News from around the state of Florida
Featured image for “Federal judge permanently blocks part of ‘Stop WOKE Act’”
Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses the crowd before publicly signing HB7, dubbed the "Stop WOKE" bill, during a news conference at Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School in Hialeah Gardens on April 22, 2022. | Daaniel A. Varela, Miami Herald
July 29, 2024

Federal judge permanently blocks part of ‘Stop WOKE Act’

Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker granted a permanent injunction against a part of the law that restricted workplace training.…

Featured image for “Florida Supreme Court asked to reject abortion statement”
The Florida Supreme Court.
July 26, 2024

Florida Supreme Court asked to reject abortion statement

Floridians Protecting Freedom contends a statement that will appear on the ballot with Amendment 4 is inaccurate and political.…

Featured image for “Back-to-school sales tax ‘holiday’ starts Monday”
July 26, 2024

Back-to-school sales tax ‘holiday’ starts Monday

Floridians can save on clothes, school supplies, computers and more beginning Monday.…

Featured image for “NIL deals approved for high school athletes”
Andrew Jackson's TayVion Lawson finishes beyond the outstretched arm of Raines' forward Zion Kemp during the 2024 Gateway Conference boys basketball tournament final on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Lawson and the Tigers won 57-48. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
July 25, 2024

NIL deals approved for high school athletes

The Florida Board of Education allowed high school athletes to make money through endorsements and other kinds of deals.…

Featured image for “Here are the new rules on kids and social media”
Lawmakers did not identify which social media companies are affected by a ban for young children.
July 23, 2024

Here are the new rules on kids and social media

The state has published details about how it will carry out a new law aimed at keeping young children off…

Featured image for “Florida has $18.9 million to spend on homeless students”
A homeless camp is shown in Immokalee. | Andrea Melendez, WGCU
July 22, 2024

Florida has $18.9 million to spend on homeless students

States have until Sept. 30 to use money distributed through the American Rescue Plan.…

Featured image for “UF president suddenly resigns, citing wife’s health”
University of Florida President Ben Sasse fist-bumps kids during UF's Homecoming Parade in Gainesville in 2023. | Ashleigh Lucas, WUFT News)
July 19, 2024

UF president suddenly resigns, citing wife’s health

University of Florida President Ben Sasse will leave his job July 31, 17 months after taking the position.…

Featured image for “DeSantis’ veto of beach bill roils environmentalists”
One of the results of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' veto of the Clean Beaches Act is no additional help from the Florida Department of Health in terms of improved water quality testing or beach closure signage, even in case of fecal pollution or a blue-green algae or red tide outbreak like the one in 2018 that killed this goliath grouper and tens of thousands more fish that washed up on Southwest Florida's beaches. | Captains for Clean Water, WGCU
July 19, 2024

DeSantis’ veto of beach bill roils environmentalists

Supporters said the bill would have protected the health of beachgoers. The Legislature approved the bill unanimously.…

Featured image for “Florida Tropical Training Week: Get prepared with the pros”
July 19, 2024

Florida Tropical Training Week: Get prepared with the pros

Meteorologists from the National Weather Service will prepare workshop participants for the most active weeks of this hurricane season.…

Featured image for “Abortion rights supporters allege ‘dirty trick’ on ballot”
Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research, says it’s tough to speculate about potential litigation costs related to the passage of the abortion rights constitutional proposal. | The Florida Channel
July 17, 2024

Abortion rights supporters allege ‘dirty trick’ on ballot

Supporters of Amendment 4 say a statement on the ballot will mislead voters about the proposed constitutional amendment.…

Featured image for “FAMU President Larry Robinson is stepping down”
Larry Robinson has served as president of Florida A&M University in Tallahassee for seven years. He announced Friday, July 13, 2024, that he will be stepping down. | Florida A&^M University
July 15, 2024

FAMU President Larry Robinson is stepping down

After taking a yearlong sabbatical, Robinson plans to return to serving as a professor in FAMU’s School of the Environment…

Featured image for “Redistricting challenge ends in North Florida”
July 12, 2024

Redistricting challenge ends in North Florida

A federal court ruled that the reconfiguration of Congressional District 5 was not racially motivated.…

Featured image for “Tropical disturbance brews east of Florida”
July 12, 2024

Tropical disturbance brews east of Florida

The disturbance has a low chance of developing, but rain and thunderstorms are likely in the Southeast.…

Featured image for “Challenge to Florida pronoun law gets go-ahead”
A former Putnam County school resource officer was sentenced to life in prison for a sexual relationship with a child.
July 12, 2024

Challenge to Florida pronoun law gets go-ahead

The law requires teachers to use pronouns that align with their sex assigned at birth.…

Featured image for “Saharan dust arrives in Florida: The good and the bad”
July 10, 2024

Saharan dust arrives in Florida: The good and the bad

The first dust plume of the year will help suppress hurricanes, but it can irritate people with respiratory problems.…

Featured image for “Hurricane forecasters ratchet up predictions after Beryl”
Flooding strands vehicles near downtown Houston on Monday, July 8, 2024, after Hurricane Beryl came ashore in Texas. | Maria Lysaker, AP
July 9, 2024

Hurricane forecasters ratchet up predictions after Beryl

Experts at Colorado State University now forecast 25 named storms, including 12 hurricanes.…

Featured image for “Florida regulators look to add nuclear power”
The Turkey Point nuclear plant is south of Miami. | Lynne Sladky, AP
July 9, 2024

Florida regulators look to add nuclear power

Nuclear plants generate about 13% of Florida’s electricity, but the state hasn’t had new plants since the 1970s and 1980s.…

Featured image for “Cyberattack stymies families seeking funeral arrangements”
July 9, 2024

Cyberattack stymies families seeking funeral arrangements

The Florida Department of Health said ransom thieves hacked a system used to process birth and death certificates.…

Featured image for “Florida begins testing cows as bird flu spreads to dairy cattle”
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, over 100 dairy herds across the country have been infected with the flu. There are no reported cow infections in Florida. | Kerry Sheridan, WUSF
June 28, 2024

Florida begins testing cows as bird flu spreads to dairy cattle

Experts worry that the virus is mutating and could spread from human to human, creating another pandemic.…

Featured image for “DeSantis vetoes contentious vacation rental bill”
The Florida Realtors opposed the vacation rentals bill. | Picasa/Konstantin L, Stock.Adobe.Com
June 28, 2024

DeSantis vetoes contentious vacation rental bill

Gov. Ron DeSantis said the bill would create bureaucratic red tape for local officials.…

Featured image for “Jimmy Buffett highway will run through Northeast Florida”
Jimmy Buffett performs in Gulf Shores, Alabama, on June 30, 2010. | Dave Martin, AP
June 28, 2024

Jimmy Buffett highway will run through Northeast Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill designating State Road A1A as Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway from Key West to…

Featured image for “Saharan dust takes over tropics, but 2 systems advance”
June 28, 2024

Saharan dust takes over tropics, but 2 systems advance

A storm system labeled Invest 95 is moving into an area conducive for development.…

Featured image for “Crosswalk lights blamed for loggerhead’s death”
A loggerhead sea turtle nicknamed Mahomes was released May 30, 2023, after treatment for exposure to red tide toxins off Sarasota County. | Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
June 26, 2024

Crosswalk lights blamed for loggerhead’s death

The turtle apparently misread cues to return to the ocean from Anna Maria Island. The Florida Department of Transportation has…

Featured image for “Florida’s ‘Freedom Month’ tax breaks start Monday”
Voters decided to add hunting and fishing rights to the state Constitution. | Charlie Riedel, AP
June 26, 2024

Florida’s ‘Freedom Month’ tax breaks start Monday

The tax “holiday” will allow shoppers to avoid paying sales taxes on a wide range of recreational items and activities…