Florida

Florida lawmakers take sides on Trump indictment during fourth week of legislative session

Published

1 year ago

March 31, 2023

Florida lawmakers take sides on Trump indictment during fourth week of legislative session

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A bombshell improvement involving former President Donald Trump was dropped throughout week 4 of Florida’s legislative session. Two main payments acquired the governor’s signature. Plus, Florida Democrats imagine Sunshine State remains to be a swing state.

TRUMP INDICTED

Florida lawmakers came upon Thursday night that former president Donald Trump was dealing with an indictment for allegations of enterprise fraud. Whereas particulars have been scant, Democrats sounded as if they relished the information.

“Yeah— justice is served,” Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, mentioned with a chuckle. “I feel it is vital to recollect we’re in a nation of legal guidelines.”

Republicans provided a blended bag of ideas.

Senate President Sen. Kathleen Passidomo mentioned she hadn’t had an opportunity to learn up on the indictment. Different Republicans declined to remark.

Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, provided a lot of the identical criticism present in an announcement by Trump on the indictment. He alleged the hassle was an try and “affect the 2024 presidential race.”

“I feel it is a witch hunt, election interference and I feel it’s very unprecedented,” Gruters, the previous state GOP chair, mentioned.

Gov. Ron DeSantis acquired in on it too, providing a tweet saying he would not assist with any extradition of Trump — although it would not seem like that shall be wanted.

UNIVERSAL VOUCHERS GET INK

Common faculty vouchers are actually regulation in Florida. DeSantis signed the plan Monday morning at a personal faculty in Miami. He known as it the biggest enlargement within the state — and maybe — U.S. historical past.

Whereas not formally efficient till July 1, the invoice opens up taxpayer-funded scholarships for personal education to any Okay-12 scholar within the state, no matter earnings or skill. Low-income households would nonetheless get precedence and homeschooled college students can get entry to the funds for instructional provides.

“That empowers mother and father,” DeSantis mentioned shortly earlier than the invoice signing. “That is offering a mum or dad with choices to have the ability to discover the most effective faculty for the kid.”

Supporters have mentioned repeatedly their plan permits mother and father to customise the most effective training for his or her kids. They be aware the {dollars} will observe kids, pushing again on criticism that the voucher enlargement will draw giant quantities of {dollars} from public faculties.

“Mother and father have needed to say to their kids, ‘I am sorry we will not make that occur for you this yr,’” Florida Home Speaker Rep. Paul Renner, who helped champion the invoice this yr, mentioned. “With this invoice and the governor’s signature, we are going to by no means have a mum or dad should say that ever once more.”

Many Democrats have taken subject with growing state funds for personal faculties, which lack the identical requirements as public amenities. Plus, the plan’s total price ticket stays unclear. The Home and Senate estimated tons of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in new spending throughout invoice evaluation. Nonprofits have mentioned it will be billions.

Senate Minority Chief Sen. Lauren Guide, D-Plantation, took subject with the enlargement’s lack of restrictions for these households that may already afford to pay for personal tuition.

“The state of Florida should not be utilizing taxpayer {dollars} to fund non-public faculty training for millionaires’ — and even billionaires’ — youngsters … however regardless of Democrats’ finest efforts, that is precisely what’s occurring,” Guide mentioned in an announcement. “On daily basis folks on this state deserve higher than free handouts for the excessively rich designed to defund public faculties whereas additionally conserving educators impoverished by robbing district funds.”

The Florida Training Affiliation is among the many critics of the modifications. The union, which represents academics, greater training school and different instructional employees, mentioned in an announcement the brand new regulation might drain “billions” from public faculties.

“As soon as once more, we see Gov. DeSantis placing his political ambitions forward of Floridians, together with our college students,” FEA President Andrew Spar mentioned “We’re deeply involved that kids can pay the last word worth for the governor’s politics.”

LIVE LOCAL ACT ALSO LAW

A $711 million reasonably priced housing plan — is now a actuality in Florida. DeSantis put his title on the invoice Wednesday morning in Naples.

Reside Native Act makes use of numerous packages and tax credit to encourage the event of extra reasonably priced workforce housing within the state.

Amongst its provisions is a second yr of the Hometown Heroes program serving to with closing prices and down funds for regulation enforcement and first responders. Plus low curiosity loans for builders to flip underused properties into housing.

Passidomo spearheaded the hassle to make sure, she mentioned, that extra can reside the place they work in a state with an affordability disaster.

“We do not have one answer to the issue— however the Reside Native Act is a tremendous multifaceted, 106-page invoice of concepts and recommendations on how we will present reasonably priced secure housing for our staff,” she mentioned.

Opponents have taken subject with the invoice’s stripping of the native authority on lease management. Even so, the measure acquired extensive bipartisan help. A few of its provisions take impact instantly whereas others come on-line in July.

DOES FLORIDA STILL SWING?

The chair of the Democratic Nationwide Committee mentioned the get together is not counting out Florida regardless of main losses by Democrats through the 2022 midterm elections.

It is onerous to overstate how unhealthy issues went for Democrats final November. Republicans grabbed a supermajority within the state Legislature. They swept the Florida Cupboard. They saved a U.S. Senate seat — and the governor’s workplace by virtually 20 factors.

Even so, DNC Chair Jamie Harrison and the brand new head of the Florida Democrats, Chair Nikki Fried, mentioned Thursday, the Sunshine State remains to be in play. They vowed to place give attention to reclaiming seats within the state Legislature within the coming elections.

The 2 attributed final yr’s failures to poor turnout and a weak floor recreation. Harrison mentioned that might change with Fried on the helm, regardless of Fried’s predecessor believing 2022 was, partially, a results of restricted help from nationwide Democrats.

Harrison rebuffed that criticism.

“This can be a factor that — in rebuilding events — it isn’t about having the nationwide get together float in with a magic wand,” Harrison mentioned. “It is about build up the native infrastructure. Nikki Fried understands that — you need to have the grassroots organizations all in alignment, we’re going to work along with her and proceed to work along with her. There are going to be investments from the nationwide Democratic get together, however there’s additionally — the resurgence of the native get together. That’s the guts of remodeling Florida.”

The elephant within the room is a attainable 2024 presidential bid for Florida’s governor. Each chairs believed DeSantis’ insurance policies have been too excessive to translate on the nationwide stage. Fried thought Floridians have been prepared to maneuver on from DeSantis, saying controversial laws this yr like a six-week abortion ban and permitless carry, crossed a line with nearly all of Floridians.

“He is taken the supermajorities in each chambers to such an excessive — and the pendulum goes to swing again — and swing again very quick within the state of Florida,” Fried mentioned. “It’ll be the Democrats who’re going to be able to seize it.”

The Republican Get together of Florida was fast with an announcement on Harrison’s go to:

“Determined Nikki Fried must be embarrassed to host do-nothing DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, who ignored Florida Democrats through the midterms, however is getting off the sofa for as soon as to attend a (socially distanced?)fundraiser to attempt to save the job of the worst president in many years.”

That fundraiser was in Tallahassee Wednesday night time. Harrison mentioned he can be again within the coming months because the get together prepares for 2024.

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Florida

Florida Gov. DeSantis signs bill prohibiting intentional release of balloons

Published

36 mins ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

Florida Gov. DeSantis signs bill prohibiting intentional release of balloons

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law on Monday that prohibits the intentional release of balloons in most circumstances.

DeSantis signed the bill after overwhelming majorities in the state’s legislature approved the measure. Those who violate the law would be subject to a $150 littering fine.

Prior to the signing of CS/SB 602, Florida law allowed for the release of biodegradable balloons, as well as the release of up to 10 balloons at once. The updated law now eliminates those exceptions.

Related story: DeSantis tweaks Florida book challenge law, blames liberal activists

The law has exceptions for government research balloons, such as those used by the National Weather Service for forecasting. Also, those under age 6 are exempted from the law.

According to an analysis of the bill, advocates for the legislation say that balloons “can pose a significant danger to wildlife and become a nuisance to the environment.” Advocates for the bill say that balloon debris is among the five deadliest types of marine debris that pose a risk to marine wildlife.

The Coalition for Responsible Celebration has been urging state governments to implement bans on balloon release as it promotes responsible balloon usage.

“The CRC strongly supports HB321, signed into law by Governor DeSantis, which bans the intentional release of balloons,” Maria Stockham, executive director of the Coalition for Responsible Celebration, in a statement. “Balloons bring joy to celebrations. Promoting responsible use and proper disposal ensures that balloons stay out of our waterways and powerlines, contributing to a healthier and cleaner community for all. This law reinforces our commitment to sustainability and the preservation of Florida’s natural beauty.”

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Florida

Florida man sneezes his intestines out of his body at restaurant

Published

8 hours ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

Florida man sneezes his intestines out of his body at restaurant

A Florida man eating in a diner with his wife recently sneezed so forcefully it caused parts of his intestines to exit his body through a surgical wound, according to researchers.

The case, published in a May 2024 edition of the American Journal of Medical Case Reports, describes the unnamed man as a 63-year-old with a history of prostate cancer.

During treatments for a post-cancer recurrence, he encountered various health complications, and the man underwent a cystectomy, a procedure to remove his urinary bladder, 15 days before the diner incident, leaving him with a healing surgical wound on his abdomen.

The morning of the sneeze, the man’s doctors reported that he was healing well and could remove staples binding the wound together.

He and his wife went out to breakfast at the diner to celebrate.

“During breakfast, the man sneezed forcefully, followed by coughing. He immediately noticed a ‘wet’ sensation and pain in his lower abdomen. Looking down, he observed several loops of pink bowel protruding from his recent surgical site,” the researchers write.

Stunned, the man covered the protuberance with his shirt and considered driving himself to a hospital, but feared changing positions would make the wound worse and called an ambulance instead.

Arriving paramedics covered the wound with a pad and gave the man painkillers, rushing him to a nearby hopsital.

There, measurements showed his vital signs within normal limits.

“Three Urologic surgeons carefully reduced the eviscerated bowel back into the abdominal cavity,” the cast study continues. “They inspected the full length of the small bowel and noted no evidence of injury.”

The journal notes that the case is an important one because it fills in gaps in the literature about dehisence, the bursting of wounds.

“While wound dehiscence is a well-known complication, this case is important because evisceration through the abdominal surgical site after cystectomy is poorly described in the medical literature,” the article concludes.

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Florida

Triple-core SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches GOES-U from Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Published

15 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

Triple-core SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches GOES-U from Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Double sonic booms sounded through the Space Coast Tuesday afternoon as not one, but two Falcon 9 side boosters landed. GOES-U, the latest weather satellite by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, was headed to geostationary orbit, 22.236 miles above Earth. Its science should help to revolutionize not only weather imaging here on Earth but look at space weather that could impact our planet.

NOAA’s GOES-U satellite rose into space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39A. The two-hour launch window opened at 5:16 p.m. EDT, but only an additional 10 minutes was needed to work around weather.

Launching atop a core Falcon 9 booster, supported by two shiny white Falcon 9s — the triple-core Falcon Heavy had given off a blinding five million pounds of thrust at liftoff. After boosting the satellite off the pad, the two new side boosters separated and landed at SpaceX’s Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The core booster, which was also new, was discarded over the ocean after doing its job.

When is the next Florida rocket launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule in Florida

Even though the rocket launched on Tuesday, the rocket was a bit late to the launch pad − not arriving until late Monday. SpaceX said an environmental control system, which keeps the satellite free of humidity and protected before launch, had been malfunctioning. This delayed the roll out of the rocket, as SpaceX teams opted to keep the spacecraft in the hanger to protect it until the system was fixed.

What is the GOES-U satellite?

This new weather satellite will not only enable earlier storm detection, but it will give forecasters more time to warn the public of approaching threats. GOES-U will also provide observation of the sun − which has been very active this year − to alert those who need to know about approaching solar flares.

Looking both down at Earth and out at the sun, GOES-U is set to join two other satellites, which are already in orbit as part of the GOES-R series. It will be the last of the GOES satellites, as a new generation of weather satellites is on the horizon.

The first of this series, GOES-R, was launched back in 2016 atop an Atlas V rocket. GOES-U will be the first − and the last − of the GOES satellites to be launched atop a Falcon Heavy.

This satellite will monitor much of the Western Hemisphere, including the Americas, the Caribbean, and Atlantic Ocean.

“National Weather Service colleagues tell us this technology has changed the game for weather prediction and forecasting,” Steve Volz, assistant administrator of NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service, said during a NASA press briefing.

“It is the bridge that connects today’s geostationary satellite technology with the technology of tomorrow, that promises to be more sophisticated and more impactful than what the GOES satellite series currently provides,” he said.

Like Earth technology, satellite technology can only be relevant for so long. GeoXO will be the series of satellites which will follow beginning in the 2030s. Development is currently in process.

SpaceX launch statistics

The launch of GOES-U brought SpaceX’s ninth launch for the NASA launch services program.
With the launch vehicle first flying in 2018, this was the 10th Falcon Heavy launch to date.
As SpaceX is launching Falcon 9 rockets from both coasts, this marked the company’s 65th mission of the year.

Upcoming Falcon Heavy Flights

The next Falcon Heavy launch scheduled is NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, which will be no earlier than October.

As for the next Florida launch, a Falcon 9 rocket will carry a Starlink mission on Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40. SpaceX has not announced a launch time, yet the Geospatial Navigational Warning and FAA Advisory states the launch window opens at 7 a.m. EDT.

Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.

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