Good Monday morning.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Crists campaign to retake the Governors Mansion this November gained an endorsement from Sen. Shevrin Jones, who cited Crists record and message as his motivation.
Jones said Crists leadership is needed now, particularly considering recent actions by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-dominated Legislature.
We in Florida cannot continue going in this dangerous direction, which is not the direction the rest of the country is going, Jones told Florida Politics.
The events of last weeks Special Session most notably the Legislatures party-line approval of a DeSantis congressional map, which, among other things, halved the number of Black performing districts in Florida to two also factored heavily in the decision.
As someone who represents the largest Black district in the (state), sitting on the sidelines for too long is just not an option, he said. And what you see right now is Charlies message is resonating in my community of Miami Gardens.
They know him. They know the name. They know the work.
Crist, who began his political career as a Republican and served as Florida Governor from 2007 to 2011, said Jones support means the world to him.
This is one of the brightest political young stars in Florida politics today, and having the opportunity to receive his endorsement is humbling, he said. I am honored by it, and Im enormously grateful to Shev and to God.
Read the full story about Jones endorsement here.___
DeSantis already has three Democrats vying for his seat, but Roger Stone might not be making empty threats.
Someone, presumably in Stones camp, has registered the domains RogerforGovernor.com and StoneforGovernor.com, another sign the longtime Donald Trump ally could be serious about taking down DeSantis.
Stone threatened late last year to run for Governor as a Libertarian unless DeSantis vows to not run for President in 2024. And last weekend, Stone released a clip in which he whispers to Trump, Ron DeSantis is a piece of sh*t.
The latest move, registering the domain names, took place on Wednesday, as the Legislature met to pass bills targeting Disney over the companys opposition to Floridas anti-LGBTQ education law. Meanwhile, this week, former Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis offered to represent Disney over the retaliation, which has put DeSantis back in the limelight.
Although nothing is hosted yet at the two domains, the recent actions from Trump world could be a sign of more 2024 posturing to come.
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With three games left in the 2022 regular season, the Tampa Bay Lightning are skating to the White House to celebrate their back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021.
President Joe Biden will be the first President to host the Bolts, even though the team has won three championships. The COVID-19 pandemic had delayed celebrations for their recent titles. But lightning struck twice because the team also couldnt celebrate its 2004 title during the 2004-05 NHL lockout.
The Lightning, who have already clinched their third consecutive Stanley Cup playoff appearance, beat the Florida Panthers 8-4 in Sunrise Sunday night before leaving for Washington. Next, the team will continue north to Ohio to play the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Biden could honor a host of Bolts, like defensemen Victor Hedman and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, the most valuable players in the 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup championships. Of course, theres owner Jeff Vinik, general manager Julien BriseBois, and head coach Jon Cooper.
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Spotted A whos who of elected officials from Manatee and Sarasota counties who turned out to celebrate Grimes Galvano crossing the century mark.
The guest list included U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, former Senate President Andy Gardiner, and former Sens. David Simmons and JD Alexander. Sarasota Countys turnout included County Commissioner Mike Moran and Sarasota Mayor Erik Arroya. Manatee County electeds included County Commissioners Carol Whitmore, George Kruse, Misty Servia, Vanessa Baugh and Reggie Bellamy, County Administrator Scott Hopes, Clerk of Court Angel Colonneso, Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, Property Appraiser Charles Hackney and School Board member Chad Choat. The list continues with Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and Police Chief Melanie Bevan as well as City Councilmembers Marianne Barnebey, Pam Coachman, Bill Sanders and Jayne Kocher. And Palmetto the town Grimes Galvanos founders first put up their shingle was represented by Mayor Shirley Groover-Bryant.
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Fred Piccolo joins Jackie Toledos CD 15 bid as campaign manager Piccolo will serve Toledos campaign as both campaign manager and senior adviser. Piccolo had previously been campaign manager to then-candidate Dennis Ross from 2008 to 2010 and as Chief of Staff to then-Congressman Ross from 2010 to 2012.
Ive known Jackie Toledo since I worked with her on her first campaign for the statehouse, Piccolo said in a statement. No one works harder or cares more deeply about her constituents than Jackie does. Shes demonstrated a unique ability to move legislation and articulate our conservative principles to a wide audience and expand our party into diverse communities throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Toledo added: Fred and I worked together for over a decade in my campaigns and in his time in the speakers office in Tallahassee. I value his advice and his experience, and his knowledge of the district is second to none.
This not a Polk County seat, Piccolo continued. As the only candidate in this race who grew up, went to public school, graduated from college, and raised a family in Hillsborough County, Jackie knows that the citizens of District 15 can easily distinguish between their neighbor and politicians who cant give up power. That choice is becoming crystal clear.
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If you want to arrest me, f**king arrest me, said a defiant Charlie Adelson in April 2016, covertly recorded by the FBI in a noisy Miami restaurant, talking with co-conspirator Katherine Magbanua about the murder of his former brother-in-law, FSU law professor Dan Markel.
Come back with a warrant.
That challenge was finally accepted last week, almost six years later to the day.
The long-awaited arrest has drawn renewed international attention to the Tallahassee murder-for-hire and has cracked open possibilities for the resolution of a case that has become woven into Floridas political landscape in various ways in the years since. FloridaPolitics.com has followed the case extensively, diving deep through the aftershocks of a murder that rocked Floridas capital city and left a trail of victims in its path.
Charlies arrest is a major milestone and reflects the tireless work put into this case by law enforcement and prosecutors, said Markel family friend, Karen Cyphers on behalf of the grassroots group Justice for Dan.
But how did this arrest come to be, nearly eight years later? And what does it mean for the pursuit of justice moving forward? Cyphers walked me through some details of the case that are public but often left undiscussed.
For more must-read details, get the full story here.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
@EricGeller: What a weird system France has, where the presidential candidate who gets the most votes wins the election.
@NikkiFried: Its been 30 hours since I called for 5 televised debates. Charlies been awfully quiet.
@TPFabricio: Hialeah is brimming with pride! Congratulations to our soon-to-be Commissioner of Education @SenMannyDiaz! You have been Floridas strongest excellence in education advocate. This is a much-deserved appointment.
@RichLowry: Corporations as institutions have been corrupted, very often through bullying and fear, and theres a chance that the Disney controversy will free them simply to fly planes, sell soda, etc. again, which would be good for these companies and good for the countrys cultural health
@ChristinaPushaw: Thought experiment for liberals: What if your childs teacher was religious & used a slideshow to tell class, some people think they were born in the wrong body, but thats impossible; God doesnt make mistakes? You wouldnt like it. Let parents teach their kids as they see fit
@ErinInTheMorn: The last 3 months, we have seen trans people: referred to as pedophiles/groomers called an infection need to be morally mandated out of existence Parents of trans people are investigated. Health care may be pulled. The eugenics/genocide language is turned up to 11.
@AGHamilton29: Im reading this NYT deep dive into the books that FL rejected from their math curriculum and its only making me think that FL actually did a good job vetting. This admits the books have a lot of nonsense that has little to do with teaching kids math.
@ChrisDorworth: I have read so much how the abolition of the Reedy Creek is going to lead to all manners of mayhem. It is much ado about nothing. The Gov/Leg definitely smacked them around, but its just paperwork. All the land will be annexed into Bay Lake or Lake Buena Vista. Those 2 cities have pops of 42 and 19 and are controlled by Disney selected people just like RCID was. 1 of those cities will gobble up the Orange County land and be about the size of San Francisco. The LBV Wikipedia says people wonder why you needed a city in the RCID.
@AGGancarski: People are really slacking on detailed accounts of how many masks they are seeing/not seeing on planes. Thats all I want in my newsfeed at this point and for months and months and months to come.
DAYS UNTIL
2022 Florida Chamber Transportation, Growth & Infrastructure Solution Summit 3; The Godfather TV series The Offer premieres 3; 2nd half of Ozark final season begins 4; White House Correspondents Dinner 5; Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness premieres 11; Florida TaxWatchs Spring Meeting 17; Obi-Wan Kenobi starts on Disney+ 31; Top Gun: Maverick premieres 32; Platinum Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth II 38; California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota hold midterm Primaries 43; Jurassic World Dominion premieres 46; Pixars Lightyear premieres 53; Thor: Love and Thunder premieres 74; San Diego Comic-Con 2022 87; Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner novel Heat 2 publishes 106; House of the Dragon premieres on HBO 118; The Lord of the Rings premieres on Amazon Prime 130; 2022 Emmys 130; Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel premieres 164; Cormac McCarthys The Passenger releases 183; Jon Meachams And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle releases 183; Black Panther 2 premieres 200; Captain Marvel 2 premieres 200; The Flash premieres 206; The World Cup kicks off in Qatar 210; The U.S. World Cup Soccer Team begins play 210; McCarthys Stella Maris releases 211; Avatar 2 premieres 235; 2023 Legislative Session convenes 316; John Wick: Chapter 4 premieres 333; 2023 Session Sine Die 375; Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse premieres 403; n and the Wasp: Quantumania premieres 459; Dune: Part Two premieres 543; Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Part 2 premieres 704; Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games 823. TOP STORY
Eric Holder-backed group sues Florida over Ron DeSantis congressional map via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics Minority advocacy groups filed a lawsuit Friday challenging Floridas congressional map approved this week by the Legislature. The National Redistricting Foundation, led by Holder, will fund the case. Plaintiffs represented by prominent Democratic voting rights attorney Marc Elias filed suit claiming a map (P 0109) submitted by DeSantis violates Floridas Fair Districts provisions in the state constitution. An analysis shows the map draws Florida with 20 congressional districts where Trump won the 2020 Presidential Election and just eight seats where Biden won. The targeting of Black voting districts also plays prominently in the complaint filed in Leon County circuit court.
Voting rights groups sue Florida over new congressional map via Gary Fineout of POLITICO
Floridas congressional map: An about-face in GOP strategy and a setback for Blacks via Mary Ellen Klas and Ana Ceballos of The Miami Herald
Al Lawson responds after DeSantis upends district: My plan right now is to be on the ballot via James Call of the Tallahassee Democrat
Tour every Congressional District on Floridas new map via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics Its official. After a veto, a Special Session, and a sit-in protest on the House floor, a congressional map drawn by DeSantis has been signed into law. So, what does the political terrain in Florida now actually look like? Florida Politics presents a short tour of P 0109, Floridas now-28 congressional districts from Pensacola to Key West. The tour starts here.
DATELINE TALLY
DeSantis tests limits of his combative style in Disney feud via The Associated Press DeSantis deepening feud with Walt Disney World is testing the limits of his combative leadership style while sending an unmistakable message to his rivals that virtually nothing is off-limits as he plots his political future. DeSantis has repeatedly demonstrated an acute willingness to fight throughout his decade-long political career. He has turned against former aides and rejected the GOP Legislatures rewrite of congressional maps, forcing lawmakers to accept a version more to his liking and prompting voting rights groups to sue. Hes also leaned into simmering tensions with Trump, notable for someone seeking to lead a Party where loyalty to the former President is required.
Floridas Disney district crackdown may violate First Amendment, legal experts say via Emily L. Mahoney and Bianca Padr Ocasio of the Tampa Bay Times At DeSantis urging, Florida legislators sped this week to pass two bills stripping The Walt Disney Co. of certain special privileges, which DeSantis signed Friday. The ultrafast maneuver was a whiplash response to Disneys public opposition to Floridas recently passed Parental Rights in Education law, or the so-called dont say gay bill. It was also, experts said, legally dubious. The more high-profile of the two Disney bills eliminates the companys Reedy Creek Improvement District, which for more than 50 years has granted it broad powers of self-governance over its Disney World property, similar to being its own county. The new law dissolves that special district, and five others, on June 1, 2023.
Disneys $578 million tax break left untouched in DeSantis feud via Christopher Palmeri of Yahoo News DeSantis may have put a bulls-eye on special perks that The Walt Disney Co. has enjoyed in his state for more than 50 years, but hes keeping his hands off hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks recently lavished on the entertainment giant. For now, at least, DeSantis is leaving alone another valuable perk: $578 million in credits Disney can use to reduce its state income taxes through 2040. Christina Pushaw, a spokesperson, said DeSantis hasnt asked the legislature to repeal the tax credits because its not a carve-out for a specific corporation.
Fitch says possible downgrade in store for Reedy Creek bonds after anti-Disney bill passes via Gray Rohrer of Florida Politics Fitch Ratings Inc. placed some bonds held by the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) on negative watch, meaning a downgrade is possible in the future. The move comes one day after the Legislature passed a bill to dissolve the Walt Disney Company-controlled enclave in Central Florida. The affected bonds are $79 million in outstanding utility revenue and refunding bonds currently rated as A and $766 million in property tax-backed bonds rated at AA-. The districts utility credit profile rating of A and its issuer default rating of AA- were also placed on negative watch status. The bill (SB 4C), which DeSantis has yet to sign, first emerged only Tuesday. The issue was added to the already-scheduled Special Session to deal with redistricting and passed a little over 48 hours after it was filed.
DeSantis signs Stop WOKE Act as legal challenge looms via Renzo Downey of Florida Politics Florida has become the latest state to ban woke ideology associated with critical race theory with legislation DeSantis signed Friday. The measure (HB 7), which is already being challenged in court over First Amendment concerns, would prohibit lessons and training which tell students and employees that they are inherently racist, sexist or oppressive because of their race, color, sex or national origin. It would also ban instruction that they are personally responsible and should feel guilty for the past actions of members of their race, color, sex or national origin. We are not going to use your tax dollars to teach our kids to hate this country or to hate each other, DeSantis said before signing the bill in Hialeah.
How Floridas anti-woke bill could impact public universities via Ana Ceballos of the Tampa Bay Times Floridas cultural clashes over what to teach about race are not isolated to K-12 education. They are also spilling into the states higher education system. For about a year now, DeSantis and Florida Republicans have been fighting the influence of critical race theory and what they call woke ideologies in the classroom. Their latest effort is legislation that would place new restrictions on race-related instruction in public universities and colleges, and would threaten institutions with funding cuts and lawsuits if they violate the new regulations. These regulations are packaged in House Bill 7, titled Individual Freedom, and are tied to the proposed state budget for the upcoming fiscal year. DeSantis, who has championed his own anti-woke agenda, is expected to approve both items.
He fuels the rights cultural fires (and spreads them to Florida) via Trip Gabriel of The New York Times Christopher Rufo is the conservative activist who probably more than any other person made critical race theory a rallying cry on the right and who has become, to some on the left, an agitator of intolerance. A senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, he has emerged at the front of another explosive cultural clash, one that he sees as even more politically potent and that the left views as just as dangerous: the battle over LGBTQ restrictions in schools. Rufo aimed at opponents of a new Florida law that critics call Dont Say Gay. He declared moral war against the statutes most prominent adversary, The Walt Disney Co. And he used the same playbook that proved effective in his crusade on racial issues: a leak of insider documents.
Property insurance reserves vs. Chris Sprowls patience: Which will run out first? via Brian Burgess of the Captiolist Two opposing data sets are being carefully monitored by Sprowls and his insurance reform point man, State Rep. Jay Trumbull: mounting bad news about Floridas property insurance market, versus the slow but steady reduction in Floridas out-of-control insurance litigation. Any residual resistance from Sprowls toward more drastic action can be directly laid at the feet of insurance company advocates who promised that last years reforms would make a positive impact on the number of lawsuits within about 18 months. Sprowls, insiders say, is carefully weighing the speed of the collapse of Floridas insurance market with the reductions in litigation that are slowly, but surely starting to manifest themselves thanks to those already passed reforms.
Assignment editors Sprowls will join the Florida Sheriffs Association for its annual memorial ceremony to honor those who have given their lives in the line of duty, 1:30 p.m., Memorial Wall at the Florida Sheriffs Association Headquarters, 2617 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee. The event will be livestreaming on the FSA Facebook page.
Randy Fine: Republican lawmakers fight with Disney is only his latest battle in culture wars via Eric Rogers of Florida Today No matter what your beef with Fine, his attacks against you are calculated to hurt. Fine has gone after tech companies DeSantis accused of barring conservative viewpoints and school districts that bucked the Governors mask policy. He has called for legislation ending specific treatments for transgender children and co-sponsored DeSantis Stop WOKE Act that limits race-related discussions in classrooms and workplaces, which backers hailed as a blow to critical race theory. Fine is steadily gaining ground on the national scene, thanks to frequent headlines and network appearances in recent years for his audacious political style and a string of controversial legislation that has helped launch Florida to the front lines of the culture wars.
Bless his heart Fine threatened Special Olympics funding over school board member feud, texts show via Eric Rogers of Florida Today Rep. Fine threatened to interfere with state funding for the Special Olympics and the city of West Melbourne last week over a personal feud with Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins. A city leader said Fine later tried to block the release of the text messages through a public records request and wanted a city attorney overseeing the request to be fired. Fine denied he threatened to get the funding pulled or that he ever spoke about firing the city attorney.
Randys always been this way Scandal before service via Stephen E. Frank of The Harvard Crimson
2022
Marco Rubio talks 2022 with Bay News 9 U.S. Sen. Rubio discussed his re-election bid and more in a sit-down with Bay News 9 Tampa Bays Holly Gregory. Rubio hit U.S. Rep. Val Demings on her comments on rising gas prices, immigration and crime. Despite Demings history as Orlandos Police Chief, Rubio said his challenger had joined the chorus of attacking and second-guessing law enforcement. On Disney, Rubio said the broader argument is not just about the companys woke positions or not standing up to China but about whether companies should get special treatment in Florida.
To watch highlights of the interview, click on the image below:
New Rubio ad bashes Val Demings cringe-y Spanglish Demings Senate campaign reaches out to Hispanic voters with a new slogan: Todos con Demings. Rubios campaign says its about as authentic as an arrivederci delivered by Brad Pitt. Demings is transparently following Bidens lead with every decision she makes even in her attempts to reach Floridas Hispanic communities. She copied his coalition name (Todos con Biden) and Obamas yes we can, with some cringe-y Spanglish, She Se Puede, a news release from Team Rubio says, emphasis in original. But her kitschy sayings are just at the surface of a larger issue: Demings is totally out of touch on the key issues that are affecting Hispanics in Florida.
Nikki Fried calls for five statewide debates among gubernatorial candidates via Kelly Hayes of Florida Politics Fried is calling for five statewide debates among candidates in the 2022 Governors race following the withdrawal of fellow candidate U.S. Rep. Crist from a forum in Homestead Saturday. The call for debate comes as Crist leads the Democratic field in fundraising, becoming the first to collect more than $1 million in a month. Since entering the race in May, Crists haul now comes to $8.2 million. He closed last month with $5.3 million in cash on hand after expenses. On the other hand, Fried has collected more than $3.6 million. Crist previously served a term as Governor as a Republican. He later ran as a Democrat in 2014 against then-Gov. Rick Scott.
Fried endorses all House Democrats Fried issued an endorsement to all Democratic members of the state House who protested the new congressional map that heavily favors Republicans. Sometimes, you have to make difficult decisions in politics. This is one of the easiest decisions Ive ever made, she said in a news release from her gubernatorial campaign. Any Member of the Florida House who stayed on the floor in protest of the racist, unconstitutional maps proposed by Ron DeSantis will receive an automatic endorsement from me. These brave members of the legislature will receive funding from my political action committee, as well as any support I can provide, no matter who they run against, no matter the dynamics of their race.
Chuck Nadd locked and loaded for campaign to be states next Agriculture Commissioner via Jim DeFede of CBS Miami A graduate of West Point and a former Black Hawk helicopter pilot who served two tours in Afghanistan, Nadd is challenging Senate President Wilton Simpson for the Republican nomination. Why are you running? I really grew up around water. I grew up kayaking Mosquito Lagoon. I grew up kayaking up in North Central Florida, and I saw that theres this really emerging important issue of water quality and clean water. And I think everyone watching can really attest that this is one of the critical issues that our state faces, not only now, but over the next five 10 years.
Tweet, tweet:
Rory Diamond moves closer to Jax-area congressional run via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics Potential candidates continue to explore running for Congress in a new Jacksonville-area seat that favors Republicans. Diamond is considering a run for the new district in Northeast Florida that includes Clay, Nassau, and northern and western Duval County, which was passed by the Legislature this week (P 0109). Diamond represents the District 13 seat on the City Council, including the Jacksonville Beaches. If he does get in the race in the new 4th Congressional District, it will be with big-name national backing. Diamond, who runs the K9 for Warriors charity, said he has had a lot of good calls in the last 48 hours. Weve got what we need to win, Diamond said.
Vern Buchanan highlights re-election bid to packed Manatee Tiger Bay Club audience via Jesse Mendoza of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune Hours after U.S. Rep Buchanan announced that he would be running for re-election in District 16, he explained why he chose to run for the district that primarily represents Manatee County over Sarasota to a packed Tiger Bay Club audience. Buchanan currently represents District 16, but his home was drawn out of the districts boundaries by a new congressional map by DeSantis. Yet, he chose to run for re-election out of the district that primarily encompasses Manatee County and parts of Hillsborough. It looks like the Governors maps are going to prevail, Buchanan said. It was an easy decision for me. I selected Manatee.
Bonnie Jackson embraces parental rights advocacy in HD 42 contest via Scott Powers of Florida Politics Jackson is staking out a campaign platform in the House District 42 race that could make her a diametrical alternative on culture war issues compared with Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani, the incumbent Jackson seeks to replace. Take two social issues that divided Florida along cultural lines over the past couple of Legislative Sessions: parental rights in schools and immigration. Jackson is offering hard-line conservative positions that might even go beyond those many Republicans are willing to espouse, let alone whats advocated by Eskamani. For Jackson, such issues are paramount. She is also distancing herself a bit from some of the more establishment Republican positions on things like the roles businesses might play in public policy and lawyers might play in society.
Andres Althabe tops four-person HD 113 field in March fundraising via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics
Robert Gonzalez debuts with $84K in four-way GOP contest for HD 119 via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics With nearly $84,000 added in March, Gonzalez moved into second place in overall funds raised in what is now a four-way Republican contest to determine who will represent House District 119 later this year. Gonzalez, a personal injury, labor and homeowners insurance attorney was one of two people to file for the race in March. He was the only candidate in the field whose gains reached five digits last month. More than 100 people gave Gonzalezs campaign donations ranging from $10 to $1,000. In keeping with his expertise, most of the corporate contributions came from local legal and health care businesses.
Dan Horton-Diaz welcomes wave of South Miami-Dade County endorsements via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics Horton-Diaz announced 13 new personal endorsements and the support of Miami-Dade Countys southernmost Democratic organization Friday in his bid to take the House District 120 seat this November. The endorsers, including elected officials, Democratic Party leaders, and community leaders in Miami-Dade, joined one of the nations largest communications and media unions in backing Horton-Diaz over the last month. These are people that I have worked with for years, and they have proven records of service in our community, Horton-Diaz said in a statement. I am humbled by their support. He received several nods from current South Bay Community Council members, including Chair Marjorie Murillo and members Enid Demps and Christina Farias.
Palm Beach police union backs Michelle Oyola McGovern in County Commission race via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics
STATEWIDE
A look inside the textbooks that Florida rejected via Dana Goldstein and Stephanie Saul of The New York Times After the Florida Department of Education rejected dozens of math textbooks last week, the big question was, Why? The department said some books contained prohibited topics from social-emotional learning or critical race theory, but it has released only four specific textbook pages showing content to which it objects. The New York Times reviewed 21 of the rejected books and saw what may have led the state to reject them. Because Florida has released so few details about its textbook review process, whether these examples led to the rejections is unknown. But they illustrate how these concepts appear and dont appear in curriculum materials.
Everywhere Babies, a picture book celebrating infants, just got banned via Caitlin Gibson of The Washington Post The inspiration for the popular childrens picture book Everywhere Babies came to author Susan Meyers more than 25 years ago after the birth of her first grandchild. Since its publication in 2001, Everywhere Babies has become a staple of family bookshelves, a common recommendation in new parent groups, and a celebrated title on Best Books lists. The book was among dozens of works recently banned from public school libraries in Walton County, School district officials confirmed the removal of the books to WJHG-TV in Florida. Walton County School Superintendent Russell Hughes told the outlet that it was necessary (at) this moment for me to make that decision, and I did it for just (the) welfare of all involved, including our constituents, our teachers, and our students.
Ratings downgrade imperils another Florida insurer via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics Theres trouble on the horizon for another company that writes homeowners insurance policies in Florida. FedNat Holding Company, which offers insurance under the name FedNat Insurance Company, had its stability rating downgraded from A to S by Demotech, a consulting company that rates the financial health of insurance companies. Demotech defines an A rating as exceptional and says it indicates a company expects to have a positive surplus regardless of the severity of a general economic downturn or deterioration in the insurance cycle. An S rating, or substantial, is one rung down and companies in earning the rating, while not on the brink of collapse, are less able to handle turbulence in the market or the broader economy.
Floridas COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising again as BA.2 subvariant starts to spread via Chris Persaud of The Palm Beach Post Coronavirus-positive patients are filling up Floridas hospitals once again, but their numbers remain smaller than before the original omicron wave engulfed the state. Medical staff statewide tended to an average of 738 COVID-19-positive patients this week, data released Friday by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department shows. Thats higher than the week before but still lower than the four-digit levels recorded in late November and early December. HHS also reported an average of 92 adults per day this week in intensive care units in Florida, the lowest level on record.
As inflation rises, Floridians say its hard to pay their bills via Natalie Weber of the Tampa Bay Times Nearly half of Floridians included in a recent survey say inflation has impacted their ability to pay essential bills. The finding comes from a study conducted by the University of South Florida, asking 600 Floridians how price hikes have impacted their spending and attitudes on various related policy issues. The study was conducted between March 31 and April 12, using a sample of state residents whose demographics closely reflected those of the states population. The survey found that inflation has impacted Floridians spending on everything from food to housing. About 77% of those surveyed said inflation had affected their grocery spending, while nearly a quarter said theyve had difficulties paying their rent or mortgage payments in the past year.
D.C. MATTERS
Theyre going after Mickey Mouse: Joe Biden criticizes Florida GOPs rift with Disney via Jillian Olsen of WTSP Biden wasnt shy about commenting on the apparent rift between the Republican Party in Florida and Walt Disney World during two Democratic National Committee fundraisers Thursday. While speaking at the Portland Yacht Club, Biden said todays Republican Party is not the one your parents likely grew up with, saying, this is not your fathers Republican Party, by any stretch of the imagination. This is the MAGA Party. Not a joke.
Its time to head for the lifeboats: Democratic fatalism intensifies via Blake Hounshell of The New York Times The collective mood of Democratic insiders darkened appreciably in recent weeks. Pollsters and prognosticators are forecasting increasingly dire results for their party in the November midterm elections. Inflation, the No. 1 issue on voters minds, is accelerating. And despite a booming job market, the Presidents average approval rating hadnt budged since January, when it settled into the low 40s. Are you calling to ask me about our impending doom? one Democratic strategist quipped at the outset of a recent phone call. The vibes just feel very off, said Tr Easton, a progressive consultant.
Some Republicans fear party overreach on LGBT measures via Annie Linskey and Casey Parks of The Washington Post Republican lawmakers around the country are pushing an array of bills that limit the discussion of gay rights in schools under the auspices of parental rights, leading some party strategists to worry that the initiatives may backfire with moderate voters by making the party seem anti-gay. Legislation includes a recent law passed in Florida that limits what kindergarten to third grade teachers can talk about in the classroom regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure dubbed the dont say gay law by critics. Several other state legislatures, including Alabama, Louisiana and Ohio, are considering or have passed similar bills.
Donald Trump says Kevin McCarthy relationship not damaged via Alex Leary and Lindsay Wise of The Wall Street Journal Trump said Friday evening his relationship with McCarthy remains good after a recording emerged of McCarthy telling other top GOP lawmakers that he would advise Trump to resign, several days after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump said he wasnt pleased to learn of McCarthys comments in the House leadership call, but the California Republican ultimately never advised him to quit. He noted that McCarthy quickly changed his stance when he found out the facts and embraced him fully a few weeks after the Jan. 10, 2021, call. He made a call. I heard the call. I didnt like the call, said Trump.
Coach Joe Kennedy gets day in the Supreme Court Monday, drawing national floodlight to local dispute over school prayer via Andrew Binion of the Kitsap Sun Kennedy believes his rights were violated when, in 2015, he lost his position as a Bremerton High School football coach for praying on the field after games. For the former Marine and devout Christian, the prayers are a personal matter that, if given a chance to coach again, would amount to a solitary, seconds-long prayer of gratitude at midfield. I dont want to buck the school; I just want to coach football and be able to thank God for it, Kennedy said. On Monday, the controversy that started in 2015 is scheduled for argument 2,700 miles east in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, casting a nationwide floodlight on a local front in the culture wars.
LOCAL NOTES: N. FL
Should Escambia allow economic tax breaks for new business developments? Voters to decide via Jim Little of the Pensacola News Journal Escambia County voters will decide in November whether the county should be allowed to provide economic tax breaks for new business developments. On Thursday, Escambia County Commissioners unanimously approved placing a countywide referendum on the ballot in November to extend the authorization for economic development ad valorem tax exemptions, otherwise known as an EDATE. Commissioners had signed off on the concept in February, but the action Thursday confirms that a referendum will occur.
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Sunburn The morning read of what's hot in Florida politics 4.25.22 - Florida Politics