INSIDER
DeSantis launches ‘Operation Blue Ridge’ to get Floridians out of North Carolina after Helene
Read full article: DeSantis launches ‘Operation Blue Ridge’ to get Floridians out of North Carolina after HeleneFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced state resources were being deployed north in “Operation Blue Ridge,” what’s meant in part to assist Floridians seeking rescue in western North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Tennessee Valley following Hurricane Helene.
Florida Gov. DeSantis calls on lawmakers to address issues facing condo owners
Read full article: Florida Gov. DeSantis calls on lawmakers to address issues facing condo ownersA 2022 bill set requirements for inspections of condominium buildings that are three stories or higher. But now, some condo owners are being hit with huge assessments and fees to meet the new law's deadline early in the new year.
US changes how it categorizes people by race and ethnicity. It's the first revision in 27 years
Read full article: US changes how it categorizes people by race and ethnicity. It's the first revision in 27 yearsFor the first time in 27 years, the U.S. government is changing how it categorizes people by race and ethnicity.
Florida restricts funding for DEI in state colleges, replaces ‘woke’ sociology course with US history
Read full article: Florida restricts funding for DEI in state colleges, replaces ‘woke’ sociology course with US historyThe Florida Board of Education has implemented new regulations that it says will restrict the use of public funds for DEI programs within Florida College System institutions.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis calls for sanctions against Iran over attack in Israel
Read full article: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis calls for sanctions against Iran over attack in IsraelGov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday called for increased state sanctions against Iran for aiding Hamas in the deadly surprise attack in Israel over the weekend.
GOP lawmakers take aim at LGBTQ+ ‘safe places’ program in Mount Dora
Read full article: GOP lawmakers take aim at LGBTQ+ ‘safe places’ program in Mount DoraSome central Florida lawmakers say they are considering “all legislative, legal and executive options available” to stop business owners in a small town from voluntarily displaying rainbow decals in their windows.
Florida Department of Education set to approve pronoun, bathroom policies
Read full article: Florida Department of Education set to approve pronoun, bathroom policiesNew rules will be put into place Wednesday during a meeting led by the Florida Department of Education. Among the agenda items are topics including student pronouns and bathroom choices.
With tourist tax proposal done, Orange County leaders push for legislative change
Read full article: With tourist tax proposal done, Orange County leaders push for legislative changeOrange County’s Tourist Development Tax Citizen Task Force has already made recommendations to spend the bulk of the county’s tourism tax on big venues like the county convention center or the Amway Arena.
‘Forced to have children:’ Rally in Orlando marks 1 year since US Supreme Court overturned Roe
Read full article: ‘Forced to have children:’ Rally in Orlando marks 1 year since US Supreme Court overturned RoeAt a packed rally Saturday morning, more than 100 people came out to Renaissance Theatre Company in Orlando to protest the overturning of Roe v. Wade one year later.
Orlando emergency youth shelter set to shut down due to costs
Read full article: Orlando emergency youth shelter set to shut down due to costsStarting this month, Covenant House Florida — located in Orlando — said it will begin phasing out its emergency shelter. The organization said it has been providing resources to housing insecure youth since 1995.
Florida Senate proposes more election law changes
Read full article: Florida Senate proposes more election law changesThe Florida Senate on Monday released a 98-page bill that includes proposed changes ranging from clamping down on voter-registration groups to relaxing campaign-finance reporting rules.
Florida Legislature OKs incentives for affordable housing, bans rent control
Read full article: Florida Legislature OKs incentives for affordable housing, bans rent controlWith approval Friday from the Florida House, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s $711 million effort to make housing more affordable for working Floridians is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Bill putting Disney’s special district under DeSantis’ control moves forward in Florida House
Read full article: Bill putting Disney’s special district under DeSantis’ control moves forward in Florida HouseThe Florida House is ready to take up a proposal that would shift control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and give it a new name.
Reedy Creek board meets amid Florida special session on Disney district
Read full article: Reedy Creek board meets amid Florida special session on Disney districtThe Reedy Creek Improvement District board met amid a special session that could give Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis control over the Disney district.
Central Florida leaders hold vigil for Tyre Nichols in Orlando
Read full article: Central Florida leaders hold vigil for Tyre Nichols in OrlandoNational and state lawmakers lead a candlelight vigil over the weekend to honor and reflect on the life of Tyre Nichols who died after being beaten by now-former Memphis police officers.
Central Florida leaders react to brutal beating of Tyre Nichols at hands of Memphis police
Read full article: Central Florida leaders react to brutal beating of Tyre Nichols at hands of Memphis policeReaction is being heard across Central Florida following the release of footage showing the violent, deadly arrest of Tyre Nichols.
Enforcement of Miya’s Law for renter safety goes into effect in 2023
Read full article: Enforcement of Miya’s Law for renter safety goes into effect in 2023While the law is technically in effect, Florida’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants will now be able to enforce most of the law starting in January 2023.
Central Florida lawmakers discuss controversial new measures set to go into effect within the week
Read full article: Central Florida lawmakers discuss controversial new measures set to go into effect within the weekSeveral key, controversial laws here in Florida are set to go into effect this Friday, July 1.
Florida leaders argue over holding special session to strengthen state abortion laws
Read full article: Florida leaders argue over holding special session to strengthen state abortion lawsRep. Anthony Sabatini, a Republican who represents Lake County’s District 32 in the Florida House of Representatives, is calling for a special legislative session after the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion case was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court Friday.
Orlando women’s organizations to hold abortion rally in wake of Roe v. Wade decision
Read full article: Orlando women’s organizations to hold abortion rally in wake of Roe v. Wade decisionA rally is being held in Orlando after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion case in a historic ruling.
Florida Democrats react to Supreme Court leaked draft opinion in abortion case
Read full article: Florida Democrats react to Supreme Court leaked draft opinion in abortion caseOrlando Rep. Anna Eskamani said she's not surprised after the draft opinion, leaked to and reported by Politico, shows a majority of the Supreme Court in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade.
FDOT ‘aggressively exploring’ how to speed up adding wrong-way detection system to I-4 Express lanes
Read full article: FDOT ‘aggressively exploring’ how to speed up adding wrong-way detection system to I-4 Express lanesIn a statement to News 6 Tuesday afternoon, FDOT spokesperson Jessica Ottaviano said the state transportation agency is now "aggressively exploring avenues" to accelerate the installation of a wrong-way vehicle detection system on all direct-connect ramps that feed traffic to and from I-4 Express lanes to and from local roads.
Florida House panel gives initial nod to controversial abortion proposal
Read full article: Florida House panel gives initial nod to controversial abortion proposalDespite fierce objections from Democrats who argued the proposal is unconstitutional, a Florida House panel on Wednesday approved a controversial bill that would prohibit doctors from performing abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Florida GOP moves to combat vaccine mandates, virus rules during special session
Read full article: Florida GOP moves to combat vaccine mandates, virus rules during special sessionFlorida lawmakers begin debating a package of bills to combat coronavirus vaccine mandates, continuing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' fight against virus rules.
Here’s who’s working to find solutions to Central Florida’s affordable housing crisis
Read full article: Here’s who’s working to find solutions to Central Florida’s affordable housing crisisThere’s not a one-size-fits-all solution to the affordable housing crisis Central Florida is facing but there are some groups and individuals working to make housing more attainable.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs online sales tax bill estimated to produce $1 billion a year
Read full article: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs online sales tax bill estimated to produce $1 billion a yearGov. Ron DeSantis signs into law a plan to require out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases made by Floridians.
Bill banning transgender athletes from school, college sports passes Florida House
Read full article: Bill banning transgender athletes from school, college sports passes Florida HouseA bill that would prevent men and transgender women from participating in Florida school and college sports designated for women passed in a Florida House vote Wednesday after two days of intense debate.
State partnering with faith-based community to bring vaccines into underserved areas
Read full article: State partnering with faith-based community to bring vaccines into underserved areasORLANDO, Fla. – As part of an effort to get people in underserved communities access to the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. State Reps. Travaris McCurdy and Anna Eskamani worked with the state to get 600 people vaccinated on Saturday. “We’ve done dozens and dozens and dozens of vaccine sites at churches, predominantly African American churches, since the beginning of January,” DeSantis said during a news conference Friday in Ocala. “We’re going to the people instead of putting the burden on people to go to these other sites,” McCurdy said. The state is hosting a vaccination event on Sunday at Shiloh Baptist Church Youth Life Center in Orlando.
Record budget, Big Tech regulation among big issues lawmakers will face during Florida’s legislative session
Read full article: Record budget, Big Tech regulation among big issues lawmakers will face during Florida’s legislative sessionORLANDO, Fla. – Florida lawmakers are getting ready to descend on Tallahassee to debate policy, pass new laws and put together a state budget. Perhaps the biggest hurdle lawmakers will face during the 60-day legislative session is the record $96.6 billion budget put forth by Gov. News 6 political expert Dr. Jim Clark joined anchor Justin Warmoth on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com” to break down what to expect over the next two months. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, (D) District 47, also appeared on the program to explain what her legislative priorities are this year and whether she’s considering a run for governor in 2022. Florida’s legislative session kicks off Tuesday, March 2.
Florida Republicans proposing changes to Bright Futures, student financial aid
Read full article: Florida Republicans proposing changes to Bright Futures, student financial aidStudents whose majors aren’t on the list would receive less funding from the Bright Futures Scholarship. Bright Futures students are currently eligible for 100% or 75% of tuition but under this bill that would depend on their education track. “I went to UCF on Bright Futures and wouldn’t be here today without it,” said Eskamani. “We need to protect and enhance Bright Futures not cut it.”Along with the changes to Bright Futures, the proposal would also create two new financial aid programs. AdThe Florida Endeavor Scholarship would benefit students without a high school diploma who wish to enroll in a certificate or high school equivalency program.
GOP's jobless benefit plan could mean delays, states warn
Read full article: GOP's jobless benefit plan could mean delays, states warnA Republican proposal to slash the $600 weekly benefit boost for those left jobless because of the coronavirus shutdown could result in weeks or even months of delayed payments in some states. Washington was among the first states to implement the $600 benefit boost. John Bel Edwards said he doesn’t believe any states’ unemployment systems could handle a variable federal benefit tied to a person’s previous earnings. He has encouraged Louisiana’s congressional delegation to back a flat unemployment benefit instead. “The Republican proposal on unemployment benefits, simply put, is unworkable.
Single mom forced to leave son with family as her unemployment benefits stop amid COVID-19 pandemic
Read full article: Single mom forced to leave son with family as her unemployment benefits stop amid COVID-19 pandemicORANGE COUNTY, Fla. Lindsey Bates lost her job as a server with an Orlando IHOP in early March and like thousands of other unemployed workers in Florida and across the country her chase for unemployment benefits has become a never-ending cycle of delays and disappointment. Her records show she has already received two payments from the PEUC but she told News 6 she received one payment on her debit card and nothing after that. Eskamani said she has helped people from the Panhandle to the Keyes and that it usually takes two to threes weeks to have the funds sent. If you would like to help Lindsey Bates and her son or you have an unemployment issue email us at makeendsmeet@wkmg.com. If you would like to file an escalation form through Rep. Eskamani, go to this link.
Florida announces new rent and mortgage assistance
Read full article: Florida announces new rent and mortgage assistanceRon DeSantis announced last week that $240 million will go to rental assistance for affordable housing tenants, along with rent and mortgage assistance. Price said half of the funding, $120 million, will go toward helping tenants in their portfolio around the state, who have been struggling to make rent. Price told New 6, theres still a lot that needs to be worked out, like how far back the rental assistance will go, and how far forward it will go. The other $120 million, Price said, will go to local housing offices. But, as of now, he said they are still figuring out how the money for local governments will be distributed.
Outrage as Floridians navigate glitches on unemployment site
Read full article: Outrage as Floridians navigate glitches on unemployment siteMany who filed on the state's outdated website in March have been waiting five or six weeks with their claim stuck in pending status. However, the state's website has a large disclaimer noting that requirement has been waived due to the pandemic. However, some of those rejected, if not most of them, will be eligible for $600 a week in federal unemployment benefits. Under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, gig workers and other independent contractors like Uber drivers and massage therapists who may not be eligible for state unemployment benefits are nonetheless eligible for the federal benefits. She knows she doesn’t qualify for the state benefits, but meets the criteria for the federal virus assistance.
Drive-thru coronavirus testing site opens at UCF
Read full article: Drive-thru coronavirus testing site opens at UCFORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A drive-thru coronavirus testing site is now open at the University of Central Florida, according to school officials. UCF officials said the site is for members of the community who have an appointment. The testing site has 7,000 tests on hand, but Aventus CEO Oliver Dawoud said it only has the capacity to perform 250 tests per day. [RELATED: Coronavirus: Everything you need to know about UCF’s new drive-thru testing site]The site will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until 250 tests have been performed. UCF credits state Rep. Anna Eskamani for bringing together the public-private partnership to offer more access to COVID-19 testing in Central Florida.