Trial starts on Florida voter registration law
A trial kicked off Monday in challenges to a 2023 Florida law that imposed new restrictions on โthird-partyโ voter registration groups, with plaintiffs arguing the changes are unconstitutional and the state saying the law is aimed at enhancing election security.
Appeals court weighs lawmaker subpoenas in โStop WOKE Actโ legal fight
A federal appeals court sounded skeptical Tuesday of arguments that 14 current and former Florida lawmakers should be required to turn over documents in a legal fight about a 2022 state law that would restrict the way race-related concepts can be taught in universities.
Florida House bill rolls back gun-buying age set after Parkland shooting
The Florida House on Friday passed a measure that would lower the minimum age from 21 to 18 to buy rifles and other โlongโ guns, voting to scrap a high-profile change passed after a 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Florida bill seeks to lower gun-buying age to 18
Two House Republicans on Monday filed a proposal that would lower the minimum age from 21 to 18 to buy rifles and other โlongโ guns, potentially scrapping a high-profile change passed after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Florida accused of violating order blocking in โStop WOKEโ CRT education case
Plaintiffs challenging a state law restricting how race-related concepts can be taught in higher education accused Gov. Ron DeSantisโ administration Wednesday of violating a federal judgeโs order that blocked parts of the law from being enforced.
Lawsuit now โmootโ after UF resolves conflict-of-interest concerns, professors say
University of Florida professors are asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit that challenged a controversial conflict-of-interest policy that gave school administrators discretion over allowing faculty members to serve as expert witnesses in litigation.
Educators, attorneys urge court to keep blocking Floridaโs โStop W.O.K.E. Actโ
Professors and other plaintiffs are urging a federal appeals court to keep in place a preliminary injunction against a new Florida law that seeks to restrict the way race-related concepts can be taught in universities.
Judge to hear arguments in fight over Floridaโs controversial โIntellectual Freedomโ law
Nearly two years after the controversial measure passed, a federal judge next month will consider the constitutionality of a Florida law that requires conducting surveys on state college and university campuses about โintellectual freedom and viewpoint diversityโ and includes other changes that opponents argue violate First Amendment rights.
Florida appeals Stop WOKE Act workplace training decision
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody are appealing a federal judgeโs ruling that blocked part of a new state law that placed restrictions on how race-related issues can be addressed in workplace training โ a law DeSantis dubbed the โStop WOKE Act.โ
Judge compares Florida to โStranger Thingsโ as he blocks provision in anti-โwokeโ law
Florida is like a First Amendment โUpside Down,โ a federal judge said in his ruling blocking Floridaโs โStop W.O.K.E.โ law Thursday, referring to the parallel dimension in the Netflix series โStranger Things.โ
Judge denies request to block โStop WOKE Actโ
A federal judge Monday rejected arguments by attorneys for teachers, a student and a diversity consultant that he should block a controversial new state law that restricts the way race-related concepts can be taught in classrooms and workplace training.
North Carolina Senate race tests Trump's endorsement power
When Ted Budd won a surprise endorsement from former President Donald Trump last year, he was a little-known congressman running for a Senate seat in North Carolina against some of the stateโs most recognizable Republicans, including a former governor.
Federal judge orders information on Floridaโs new elections bill
A federal judge considering a constitutional challenge to a 2021 state elections law ordered attorneys Monday to quickly file briefs about the potential effects of a bill that the Legislature passed this month to make further changes in the elections system.
Florida House moving forward with proposal to create state office investigating election fraud
As a federal judge weighs the constitutionality of an elections law passed last year, the Florida House started moving forward with a new proposal that includes adding steps for voting by mail and creating a state office to investigate alleged elections fraud.
University of Florida canโt stop faculty in cases conflicting with state, judge rules
A federal judge has temporarily prohibited the University of Florida from enforcing a policy that restricted faculty members from providing expert testimony in cases that conflict with positions taken by the state of Florida.
Judge will decide soon on whether free speech violated at UF
A federal judge sharply criticized an attorney for the University of Florida during a hearing on whether six professorsโ free speech rights were infringed upon after the lawyer accused some of the academics of having no standing to make their cases because they had violated school policy.
Another Trump on the ballot? Lara Trump eyes Senate seat
The former president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, is eyeing the North Carolina Senate seat being vacated by Republican Richard Burr. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)RALEIGH, N.C. โ A Trump may be on the ballot next year โ but not Donald Trump. The former president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, is eyeing the North Carolina Senate seat being vacated by Republican Richard Burr. The answer to that question has implications that extend far beyond Lara Trump's political future. The 38-year-old Lara Trump is married to the former president's son, Eric.
Impeachment vote becomes defining moment for GOP senator
But the North Carolina Republicanโs vote to convict former President Donald Trump should not have come as a shock. AdWith Burr retiring at the end of his term in 2022, itโs a vote that could end up defining his career. Exactly a year later, as the Russia investigation was wrapping up, Burrโs time leading the committee came to an abrupt end. He sided with most Republicans in a vote to dismiss the trial, creating an expectation heโd also vote to acquit. AdSo when Burr stood up to vote for Trump's conviction, many in the chamber wondered if there would be other surprises.
Too big to read: Giant bill a leap of faith for Congress
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)WASHINGTON โ The $900 billion pandemic relief package that was rushed through Congress Monday created a familiar year-end conundrum for lawmakers: It was a bill too big to fail, and also too big to read. The Senate Historical Office says it's the longest bill they could find record of passing Congress. The bill was released at 2 p.m., just hours before the House and Senate began voting on it. Also in the bill: hundreds of unrelated legislative items negotiated by leadership to win support from various constituencies. โMembers of Congress need to see & read the bills we are expected to vote on.
Army beats Navy 15-0 at Michie Stadium
It was the first meeting between the teams at West Point since 1943. They had lost all three games played previously at West Point to the Midshipmen, including 13-0 in 1943 during World War II. Xavier Arline started for Navy, just the fifth freshman to start at quarterback for the Mids against Army. Army: The Black Knights have overcome a schedule that had to be almost totally revamped to rebound after a subpar 2019. He first took his place with cadets on the Army side of the stadium for much of the first quarter before joining Navy midshipmen in the second quarter.
House Latest: Republican Lauren Boebert wins Colorado House
She soundly defeated Tipton, a co-chair of President Donald Trumpโs Colorado reelection campaign, in the Republican primary in June. Republican state Sen. Stephanie Bice earned a reputation as a political moderate in her two terms in the Oklahoma Senate. ___11:20 p.m.Republican Maria Elvira Salazar has defeated Democrat Donna Shalala for a House seat in Florida. Republican Ronny Jackson has won a House seat in West Texas, where he moved after leaving the White House in 2018. The solidly Republican district is currently held by Mac Thornberry, one of six GOP congressmen in Texas retiring this year.
Judge rips Floridaโs election issues but denies request to extend voter registration
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ A federal judge has denied a motion to extend voter registration in Florida even though a computer meltdown on the final day of registration might have prevented thousands of potential voters from taking part in Novemberโs presidential election. Secretary of State Laurel Lee reopened the registration for seven hours on Tuesday, after consulting with Gov. In the end, the case is not about Floridians missing registration deadlines, or a challenge to a state statute, Walker wrote. This court must consider the consequences of extending voter registration deadline. Yet, Florida has failed to figure out how to run an election properly -- a task simpler than rocket science.โ
Florida Sen. Rubio introduces NIL bill to push NCAA changes
FILE - In this March 12, 2020, file photo, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks to media on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ron DeSantis signed into a law a bill that would open up that market for college athletes in the state. The bill gives the NCAA until June 2021 to have new rules in place that will supersede states laws. These kids deserve to make a little bit of money while they're in college, Rubio said. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) examining names, image and likeness compensation for college athletes, though Rubio's bill was separate from that group.