Florida

Florida 'Safe Haven' law expansion awaiting Gov. DeSantis' signature

Published

3 weeks ago

May 6, 2024

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Florida 'Safe Haven' law expansion awaiting Gov. DeSantis' signature

Push to expand ‘Safe Haven’ law

Evyn Moon reports

TAMPA, Fla. – An expansion of Florida’s “Safe Haven” policy — which made it legal to surrender unwanted infants, as long as they are given up to specific agencies like hospitals, fire stations and EMS services unharmed — is sitting on Governor Ron DeSantis’ desk awaiting his signature.

The expanded law would allow women more time to drop off the newborn, from the current seven-day deadline, to 30 days. It would also authorize 911 dispatchers to arrange an infant drop-off location in case the child’s guardian has no transportation to an agency’s site.

“I think, basically, people were just wanting to give moms more time. And, other states have 30 days, and it’s a positive thing, really,” said Nick Silverio, the CEO of A Safe Haven for Newborns. “[The mother] might be going through postpartum. She might be going through a medical condition that she had delivering the baby… this just gives her more time.”

READ: Florida’s six-week abortion ban takes effect

An adoption agency in St. Petersburg said it’s a good time for this expanded law, given the six-week abortion ban that took effect in the state.

“I think we’re going to see with the six-week [abortion] ban, we’re going to see an increase. I come from child welfare for over 30 years, and we’re going to see an increase in those children coming in for care,” said Connie Going of “Going Adoption and Surrogacy in St. Pete. “I think that we’re going to see an increase in adoptions. I think we’re going to see an increase in parenting, which means we as communities have to step up and provide services that support families.”

This bill also comes just days after a baby was found dead in a garbage bin on The University of Tampa’s campus last week. The baby’s mother told police she gave birth in her dorm bathroom before it briefly cried and then died, court records said.

The UT student also said she didn’t know she was pregnant, and then later told police she may have been in denial about not being pregnant and hadn’t had a period in about a year.

The policymakers hope this law will prevent tragic situations like that.

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Florida

Map shows Florida cities break heat records amid surging temperatures

Published

5 hours ago

May 27, 2024

Press Room

Map shows Florida cities break heat records amid surging temperatures

Parts of Florida experienced record-breaking heat on Monday as temperatures surged in the southern United States.

Forecasters warned ahead of the holiday weekend that parts of the South and South-east would experience a heat wave on Memorial Day. According to a release from AccuWeather, an area of high pressure was building in the Gulf Coast and over the state of Florida, and sparing cloud coverage associated with the system allowed for an “intense late-May sunshine.” Highs well into the 90s from Texas to South Carolina were reported throughout the weekend.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), record-high temperatures were felt in Central Florida as area residents celebrated Memorial Day. Melbourne experienced its second-warmest May temperature at 98 degrees, while the city of Fort Pierce tied its warmest day of the month at 98.

This map from the National Weather Service shows the National Digital Forecast Database for the state of Florida for Monday, May 27.

National Weather Service

Daily record high temperatures were also set on Sunday in parts of southern Florida. Miami reached a high of 96 degrees, beating the previous record of 94 that was reached on May 26, 1949. Fort Lauderdale also topped out at 96 degrees, beating its daily record in 1963 at 94 degrees. West Palm Beach set a daily high temperature of 97 degrees on Monday, a day after it broke its previous record set in 2000.

The NWS said that relief from the heat will come slowly over the next couple of days as scattered rain showers reach Central Florida, although a widespread low to moderate heat risk was expected throughout the work week. A “moderate” drought will also persist over the next several days in the cities of Melbourne and Okeechobee and along the Treasure Coast.

Parts of southern Texas also reached temperatures over 100 degrees on Monday. The NWS recorded a high of 97 degrees in Houston. In San Antonio, the temperature topped out at 101 degrees during the day.

The NWS issued an excessive heat warning Monday afternoon for central-southern Texas for the counties of Washington, Montgomery, Colorado, Austin, Waller, Harris, Wharton and Fort Bend. Forecasters warned that heat index values could reach up to 114 degrees, and could lead to heat-related illnesses. The warning was in place until 10 p.m. CDT Monday.

A separate warning was in place for Bee, inland San Patricio, and Live Oak counties until 8 p.m. CDT, where the heat index values were up to 115 degrees.

The NWS recommended that residents within the heat warnings drink plenty of fluids, “stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.”

“Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles,” the NWS added. “Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”

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Florida

Florida Makes NCAA Baseball Tournament, Plays At Stillwater Regional – ESPN 98.1 FM – 850 AM WRUF

Published

12 hours ago

May 27, 2024

Press Room

Florida Makes NCAA Baseball Tournament, Plays At Stillwater Regional – ESPN 98.1 FM – 850 AM WRUF

Florida can thank its No. 1 strength of schedule for receiving an invite Monday to its 16th consecutive NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.

The Gators (28-27) will play in the Stillwater (Okla.) Regional as a three seed starting at 3 p.m. ET Friday (ESPN+). They will open against Big Ten Tournament champion Nebraska (39-20), the regional second seed. Host Oklahoma State (40-17), the 11th national seed, plays four seed Niagara (38-15) at 7 p.m.

For the – , the Gators are NCAA Tournament bound!#GoGators pic.twitter.com/xHW89d3VPF
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 27, 2024
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It’s Florida’s 39th tournament appearance and the 16 in a row, all under coach Kevin O’Sullivan, is the second longest streak in the nation behind Vanderbilt’s 18. It’s just the third time the Gators will travel for a regional in O’Sullivan’s tenure.

Division I Baseball Committee Chairman Matt Hogue said the committee took strength of schedule as a key aspect in selecting the Gators, one of the 33-at-large teams.

“We did spend a great deal of time considering Florida and their overall resume, and again, I think you bring up a great issue and a great question when you do have teams from different places, different conferences, it’s difficult,” Hogue said in an ESPN interview.

“One of the key aspects for Florida was that strength of schedule. I think, number one at overall strength of schedule. Number 13 at non-conference strength of schedule. That was something that mattered a lot through all of the conversations.”

A record 11 SEC teams (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt) made the 64-team, double-elimination tourney.

O’Brate Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., is home for the Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team, which hosts a regional this weekend. [NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK]

The winner of the Stillwater Regional plays the winner of the Clemson Regional, which features the host Tigers (41-14), the sixth national seed, Vanderbilt (38-21), Coastal Carolina (34-23) and High Point, N.C. (34-25), in the best-of-three Super Regional. The winner there advances to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., beginning June 14.