//Turning activism into state policy is going to be difficult.They’re slogans on signs for now, but they’re also real policy goals.Police the PoliceEnd Cash BailWe Protect UsThose and other messages are spreading across Florida in a surge of progressive energy. Thousands have taken to the streets in the past two weeks to fuel a campaign of anti-racism and anti-police brutality that’s been years in the making.“You cannot reform, if you will, a racist system. You have to reconstruct it,” said Dwight Bullard, a former Democratic state senator from Miami on a virtual news conference call with...…//Turning activism into state policy is going to be difficult.They’re slogans on signs for now, but they’re also real policy goals.Police the PoliceEnd Cash BailWe Protect UsThose and other messages are spreading across Florida in a surge of progressive energy. Thousands have taken to the streets in the past two weeks to fuel a campaign of anti-racism and anti-police brutality that’s been years in the making.“You cannot reform, if you will, a racist system. You have to reconstruct it,” said Dwight Bullard, a former Democratic state senator from Miami on a virtual news conference call with...WW…

//When we’re looking at the fight for justice, and equity and fairness in our country, this decision is the floor, not the ceiling,” said one equal rights activist on Monday.TALLAHASSEE — The Supreme Court decision brought pure joy to LGBTQ Floridians, equal rights advocates and allies across the state.But the ruling, that, also raised an important question for those who’ve been fighting for years for state LGBTQ protections.Does the ruling make it more or less likely that the Florida Legislature will take up anti-discrimination measures in the future?“When we’re looking at the fight for...…//When we’re looking at the fight for justice, and equity and fairness in our country, this decision is the floor, not the ceiling,” said one equal rights activist on Monday.TALLAHASSEE — The Supreme Court decision brought pure joy to LGBTQ Floridians, equal rights advocates and allies across the state.But the ruling, that, also raised an important question for those who’ve been fighting for years for state LGBTQ protections.Does the ruling make it more or less likely that the Florida Legislature will take up anti-discrimination measures in the future?“When we’re looking at the fight for...WW…

//Turning activism into state policy is going to be difficult.They’re slogans on signs for now, but they’re also real policy goals.Police the PoliceEnd Cash BailWe Protect UsThose and other messages are spreading across Florida in a surge of progressive energy. Thousands have taken to the streets in the past two weeks to fuel a campaign of anti-racism and anti-police brutality that’s been years in the making.“You cannot reform, if you will, a racist system. You have to reconstruct it,” said Dwight Bullard, a former Democratic state senator from Miami on a virtual news conference call with...…//Turning activism into state policy is going to be difficult.They’re slogans on signs for now, but they’re also real policy goals.Police the PoliceEnd Cash BailWe Protect UsThose and other messages are spreading across Florida in a surge of progressive energy. Thousands have taken to the streets in the past two weeks to fuel a campaign of anti-racism and anti-police brutality that’s been years in the making.“You cannot reform, if you will, a racist system. You have to reconstruct it,” said Dwight Bullard, a former Democratic state senator from Miami on a virtual news conference call with...WW…

//The press member was in the same room as President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis.BELLEAIR — A member of the press who covered President Donald Trump’s trip to the Tampa Bay area Friday has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the White House Correspondents’ Association.The association’s president, Zeke Miller, a reporter for the Associated Press, wrote in a message to the group’s members Sunday about the member’s positive test.“We’ve already reached out to those who were in the pools with this individual, and the White House Medical Unit is...…//The press member was in the same room as President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis.BELLEAIR — A member of the press who covered President Donald Trump’s trip to the Tampa Bay area Friday has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the White House Correspondents’ Association.The association’s president, Zeke Miller, a reporter for the Associated Press, wrote in a message to the group’s members Sunday about the member’s positive test.“We’ve already reached out to those who were in the pools with this individual, and the White House Medical Unit is...WW…

//The agriculture commissioner says she has evidence the governor wasn't being honest about why he declined to hold Cabinet meetings.Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said Wednesday she now has evidence Gov. Ron DeSantis wasn’t being honest when he refused to honor her requests for a Cabinet meeting to discuss state business.For weeks, DeSantis has cited “health concerns” as the reason the state’s top elected officials should not convene for their monthly meeting amid the coronavirus pandemic. But on Tuesday, the governor held a news conference at a Miami COVID-only nursing facility and...…//The agriculture commissioner says she has evidence the governor wasn't being honest about why he declined to hold Cabinet meetings.Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said Wednesday she now has evidence Gov. Ron DeSantis wasn’t being honest when he refused to honor her requests for a Cabinet meeting to discuss state business.For weeks, DeSantis has cited “health concerns” as the reason the state’s top elected officials should not convene for their monthly meeting amid the coronavirus pandemic. But on Tuesday, the governor held a news conference at a Miami COVID-only nursing facility and...WW…

//Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried told the Miami Herald Wednesday that for the moment, she is “fully focused” on her current job. Florida’s top elected Democrat isn’t running for governor in 2022. At least not for now.Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried told the Miami Herald Wednesday that for the moment, she is “fully focused” on her current job. And while she has made her criticism of the current administration widely known, she says she remains focused on issues around COVID-19.She did, however, allude to an “electoral reckoning” she thinks Gov. Ron DeSantis will face as a result...…//Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried told the Miami Herald Wednesday that for the moment, she is “fully focused” on her current job. Florida’s top elected Democrat isn’t running for governor in 2022. At least not for now.Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried told the Miami Herald Wednesday that for the moment, she is “fully focused” on her current job. And while she has made her criticism of the current administration widely known, she says she remains focused on issues around COVID-19.She did, however, allude to an “electoral reckoning” she thinks Gov. Ron DeSantis will face as a result...WW…

//"This is nothing more than window dressing, political grandstanding, and it’s going to wield death and destruction,” says one industry ombudsman.TALLAHASSEE — For months, Floridians have been forbidden to visit their relatives at long-term care facilities.Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Tuesday that it’s time for that to change, even as the state continues to report thousands of new coronavirus cases per day along with hundreds of deaths and hospitalizations.“I think a lot of the family members understand that these are difficult circumstances. Clearly they would not want policies to be done...…//"This is nothing more than window dressing, political grandstanding, and it’s going to wield death and destruction,” says one industry ombudsman.TALLAHASSEE — For months, Floridians have been forbidden to visit their relatives at long-term care facilities.Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Tuesday that it’s time for that to change, even as the state continues to report thousands of new coronavirus cases per day along with hundreds of deaths and hospitalizations.“I think a lot of the family members understand that these are difficult circumstances. Clearly they would not want policies to be done...WW…

/“The Democrats truly can’t keep up with the strength and size of our campaign” said Emma Vaughn, the Republican National Committee’s Florida Press Secretary.When Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Juan Peñalosa logs on to play “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” on his Nintendo Switch, he sees opportunity.He looks around his island, dubbed Demócratas — “Democrats” in Spanish — and envisions planting a customized Team Joe flag for all to see. He said the party is in the process of creating a brief on voting to send to fellow players (or villagers, in Animal Crossing speak) and is...…/“The Democrats truly can’t keep up with the strength and size of our campaign” said Emma Vaughn, the Republican National Committee’s Florida Press Secretary.When Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Juan Peñalosa logs on to play “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” on his Nintendo Switch, he sees opportunity.He looks around his island, dubbed Demócratas — “Democrats” in Spanish — and envisions planting a customized Team Joe flag for all to see. He said the party is in the process of creating a brief on voting to send to fellow players (or villagers, in Animal Crossing speak) and is...WW…

/Much remains unknown about the company and where it got the $550,000 to dump what is estimated to be hundreds of thousands of political mail advertisements in the mailboxes of voters in Senate Districts 9, 37, and 39, three races that were seen as key to determining the balance of power of the Florida Senate.TALLAHASSEE — The mysterious company behind a half-million dollar contribution backing no-party candidates in three key state Senate races has attracted legal questions about its adherence to Florida law for campaign financing.The company, Proclivity, is registered in Delaware, a state...…/Much remains unknown about the company and where it got the $550,000 to dump what is estimated to be hundreds of thousands of political mail advertisements in the mailboxes of voters in Senate Districts 9, 37, and 39, three races that were seen as key to determining the balance of power of the Florida Senate.TALLAHASSEE — The mysterious company behind a half-million dollar contribution backing no-party candidates in three key state Senate races has attracted legal questions about its adherence to Florida law for campaign financing.The company, Proclivity, is registered in Delaware, a state...WW…

//Two LGBTQ candidates won their legislative races Tuesday, while candidates known for homophobic slurs fared poorly.TALLAHASSEE — This week’s primary was a historic day for equal rights in Florida.Michele Rayner, who won Tuesday’s Democratic primary that clinched the race for House District 70, is believed to be the first out queer Black woman elected to the Florida Legislature. And Shevrin Jones, a gay state representative, notched a convincing victory in the Democratic primary for Senate District 35. With only a write-in candidate opposing him in the November general election, he’ll...…//Two LGBTQ candidates won their legislative races Tuesday, while candidates known for homophobic slurs fared poorly.TALLAHASSEE — This week’s primary was a historic day for equal rights in Florida.Michele Rayner, who won Tuesday’s Democratic primary that clinched the race for House District 70, is believed to be the first out queer Black woman elected to the Florida Legislature. And Shevrin Jones, a gay state representative, notched a convincing victory in the Democratic primary for Senate District 35. With only a write-in candidate opposing him in the November general election, he’ll...WW…