Florida's Latest News

Ashley Moody defends ‘essential’ vaccine passport suit against CDC

Attorney General Ashley Moody continued Monday to defend the state’s legal challenge to federal vaccine passport requirements for cruise ships.

Moody, in Perry where she was honoring police officers, addressed the ongoing lawsuit pitting her office and the state of Florida against the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Florida is currently in litigation with the CDC and the federal government over the right to allow cruises to sail without proof of vaccination. A decision is expected soon. Federal guidelines require 95% of cruise passengers to be fully vaccinated to sail. But new Florida law bans businesses from requiring proof of vaccination to render services, putting the two guidelines at odds.

Gov. DeSantis signs school moment of silence bill — at a religious institution

A new Florida law will require schools to hold a one- to two-minute moment of silence at the start of each day in public schools.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law Monday after similar legislation failed to pass previous Sessions.

Pushback over the new law, in previous Sessions and this last one, came from some Democratic lawmakers who were concerned the moment of silence was about religion, and the new law could violate the separation of church and state or make children of different faiths feel uncomfortable.

Proponents of the bill (HB 529) made assurances the new law has nothing to do with religion and is only intended to offer time for reflection.

Gas Prices In Florida Spike To Highest Levels Since 2014

Floridians are paying more for gas than they have in almost seven years.

According to AAA, the average price of gas in the state jumped 12 cents since last week, to $2.97 per gallon.

That's around 6 cents more than the previous high this year, back in March.

It's also the highest price for gas since November 2014.

In a news release, AAA said the increase is due to the demand for fuel across the world outpacing supply.

Florida gets another legal challenge to new elections rules

Two more groups sued Florida over its new restrictive elections laws Monday, adding to a growing chorus of voter rights advocates who say the rules could keep some people from casting ballots.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee by the Fair Elections Center and the Southern Poverty Law Center on behalf of Head Count and the Harriet Tubman Freedom Fighters.

The suit argues that the new law foments distrust against civic organizations that work to register voters by suggesting that residents use the government’s website instead.

The lawsuit is designed to “protect our clients’ right to organize through voter registration activities, communicating their message that our democracy works better when all our voices are heard,” Michelle Kanter Cohen, policy director and senior counsel at Fair Elections Center, said in a statement.