The Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have committed to sending resources, as have sheriff offices in Brevard, Escambia, Hillsborough, Holmes, Lee, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties, according to the governor’s office. ... Read More
Rebuking the state, school board pledges support for transgender athletes
“This governor and Legislature have been hell-bent on their assault on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people,” he said, “But most importantly, they’ve been using whatever wackadoodle science to target transgender young females, and it’s absolutely outrageous.” ... Read More
Girl fights off attacker who chased her down in Boynton Beach, deputies say
The attempted sexual assault happened at about 8:45 p.m. Sunday near a canal in on the south side of West Boynton Beach Boulevard, west of Jog Road. The majority of the area appears to be densely populated, with suburban homes lining the streets in nearly every direction. ... Read More
Southern Baptists to Debate Oversight of Abuse Investigation
Pastors speaking on behalf of victims push for task force to direct inquiry into the Executive Committee. Some Southern Baptists are calling on their denomination to appoint a task force to oversee what would be its largest investigation into sexual abuse responses and coverup. While the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) recently commissioned its own independent inquiry, a motion being debated at the denomination’s annual meeting would transfer oversight of... Read More
New Florida elections law challenged by two more groups
The lawsuit is designed to “protect our clients’ right to organize through voter registration activities, communicating their message that our democracy works better when all our voices are heard,” Michelle Kanter Cohen, policy director and senior counsel at Fair Elections Center, said in a statement. ... Read More
Southern Baptists Elect Ed Litton as New President
The Alabama pastor, known for his inclusion of women and work on racial justice, beat out Mike Stone of the Conservative Baptist Network in a runoff. Pastor Ed Litton, championed by supporters as a force for gospel unity and racial reconciliation, was elected the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), overtaking the candidate backed by a passionate faction of conservatives in a runoff. Litton’s election is seen a signal of the direction of the nation’s largest... Read More
Southern Baptist Elect Ed Litton as New President
The Alabama pastor, known for his inclusion of women and work on racial justice, beat out Mike Stone of the Conservative Baptist Network in a runoff. Pastor Ed Litton, championed by supporters as a force for gospel unity and racial reconciliation, was elected the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), overtaking the candidate backed by a passionate faction of conservatives in a runoff. Litton’s election is seen a signal of the direction of the nation’s largest... Read More
Miami Beach rejects Clevelander settlement, will appeal order blocking 2 a.m. booze ban
In a statement Tuesday night, Paz also said the city would reject a settlement offer from the Clevelander hotel, which sued the city last month over the booze ban. The proposed settlement sought to shield some Ocean Drive businesses, like the Clevelander, from the 2 a.m. cutoff while allowing the city to enforce the law in the rest of the district. ... Read More
Legal losses mount for Broward Sheriff’s Office
The ruling is the latest legal setback for the sheriff, who last week agreed to settle four civil cases brought by former high-ranking deputies who said they were cheated out of their accumulated vacation and sick time. Their lawyer, Tonja Haddad-Coleman, said Tuesday that the settlements add up to $186,000, plus $30,000 in legal fees. ... Read More
Gov. Ron DeSantis downplays coronavirus ‘Delta’ variant after CDC upgrades level of concern
“I don’t think it’s going to go up anywhere like it did last summer because we have so much immunity,” DeSantis said, referring to the millions of people who have gotten vaccinated during the past six months. “But the best thing you can do, particularly if you haven’t gotten the vaccine, particularly if you have any health problems … is to get a shot.” ... Read More