The Tallahassee Reports Daily Briefs: Wednesday, February 7, 2024

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LOCAL NEWS

The Leon County Commission meeting briefs provide details on votes for eleven items in less than 500 words. Get the details.

Local progressive elected officials – Leon County Commissioner David O’Keefe, City Commissioner Jack Porter, & City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow – speak out against proposed legislation that would require city and county governments to enforce the ban on sleeping in public places.

On February 6^th, Joe Burgess, principal of Chiles High School and candidate for Leon County School Superintendent released a statement in support of teacher pay raises, stating, “It’s time to pay teachers a livable wage.”

LOCAL SPORTS NEWS

High school soccer teams across the Big Bend kicked off regional play on Tuesday, while district basketball tournaments began for boys teams.

FSU basketball defeated Boston College in a close 63-62 win at the Conte Forum. The win for the Seminoles improved their ACC record to 7-4. Jamir Watkins led the Seminoles with 10 points and was the only Seminole to reach double-digit scoring during the game. However, Florida State saw nine different players score during the matchup.

FLORIDA NEWS

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday supported legislation that seeks to prevent homeless people from sleeping in public places such as streets, sidewalks and parks, as a Senate committee moved forward with the proposal. “I think what we’re envisioning is providing some support for counties for additional sheltering, providing some financial support for both substance abuse (programs) and mental health,” DeSantis said during a news conference in Miami Beach.

The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday on whether it will allow an abortion rights amendment on the November ballot. The groups behind the initiative have collected the necessary signatures — but the state will argue that the measure’s language could confuse voters. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody says the amendment should be disqualified because it uses the word “viability” — which she calls “ambiguous.”

The Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security committee unanimously advanced the nomination of Mark Thieme of Apollo Beach to head the Florida State Guard as the guard is going to be running checkpoint operations and other logistics as they’re deployed to Texas. Other missions, including storm response in the Southeast, may also take the Guard out of state.

NATIONAL NEWS

House votes 216-214 against impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, with four Republicans joining all Democrats in voting “no” (More).

A jury yesterday found a Michigan mother guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with her son’s 2021 mass shooting at Oxford High School that killed four students and injured seven other people. She faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for each count; her sentencing is scheduled for April 9. 

Country music star Toby Keith has died at the age of 62 after a two-year battle with stomach cancer. The artist—who also wrote most of his songs—sold over 40 million records and had 20 No. 1 singles and nine No. 1 albums throughout his 30-year career.  

US stock markets close up (S&P 500 +0.2%, Dow +0.4%, Nasdaq +0.1%) as investors wade through latest earnings reports (More).

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