeSantis said at a news event earlier this year. “Turned out that was a hoax.” 

    Under current rules, though, people can challenge whether a book is appropriate for Florida schools, and sometimes the book is immediately pulled from shelves until it can go through a review process. In some cases the book is allowed to stay on the shelf during the review process. 

    After the review, the book is either returned to the school library or permanently yanked off school shelves. 

    Lawmakers advance proposal to keep kids safer in water

    Drowning is a significant danger for kids in Florida year round, and the Florida Department of Children and Families says the state leads the nation in child drownings.

    Now, state lawmakers are looking to change that.

    Water safety advocates say the proposals being discussed in Tallahassee — like one to create a swim lesson voucher program, called Senate Bill 544 — are a step in the right direction, and they add education is key to fixing the problem.

    “Drowning is silent. Yore not hearing. You watch the movies where they scream but that not how it happens. It’s silent. A child fighting for his life is not yelling for his life,” Children’s Safety Village Executive Director Brent Moore said.

    Florida DCF data show nearly 100 kids drowned in 2023 — of those, 14 were in Central Florida. Water safety advocates are now calling state legislators to pass safety measures.

    “A lot of parents, like I said, don’t have the means to pay for one, let alone two or three children to get swim lessons,” he said.

    Several bills are being discussed in Tallahassee to address the issue.

    Senate Bill 544 calls for each county to have at least one swim lesson vendor.

    Other bills would do things like require parents to inform camps and school if their child cannot swim, or require homeowners to build barriers near pools.

    “With something like swimming, you have to be trained.,” Moore said. “You need to be taught my somebody who is certified.”

    Even if legislation isn’t passed, Moore said there are steps everyone can take on their own, like promoting supervision and education at pools, learning CPR, installing a fence and alarms near the pool.

    “Get your child skilled, that’s the biggest thing,” Moore said. “Get your child into swim lessons.”

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    Christian Peña

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  • Florida gun control advocates oppose relaxing requirements

    Florida gun control advocates oppose relaxing requirements

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    Wednesday marks six years since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that left 17 dead and dozens wounded. Spectrum News examines a proposed bill that would lower the age required to purchase a rifle or long gun from 21 to 18.

    Civilian police review boards are also on the chopping block in Tallahassee, as state lawmakers consider a ban on the groups. And another bill under consideration in the Legislature would roll back local heat protections for workers and ban municipalities from requiring contractors pay a local minimum wage.


    Parkland survivors and victims’ families discuss Florida gun regulations

    Six years ago Wednesday, 17 people — a mixture of students and staff from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School — were gunned down by a teen assailant.

    More than a dozen others were injured on Feb. 14, 2018, and emotionally the state was grievously wounded.

    However, in the midst of tragedy, children became advocates for change, and survivors and victims’ families demanded state lawmakers enact stricter gun regulations to protect the lives of children.

    “We were formed by the families who had a loved one taken from us that terrible February day six years ago,” said We Stand With Parkland president Tony Montalto, whose daughter Gina was just a freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas when she was killed. “Our families realized that the status quo wasn’t working, so we banded together.”

    By doing so, he said the Parkland mass shooting became a catalyst for change — sparking marches across the country that prompted lawmakers to reexamine gun regulations.

    Some that were enacted in the wake of the Parkland shooting included red flag laws, legislation to make school campuses more secure and raising the age to buy purchase a rifle or other long gun from 18 to 21.

    Recent legislation (House Bill 1223), however, would reverse the move and drop the legal age to purchase a rifle or long gun back to 18.

    Opponents of the proposed legislation say loosening gun regulations would be a step backward for Florida.

    “When we talk about the safety of our children and teachers at school, it’s a public safety issue,” Montalto said. “It’s not a personal rights issue. It’s not a constitutional rights issue. We believe in responsible firearms ownership.”

    Montalto said he believes that responsible gun ownership comes with a background check, age restrictions to purchase a gun and requirements to secure firearms safely.

    “We define that as a place where a child will not have access to it, and where it’s not likely to be stolen,” he said.

    According to the bills’ sponsor, Republican state Rep. Tylor Sirois of Brevard County, if an 18-year-old is recognized as being an adult — which includes the ability to serve in the military and vote — lowering the age to purchase a rifle or long gun to 18 is an appropriate step.

    Police review board ban 

    Florida lawmakers are considering a bill banning civilian police review boards created by local governments, with supporters of the move arguing that such committees are divisive and undermine internal police investigations.

    Senate Bill 576 is in the Florida Senate, while the House version of the bill (House Bill 601) has already gone through several panels.

    There are currently at least 21 citizen review boards in Florida. The cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg have some of the oldest police oversight committees in the state.

    The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, says that these police review boards undermine the investigative work of internal affairs.

    “In my opinion, when you’re going through an investigation, I.A. are the smartest people in the room when it comes to this, along with the state’s attorney’s office. So why are we having these boards that become that are basically political appointees reviewing and second-guessing some of the information is brought forward,” Ingoglia said.

    Pinellas County District 7 Commissioner Rene Flowers has stated that St. Petersburg’s board allows citizens to voice their concerns if they believe they have been treated unfairly or had a negative experience with the police.

    “I feel the continuation of the board is another check process. I think it’s worth keeping so we can have local control,” Flowers said.

    St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch believes that there are other pressing issues that need the attention of legislators, such as the lack of affordable housing, increased insurance costs, and flooding.

    If the bills are passed, any civilian oversight board currently in practice would be barred from meeting after the bill’s July 1 effective date.

    Local minimum wage rules for contractors

    For contractors, big changes are in the works in Tallahassee. House Bill 433 has been submitted and would ban local municipalities from requiring contractors to pay wages higher than the state minimum wage.

    Proponents of the bill, like state Rep. Tiffany Esposito, say the bill protects taxpayers and local businesses.

    “This bill preempts labor and wage to the state,” she said. “It will be up to the private employer of how much they choose to pay their employees based on market conditions.”

    Opponents of the move, though, call it a corporate giveaway.

    “We’re not allowing local governments to make the best decisions for their people,” Rep. Michele Rayner said. “We’re not allowing the people of those local governments, or cities or municipalities, to weigh in and say, ‘This is exactly what we need.’”

    HB 433 would also roll back heat protections for workers, which was a scary idea for Laura Munoz, who lost her father in 2014 to a workplace accident.

    “Imagine being told that your safety and your rights as a worker are being sacrificed at the alter or corporate profits,” she said. “That’s what HB 433 represents, a betrayal of our people.”

    State Rep. Rick Roth, who runs a farm in South Florida, argued that it wasn’t a local government’s place to place additional safety requirements on businesses.

    “I guarantee you, we do everything to do the best for our employees,” he said of his farm. “And this insinuation that we need more help from local government regulating heat exposure problems is insulting.”

    The proposed bill has to get through one more committee before it can be considered on the floor of the Florida House.

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    Jaclyn Harold

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  • Bay area students head to South Carolina to volunteer for presidential primary

    Bay area students head to South Carolina to volunteer for presidential primary

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Students at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg are headed to South Carolina this week to volunteer ahead of the Republican presidential primary.

    What You Need To Know

    • Students at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg are headed to South Carolina to volunteer ahead of the Republican presidential primary

    • The trip is part of a course called “The Road to the White House 2024”
    • Each student chose to intern with Republican candidates Donald Trump, Nikki Haley or with the South Carolina Democratic Party

    The trip is part of a course called “The Road to the White House 2024.” The students applied to be in the class. Each student chose to intern with Republican candidates Donald Trump, Nikki Haley or with the South Carolina Democratic Party.

    “The democrats had their election, but now what?” asked USF St. Pete professor Judithanne McLauchlan. “They’re going to be doing their delegate selections so these students will get the behind the scenes look at all of that process.”

    The students leave for South Carolina on Friday and will stay for 10 days.

    “I really have no idea what the campaign is going to look like,” said student Dante Rubino, who will intern with former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign.

    “I’m looking at getting on the inside track and furthering my career,” said student and veteran Steven Brown. Brown already works with veterans. He plans to intern with former President Donald Trump’s campaign.

    While they’re in South Carolina, each student will blog about their experience.

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    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • A bill to make condos more hurricane-proof, and an RNC leadership rift grows

    A bill to make condos more hurricane-proof, and an RNC leadership rift grows

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    Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle prepare to increase access to hurricane preparedness funds and former President Donald Trump throws support behind one candidate for RNC chair. 


    Lawmakers plan to increase hurricane preparedeness

    Property insurance is a top concern for both Republicans and Democrats in Tallahassee. 

    While this session isn’t promising any big changes, there is at least one measure that would offer consumers some relief. 

    Condominium owners could be in luck if House Bill 1029 is passed. The proposal would expand the My Safe Florida Home Program. Previously, the program applied only to Florida homeowners. But under the bill, condo bosses might cash in too.

    Lawmakers have one big goal, to drive down rising home insurance premiums across the state.

    If passed, the state will expand matching grants to condo owners trying to harden their homes ahead of harsher tropical weather.

    “We were listening to the concerns of a lot of the 55 and older people who are on limited fixed incomes in older buildings. And the question came, why can’t they access this grant program? Because they’re homeowners, to Rep. Mooney’s point, like anybody else,” Rep. Christine Hunschofsky said. 

    The proposal would shift the current grant program to allow condo owners to have access to funds to prepare for hurricanes. 

    “The fact that they can now tap into what everybody else been tapping in to. They’re more resilient. They’re hardened. It should overall help the insurance rates in the state. Overall, great bill,” Rep. Jim Mooney said.

    The pitch comes as leaders triage a property insurance crisis. Rates in Florida are among the highest. What’s worse is another hurricane season in on the horizon.

    “A lot of condominiums have been placed on the coastal line. They’re the first line when a hurricane hits. Many of them are not hardened and so they’ve had a difficult time getting insurance, especially wind only,” Rep. Vicki Lopez said.

    Meanwhile, leaders are negotiating a property insurance dispute. In the budget, Gov. Ron DeSantis wants a one-year tax break on property insurance. But the House is offering that to commercial companies instead.

    In a statement, spokesperson for Speaker Paul Renner Andres Malave said, “At this stage in session, there are always differences between our initial proposal and what the senate and the governor each put forward, respectively.”

    The My Safe Florida Home Program isn’t new, but it’s gotten some renewed interest in recent years.

    This time around, lawmakers could inject the program with roughly $225 million.

    Trump throws weight behind potential new RNC Chair

    Former President Donald Trump is looking to shake-up the Republican National Committee.

    Trump endorsed North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley to succeed Ronna McDaniel as the RNC chair.

    And he wants his daughter-in-law Lara Trump to serve as co-chair.

    Lara Trump also happens to be from North Carolina.

    Whatley has served as the chair of the North Carolina Republican Party since 2019. He is also the general counsel for the RNC. He led the state party as Republicans retook supermajorities in the state House and Senate. 

    He is also a close ally of Trump, who won North Carolina in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. Whatley has been criticized for repeating the former president’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

    Whatley ran for co-chair of the RNC last year, but that effort failed despite an endorsement from Trump, according to the AP. South Carolina’s Drew McKissick won the seat for co-chair.

    Rep. Brian Mast discusses Israel trip

    Over the winter recess, Florida Republican Congressman Brian Mast flew overseas to help about 40 new amputees in Israel with their recovery process. 

    He was invited by “The Next Step,” a project of the Israel Medical Fund.

    “They were looking for somebody to come in, speak to all of these new amputees, some of them from the military, and in military treatment centers, some of them civilians that were just in their home on the morning of Oct. 7, some of them that were at the concert,” Mast said. 

    Mast once volunteered for the Israel Defense Force in 2014. On his most recent visit to Israel, he visited a rehab ward for wounded IDF soldiers and border police officers with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

    He said the first advice he gives typically isn’t to the amputees themselves, but to their families.

    “I tell them, you gotta be a jerk, you gotta be a pain in their tush, as they say … because if you handle them with little soft gloves and don’t push them to sweat, and have blood, sweat, and tears during physical therapy, they’re never going to get strong enough to be to the point that they have the best possible mobility that they can to go forward in life for whatever the rest of their life is,” he said. 

    While they may be tough words, they came from someone who knows what it’s like to wear prosthetics himself. Mast lost both legs and a finger to a roadside bomb in 2010 while serving in the Army as a bomb technician in Afghanistan. 

    “I lost two limbs, serving my country, serving my brothers to my left and right in combat,” he said. “And because of that, I have no regrets.”

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    Gary Darling

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  • Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival for food, fitness and fun

    Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival for food, fitness and fun

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Natasha Walker is changing lives in her St. Pete community. Walker — who is coordinating the health component of Saturday’s Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival — said her work means the world to her.

    “I love it,” she said. “I love it.”

    Walker was seen on a recent sunny morning at Lake Vista Recreation Center in South St. Pete, heading up a line dancing class.

    “This class is 55 and up, and we have a 98-year-old,” Walker said.

    She said line dancing encompasses work on the body’s core muscles, balance and memory. It’s also “just plain old fun,” Walker said.

    Walker is a certified trainer, nutrition and weight management coach. She works at the YMCA and has been on a fitness journey for 17 years. 

    “A lot of people think it’s just about the collard greens and it’s not,” said Walker of Saturday’s event. “Collard greens — that’s the draw to get people to come out there.”

    Walker said the festival’s goals match her mission to help people, mind, body and spirit.

    “I love getting people healthy and fit,” she said.

    Healthy like getting off blood pressure medicine healthy, and fit like working toward a better life.

    “I don’t want any of my clients to have high cholesterol, diabetes, which runs in the African American community,” Walker said.

    She said the festival is all about the little life changes that — when done consistently — can make big life changes.

    “It’s really about still being able to enjoy the foods that we like as African Americans, but pulling back some of the fat — pulling back some of the salt,” Walker said. “All of that means a lot to me, being that I used to be extremely large with a lot of pain in my body — my knees, everything — and depression.”

    Now she uses her journey to health as an example for others.

    “It’s like social time for them, you know? They look forward to being here,” said Walker. “So this is important to them — a lot of them have gotten to know each other from class, you know? So it makes a difference.”

    The Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival will take place on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Woodson African American Museum of Florida in St. Pete.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Largo High School head football coach honored for Black History Month

    Largo High School head football coach honored for Black History Month

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    LARGO, FLA — Marcus Paschal finished his 10th season as Largo High School’s head football coach this school year.

    He was recently recognized as the city of Largo’s Black History Month honoree during a commission meeting.

    What You Need To Know

    • Marcus Paschal is this week’s A+ Teacher

    • Paschal is the head football coach at Largo High School

    • He went to school there, played on the football team and went on to play in the NFL

    • Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher

    “I’m truly grateful to be honored with such an amazing award with so much meaning behind it,” said Paschal.

    Paschal graduated from Largo High School and played football there. He went on to play in the NFL. Paschal uses what he’s learned in his professional football career to guide his current players.

    “This is something that you could put in a storybook, you know, because I’ve been and played at the highest level and chose to come back home to try to give these guys and these girls some inspiration,” said Paschal.

    In addition to coaching, Paschal teaches weightlifting classes at Largo High. He’s teaching his students proper form and nutrition.

    “This is something that I always wanted to do, so this isn’t a job for me. This is something that was put on my heart at a young age and I just enjoy coming here every day to try to mentor the next generation of Largo Packers,” said Paschal.

    Among his students are family members. His daughter, younger brother and niece are juniors. His brother is on the football team.

    “It’s just definitely a blessing to be able to be hands on with them. I’m always hands on with everybody else’s kids but having that opportunity to be hands on with mine is definitely a great feeling,” said Paschal.

    Paschal will tell you every student is family. Largo High and this community are part of who he is and he says he feels honored to live, coach and teach here.

    “The field is an extension of the classroom and your best coaches are amazing teachers and that’s what I pride myself on,” said Paschal.

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    Jorja Roman

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  • Lawmakers react to Trump’s NATO remarks

    Lawmakers react to Trump’s NATO remarks

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    Lawmakers across the state and country reacted to former President Donald Trump’s remarks on NATO and a proposal to limit THC content advances in Tallahassee.


    Florida lawmakers react to Trump’s NATO remarks

    Trump raised eyebrows during a rally in South Carolina on Saturday, when he recalled how as president he told an unidentified NATO member that he would “encourage” Russia to do as it wishes in cases of NATO allies who are “delinquent.”

    “You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’” Trump recounted saying. “‘No I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.’”

    Trump’s comments sparked applause and cheers from the crowd in Conway, South Carolina.

    In a statement released by his reelection campaign, Biden hailed the efforts his administration has taken to bolster the treaty organization in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

    “Under my administration, the United States of America has stood shoulder to shoulder with our allies to build a NATO alliance that is bigger and stronger than ever and stands in defense of democracy against Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian aggression,” the Democratic president said. “America’s leadership on the world stage and support for our allies is critical to keeping the American people safe here at home.”

    “If my opponent, Donald Trump, is able to regain power, he is making it clear as day that he will abandon our NATO allies if Russia attacks and allow Russia to ‘do whatever the hell they want’ with them,” Biden continued. “Serving as Commander-in-Chief is the ultimate responsibility and one that should weigh heavily on the individuals that hold this office.”

    “Donald Trump’s admission that he intends to give Putin a green light for more war and violence, to continue his brutal assault against a free Ukraine, and to expand his aggression to the people of Poland and the Baltic States are appalling and dangerous. Sadly, they are also predictable coming from a man who is promising to rule as a dictator like the ones he praises on day one if he returns to the oval office.”

    “What Donald Trump is doing is giving a green light to Russia,” Sen. Chris Murphy said.

    As president, Trump questioned the need for NATO, which was founded under the principle that an attack on any member country is considered an attack against all members. He pushed for member countries to commit more money to military spending.

    “I think that people should take everything he says seriously but not literally. That’s simply the president telling NATO countries they need to step up and pay their part. It’s that simple. I think everybody is overreacting,” Sen. Roger Marchall said.

    Despite Republicans shooting down a new foreign aid package tied with border security last week, senators are moving forward this week with new aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, this time without border security included.

    The response on social media to the former president’s comments ran the gamut on “X,” the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Holding your allies accountable for not investing in their own defense for decades is the responsible thing to do. Instead, the Biden admin keeps demanding American tax payers dig deeper into their pockets!” Rep. Michael Waltz said.

    Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded as well. “Trump sells out our NATO allies to Putin. This should be front-page news of every paper in the country. These are the stakes of 2024,” she said.

    THC limiting bill advances

    Step foot in enough gas stations and it won’t be long before you see Delta 8 or Delta 10 products. They’re part of a variety of THC products. And this year, they are getting the attention of lawmakers.

    Hemp restrictions are moving forward in the Florida House. HB 1613 would regulate Florida’s THC market if passed as currently written. The bill cracks down on popular THC products like Delta 8 and Delta 10.

    “Are we criminalizing the possession of non compliant hemp? No, this bill is not designed to criminalize behavior. This bill is designed to be a consumer protection tool,” Rep. Tommy Gregory said about the proposal.

    Further, the bill targets hemp marketing. It bans packaging that might attract children.

    Supporters and critics, meanwhile, agree that hemp products are like the wild west.

    “They come in gummies. You can buy them at convenience stores. You can buy them in vape shops. They come in vape pens. They come in smoakble flower. They come in a variety of different containers,” Hemp industry advocate Jeff Sharkey said.

    The measure cleared its second committee stop on Monday. It has one more committee stop, and then it’s ready for a final vote in the House.

    State could create rules for EV charging stations

    A proposed bill would put the state in control of creating rules for electric vehicle charging stations in Florida and prevent local cities from enacting their own laws.

    “It would cause our ordinance to be not in compliance,” Largo Mayor Woody Brown said. “We’d have to undo that.”

    House Bill 1071, sponsored by Rep. Danny Alvarez, R-Hillsborough, and Senate Bill 1084, sponsored by Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, would have the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services regulate EV charging stations, which already oversees gas station pumps. The state lawmakers said they want to see one set of rules for Florida, instead of a patchwork in different counties that could stifle the EV market.

    Largo is one of 12 cities in Florida that already has established rules governing the minimum number of EV charging stations needed for new developments. The local ordinance passed in March 2022 and calls for one station for parking lots with 10-25 spaces, two stations for 26-50 spaces, four stations for 51-75 and 6 stations for 76-100 spaces.

    “We’ve already got an ordinance in place that was well thought out,” Brown said. “We decided that really we need to have charging at home for people and when they live in apartments…they should have that opportunity.”

    The mayor said a new EV charging station was recently installed at Largo City Hall. Brown said he wouldn’t have a problem with the state setting a minimum standard, but the law should not prevent cities from going further.

    “It’s basically a preemption that says cities can’t do something which is kind of a theme coming out of Tallahassee recently,” he said.  “I don’t mind the state minimum for cities like ours but it shouldn’t preempt for use from encouraging electrical vehicle charging stations in our new buildings.”

    The Florida building code currently requires two EV charging stations for new parking lots with at least 25 spaces.

    The EV charging station language in the proposed legislation is a small part of a much larger bill which includes banning the manufacture and sale of lab-grown meat. The Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on Thursday about the proposed ordinance.

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    Gary Darling

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  • Jay Brubaker serves St. Pete through law enforcement and a food ministry

    Jay Brubaker serves St. Pete through law enforcement and a food ministry

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Pinellas County man has been serving and protecting his community for five decades. When Jay Brubaker retired from the St. Petersburg Police Department in 2002, he became a reserve officer. Then a firearms instructor. These days, he’s also organizing a huge feeding ministry.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jay Brubaker has been in law enforcement for five decades

    • He was part of the well known “Green Team” that took down illegal drug operations in South St. Pete

    • He’s now a reserve officer and firearms instructor

    • Brubaker organizes a weekly feeding ministry in the parking lot of a former Walmart store

    For many years, Brubaker was part of a unit known as the “Green Team.” The unit worked to take down illegal drug operations in South St. Petersburg.

    Brubaker, 76, feels like he is still serving his community by being a firearms instructor at the St. Petersburg College Law Enforcement Academy. One a recent morning, he was working with other instructors, training potential officers on how to deal with a firearms malfunction during a firefight.

    “And just keep working it till you clear that malfunction and you’ll be good,” Brubaker told a woman during the training. “I’m trying to keep them in the fight if they have a malfunction during a firefight,” he said. “So they don’t panic. They just go to muscle memory.”

    Training the young men and women is a passion for Brubaker. “Of course, of course. The training never stops,” he said.  

    Another passion for Brubaker is the weekly Saturday morning feeding program in the parking lot of a former Walmart in the neighborhood he used to patrol. Cars line up for a half mile for a box of food.

    The operation is run by Brubaker’s Positive Impact Church. “Praise God that this is something we are able to supply. You see the number of people?” he said.

    Brubaker said he got the idea of doing the food distribution while working as a reserve officer a few years ago. “I was driving through the community in uniform working. They had a community event here in the parking lot. And it suddenly struck me. This is where we need to be.”

    The ministry gets its food from Feeding Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries and grocery store chains like Publix.

    Brubaker is hoping the ministry can work out a deal with the city of St. Petersburg to use the building as a community market. Qualified community residents would make an appointment to shop for food for free.

    “When you give, you get back. You can’t out give God,” said Brubaker. “The more you give, the more he gives back to you.”

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • St. Petersburg Science Festival aims to boost STEM field

    St. Petersburg Science Festival aims to boost STEM field

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Careers in science, technology, engineering and math – known as STEM – are growing faster than other occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the number of jobs will grow more than 10% by 2031.

    What You Need To Know

    • The St. Petersburg Science Festival is happening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday

    • Scientists from NASA, the National Weather Service, Florida Aquarium and more will be showcasing their work

    • The goal is to get more people interested in STEM subjects and careers

    • USF St. Pete, in conjunction with the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s MarineQuest, put on the event

    On Saturday, various science and environmental organizations will come together to help spread knowledge about science and the arts.

    More than 15,000 people are expected to attend the St. Petersburg Science Festival, put on by USF St. Pete and the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s MarineQuest. The event was born out of the growing interest in STEM careers.

    Scientists from NASA, the National Weather Service and Florida Aquarium, to name a few, will be showcasing their work.

    The festival will also welcome the Junior Scientist Program. Students from around 30 middle and high schools get to learn first-hand from experts about a range of topics, from marine life to engineering and robotics.

    “The junior scientists and the kids that are being exposed here, they’re the future,” said Natalia Lopez Figueroa, chair of the Junior Scientist Program. “We’re not forever and we need to pass down our knowledge. Everyone needs a teacher. We learn something from everyone.”

    The Junior Scientist Program was created by students from USF’s College of Marine Science. The goal is to inspire young students by showing them all of the possibilities in science, while preparing them for a successful future.

    “A lot of those careers are on the up so it’s a good decision for them to have a background in that,” said Jennifer Giuffre, coordinator of the magnet program at Bay Point Middle School. “Even if they don’t directly go into STEM, a lot of the skills that they learn can be applied to a lot of different careers.”

    The St. Petersburg Science Festival is free and open to the public. It’s happening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the waterfront on the USF St. Pete campus, as well as outside the nearby FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

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    Brian Rea

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  • Florida lawmakers react to Biden report

    Florida lawmakers react to Biden report

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    Lawmakers around the state reacted to the Justice Department’s report on President Joe Biden’s classified documents case and a new bill could change how Floridians get their driver’s licenses.


    Florida lawmakers react to Biden report

    Democrats were on the offensive in the aftermath of the Justice Department’s report about President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents after his vice presidency, taking particular umbrage with special counsel Robert Hur’s comments about his memory and mental acuity.

    Republicans, on the other hand, seized upon the opportunity to declare the Democratic president unfit for office as he seeks another term in the White House.

    They also used the opportunity to try and paint a picture of a double standard between Biden’s case, which Hur declared was not warranting of criminal charges, and that of former President Donald Trump, who faces 40 felony charges for alleged mishandling of classified documents — though there are key differences in the two cases, namely in that the Republican also faces charges for allegedly trying to hamper the government’s efforts to retrieve them.

    The report puts the president’s age into the spotlight, a concern among voters per recent polling, as he makes his case for reelection this fall in a likely rematch against Trump — who despite being only three years Biden’s junior and committing gaffes of his own, does not appear to have the same level of scrutiny from voters on that issue.

    Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report found that Biden willfully retained classified documents following his tenure as Vice President… but said Biden will not face criminal charges.

    Florida’s members of Congress are reacting to the special counsel’s report. Republicans are firing sharp criticism over the findings the report made about the president’s memory.

    Several Florida Republicans are now seizing on comments the report made about the President’s age and mental acuity.

    “Biden can’t withstand the intellectual rigor of a trial because he’s an ‘elderly man with a poor memory’ but he’s OK to be the commander-in-chief with the world on fire?” Rep. Mike Waltz said.

    Biden delivered remarks Thursday night after the report’s release drawing distinctions between how he cooperated with investigators versus the classified document case brought against Trump, his lead GOP rival for the White House.

    He also fired back against the findings made in the special counsel report about his memory.

    “I know there’s some attention paid to some language in the report about my recollection of events. There’s even a reference that I don’t remember when my son died. How in the hell dare he raise that? Frankly? When I was asked the question, I thought to myself it wasn’t any of their damn business,” Biden said.

    But, later in his remarks, the President raised more eyebrows when he referred to the president of Egypt as the president of Mexico.

    Sen. Rick Scott suggested the President should be removed from office, posting, “In defending his mental sharpness, Biden just mixed up the presidents of Mexico and Egypt. This train wreck of a press conference confirms the need for the 25th Amendment.”

    Florida’s Democrats have been largely quiet over the matter.

    But, on X, Rep. Jared Moskowitz posted a meme pondering how “MAGA Republicans” are reconciling talking points that Biden is “old” with false claims that he is a “mastermind” who stole the 2020 presidential election.

    Biden, who’s 81, is the oldest President in American history. Trump is 77.

    Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who is trailing Trump, is 52. She’s called for Biden to take a mental acuity test.

    What’s next for the primaries

    Former President Donald Trump got nearly all the votes during the Nevada caucus last night with 99% of voters supporting him.

    His chief rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, chose not to compete. She took part in the state’s primary instead.

    So the only Republican on the ballot other than Trump was Ryan Binkley.

    The former president has now won all three Republican state contests so far.

    Nevada, Iowa and New Hampshire. The candidates are now turning their attention to South Carolina.

    But there are plenty of other events coming up as well.

    February 27 is the Michigan presidential primary for both parties. Michigan is once again expected to be a key swing state in the general election.

    Super Tuesday is coming up on March 5. More than a dozen states will hold contests that day.

    Bill would require biological sex on IDs

    A new piece of legislation, House Bill 1639, seeks to legally define the words of gender and sex in the state and for state IDs like to reflect a person’s sex at birth.

    “It removes it from that subjective issue that is going on socially to something concrete medically,” said Rep. Douglas Bankson, the bill’s sponsor. “If someone were to be incapacitated or unable to communicate, it’s important for first responders for when seconds matter to know the underlining characteristics of their physiology.”

    As the bill makes its way through committee meetings, the director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles released a memo saying Floridians can no longer change or update their gender on Florida driver licenses. The memo says that gender change is not supported by current statutory authority and says in part, “The term gender does not refer to a persons internal sense or his or hers gender role or identification — but has historically and commonly been understood as a synonym for sex.”

    The memo and the bill are seen by some within the LGBTQ+ community as discriminatory. Ashley T. Brundage, a local advocate for the transgender community, says these steps are nothing more than an attack on the LGBTQ+ community.

    “Its not just a driver’s license — it’s correctly identifying someone’s actual identity,” Brundage said. “I mean, it is power to be able to know that you have a document that brings validity to your existence in this world.”

    Brundage says these measures are simply a tool to create fear in the LGBTQ+ community.

    “It just seems like another layer that we’re trying to scare people to not live in Florida and that’s the hard part for me,” Brundage said. “Living in Florida is what I’ve always known and I know it be a great place — it’s all about trying to get a marginalized identity groups to be scared to live in Florida and have them move somewhere else.” 

    Despite these measures, Brundage says that you can still get your name changed and that it’s important to reach out to organizations that can help like the Southern Legal Council and changemyname.org.

    Equality Florida put out a statement saying in part: “This cruel policy threatens transgender Floridians with civil and criminal penalties and blocks them from obtaining the critical government-issued identification necessary to continue their daily lives.”

    The bill has more one more committee stop before it makes it to the House floor.

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    Gary Darling

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