Florida
Former ‘Cafe Risque’ stripper files lawsuit against the state of Florida
MICANOPY, Fla. (WCJB) -The state of Florida now requires strippers to be at least 21 years of age.
A lawsuit filed by Serenity Bushey, “Cafe Risque”, and two other adult establishments claims the new law violates their First Amendment and equal protection rights.
Bushay’s attorney, Gary Edinger, says the law is unconstitutional.
“The idea that adult residents of the state of Florida don’t have the same rights as people who are a couple of years older than them… it doesn’t make any sense under the constitution.”
The federal suit claims at least nine women under the age of 21 perform at “Cafe Risque” and have since lost their jobs.
Edinger says the law doesn’t only apply to strippers at adult entertainment clubs.
“So whether they are performers, or cooks, or DJs, or security, they can no longer be employed,” he stated. “And that affects what you might think of as strip clubs, it affects adult theaters, and also adult retail stores.”
He also tells TV20 that the consequences are high stakes.
“If someone slips by with a particularly good fake ID that club is strictly liable,” he added. “If it’s a nude club such as ‘Cafe Risque’ in Micanopy that’s a third-degree felony, that means someone’s going to jail for that…”.
Edinger and Bushey are asking for attorney fees and calling for a permanent injunction on the law.
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FORT MYERS, Fla. – An injured manatee and her calf are recovering after authorities on a boat rescued them from the Orange River near Fort Myers on Thursday.
What we know:
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said its Marine Unit, Advanced Technology Support Unit, drone pilots and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helped in saving the pair after the mother was found hurt in the water and in need of medical attention.
READ: Missing Florida man found stuck in mud without food or water for days: PFD
Video shows authorities pulling the frantic manatees safely onto the boat in netting before taking them to shore.
Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Both animals will be taken to ZooTampa for evaluation and medical care.
What we don’t know:
LCSO did not say the extent of the mother’s injuries.
By the numbers:
As of Feb. 20, there have been 85 manatee deaths across Florida in 2026, according to the FWC. Last year reportedly saw a total of 632 manatee deaths.
Dig deeper:
Earlier this month, the FWC began investigating a spike in manatee deaths, specifically in Lee County, where officials say 25 were found dead within a week.
READ: FWC investigating spike in manatee deaths over the past week
The FWC believes these manatee deaths could be from several factors: cold stress, a lack of seagrass and polluted waterways.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
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