Florida's Latest News

Florida social media 'deplatforming' ban heads to the Senate floor

The Florida Senate Appropriations Committee voted Monday to send a prohibition on social media "deplatforming" to the chamber's floor for final approval, with one Republican breaking ranks with his party to oppose the measure.

Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) railed against the legislation as an act of nanny state largesss inconsistent with the party's values.

"I can't believe that we would vote yes on this bill. I can't believe we would," he said before Monday's vote. "As a small government conservative body, this is the exact opposite of the things that we stand for."

‘That’s Not Going To Happen Here’: Gov. Ron DeSantis Signs Controversial Protest Crackdown Bill Into Law

With the stroke of a pen, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a controversial law and order bill into law which aimed at cracking down on unruly and violent protests.

DeSantis announced the legislation last September after protests across the nation in the aftermath of the May death of George Floyd, a 36-year-old Black man who died after then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for at least eight minutes.

“We saw really unprecedented disorder and rioting throughout the summer of 2020 and said that’s not going to happen here in the state of Florida. We wanted to make sure that we could protect the people of our great state, people’s businesses and property, against any type of mob activity and violent assemblies,” said DeSantis before signing the legislation at a ceremony in Winter Haven.

All across Florida, women are getting vaccinated for COVID-19 more than men

Continuing what appears to be a national trend, Florida women are choosing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 at higher rates than Florida men — and medical professionals aren't surprised. 

Statewide as of Wednesday, women made up about 57% of fully vaccinated people, according to the Florida Department of Health. Men added up to about 43%. 

In fact, in 66 of Florida's 67 counties, women are outpacing men when it comes to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine; the exception is Glades County in south central Florida. 

Florida is not alone. In a recent survey of every state’s public health data dashboard, vaccine distribution numbers between women and men were generally close to 60% and 40% respectively, according to reporting by Kaiser Health News.

House to take up scholarship bill, but changes worry parents of students with disabilities

The Florida House is poised to “dramatically” expand the state’s school voucher programs so that more students qualify for scholarships designed to help those with disabilities and those living in low-income families pay for an education outside public schools.

But the measure, slated to be discussed on the House floor Tuesday, faces unusual opposition. It comes from families now using the existing scholarship earmarked for children with significant disabilities. Those opposed to the changes include the family of former Senate President Andy Gardiner, the lawmaker from Orlando for whom the Gardiner Scholarship is named.

“This will be the beginning of chipping away at something this Legislature set up to support our fellow citizens that have children with the most significant disabilities,” Camille Gardiner, his wife and a co-founder of the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida, told lawmakers.