Florida News & Current Events | Public News Service

Every 10 years, Florida legislators redraw political divisions or boundaries for state legislative and congressional districts. (DXR/Wikimedia Commons)

Monday, September 20, 2021

Advocates: Florida's Redistricting Process Needs More "Sunshine"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- After census delays, Florida lawmakers kick off the complex, once-a-decade process of redrawing state legislative and …

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)

Friday, September 17, 2021

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 …

Catholic Charities Jacksonville expects to see about 150 Afghan refugees settle in their community in the next few months, through the Afghan Parolee Support Program (APS). (Andrew Neel/Pexels)

"Help a Brother Out" – FL Groups Rally to Resettle Afghan Refugees

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Organizations providing relief support for Afghan refugees say more people can help by simply taking time to learn about the …

House Democrats advanced a $3.5 trillion spending plan in a party-line vote Tuesday, which includes free two-year community college tuition. (Emily Ranquist/Pexels)

FL Supporters Amplify Need for Biden's Free Community College Plan

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Despite the raging pandemic, college students are flooding Florida classrooms and campuses this week as the fall semester begins…

The Piney Point property has received 22 inches of rain since the start of June, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protections' motion to request to transfer control of the troubled former phosphate plant from its owners, HRK Holdings. (Pixabay)

Piney Point Pollution Could Overflow with Storms, Hurricanes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Due to the recent tropical weather systems threatening the region, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is …

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is clashing with school districts over decisions to impose mask mandates. (Alexandra_Koch/Pixabay)

GoFundMe, Federal Aid Offered to School Officials in Masking Disputes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- As the DeSantis administration continues its attempt to block school districts from imposing public-health protections on …

Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry's, could land on a list of more than 60 blacklisted companies prohibited from doing business with the State of Florida. (Stevepb/Pixabay)

FL Dems: DeSantis Should Focus on COVID, Not Ben & Jerry's

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis is promising to block any state money from going to the parent company of ice-cream maker Ben & Jerry's unless …

The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) decided not to act to change the state's net-metering rule at its Sept. 17, 2020, workshop on Customer-Owned Renewable Generation. (mrganso/Pixabay)

Report: Power Companies Block Rooftop Solar Growth in FL, US

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A new report shows an effort by investor-owned utilities in the Sunshine State to block the growth of rooftop solar. The …

Founded just before the pandemic, the USA Wheelchair Football League is the first football league of its kind, for adults living with disabilities. (Move United)

Beyond Olympics, USA Wheelchair Football Inspires Adaptive Athletes

TAMPA, Fla. -- Move United's USA Wheelchair Football League is expanding from four cities to nine, including Tampa, to give athletes with …

According to the U.S. Census, on average, Black women were paid 63% of what non-Hispanic white men were paid in 2019. (Pexels)

A Call to Build Black Women's Futures by Canceling $50K in Student Debt

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- With Black women carrying more student loan debt than any other group, a national petition has been launched to cancel $50,000 …

Florida currently allows minors to expunge first-time misdemeanors if they complete a diversion program. (Pxabay)

Advocates See DeSantis Veto of Juvenile Records Bill as Missed Opportunity

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Republicans and Democrats alike are stunned by Gov. Ron DeSantis' veto of a bill they passed unanimously. It would've expanded …

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…

Florida mangroves' natural ability to curb flooding protected over 626,000 people during Hurricane Irma in 2017, according to a University of California Santa Cruz report. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Say FL Coasts Need Federal Dollars to Mitigate Storm Impacts

TAMPA, Fla. -- Environmental groups are urging federal lawmakers to allocate $10 billion in the upcoming infrastructure package for coastal …

On Florida's northwestern Gulf coast, the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve supports 664 jobs and generates $46.4 million, including $15.1 million in labor income. (NOAA/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Apalachicola, Other Estuarine Reserves Help Power Local Economies

APALACHICOLA, Fla. - A system of little-known public lands protecting sensitive coastal habitats generates significant economic impacts for local …

Nearly one in four adults living in households with children said they felt "down, depressed or hopeless," according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (markzfilter/Pixabay)

Report Suggests FL Gains in Child Well-Being Could be Temporary

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- An annual report on child well-being underscores the need in Florida for specific action to repair the damage caused by the …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

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 …

According to Advanced Energy Economy, each dollar of public investment into electric vehicles generates $2.60 of direct private investment. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Electric Transportation Investment Would Boost FL Economy

MIAMI - Florida would benefit from the federal government's proposed $274 billion investment in electric vehicles and infrastructure, according to a …

Since the start of the pandemic more than a year ago, Florida has paid nearly $30 billion in unemployment benefits. (Pexels)

Petition Urges FL Governor to Keep "Vital" Unemployment Benefits

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Laid-off workers are appealing to Gov. Ron DeSantis to reverse plans to terminate a federal pandemic assistance program that …

Forage fish are small, nutrient-rich species that serve as food for predators like saltwater fish, sharks, coastal birds and marine mammals. (Pexels/Milada Vigerova)

FL Researchers Study Links Between Prey Fish, Predators and Algal Blooms

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- For the most part, if you're a fish, you're either prey or predator, but Florida research is finding the symbiotic relationship …

Polling by the Hart Research Associates shows 85% of voters support federal law ensuring the right to reproductive health care, including abortion, annual screenings and birth control. (Adobe Stock)

Proposal Would Guarantee Access to Abortion Across U.S.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Lawmakers in Congress have reintroduced a bill they say would ensure access to safe abortions across the country, just as …

Florida's Blue-Green Algae Task Force outlined in 2019, "Increased delivery of nutrients to Florida's water bodies is widely recognized as the primary driver of algal proliferation and subsequent degradation of aquatic ecosystems." (lasaa/Pixabay)

As Toxic Algae, Other Issues Bloom, FL Environmental Secretary Resigns

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Today marks the last day on the job for Florida's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) secretary, who turned in his …

In April, the Florida House passed a bill to ban abortions based on disability, but the measure didn't move past committee. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Lifting Abortion Restrictions Would Benefit Women, Economy

TAMPA, Fla. - Ending reproductive-health restrictions is beneficial for women and the economy, according to an online tool from the Institute for …

In accordance with a TSA face-mask requirement extension through mid-September, all travelers - even those who are fully vaccinated - must wear masks and practice COVID-safe behavior at all U.S. airports, and aboard commercial aircraft. (Adobe Stock)

As COVID Restrictions Loosen, Safety Urged on Public Transportation

TAMPA, Fla. - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that people two weeks out from receiving their last dose of the COVID-19 …

Before the pandemic, the risk of social isolation for seniors in a given state was correlated with higher rates of frequent mental distress, according to the 2021 Senior Report. (lisabussell/Pixabay)

Report Highlights Challenges to Health of Older Americans

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Even before the pandemic, seniors were experiencing increasing mental- and behavioral-health challenges, according to a new …

This image depicts Piney Point's water management features. This year, a liner in the wastewater pond leaked again, causing Manatee County to declare a state of emergency. (FPWC)

Lawsuit Launched Over Piney Point Wastewater Leak

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Conservation groups say Florida's environmental regulators ignored a decade of warning signs - including advice from the U.S…

According to the nonprofit Florida TaxWatch, "Broward UP" students stand to earn an average of $204,000 more income in their lifetimes. (Adobe Stock)

One FL College Strives for Better Workforce Recovery

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- As the nation recovers from the recession, a community college in Broward County is taking a different approach to make …

Gov. Ron DeSantis says his executive order waiving the work-search requirement for those getting unemployment benefits will likely end May 29. (Pixabay/Kalhh)

Laid-Off FL Workers Left to Make Do as Businesses Get Relief

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Laid-off workers who had to fight through Florida's broken unemployment system were promised relief with increased benefits. But…

In Florida, prospective foster parents work with local community organizations to complete the licensing process to become a foster parent. (Pexels)

Florida Sees Growing Need for Foster Families, Training

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- May is National Foster Care Month, and states like Florida are still adjusting to federal changes put in place three years ago…

A study by the National Academy of Sciences reveals salt marsh provides an average of $695,000 per square mile a year in protective value to Southeast communities and military installations from storm-surge flooding. (Adobe Stock)

Million-Acre Southeast Salt Marsh Conservation Plan Gets Green Light

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- An initiative to conserve a million acres of salt marsh from Northeast Florida to North Carolina is in motion, following …

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 …

Only six states will gain seats in the House of Representatives in 2022: Texas, Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon. The U.S. Census Bureau announced new apportionment data Monday based on the 2020 U.S. Census. (Bill Oxford/The Brennan Center)

FL Group Works for Fair Process, Greater Awareness in Redistricting

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Reapportionment data announced Monday has sparked conversation about a census undercount, and lower-than-expected Florida …

The Florida Department of Corrections is encouraging people behind bars to get the COVID-19 vaccine.(Pexel)

Misinformation About COVID-19 Shot Spreads Inside FL Prisons

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - After months of keeping Floridians in prisons and jails off the priority list for a COVID vaccine, the state is finally …

Connecticut, Maryland and Vermont all have banned the sale of neonicotinoids, bee-killing pesticide, according to Environment America. Florida has yet to do so, but the group hopes it also will take action in order to save the insect. (Adobe Stock)

On Earth Day, Environmentalists Push to Save Bees

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Today is Earth Day, and environmental advocates are calling on citizens to do their part to save the bees. National …

Lawmakers and leaders opposed to HB1, Florida's "anti-riot" bill, say it will undermine First Amendment freedoms. (Pexels)

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 …

In a new survey by the Marie Christie Foundation, only half of college faculty members said they'd be able to recognize if a student was in emotional distress. Fewer than one-third said they could recognize signs of alcoholism or drug abuse. (Adobe Stock)

Could Faculty, Peers Help in College Crisis Intervention?

TAMPA, Fla. -- A new survey of a dozen higher-ed schools revealed many faculty members want to be better equipped to help students who are struggling …

The most recent manatee population survey by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shows 400 Florida manatees died in 2019. But 2021 could set a new mortality record, due to water pollution and loss of food and habitat. (Adobe Stock)

FL Manatees Face Greater Threats to Habitat, Health

TAMPA, Fla. -- Polluted wastewater released into Tampa Bay at Piney Point in the last two weeks is only one threat to Florida manatees, as an …

The Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection is partnering with Tampa Bay area governments and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program to monitor water quality at locations affected by the Piney Point breach. (Pexels)

Tampa Bay Braces for Red Tide Outbreak After Toxic Wastewater Leak

TAMPA, Fla. - The uncontrolled release of millions of gallons of polluted wastewater at Piney Point into Tampa Bay is raising concerns about a …

According to Florida Voices for Health, Florida is one of only 12 states in the country that hasn't opted to expand its Medicaid program. (Adobe Stock)

Florida House Debates Medicaid Expansion

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida House today is to take up an amendment to its proposed health-care budget to expand Medicaid eligibility. Florida's …

At over 93,000 cases, Florida accounts for the highest number of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. among people with disabilities living in congregate settings, according to the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network. (Adobe Stock)

From Vaccines to Healthcare, COVID Amplifies Inequities for Autistic Community

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- April is World Autism Acceptance Month, and groups that advocate for people on the autism spectrum said they want more than …

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 "any item" to voters. (Florida Capitol/Trimmel Gomes)

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 …

In the most recent National Agricultural Workers Survey, 23% percent of farmworkers said they haven't sought medical care because the cost is too high. With economic hardship of COVID-19, that number has likely increased. (Adobe Stock)

DeSantis Urged to Prioritize FL Farmworkers in COVID Vaccine Rollout

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Florida farmworkers' rights groups say it is urgent farmworkers be deemed "essential" in Gov. Ron DeSantis' COVID-19 vaccine …

Women between ages 75 and 79 are three times more likely than men to be living in poverty, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security. (Adobe Stock)

Pensions Could Solve Financial Woes for Retired FL Women

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The persistent pay gap between men and women often leads to less retirement income for women, and groups that support expanding …

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 …

According to the International Energy Agency, electricity generation from renewables will increase by 50% in the next five years. Student leaders in Florida hope their universities will commit to using them in the next two decades. (Adobe Stock)

More Students at FL Universities Seek Clean Energy for Campus

TAMPA, Fla. -- Student-government leaders from several Florida universities want their schools to commit to using 100% renewable energy. This week…

Florida continues to resist calls and significant financial incentives to expand Medicaid eligibility for nearly all poor adults and children in the state. (Trimmel Gomes)

FL Misses Out on Medicaid Funding in COVID-19 Relief Package

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The pressure is on for states such as Florida to expand Medicaid, currently now missing out on billions of health-care subsidies …

One of the goals of the Green New Deal is to meet "100% of the power demand in the United States through clean, renewable and zero-emission energy sources." (Dominika Roseclay/Pexels)

Southern Communities Rally for Inclusion in Green New Deal

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Leaders of Southern organizations, including environmental advocates, have come up with a Green New Deal - with a Southern touch…

Florida's "anti-riot" bill was originally filed Jan. 6, the same day as the U.S. Capitol insurrection. (Pixabay)

'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 …

Senate Regulated Industries Chairman Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, filed a proposal that would target local energy projects. (Pexels)

Conservationists Warn of Power Grab in FL's Energy Policy

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - While Florida's electrical grid is more resilient than Texas' deregulated model, energy experts warn state lawmakers are still …

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