Jan. 17 (UPI) — Florida’s Board of Education announced a new rule Wednesday “to permanently prohibit” the use of state or federal funds for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs or activities at public colleges throughout the state.
The new rule applies to 28 schools within the Florida College System, including Seminole State College of Florida, Valencia College, Florida State College at Jacksonville and others that serve large populations of Black and Latino students.
“Higher education must return to its essential foundations of academic integrity and the pursuit of knowledge instead of being corrupted by destructive ideologies,” Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. said in a statement.
“These actions today ensure that we will not spend taxpayers’ money supporting DEI and radical indoctrination that promotes division in our society,” Diaz added.
Florida’s Board of Education defines DEI as “any program, campus activity or policy that classifies individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity or sexual orientation and promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals on the basis of such classification.”
DEI professionals define DEI as correcting inequities within an organization for marginalized groups.
“The Florida State Board of Education has implemented new ‘strict regulations’ to prohibit the use of public funds for DEI programs, activities and policies at 28 state college campuses,” civil rights activist and attorney Ben Crump wrote Wednesday in a post on X. “We continue to go down a misguided path of censorship in Florida!”
The new regulations are based on S.B. 266, which was passed in May 2023 by Florida’s state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who called DEI programs “discriminatory initiatives.”
On Wednesday, Florida’s Board of Education also announced it would replace the course “Principles of Sociology” with a comprehensive general education course on American history.
“The aim is to provide students with an accurate and factual account of the nation’s past, rather than exposing them to radical woke ideologies, which had become commonplace in the now-replaced course,” the board said.
“I wasn’t ready to stop playing hockey.”
Safe to say Sam Bennett summed things up perfectly during Game 7 in Toronto.
After taking down the Maple Leafs in a wild seven-game series, the Florida Panthers will continue their quest for a second straight Stanley Cup when they face-off against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, starting with Game 1 on Tuesday.
In 2023, the Panthers swept the Hurricanes to reach the Stanley Cup Final.
“I think the only difference is what we’ve gone through and having that experience to rely on,” forward Matthew Tkachuk said of the impending rematch. “There’s really not much different with us. We’re still goofing around, having fun, joking all the time. But when it’s time to put those work boots on, I don’t think there’s a team that works harder.”
While the Panthers will start the series on the road, there’s still a party in South Florida.
To see what’s going on around the Territory this week and beyond, continue below.
THE GAMES
Tuesday, May 20: at Carolina Hurricanes – 8 p.m. ET
Thursday, May 22: at Carolina Hurricanes – 8 p.m. ET
Saturday, May 24: at Carolina Hurricanes – 8 p.m. ET
WATCH PARTIES
Grab your jersey and get ready to party this week.
For Game 1 on Tuesday, fans can head to Funky Buddha Brewery to enjoy drinks, food, special appearances and more.
For Game 2 on Thursday, the party will be even bigger at FTL War Memorial.
The first official Panthers watch party at the newest concert venue in downtown Fort Lauderdale, doors will open to the auditorium at 6:30 p.m. for a live band performance
After that, fans can enjoy pregame show at 7:30 p.m. before the and 8 p.m. puck drop.
For more information on both watch parties, click HERE.
THIRD LINE SHINES
As it has been all playoffs, the third line is on another level for the Panthers.
Through two rounds, Anton Lundell, Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen have combined for 34 points, with Luostarinen and Marchand tied for the team lead with 12 points each.
At 5-on-5, the line boasts a 60.26 shared of expected goals, per NaturalStatTrick.com.
“Their line has been unbelievable all playoffs,” forward Carter Verhaeghe said. “They’re scoring big goals, they’re playing tough minutes and the best players, and it’s so nice to see. It takes pressure off everyone else in the goal-scoring department and stuff like that.”
Not just piling up points, the line is also bringing the body.
Heading into the Eastern Conference Final, Luostarinen ranks second on the team with 63 hits, while Marchand (19 hits) and Lundell (15 hits) have also been getting very physical.
They’ve also combined for 31 blocked shots.
“We just want to keep going and keep the pressure on,” Luostarinen said.
ECF PREVIEW
Watch below as Goldie and Randy get everyone ready for Panthers vs. Hurricanes.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Florida Lottery offers several draw games for those hoping to win one of the available jackpots. Here’s a look at the winning numbers for games played on Monday, May 19, 2025
13-14-37-50-60, Powerball: 11, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
11-12-27-30-35, Powerball: 07
02-12-36-48-49, Cash Ball: 01
Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Midday: 01-22-24-27-33
Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Morning: 05
Matinee: 06
Afternoon: 09
Evening: 04
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Midday: 7-0, FB: 6
Evening: 4-3, FB: 8
Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Midday: 0-0-6, FB: 6
Evening: 0-0-5, FB: 8
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Midday: 3-3-0-8, FB: 6
Evening: 9-1-0-7, FB: 8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Midday: 4-0-1-9-8, FB: 6
Evening: 6-0-9-7-8, FB: 8
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Tickets can be purchased in person at any authorized retailer throughout Florida, including gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. To find a retailer near you, go to Find Florida Lottery Retailers.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
You also can claim your winnings by mail if the prize is $250,000 or less. Mail your ticket to the Florida Lottery with the required documentation.
If you’re a winner, Florida law mandates the following information is public record:
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Florida digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.
U.S. Rep. Frankel says dismantling Dept. of Education will affect local schools
Congresswoman Lois Frankel addresses President Trump’s moves to close the U.S. Department of Education during press conference in West Palm Beach
The 2024-2025 school year is winding down to a close.
Students in 16 counties will start their summer vacation this week. Most will have to wait until the week after the Memorial Day holiday.
For students in seven counties, they’ll be waiting until June for the last day of school.
Here’s what you should know.
Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 26, but 16 Florida schools will have finished the 2024-2025 school year by the time the holiday arrives. Here’s a list of schools closing before Memorial Day:
All Florida schools still in session will be closed Monday, May 26, for Memorial Day.
Summer vacation started before Memorial Day for students in 16 counties.
School for students in seven Florida counties won’t end until June.
All others will start their summer vacation in the days after Memorial Day.
Here’s an alphabetical list of the last day of school for all Florida counties. All students still in school will have off Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day:
In 2025, there are 12 instead of the usual 11 federal holidays, although two fell on the same day.
Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day both fall on Jan. 20 this year. Since 1965, federal employees in the Washington, D.C., area are entitled to a holiday on the day a president is inaugurated. President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office on Jan. 20.
➤ Trump Inauguration week
Here are 2025 federal holidays:
When are 2025 Florida state holidays?
The Florida Department of Management Services lists the following days observed as paid holidays by state agencies:
➤ See list of 2025 Florida, federal holidays, including new one for Sunshine State
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