Florida

Revamped case targets ‘discriminatory’ redistricting plan in Florida

Published

3 years ago

April 30, 2022

Revamped case targets ‘discriminatory’ redistricting plan in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Alleging that the map is “deliberately racially discriminatory,” voting-rights teams late Friday requested approval to revamp a federal lawsuit to problem the constitutionality of Florida’s new congressional redistricting plan.

In paperwork filed in federal court docket in Tallahassee, the teams and 5 particular person plaintiffs alleged that the plan Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed by the Legislature ought to be blocked as a result of it’s going to scale back — or eradicate — the probabilities of Black candidates being elected in North Florida and the Orlando space.

“That is a rare case in that all the components level in a single route — the governor created the enacted plan, not less than partially for the invidious objective of discriminating towards Black Floridians by constraining their capability to vote, to elect their candidates of selection and to take part totally within the electoral course of,” a proposed amended criticism mentioned. “The totality of the circumstances reveal that Governor DeSantis created and signed the enacted plan into regulation with discriminatory intent — particularly, to roll again Black Floridians’ illustration in Congress.”

Advert

The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in March as DeSantis and lawmakers had been at an deadlock within the once-a-decade reapportionment course of. The unique model of the lawsuit contended that judges ought to step in to ensure revamped districts are set earlier than this 12 months’s elections, as persevering with to make use of present districts could be unconstitutional.

However after the Legislature handed the DeSantis-backed redistricting plan throughout a particular session in April, the state argued that the lawsuit was moot. Within the court docket paperwork filed late Friday, the plaintiffs’ attorneys acknowledged the unique points had been moot however sought approval to file an amended criticism focusing on the brand new redistricting plan.

If that approval is just not granted, they mentioned they’ll file a brand new lawsuit difficult the redistricting plan. The plaintiffs have included the teams Widespread Trigger Florida and FairDistricts Now, whereas the amended criticism would add the Florida State Convention of the NAACP.

Advert

The paperwork argue that the redistricting plan violates equal-protection rights of Black Floridians below the U.S. Structure’s 14th Modification and violates the fifteenth Modification’s assure that the precise to vote can’t be “denied or abridged” based mostly on race.

DeSantis known as the April particular session after he vetoed a redistricting plan that lawmakers handed. Throughout the particular session, the Republican-dominated Home and Senate rapidly handed a map that DeSantis’ workplace proposed.

The map is projected to extend the variety of Republican congressional seats in Florida from 16 to twenty, based mostly on 2020 election outcomes. Additionally, it will lower the variety of districts more likely to elect Black Democrats from 4 to 2 — fully reshaping North Florida’s Congressional District 5 and decreasing the proportion of the Black voting-age inhabitants within the Orlando space’s Congressional District 10.

District 5, which has drawn the fiercest debate, now sprawls from Jacksonville to west of Tallahassee and has elected U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Black Democrat. Underneath the brand new plan, the district could be condensed within the Jacksonville space and could be more likely to elect a Republican.

Advert

Throughout this 12 months’s common legislative session, the Senate handed an preliminary proposal that might have saved the present configuration of District 5. Such a configuration additionally was included as a backup in a later two-map redistricting plan that the Legislature handed — and DeSantis vetoed.

DeSantis criticized the sprawling configuration of District 5 as being unconstitutionally gerrymandered. In a March 29 memo, DeSantis’ basic counsel, Ryan Newman, argued that retaining such a configuration would violate the Equal Safety clause “as a result of it assigns voters totally on the idea of race however is just not narrowly tailor-made to realize a compelling state curiosity.”

“The district is just not compact, doesn’t conform to regular political or geographic boundaries and is bizarrely formed to incorporate minority populations in western Leon County and Gadsden County whereas excluding non-minority populations in jap Leon County. As a result of this model of District 5 plainly subordinates conventional districting standards to keep away from diminishment of minority voting age inhabitants, there isn’t a query that race was the ‘predominant issue motivating the Legislature’s resolution’ to attract this district (within the earlier legislative plans),” Newman’s memo mentioned, partially quoting from a authorized precedent.

Advert

However the paperwork filed late Friday described the brand new redistricting plan as being “contaminated by racial discrimination towards Black Floridians.” Along with the adjustments in District 5 and District 10, it mentioned the map “splinters” Black communities in different areas of the state.

“It blatantly flouts the Equal Safety Clause of the Fourteenth Modification’s prohibition on legal guidelines enacted with an invidious objective, i.e., intentional discrimination on the idea of race,” the proposed amended criticism mentioned. “It likewise blatantly ignores the Fifteenth Modification’s promise that the precise to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of race.”

Along with looking for to have the plan declared unconstitutional, the proposed modification criticism would request setting a “cheap deadline” for the state to undertake a brand new redistricting plan. If such a plan is just not adopted, it will name for the court docket to order a brand new redistricting plan.

Advert

In the meantime, the plan handed in the course of the particular session additionally faces a problem in Leon County circuit court docket. That case contends the overhaul of District 5 violates a 2010 state constitutional modification — often known as the Truthful Districts modification — that units requirements for redistricting in Florida. Decide Layne Smith has scheduled a Might 11 listening to on the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction towards the plan.

Source link

Related Topics:Featured Florida Florida Legslature Politics ron desantis

Click to comment

Florida

1 dead, multiple injured after boat hits ferry in Florida

Published

8 hours ago

April 28, 2025

Press Room

1 dead, multiple injured after boat hits ferry in Florida

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Now Playing

1 dead, multiple injured after boat hits ferry in Florida

00:52
UP NEXT

DEA raids illegal Colorado nightclub, over 100 undocumented immigrants detained

01:18
Democratic lawmakers hold sit-in on Capitol steps over GOP budget plan

01:02
Good News: rare carillon instrument brings joy to community

02:22
Major breakthrough in cancer treatment

01:50
New scrutiny over deportations of parents with children

01:59
NBC News Stay Tuned Poll: 45% approve of Trump’s job performance

03:29
Millions in the path of severe weather

01:14
Urgent push to criminalize explicit deepfakes

02:00
Severe weather in Oklahoma and Texas

01:15
Protests over FBI arrest of Wisconsin judge

02:13
Sen. Jon Ossoff faces frustrated voters demanding action against Trump policies

01:36
Wisconsin residents protest FBI arrest of Milwaukee judge

01:06
Video shows California police shooting Weezer bassist’s wife

02:35
Jury visits scene of alleged crime in Karen Read retrial

02:27
How a missed turn can lead to arrest at the Canadian border

04:11
Bystanders stop suspect accused of dragging woman and her kids in SUV

01:49
Judge accused of obstructing arrest of undocumented migrant

02:16
New warning of growing supply chain disruptions amid trade war

02:10
‘ARIatHOME’ brings fresh beats to New York’s streets

02:34

NBC News Channel

Now Playing

1 dead, multiple injured after boat hits ferry in Florida

00:52
UP NEXT

DEA raids illegal Colorado nightclub, over 100 undocumented immigrants detained

01:18
Democratic lawmakers hold sit-in on Capitol steps over GOP budget plan

01:02
Good News: rare carillon instrument brings joy to community

02:22
Major breakthrough in cancer treatment

01:50
New scrutiny over deportations of parents with children

01:59

NBC News Channel

Nightly News Netcast

Play All

Source link

Florida

Amazon rocket launch, Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Florida, may be seen in Fort Myers, Cape Coral

Published

1 day ago

April 27, 2025

Press Room

Amazon rocket launch, Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Florida, may be seen in Fort Myers, Cape Coral

What time is United Launch Alliance Atlas V, Amazon rocket launch? Liftoff will potentially be April 28, 2025, from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

When the Amazon rocket launch lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, there’s a chance it’ll be visible in Fort Myers.

Not only that, when United Launch Alliance sends its Atlas V rocket to space, there’s a chance people beyond Florida − like in other states as far as New York or Indiana − could possibly see it light up the sky.

Visibility from most of Florida is possible, according to ULA.

What’s on board the ULA Atlas V? Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is launching Project Kuiper, a global network of satellites, to compete with SpaceX CEO-billionaire Elon Musk and Starlink satellites. It begins with the first-ever launch of the Amazon Project Kuiper production satellites, courtesy of the ULA Atlas V rocket. Online, the mission has been called the “Amazon rocket launch” or “the Amazon rocket launch from Florida.”

Equipped with five side-mounted rocket boosters, the reason why it could be visible from Florida to New York, the Atlas V will lift the $10 billion internet constellation’s first set of 27 satellites into low-Earth orbit.

ULA’s Atlas V rocket should be visible outside of Florida pending weather and clouds. Below is information on ULA’s powerful rocket, the Atlas V, how to watch the launch, and a list of which cities and states that could potentially see the ULA Atlas V rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

What time is the Amazon rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida? When does United Launch Alliance Atlas V liftoff?

A two-hour Amazon rocket launch window is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT Monday, April 28, 2025, from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida. An initial attempt April 9, 2025, was scrubbed due to weather. USA TODAY Network’s Space Team will provide live coverage of the Amazon rocket launch from Cape Canaveral two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.

Which cities can see ULA Atlas V rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida? Can I watch Amazon rocket launch from Florida?

ULA provided a helpful graphic (see above) that shows the Atlas V launch of Kuiper 1 for Amazon and its intended flight path and launch visibility. Note: Cities in the Space Coast of Florida, which is in Brevard County and measures 72 miles of coast, include Titusville, Mims, Port St. John, Merritt Island, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, West Melbourne, Palm Bay, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Grant-Valkaria and Sebastian.

Launch, Space Coast, east Orlando, near University of Central Florida, Bithlo, the northern part of the Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, parts of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill

1: Launch + 30 seconds, Space Coast, Orlando, the Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill, Volusia County, St. Augustine, Ocala, Lakeland area

2: Launch + 90 seconds, which includes PLF Jettison or separation and jettison of the payload fairing: Space Coast, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill, Port Orange, Volusia County, Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Martin County, St. Lucie County, Orlando, Sanford, Kissimmee, Central Florida, Ocala, Lakeland, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach

3: Launch + 150 seconds, which includes solid rocket booster jettison, visibility extends to Sebring, Winter Haven, Palatka, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Manatee County, Sarasota County, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Collier County, Lee County, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Wellington, Jupiter, Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, southern Georgia, Savannah, Georgia, parts of the Caribbean, the Bahamas

4: Launch + 210 seconds, which includes booster separation, Tallahassee, Panama City, Panhandle, Big Bend area of Florida; visibility extends beyond Florida to Georgia, South Carolina, parts of North Carolina

5: Launch + 270 seconds, ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida to these other states and cities:

Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia; Columbus, Georgia
Alabama; Dothan, Alabama; just outside Birmingham, Alabama
Tennessee; Knoxville, Tennessee; just outside Huntsville, Tennessee; just outside Nashville, Tennessee
Kentucky
South Carolina; Spartanburg, South Carolina
North Carolina; High Point, North Carolina; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Wilmington, North Carolina
Virginia; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia
West Virginia; Charleston, West Virginia
Maryland; Washington, Maryland
Delaware; Annapolis, Delaware; Dover, Delaware

6: Launch + 330 seconds, ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida to these other states and cities:

New Jersey: Trenton, New Jersey; New York, New Jersey
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Erie, Pennsylvania
Ohio: Cleveland, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio
Indiana: just outside Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Wayne, Indiana
Michigan: Detroit, Michigan
Kentucky: just outside Louisville, Kentucky
Rhode Island: Providence, Rhode Island
Connecticut: Hartford, Connecticut
Massachusetts: Boston, Massachusetts
New York: Binghamton, New York; Albany, New York

7: Launch + 390 seconds, visibility of Atlas V rocket may be possible in these states:

Alabama
Tennessee
Kentucky
Georgia
South Carolina
North Carolina
Virginia
West Virginia
Ohio
Indiana
Michigan
Delaware
Maryland
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
New York
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Vermont
Maine
Toronto, Canada

The above guidelines are estimates based on the graphic provided by ULA.

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

Source link

Florida

Dolphins Get Florida Cornerback

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2025

Press Room

This probably isn’t going to fill the need the Miami Dolphins have at cornerback, but they at least have brought in some competition for the room in the 2025 draft.

The Dolphins used their second of three fifth-round pick, the 155th overall, on Jason Marshall Jr. from the University of Florida. That pick came from the Denver Broncos and was part of the trade that brought Bradley Chubb to Miami in November 2022.

Marshall will join a group that’s become a major question mark in the aftermath of GM Chris Grier confirming the team and seven-time Pro Bowl selection Jalen Ramsey have agreed to explore trade possibilities.

Not counting Ramsey, the Dolphins cornerback room is filled with mostly young players, such as Storm Duck, Ethan Bonner, 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith, nickel corner Kader Kohou, newcomers Artie Burns and Ryan Cooper Jr., and 2024 practice squad players Isaiah Johnson and Jason Maitre.

The Dolphins also could — and likely will — supplement this group by signing a veteran free agent still looking for a team, a group that includes Rasul Douglas, Stephon Gilmore and Asante Samuel Jr.

A 6-0, 194-pound Miami native, Marshall started at least seven games in each of his four seasons at Florida.

His final season was cut short after seven games because of a shoulder injury.

He had two interceptions during his collegiate career.

NFL.com projected him as a sixth-round pick and described him as an “average backup or special-teamer.”

Wrote NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein: “Outside cornerback with good size, athleticism and experience but too much inconsistency on tape. Marshall can disrupt the release from press and ride route turns to stay in position to defend the throw. He falls asleep against play-action and misdirection. Also, he has poor hands when it’s time to flip the field. For his size, he’s a disappointing tackler, especially in run support. The lack of urgency and determination Marshall shows on tape could hurt his stock.”