Education

Florida bans DEI from State College System

On January 17th, 2024, the Florida State Board of Education passed a ruling that will strictly limit public funding towards DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiatives in the Florida College System. This ruling comes with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ long campaign against “WOKE” policies in Florida.  The bill details how education should be “free from undue […]

Abortion Abortion Providers Reproductive Rights

Florida Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Ban Most Abortions, Imitating Texas’s SB 8

On Wednesday, a Florida state representative introduced a bill that would ban most abortions in the state, mimicking the Texas six-week ban that went into effect earlier this month. Rep. Webster Barnaby (R) introduced HB 167 into the Florida state legislature. Like Texas’s SB 8, the Florida bill would ban abortion after six weeks of […]

Election Politics

Florida Governor Signs Voter Suppression Bill into Law

On Thursday morning, Florida governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed a sweeping anti-voter bill into law that enacts restrictions that will make it more difficult to vote in upcoming elections, especially for people of color, young voters, and disabled voters.   Senate Bill 90 includes provisions that make it more difficult to vote by mail by […]

Activism Police Race

Florida Passes “Anti-Riot” Bill to Criminalize Protesting

On Monday morning, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB1 into law, referred to as an “anti-riot” bill, which puts stronger penalties on protesters who engage in “violent rallies”. This comes days before a verdict is expected in Derek Chauvin’s high profile case. The law staunchly criminalizes “rioting”, “looting”, and “harming law enforcement officers”, as well […]

Health Other Issues

COVID-19 Cases Increase at Women’s Prison in Florida

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 at a Florida women’s prison totaled 73 on Monday, a jump from the previous day’s total of two. Seventy percent of tests administered at Homestead Correctional Institution so far have come back positive and 616 tests are pending results. The spike in confirmed cases comes after weeks of the facility’s shuffling […]

Uncategorized

Ohio Governor Releases Gun Reform Policies in Response to Mass Shootings

This Tuesday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine released a series of policy proposals aimed at reducing gun violence statewide. He addressed the issue from both major perspectives, outlining ideas to ensure better mental healthcare services and to implement gun control reform legislation. The legislative reforms are broad in scope and include many policies that the federal […]

Uncategorized

Acosta Resigns as Labor Secretary After Criticism Over Lenient Epstein Plea Deal

Today, Alex Acosta formally resigned as labor secretary amid controversy stemming from a lenient plea deal he offered as US Attorney to billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who was indicted last week on charges of sex trafficking and abuse. During Acosta’s announcement, Trump emphasized to reporters that the resignation was solely Acosta’s decision. Yesterday, House Democrats called […]

Uncategorized

Ex-Felons in Florida can now Register to Vote

Today, over a million people are eligible to register to vote in Florida after voters passed Florida Amendment 4 in the November midterms, allowing ex-felons the right to vote. In the 2018 midterms, Florida voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of Amendment 4, which re-instated voting rights to convicted felons as long as they have completed […]

Politics

Women Win Across the Country in 2018 Midterms

Women won more seats in Congress yesterday than ever before, with over 110 women elected, including the first Muslim women, first Native American women, and two women in their twenties. The women who were elected include the former Teacher of the Year, small business owners, former military helicopter pilots, activists, a former CIA officer, and […]

Uncategorized

American College of Physicians’ New Gun violence Reduction Recommendations

On Monday, the American College of Physicians (ACP) released new recommendations in the Annals of Internal Medicine for doctors on how to reduce gun violence across the country. These recommendations were released two days after the deadliest attack on Jewish people in the United States at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. In the […]

Uncategorized

Thousands March For Our Lives

On Saturday, thousands of people took the streets of more than 800 cities and towns around the world to take part in the March For Our Lives, a student-led movement advocating for commonsense gun reform in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 students and teachers on Valentine’s Day.

Activism

Assault Weapons Ban Gets Renewed Attention

Florida State Representatives rejected a proposal Tuesday to move forward with debate on a bill that would ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. The measure was rejected 36-71 as survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida watched on from the gallery in tears.

Activism

Students Demand Gun Reform, Condemn NRA Influence

Students across the country are demanding that politicians address the epidemic of gun violence and are calling out those who take money from the National Rifle Association (NRA) in exchange for silence and inaction. These actions come in the wake of last week’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, during which 17 teachers and students were killed by a 19-year old man armed with a semiautomatic assault rifle.