Public News Service

In 2022, Florida's Republican state legislators passed the Stop WOKE Act but a federal judge later ruled it violates the First Amendment as it applies to businesses and is impermissibly vague. A similar case is ongoing regarding lessons on race in higher education. (Pixabay)

Fighting for academic freedom, profs challenge FL's ‘Stop WOKE’ Act

Advocates for academic freedom are battling in court against Florida's claim a professor's speech is government speech, allowing them to prevent …

Reenactors recreate a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation at the Knott House Museum in Tallahassee in 2015. (Florida Memory)

In Florida, Juneteenth highlights an ongoing fight for freedom

Florida's official day to commemorate the end of slavery is May 20, known as "Mayteenth." However, as communities across the nation celebrate …

A survey of Jewish college students found 37% say they've had to

Silencing dissent: Where can students debate Israel-Palestinian conflict?

As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, students find it hard to freely express opinions as universities shut down groups due to political tensions …

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 …

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…

The ongoing Israel and Hamas conflict is affecting student organizations in Florida and across the country. (hosnysalah/Pixabay)

FL student groups defend Palestinian rights with lawsuits against state officials

The Students for Justice in Palestine chapters at the University of Florida and the University of South Florida are filing lawsuits against the deacti…

Alt New College is offering courses in partnership with the New College community and with support from Bard the Open Society University Network, OSUN. (Pixabay)

Educators preserve, shape future with 'ALT NEW COLLEGE'

The so-called conservative "hostile takeover" of a small, progressive liberal arts college in Florida is seeing some resistance from former students …

Florida's newest elections law requires that third-party voter registration groups provide mandatory formal signature-matching training to specified persons by the Florida Secretary of State. (Pixabay)

Florida Faces Lawsuits Over Sweeping New Elections Law

The moment Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping elections bill into law last week, several voter-advocacy groups filed lawsuits against it…

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has used New College of Florida, a tiny, public liberal arts college on the shores of Sarasota Bay, as an example for his war on

Some New College of Florida Students Feel 'Trapped' in 'Hostile Takeover'

Following what's described as a "hostile takeover" by right-wing conservatives, at the progressive New College of Florida, students and prospective …

Parents, students and teachers are raising concerns over proposed education policies in the Sunshine State. (Pixabay)

Parents Fight FL Education Policies with #NotFoolingUs Rally

Some students, parents and educators plan to rally to send a message to Gov. Ron DeSantis on April Fools' Day. The group of unions, parents and …

Padres, maestros y estudiantes est�n expresando su preocupaci�n por las pol�ticas educativas propuestas en el Estado del Sol. (Pixabay)

Padres luchan contra políticas educativas de FL con el mitin #NotFoolingUs

El grupo de sindicatos, padres y líderes comunitarios están planeando una manifestación en Miami usando el hashtag #NotFoolingUs…

The Employee Organizations Representing Public Employees Bill would change how union dues and fees are collected for some public employees in Florida. (Pixabay)

Could Legislation Targeting Public-Sector Unions Threaten Academic Freedom?

Union leaders and public-sector workers say bills advancing in the Florida Legislature, if passed, will strip them of their representation and could …

El Proyecto de Ley de Organizaciones de Empleados que Representan a los Empleados P�blicos cambiar�a la forma en que se recaudan las cuotas y tarifas sindicales para algunos empleados p�blicos en Florida. (Pixabay)

¿Podría legislación para sindicatos amenazar la libertad académica?

Los líderes sindicales y los trabajadores del sector público dicen que los proyectos de ley que avanzan en la Legislatura de Florida…

Last year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation dubbed the

AP African American Studies Course Blocked in FL Schools

The administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has rejected plans to expand an Advanced Placement African American Studies course for high schools…

In calling Florida's new 15-week abortion ban unconstitutional, Florida Circuit Judge John Cooper said,

FL Judge to Temporarily Block 15-Week Abortion Ban

A Florida judge plans to put a hold on the state's new, 15-week abortion ban, set to take effect today. He said it is unconstitutional and will issue …

The original 1972 petition in Ms. Magazine had 53 signatures, but when it was run again later in the year, it garnered more than 1,400. (Ms. Magazine)

Ms. Magazine Relaunches 1972 'We Have Had Abortions' Petition

This story was produced by Ms. MagazineBroadcast version by Lily Böhlke for Florida News Connection/Public News Service The leaked draft …

Gov. Ron DeSantis filed a new congressional map ahead of Florida's special session seeking to redraw the state's district lines. (Florida Legislature)

FL GOP's Congressional Redistricting Plan Likely Blocked for Discrimination

The new congressional map - crafted by Gov. Ron DeSantis and approved by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature last month, scatters more than …

A protest led by Democrats including Rep. Angie Nixon of Jacksonville temporarily halted the Florida House's consideration of Gov. Ron DeSantis' congressional map. (Rep. Angie Nixon/Facebook)

DeSantis Wages War Against Anti-Racism, Corporate 'Wokeness'

Gov. Ron DeSantis has been confronting a lot of issues dealing with race and inclusion. The latest is his signing into law his version of Florida's …

As a case about Florida election-law changes that went into effect in 2021 is heard in federal court, state lawmakers are advancing even more voting restrictions. (Trimmel Gomes)

FL Lawmakers Double Down on Voting Restrictions

Florida Republicans are proposing yet another sweeping change to state election laws. The new bill would establish an Office of Election Crimes and …

Republicans in charge of Florida's redistricting process say conversations still are ongoing on how to include public participation in the redistricting process despite proposals from Democrats and advocates. (terimakasih0/Pixabay)

Will Florida Lawmakers Hold Public Hearings on Redistricting?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - When it comes to Florida's once-a-decade process of redrawing political boundaries, known as redistricting, both House and Senate …

Republican lawmakers across the country have proposed legislation to limit or forbid the teaching of such concepts as racial equity and white privilege. (Kelly Lacy/Pexels)

Bill to Ban Critical Race Theory Sparks Call for African American History

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - State Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, is lashing out against the idea of Critical Race Theory, filing a bill to ban its use in all …

Groups such as Veterans for Responsible Leadership and We the Veterans are urging current and former military officials to continue to stand up for democracy. (eurobanks/Adobe Stock)

Veterans Raise Concerns About Far-Right Group Membership

PALM BEACH, Fla. - Veterans across the aisle are concerned about what they call recent attacks on democracy by far-right organizations. On July 4th…

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by …

The Florida Legislature has passed a bill that would block transgender children from playing on sports teams that don't align with their gender at birth. (Pexels)

FL Republicans Ban Transgender Athletes, Send Bill to Governor

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Last-minute maneuvering by Republican lawmakers revived a bill that would ban transgender girls and women from playing on public …

Lawmakers and leaders opposed to HB1, Florida's

Civil-Rights Leaders Denounce Passage of Florida's "Anti-Riot" Bill

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Despite emotional testimony from Democrats and civil-rights groups, Florida's Republican lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to pass …

Current Florida law prohibits offering voters assistance within 100 feet of polling locations. HB 7041 would expand that zone to 150 feet and prohibits giving

Despite Smooth Elections, FL Bill Adds Restrictions to Vote-By-Mail

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - New restrictions to voting by mail in Florida could endanger the vote of anyone who chooses to use that option, according to …

Conservative lawmakers across the nation are responding to an executive order by President Joe Biden that bans discrimination based on gender identity in school sports and elsewhere. (Brett Sayles/Pexels)

Opponents Call FL Bill Targeting Transgender Athletes Dangerous, Discriminatory

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Republicans in Congress and more than 20 state legislatures, including Florida, seek to ban trans athletes from competing in …

'Anti-Riot' Bill May Be Dead on Arrival in FL Senate, Advances in House

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A controversial anti-rioting bill championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis is moving quickly toward passage in the House, but is likely to …

President Joe Biden included the federal implementation of the anti-discrimination decision in Bostock V. Clayton County in a series of Day One executive orders. (Sharon McCutcheon/Pexels)

Florida Adds Statewide Protections for LGBTQ Individuals

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning community is now fully protected under state law against …

Gov. Ron DeSantis broke with recommendations from a CDC advisory committee that said essential workers and people age 75 and older should receive the vaccine next. DeSantis expanded his order to people 65 and older. (Pexel)

Black Floridians Getting COVID Vaccinations at Lower Rates

TAMPA, Fla. - Some community-health advocates say access to the COVID-19 vaccine is as big a problem as distrust of the process in Black communities…

The Marshall Project and the New York Times found more than 200,000 people are booked into jails across the country in a given week, and the same number walk out in the same time period. (izhar khan/Pexels)

Experts Urge Prioritizing FL Prisons for COVID-19 Vaccination

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Health advocacy groups say Florida's recommendations on COVID vaccine priority should include people in prison as well as staff …

Amendment 4, passed by Florida voters in 2018, restored voting rights to people who had been convicted of felonies but served their time. (Trimmel Gomes)

Despite Confusion, Thousands of Former FL Felons Voted Successfully

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Voting-rights advocates say they're working to keep the momentum going, registering Floridians with felony convictions so they …

Trabajadores del USPS manifiestan inquietudes internas y solicitan financiamiento

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Los trabajadores del U.S. Postal Service (Servicio Postal de los Estados Unidos) de Florida manifiestan preocupación sobre …

The Florida Department of Corrections includes about 24,000 employees and 87,700 people incarcerated. (Pixabay)

Florida's Prison System Under Siege by Coronavirus

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The novel coronavirus death toll in Florida's prison system reached 60 yesterday, as a massive surge of infection continues to …

This year, Virginia became the first state in the South to pass comprehensive statewide nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people, while 60% of Floridians achieve similar protections through local ordinances. (MAP)

Report: FL Bucks Southern Trend of 'Hostile' LGBTQ Policies

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - LGBTQ people in the southern U.S. are living under the "most hostile policy landscape" in the country, according to a new report …

Florida voters in 2018 overwhelmingly approved Amendment 4, a constitutional amendment to end the state's lifetime ban on voting for most people with felony convictions. (justgrimes/Flickr)

Judge Signals Support for Restoring FL Voting Rights of Former Felons

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A federal judge has signaled he'll find part of a Florida law restricting the voting rights of people with felony records …

Fifty years ago, Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Law and, later, the Mine Safety and Health Law, which promised every worker the right to job safety.(Pixabay)

COVID-19 Concerns Dominate Workers' Memorial Day

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Today the labor movement is remembering workers across the globe who were killed or injured on the job. As states such as …

Preocupaciones por el COVID-19 acaparan el Día de los Trabajadores

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Hoy el movimiento obrero recuerda a trabajadoras y trabajadores de todo el planeta que murieron o resultaron heridos en sus …

A federal appeals court's decision is seen as a setback for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a series of legal challenges from a Republican-led effort to make ex-felons pay court-ordered fines and fees before they can vote. (FRRC)

Class Action Could Restore Voting Rights of Former Criminal Offenders in FL

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- In the quest to restore voting rights to the nearly 1.4 million Floridians with prior felony convictions, there is new hope that …

Las enmiendas a la Constituci�n de Florida pueden ser hechas mediante una decisi�n conjunta de la Legislatura de Florida, una iniciativa ciudadana, o una propuesta ya por la Comisi�n de Revisi�n de la Constituci�n, o la Comisi�n de Taxaci�n y Reforma Presupuestal. (Florida Memory)

Ley Bliss de FL pudiera obstaculizar las iniciativas ciudadanas

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- La legislación propuesta (HB 7037/SB 1794) podría dificultar que las peticiones ciudadanas lleguen a ser votadas…

Desmond Meade, executive director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (center right), rallied at Florida's Capitol with about 600 people calling for criminal justice reform. (FRRC)

Fighting to Eliminate Voter Confusion for FL Ex-Offenders

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The news was spreading with excitement after a Florida appeals court affirmed the state can't stop some people released from …

Florida is a closed-primary state, where only people registered as Republicans can vote in Republican primaries, and only those registered as Democrats can vote in Democratic primaries. (Ken Jones/Flickr)

How Will FL Officials Avoid Another Election Debacle? They Aren't Saying

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - With Florida's online voter registration deadline quickly approaching, voting rights groups want state officials to ensure …

At the Florida State Capitol this week, advocates of criminal-justice reform say it involves not only the rights of people who are incarcerated, but addresses state budget and prison overcrowding issues as well. (Casey Bruce-White)

Hundreds Rally at FL Capitol for Criminal-Justice Reform

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Civil-rights advocates and families of people serving time in Florida prisons are rallying support for a package of prison-reform …

Florida could join six other states, including Kentucky and Mississippi, that have eliminated their driver licenses suspension penalties. Texas and Georgia are considering it, too. (Florida Dept. of Motor Vehicles)

FL Bill Would End License Suspensions for Cash-Strapped Drivers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida Legislature could end the state's practice of suspending the licenses of people driving with unpaid fines and fees…

Demonstrators in Tallahassee Wednesday rallied to celebrate the 47th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and speak out against legislation that would restrict teens' access to abortion. (Progress Florida)

On Roe v. Wade Anniversary, FL Lawmakers Move to Restrict Abortion Access

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida legislation restricting access to abortion services for pregnant teens moved closer to a floor vote on the 47th …

The first Women's March in 2017 drew hundreds of thousands of people to rallies in cities across the country on the day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated. (Trimmel Gomes)

Tallahassee Women's March, Rally Call for Action

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Roughly 100 people with colorful signs rallied on the steps of Florida's historic Capitol on Saturday to celebrate the …

The discovery of a slave cemetery has spawned discussion about how to dignify the souls in eternal rest beneath the golf course at Tallahassee's Capital City Country Club. (Pixabay)

Civil Rights Leaders: Memorial Should Honor Slave Cemetery at Country Club

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - After decades of speculation, rumors - and even some evidence that was initially ignored - an archaeological investigation …

A coalition of Florida organizations rallies in Tallahassee against Senate Bill 7066, which stipulates all prison-related fines must be paid before a person's voting rights can be restored. (Trimmel Gomes)

FL Voting Rights Remain in Limbo with Amendment 4 Ruling

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The legal fight to restore the voting rights of some 1.4 million Floridians who were formerly incarcerated will carry on…

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