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Florida considers whether partisanship has a place in education

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Florida considers whether partisanship has a place in education


The big story: As voters across Florida cast early ballots in advance of Election Day, they have the opportunity to decide whether to change the state constitution to allow for partisan school board elections, as News Service of Florida reports.

Some say the change would allow for greater transparency in what candidates stand for. Others, including a statewide student group, contend that it would inject too much politics into an already divided area where the main objective should be serving children, as WLRN reports.

They suggest that voters should look at candidates’ qualifications and priorities, and not make decisions based solely on party affiliation. Vox explored Florida’s Amendment 1 and the role of politics in education on its latest Today, Explained podcast. Take a listen.

A similar debate is playing out in Pasco County’s schools superintendent race, which already is a partisan election. One of the candidates is running without party affiliation against a well-funded Republican, hoping for an upset. His backers are starting to believe it could happen. Read more here.

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In Flagler County, a candidate endorsed by Gov. Ron DeSantis lost his primary bid to serve on the school board. Now DeSantis has appointed him to complete the term of a board member who resigned too late for an election to select her replacement, Ask Flagler reports.

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Affordable housing: The Monroe County school board continues to work through details for providing housing that its employees can afford, the Key West Citizen reports.

Cost cutting: The Hillsborough County school district is looking to save money on its health insurance expenses by self insuring, WUSF reports.

‘Intellectual freedom’ survey: The State University System’s annual survey indicated students and staff feel they have more freedom of speech than offered at other schools across the nation, Politico Florida reports. About 14% of students and 12% of staff participated. More from Florida Phoenix.

NIL: The Board of Governors wants more details on how a recent settlement that involves compensation for student-athletes will impact the future of college sports in Florida, News Service of Florida reports.

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Special education: Some St. Johns County parents say their children with special needs are not treated equitably in school despite the district’s efforts to decrease its use of restraints on students who are acting up, Jacksonville Today reports.

School choice: Palm Beach County schools have added ten new specialty programs in advance of the choice application window, the Palm Beach Post reports.

Teacher pay: The Collier County school district boosted its minimum teacher pay to $57,000 a year, second highest in Florida, WBBH reports.

From the police blotter … An Osceola County high school student was arrested on allegations of making threats of violence against a school, WKMG reports. • Law enforcement investigated calls that an Indian River County middle school student had brought a weapon to school. It turned out to be an unloaded plastic BB gun, TC Palm reports.

From the court docket … A former Port St. Lucie assistant police chief avoided jail time with a plea deal in a case described as a scheme to falsify records to allow high school football players to participate on Martin County teams they were not zoned for, WPTV reports.

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Don’t miss a story. Yesterday’s roundup is just a click away.

Before you go … Are you ready for the Great Pumpkin?



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Florida couple in alleged embryo mix-up have identified biological parents of ‘non-caucasian’ baby

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Florida couple in alleged embryo mix-up have identified biological parents of ‘non-caucasian’ baby


A Florida couple who claimed a fertility clinic error led the woman giving birth to a “non-Caucasian child” who was not related to them said they have identified their child’s biological parents, according to reports.

“The results of testing delivered to us today confirm that our baby’s genetic parents have been identified,” Tiffany Score and Steven Mills said in a statement obtained by People on Wednesday.

A Florida couple who claimed a fertility clinic error led to the birth of a “non-Caucasian child” who was not related to them said they have identified their child’s biological parents. Mara Hatfield

Score and Mills filed a lawsuit in January against Fertility Center of Orlando and its head reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Milton McNichol, alleging that another patient’s embryo was implanted in Score’s uterus in April 2025.

The mix-up led to the birth of their now 4-month-old daughter, Shea, who is not biologically related to them, the filing alleged.

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“This ends one chapter in our heartbreaking journey, but it raises new issues that will have to be resolved,” the statement continued. “In addition, questions about the disposition of our own embryos are still unanswered and are even more unlikely to ever be answered.”

“Only one thing is as absolutely certain today as it was on the day our daughter was born —we will love and will be this child’s parents forever.”

The couple added that they will respect the privacy of Shea’s biological parents and will keep their identities “confidential.”

Score and Mills filed a lawsuit in January against Fertility Center of Orlando and its head reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Milton McNichol, alleging that another patient’s embryo was implanted in Score’s uterus. WESH2

Score and Mills, who are both white, stored three viable embryos at the Longwood clinic in 2020 for in vitro fertilization, a process that creates embryos and stores them until pregnancy.

Five years later, after an embryo was implanted, the couple gave birth to a “beautiful, healthy female child” on Dec. 11, 2025, according to the lawsuit filed Jan. 22 in Orange County Circuit Court and obtained by Law & Crime.

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“Tragically, while both Jane Doe and John Doe are racially Caucasian, Baby Doe displayed the physical appearance of a racially non-Caucasian child,” the lawsuit said.

Further genetic testing confirmed that baby Shea had no biological relationship to either parent — raising questions about where their embryos had gone or whether another woman was impregnated with their biological child.

The new parents had an “intensely strong emotional bond” with their child during pregnancy and wished to keep the girl, but recognized she “should legally and morally be united with her genetic parents so long as they are fit, able and willing to take her,” the lawsuit stated.

The Fertility Clinic of Orlando announced earlier this month that it would close by May 20. WESH2

Scarola told People, following Wednesday’s development, that Shea’s biological parents have not made any requests to take her into custody.

“Remaining questions about the fate of Tiffany and Steven’s unaccounted for embryos…are still pending,” Scarola said.

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“The current legal proceeding will remain open to address those matters,” the attorney added. “However, we expect that we will now also begin to focus on the need for our clients to be compensated for the expenses they have incurred and the severe emotional trauma that they endured and will continue to experience.”

The Fertility Clinic of Orlando announced earlier this month that it would close by May 20 — a decision leadership said was made after “thoughtful consideration.”

Neither Scarola nor the clinic immediately responded to The Post’s request for comment.



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Evacuations underway as crews battle multiple wildfires in Georgia and Florida

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Evacuations underway as crews battle multiple wildfires in Georgia and Florida


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    Evacuations underway as crews battle multiple wildfires in Georgia and Florida

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  • UP NEXT

    Northeast blasted with sudden snow and freezing temperatures

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  • Millions Clean up Destructive Aftermath of Severe Midwest Storms

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  • Tornado touches down in Minnesota while historic flooding threatens Wisconsin

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  • Deadly weather slams Midwest

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  • Early Spring Heat Wave Scorches Nearly Half of the United States

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  • Dangerous tornadoes rip across Midwest

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  • Massive tornadoes tear across Midwest

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  • Dangerous weather continues to slam parts of the country

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  • Dangerous storms rip across country’s center

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  • Historic floods batter Hawaii 

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  • Hawaii Faces Worst Flooding in 20 Years; Thousands Evacuate

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  • Major flood emergency prompts mass evacuations and rescues in Hawaii

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  • Thousands ordered to evacuate as dam nears failure on Oahu

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  • Potentially record-setting heat wave scorches western United States

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  • Midwest slammed by record-shattering blizzard

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  • Powerful storm system slams Midwest as East Coast braces for impact

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  • Millions Face Extreme Weather With Possible Blizzards, Tornadoes

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  • Violent March weather

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  • Two killed in tornado outbreak

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NBC News NOW

Crews in Florida and Georgia are battling multiple fast-moving wildfires, stoked by dry and windy conditions. Local officials in Georgia said people in the path of the flames should be ready to evacuate. 

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Florida investigating AI role in mass shooting at university

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Florida investigating AI role in mass shooting at university


Florida on Tuesday announced a criminal probe into whether artificial intelligence played a role in a deadly mass shooting at a university in the US state.

The decision to launch an investigation came after prosecutors reviewed exchanges between OpenAI chatbot ChatGPT and the suspected gunman, who opened fire at Florida State University last year, according to state Attorney General James Uthmeier.

“If ChatGPT were a person, it would be facing charges for murder,” Uthmeier said.

Florida law allows anyone who assists or counsels someone in the commission of a crime to be treated as an “aider and abettor” bearing the same responsibility as the perpetrator, according to Uthmeier.

In exchanges with ChatGPT, the accused shooter sought advice on what type of gun and ammunition to use, as well as where and when on campus a lot of people would likely be found, the state attorney general said during a press briefing.

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“Last year’s mass shooting at Florida State University was a tragedy, but ChatGPT is not responsible for this terrible crime,” an OpenAI spokesperson said.



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