A federal court in Miami has ordered Florida to temporarily pause construction of the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center. And ICE is now hiring “patriotic Americans” as young as 18. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ruled Aug. 7 the state…
Florida parents fight for right to get books restored
Three parents are appealing the dismissal of a lawsuit contending Florida violated their constitutional right to contest the removal of books from public schools. The target of the initial lawsuit and the appeal is a 2023 state law providing a…
Swamp bait: The forgotten horror of feeding Black babies to alligators
In the depths of the Florida Everglades, a place teeming with mosquitoes, swamps and predatory reptiles, the U.S. government has endorsed what many human rights activists now call Alligator Alcatraz — a sprawling 39-square-mile detention facility for immigrants surrounded not…
Court says Florida cannot enforce its own immigration law
Florida cannot enforce a new law making it a crime for undocumented immigrants to enter or remain in the state, the U.S. Supreme Court said July 9. The one-sentence order let stand a lower court ruling barring the state from…
Florida faith leaders plead with DeSantis to slow executions
More than 100 Florida faith leaders signed a letter pleading with Gov. Ron DeSantis to pause the fast pace of executions in the state this year. Seven men have been executed already in 2025, and two more are scheduled to…
Six Southern states create new accrediting agency
With U.S. President Donald Trump attempting to force academic accrediting agencies to be less “woke” and more responsive to conservatives’ demands, six public universities last week announced formation of their own accrediting agency. This is an attempt to separate from…
Florida Drag Ban Halted By Appellate Court
A ban on minors attending family-friendly drag shows in Florida was halted by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit on Tuesday after judges ruled 2-1 that it violated the First Amendment.
Harsh Florida law blocked while Trump administration sows more fear among immigrants
In the fast-moving world of U.S. immigration news, a Florida court blocked a severe state law while the Trump administration continues to spread fear in its anti-immigrant campaign. A federal court in Miami temporarily blocked a new Florida law that…
Randy Fine prevails in Florida special election, bringing tally of Jewish Republicans in Congress to 4
Randy Fine, a Jewish Republican backed by President Donald Trump, has prevailed in a special election in Florida’s 6th Congressional District.
In a year of voucher mania, a controversial federal plan emerges
Donald Trump and congressional Republicans already intent on spending tax dollars on private education want to go even further by creating billions in new federal tax credits to school voucher programs. Newly introduced legislation would provide $10 billion in annual…
More child sexual abuse bills filed in 6 states
In January, several bills were proposed across different states relating to child sexual abuse — many addressing statutes of limitations, nondisclosure agreements or settlement payouts. Legislators said they hope these changes will make it easier for child sexual abuse victims…
Federal judge blocks DeSantis’ effort to censor TV ads on abortion measure
A federal judge took Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to school on the First Amendment in siding with a nonprofit organization’s right to air a TV ad promoting an abortion rights measure on the Nov. 5 ballot. Chief U.S. District Judge…