WEATHER ALERT
Judge continues to block Florida officials from threatening TV stations over abortion amendment ads
Read full article: Judge continues to block Florida officials from threatening TV stations over abortion amendment adsA federal judge has continued to block the head of Florida’s health department from taking any more steps to threaten TV stations that air commercials for an abortion rights measure on next week’s ballot.
Court weighs Florida’s teacher pronoun restrictions
Read full article: Court weighs Florida’s teacher pronoun restrictionsA federal appellate-court panel heard arguments Tuesday in a challenge to a Florida law requiring educators to use pronouns that align with their sex assigned at birth, in a case that has drawn national attention from the Biden administration, teachers unions and LGBTQ advocates.
Unions urge appeals court to side with Florida teacher over pronoun law
Read full article: Unions urge appeals court to side with Florida teacher over pronoun lawAccusing Florida of “dangerous political theater,” state and national teachers unions have urged an appeals court to side with a transgender Hillsborough County teacher who challenged a law requiring educators to use pronouns that align with their sex assigned at birth.
Feds weigh in against Florida pronoun law
Read full article: Feds weigh in against Florida pronoun lawThe federal government “has a strong interest” in a lawsuit challenging a Florida law requiring teachers to use pronouns that align with their sex, according to a brief filed this week by the Biden administration.
Judge blocks Florida teacher pronoun restriction
Read full article: Judge blocks Florida teacher pronoun restrictionA federal judge on Tuesday blocked Florida education officials from enforcing a law requiring a transgender teacher to use pronouns that align with her sex assigned at birth, saying the law violated her First Amendment rights.
Trial starts on Florida voter registration law
Read full article: Trial starts on Florida voter registration lawA trial kicked off Monday in challenges to a 2023 Florida law that imposed new restrictions on “third-party” voter registration groups, with plaintiffs arguing the changes are unconstitutional and the state saying the law is aimed at enhancing election security.
Judge to weigh Florida’s school pronoun restrictions
Read full article: Judge to weigh Florida’s school pronoun restrictionsA federal judge Friday will hear arguments in an attempt by a transgender teacher and a nonbinary teacher to block part of a 2023 law that restricts pronouns and titles that educators can use in Florida public schools.
Judge rules that restrictions on after-hour drop boxes don’t keep Floridians from voting
Read full article: Judge rules that restrictions on after-hour drop boxes don’t keep Floridians from votingA federal judge says restrictions on after-hour drop boxes may make it inconvenient to return ballots outside business hours, but they don’t keep Floridians from voting.
Florida disputes speech lawsuits from pro-Palestinian student groups
Read full article: Florida disputes speech lawsuits from pro-Palestinian student groupsGov. Ron DeSantis and the state university system are trying to fend off lawsuits from pro-Palestinian student groups that allege First Amendment violations amid campus debates about the war between Israel and Hamas.
Appeals court weighs lawmaker subpoenas in ‘Stop WOKE Act’ legal fight
Read full article: Appeals court weighs lawmaker subpoenas in ‘Stop WOKE Act’ legal fightA federal appeals court sounded skeptical Tuesday of arguments that 14 current and former Florida lawmakers should be required to turn over documents in a legal fight about a 2022 state law that would restrict the way race-related concepts can be taught in universities.
Florida fires back on public-employee union restrictions
Read full article: Florida fires back on public-employee union restrictionsWith a federal judge poised to hear arguments next week, the state is fighting an attempt to block key parts of a new law that places additional restrictions on public-employee unions.
Disney lawsuit judge removes himself from case but not for reasons cited by DeSantis
Read full article: Disney lawsuit judge removes himself from case but not for reasons cited by DeSantisA federal judge overseeing the First Amendment lawsuit that Walt Disney Parks filed against Gov. Ron DeSantis and others is disqualifying himself, but not because of bias claims made by the Florida governor.
Disney lawsuit judge removes himself from case but not for reasons cited by DeSantis
Read full article: Disney lawsuit judge removes himself from case but not for reasons cited by DeSantisA federal judge overseeing the First Amendment lawsuit that Walt Disney Parks filed against Gov. Ron DeSantis and others is disqualifying himself, but not because of bias claims made by the Florida governor.
DeSantis asks that judge be disqualified from Disney’s free speech lawsuit
Read full article: DeSantis asks that judge be disqualified from Disney’s free speech lawsuitGov. Ron DeSantis is asking that a federal judge be disqualified from the First Amendment lawsuit filed by Disney against the Florida governor and his appointees.
Florida House bill rolls back gun-buying age set after Parkland shooting
Read full article: Florida House bill rolls back gun-buying age set after Parkland shootingThe Florida House on Friday passed a measure that would lower the minimum age from 21 to 18 to buy rifles and other “long” guns, voting to scrap a high-profile change passed after a 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Florida’s Stop WOKE law on hold for universities after federal appeals court ruling
Read full article: Florida’s Stop WOKE law on hold for universities after federal appeals court rulingA Florida law that restricts the way race-related issues can be taught in schools will stay on hold for universities for now.
Florida bill seeks to lower gun-buying age to 18
Read full article: Florida bill seeks to lower gun-buying age to 18Two House Republicans on Monday filed a proposal that would lower the minimum age from 21 to 18 to buy rifles and other “long” guns, potentially scrapping a high-profile change passed after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Florida accused of violating order blocking in ‘Stop WOKE’ CRT education case
Read full article: Florida accused of violating order blocking in ‘Stop WOKE’ CRT education casePlaintiffs challenging a state law restricting how race-related concepts can be taught in higher education accused Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration Wednesday of violating a federal judge’s order that blocked parts of the law from being enforced.
Lawsuit now ‘moot’ after UF resolves conflict-of-interest concerns, professors say
Read full article: Lawsuit now ‘moot’ after UF resolves conflict-of-interest concerns, professors sayUniversity of Florida professors are asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit that challenged a controversial conflict-of-interest policy that gave school administrators discretion over allowing faculty members to serve as expert witnesses in litigation.
Educators, attorneys urge court to keep blocking Florida’s ‘Stop W.O.K.E. Act’
Read full article: Educators, attorneys urge court to keep blocking Florida’s ‘Stop W.O.K.E. Act’Professors and other plaintiffs are urging a federal appeals court to keep in place a preliminary injunction against a new Florida law that seeks to restrict the way race-related concepts can be taught in universities.
Judge to hear arguments in fight over Florida’s controversial ‘Intellectual Freedom’ law
Read full article: Judge to hear arguments in fight over Florida’s controversial ‘Intellectual Freedom’ lawNearly two years after the controversial measure passed, a federal judge next month will consider the constitutionality of a Florida law that requires conducting surveys on state college and university campuses about “intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity” and includes other changes that opponents argue violate First Amendment rights.
Judge blocks Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ law barring ‘woke’ education
Read full article: Judge blocks Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ law barring ‘woke’ educationA federal judge in Florida has blocked a law pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that restricts certain race-based conversations and analysis in colleges.
Florida targets ruling on workplace training law
Read full article: Florida targets ruling on workplace training lawDisputing that the measure violates the First Amendment, the state this week urged a federal appeals court to toss out an injunction against a new law that placed restrictions on discriminatory workplace training.
Florida appeals Stop WOKE Act workplace training decision
Read full article: Florida appeals Stop WOKE Act workplace training decisionGov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody are appealing a federal judge’s ruling that blocked part of a new state law that placed restrictions on how race-related issues can be addressed in workplace training — a law DeSantis dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act.”
UCF professor gets OK to challenge Florida’s so-called ‘Stop WOKE Act’
Read full article: UCF professor gets OK to challenge Florida’s so-called ‘Stop WOKE Act’A federal judge clears the way for a University of Central Florida professor to continue challenging a new state law that restricts the way race-related concepts can be taught in classrooms.
Judge compares Florida to ‘Stranger Things’ as he blocks provision in anti-’woke’ law
Read full article: Judge compares Florida to ‘Stranger Things’ as he blocks provision in anti-’woke’ lawFlorida is like a First Amendment “Upside Down,” a federal judge said in his ruling blocking Florida’s “Stop W.O.K.E.” law Thursday, referring to the parallel dimension in the Netflix series “Stranger Things.”
Judge denies request to block ‘Stop WOKE Act’
Read full article: Judge denies request to block ‘Stop WOKE Act’A federal judge Monday rejected arguments by attorneys for teachers, a student and a diversity consultant that he should block a controversial new state law that restricts the way race-related concepts can be taught in classrooms and workplace training.
Federal judge weighs arguments against Florida’s ‘Stop WOKE’ law
Read full article: Federal judge weighs arguments against Florida’s ‘Stop WOKE’ lawA federal judge is expected to decide this week whether to block a new state law that would restrict the way certain race-related concepts can be taught in public schools and in workplace training.
Florida fires back in race-related instruction fight
Read full article: Florida fires back in race-related instruction fightLawyers for Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody are fighting an attempt to block a state law and regulations that limit the way race-related issues can be taught in public schools and in workplace training.
Appeals court reinstates portions of Florida election law
Read full article: Appeals court reinstates portions of Florida election lawPortions of Florida election law are being reinstated by a federal appeals court while the state appeals a lower court’s decision that the law was aimed at suppressing Black voters.
North Carolina Senate race tests Trump's endorsement power
Read full article: North Carolina Senate race tests Trump's endorsement powerWhen Ted Budd won a surprise endorsement from former President Donald Trump last year, he was a little-known congressman running for a Senate seat in North Carolina against some of the state’s most recognizable Republicans, including a former governor.
Federal judge strikes down parts of Florida election law; cites race
Read full article: Federal judge strikes down parts of Florida election law; cites raceA federal judge has struck down portions of a Florida election law passed last year, citing what he said were subtle tactics by the Republican-led government to suppress Black voters.
Federal judge orders information on Florida’s new elections bill
Read full article: Federal judge orders information on Florida’s new elections billA federal judge considering a constitutional challenge to a 2021 state elections law ordered attorneys Monday to quickly file briefs about the potential effects of a bill that the Legislature passed this month to make further changes in the elections system.
Florida House moving forward with proposal to create state office investigating election fraud
Read full article: Florida House moving forward with proposal to create state office investigating election fraudAs a federal judge weighs the constitutionality of an elections law passed last year, the Florida House started moving forward with a new proposal that includes adding steps for voting by mail and creating a state office to investigate alleged elections fraud.
University of Florida can’t stop faculty in cases conflicting with state, judge rules
Read full article: University of Florida can’t stop faculty in cases conflicting with state, judge rulesA federal judge has temporarily prohibited the University of Florida from enforcing a policy that restricted faculty members from providing expert testimony in cases that conflict with positions taken by the state of Florida.
Judge will decide soon on whether free speech violated at UF
Read full article: Judge will decide soon on whether free speech violated at UFA federal judge sharply criticized an attorney for the University of Florida during a hearing on whether six professors’ free speech rights were infringed upon after the lawyer accused some of the academics of having no standing to make their cases because they had violated school policy.
US judge blocks enforcement of Florida ‘anti-riot’ law
Read full article: US judge blocks enforcement of Florida ‘anti-riot’ lawA federal judge has ruled that Florida’s new “anti-riot” law championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis as a way to quell violent protests is unconstitutional and cannot be enforced.
Another Trump on the ballot? Lara Trump eyes Senate seat
Read full article: Another Trump on the ballot? Lara Trump eyes Senate seatThe former president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, is eyeing the North Carolina Senate seat being vacated by Republican Richard Burr. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)RALEIGH, N.C. – A Trump may be on the ballot next year — but not Donald Trump. The former president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, is eyeing the North Carolina Senate seat being vacated by Republican Richard Burr. The answer to that question has implications that extend far beyond Lara Trump's political future. The 38-year-old Lara Trump is married to the former president's son, Eric.
Impeachment vote becomes defining moment for GOP senator
Read full article: Impeachment vote becomes defining moment for GOP senatorBut the North Carolina Republican’s vote to convict former President Donald Trump should not have come as a shock. AdWith Burr retiring at the end of his term in 2022, it’s a vote that could end up defining his career. Exactly a year later, as the Russia investigation was wrapping up, Burr’s time leading the committee came to an abrupt end. He sided with most Republicans in a vote to dismiss the trial, creating an expectation he’d also vote to acquit. AdSo when Burr stood up to vote for Trump's conviction, many in the chamber wondered if there would be other surprises.
Too big to read: Giant bill a leap of faith for Congress
Read full article: Too big to read: Giant bill a leap of faith for Congress(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)WASHINGTON – The $900 billion pandemic relief package that was rushed through Congress Monday created a familiar year-end conundrum for lawmakers: It was a bill too big to fail, and also too big to read. The Senate Historical Office says it's the longest bill they could find record of passing Congress. The bill was released at 2 p.m., just hours before the House and Senate began voting on it. Also in the bill: hundreds of unrelated legislative items negotiated by leadership to win support from various constituencies. “Members of Congress need to see & read the bills we are expected to vote on.
Army beats Navy 15-0 at Michie Stadium
Read full article: Army beats Navy 15-0 at Michie StadiumIt was the first meeting between the teams at West Point since 1943. They had lost all three games played previously at West Point to the Midshipmen, including 13-0 in 1943 during World War II. Xavier Arline started for Navy, just the fifth freshman to start at quarterback for the Mids against Army. Army: The Black Knights have overcome a schedule that had to be almost totally revamped to rebound after a subpar 2019. He first took his place with cadets on the Army side of the stadium for much of the first quarter before joining Navy midshipmen in the second quarter.
House Latest: Republican Lauren Boebert wins Colorado House
Read full article: House Latest: Republican Lauren Boebert wins Colorado HouseShe soundly defeated Tipton, a co-chair of President Donald Trump’s Colorado reelection campaign, in the Republican primary in June. Republican state Sen. Stephanie Bice earned a reputation as a political moderate in her two terms in the Oklahoma Senate. ___11:20 p.m.Republican Maria Elvira Salazar has defeated Democrat Donna Shalala for a House seat in Florida. Republican Ronny Jackson has won a House seat in West Texas, where he moved after leaving the White House in 2018. The solidly Republican district is currently held by Mac Thornberry, one of six GOP congressmen in Texas retiring this year.
Judge rips Florida’s election issues but denies request to extend voter registration
Read full article: Judge rips Florida’s election issues but denies request to extend voter registrationTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A federal judge has denied a motion to extend voter registration in Florida even though a computer meltdown on the final day of registration might have prevented thousands of potential voters from taking part in November’s presidential election. Secretary of State Laurel Lee reopened the registration for seven hours on Tuesday, after consulting with Gov. In the end, the case is not about Floridians missing registration deadlines, or a challenge to a state statute, Walker wrote. This court must consider the consequences of extending voter registration deadline. Yet, Florida has failed to figure out how to run an election properly -- a task simpler than rocket science.”
Florida Sen. Rubio introduces NIL bill to push NCAA changes
Read full article: Florida Sen. Rubio introduces NIL bill to push NCAA changesFILE - In this March 12, 2020, file photo, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks to media on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ron DeSantis signed into a law a bill that would open up that market for college athletes in the state. The bill gives the NCAA until June 2021 to have new rules in place that will supersede states laws. These kids deserve to make a little bit of money while they're in college, Rubio said. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) examining names, image and likeness compensation for college athletes, though Rubio's bill was separate from that group.