People and institutions of faith from Florida to North Carolina are kicking into high gear to help the victims of Hurricane Helene even as they struggle assessing the human need and the scope of physical damage. Even in the most…
Several states are still fighting over ballot initiatives on abortion
Conservatives in several states have gone all out to defeat abortion-rights ballot measures before voters even get to the polls in November. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered state police to question residents who signed petitions to place Amendment…
Publishers sue to stop Florida’s rapid book bans
Six major U.S. publishers, the Authors Guild and several authors and parents have filed a federal lawsuit to stop a new Florida law allowing public school libraries to ban books whenever a parent raises objections about sexual content. The suit,…
Anti-abortion forces seek to complicate fall vote on constitutional amendment in Florida
Advocates for a pro-choice amendment on Florida’s November ballot vow to fight a state committee’s decision to add politically motivated economic projections to the measure voters will consider at the polls. “Our campaign worked hard to ensure that the language…
Ron DeSantis throws another hissy fit like a mean father
Just when you think Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis can’t sink any lower, he limbos below the lowest bar you’ve seen yet. Although I doubt we would find the failed Republican presidential candidate doing the limbo because his fan club might…
Florida’s homeschooling voucher program growing rapidly
The rapid growth of a Florida homeschool voucher initiative says less about its actual popularity than it does about the state’s efforts to undercut public schools, faith leader and education advocate Rachel Gunter Shapard said. “Why is it that we…
Florida joins Texas in adopting school ‘chaplain’ option denounced by chaplains
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his supporters celebrated his recent signing of a new law allowing untrained and unlicensed chaplains to volunteer in public schools. “At a time when much of the country is facing a mental health crisis, having…
Another court blocks DeSantis’ ‘anti-woke’ agenda as unconstitutional
In another setback for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ aggressive anti-LGBTQ agenda, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction allowing a transgender public school teacher to use her preferred title and pronouns while on the job. “Once again, the State of…
Florida high court gives hope to both sides in abortion debate
The Florida Supreme Court has handed down two abortion rulings, one nearly banning the procedure and the other placing its ultimate fate in the hands of voters. The April 1 decisions making way for a six-week abortion ban and a…
DeSantis’s war on woke suffers legal losses and backlash
“In Florida, we will not let the far-left woke agenda take over our schools and workplaces,” declared Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022. GOP legislators embraced his culture war agenda, passing bills restricting drag shows and Critical Race theory that fueled…
Settlement means you can ‘say gay’ in Florida schools after all
It turns out you can “say gay” in Florida’s public schools — just so long as you’re not the teacher presenting classroom content. On Monday, March 12, a settlement was announced between the state of Florida and an LGBTQ group…
Defying DeSantis, most Florida parents support public education
Parents in Florida are overwhelmingly supportive of public education despite claims by conservatives that the system is damaged beyond repair, according to a new poll commissioned by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The survey released earlier this month found more…