By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Saying the state’s system of standardized testing in public schools is “quite frankly, outdated,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced that lawmakers will consider a proposal during the 2022 legislative session to end the Florida Standards Assessments. The statewide exams in English-language arts and math, […]
The News Service of Florida President Joe Biden expressed disappointment Friday in Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republican governors who have criticized a White House directive to require COVID-19 vaccinations and tests for large numbers of public and private workers. Appearing at a Washington, D.C. middle school to urge parents to get children vaccinated if […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A Leon County circuit judge on Wednesday again blocked Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order that seeks to bar school mask mandates, giving at least a temporary victory to parents challenging the order. Judge John Cooper issued a written ruling last week that said DeSantis’ had […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Disney Cruise Line on Tuesday joined other lines that dock in Florida in planning to require COVID-19 vaccinations for most passengers ages 12 or older traveling to the Bahamas. The announcement came after Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis last week said cruise ships will only […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Legendary Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden died Sunday morning at age 91, about two weeks after announcing he had a terminal illness. University President John Thrasher recounted knowing the larger-than-life coach for years, describing Bowden as an “incredible” man known as much for […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A 13-year-old Broward County soccer player and her parents are challenging a a new state law that bans transgender female athletes from participating on girls’ and women’s sports teams, arguing that it is unconstitutional and “ignores basic medical science” about trans students. The measure (SB […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge on Monday appeared skeptical about a new Florida law aimed at punishing social-media companies that strip users from their platforms or flag users’ content. Online-industry groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association this month filed a lawsuit challenging the law, […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — More than 50 state law-enforcement officers will depart Monday for Texas and Arizona to help with border control, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday during an appearance near Pensacola. The announcement came after DeSantis earlier in the month said Florida would support a request from Texas […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Saying he wants Florida to be the “number-one state for civic literacy,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed bills aimed at boosting civics education in public schools and gauging “intellectual freedom” on college campuses. During a bill-signing event at a Fort Myers middle-school library, DeSantis […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Saying the “injury to Florida’s economy grows by the day,” a U.S. district judge Friday issued a preliminary injunction against federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention restrictions that have idled cruise ships in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 124-page ruling by U.S. […]