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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

FL: Budget Policy & Priorities

The Florida Senate unanimously approved a comprehensive plan championed by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and other advocates to broaden health care accessibility to accommodate the state's growing population. (TotalShape/Pixabay)
FL lawmakers propel mental health in historic health care package

The Florida House is expected to follow the Senate's lead by signing off on an initiative to pour millions into the state's health care industry…

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The Agency for Health Care Administration is responsible for Medicaid in Florida. (fernandozhiminaicela/Pixabay)
FL health centers face financial strain without Medicaid reimbursement increase

Florida's Community Health Centers are raising concerns about their own financial health due to what they've said are inadequate Medicaid reimbursemen…

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The Secretary of State has determined Floridians Protecting Freedom has received the requisite number and distribution of valid signatures to obtain a spot on the ballot for a proposed amendment in the 2024 General Election. (Lerone Pieters/Pexels)
FL abortion rights measure to be on Nov. ballot

Florida voters will soon have the opportunity to express their views on abortion rights at the ballot box. After Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a law …

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A new report reveals over the last 15 years, the majority of states have raised performance standards for public schools, while simultaneously decreasing funding. (ebpilgrim/Pixabay)
FL schools grapple with insufficient funding, persistent state budget cuts

A new report that examines school funding formulas finds 80% of states, including Florida, are grappling with ongoing state budget reductions and a …

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Florida Democrats and LGBTQ+ advocates are calling on the Republican-controlled Legislature to focus on what they describe as
FL GOP bill could ban rainbow flags in schools, government buildings

Another GOP proposal is sparking controversy in Florida over freedom of expression, as it aims to ban rainbow flags from being displayed. House Bill …

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If the new defamation bill becomes law, it is unlikely to survive a legal challenge due to what critics say are its clear violations of free speech and anti-discrimination laws. (Pixabay)
FL lawmakers back in Tallahassee to debate limits on abortion, free speech

Within hours of the start of Florida's legislative session, newly filed bills are set to test the limits on hot-button topics such as abortion and …

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In 2021, scientists determined Rice's whale was a unique species, genetically and morphologically distinct from Bryde's whales. (NOAA Fisheries)
Protecting Rice's whale, others, on 50th anniversary of Endangered Species Act

Wildlife experts are spotlighting the Rice's whale, which was classified as its own species in 2021, as one of many reasons to preserve the …

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According to the United Health Foundation's latest America's Health Rankings report, Florida is 46th in the nation when it comes to people being uninsured. (Pixabay)
FL sees drop in national health rankings among states

Florida has dropped to the 31st position among states in national health rankings. It's a decline from last year's 27th spot. Local public health …

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In March, House Republicans in Florida passed a wide-ranging education bill targeting how teachers and students can use pronouns in schools, adding to the state's parental rights law, which critics called
FL teachers sue state over restriction on pronoun use

Three Florida teachers filed suit Wednesday over a Florida statute they claim targets transgender and nonbinary teachers for being themselves at work…

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In 2022, about 29% of the people in Florida's prison system were age 50 or older, which is one reason their advocates are urging state lawmakers to ensure prison housing units are climate-controlled. (geralt/Pixabay)
Heat crisis in FL prisons: Lawmakers urged to add air conditioning

Florida lawmakers are being asked to use the winter months to swiftly install air conditioning in prison housing units before the return of scorching …

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More than 150 people showed up at a Fort Pierce, Fla., community gathering in June to raise awareness and demand the end of attacks on immigrant communities. (FLIC)
Political Climate Drains Vital Donations for FL Immigrant Rights Advocacy

Groups aiding immigrants in building economic independence and pursuing citizenship are grappling with funding challenges exacerbated by anti-immigran…

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According to data from AHCA, as of October 2022, there are approximately 5.5 million Floridians enrolled in Medicaid. (Pixabay)
Florida's Medicaid Redetermination Issues, Coverage Losses in Spotlight

Health policy experts are highlighting a multitude of concerns regarding Florida's Medicaid Redetermination process, claiming it results in a lack of …

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