Ruling that Gov. Ron DeSantis overstepped his constitutional authority, a Leon County circuit judge on Friday sided with a group of parents in a high-profile lawsuit challenging DeSantis’ July 30 executive order that sought to bar school districts from requiring students to wear masks.
Read More »Closing Arguments Set in School Mask Fight
A hearing in a high-profile lawsuit challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order aimed at preventing local school boards from imposing student mask mandates is ready for closing arguments on Thursday.
Read More »State Begins Making Its Case Against Mask Mandates In Florida Schools
As the legal battle plays out, eight school districts as of Tuesday afternoon had voted to require masks for students, with exceptions only for students whose parents submit doctors’ notes. The mask mandates in the eight counties cover an estimated 1.23 million students, based on state enrollment data from the 2020-2021 school year.
Read More »Vaccination Rates in North Central Florida Counties Are Lower Than The State Average
In North Central Florida, the COVID-19 vaccination rate, on average, is lower than the state rate.
Read More »Florida Launches Antibody Treatment Effort To Help Hospitals
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that he is launching a rapid response unit to expand the use of monoclonal antibodies and relieve pressure at hospitals that continue to report a rise in COVID-19 patients.
Read More »Alachua County Public Schools Stay Course on Mask Requirement
In a three-page letter responding to the state, Alachua County Superintendent Carlee Simon and School Board Chairwoman Leanetta McNealy on Tuesday cited a “twenty-fold” increase in local COVID-19 cases over the past six weeks and rising hospitalizations --- even among children --- in their decision to stay the course.
Read More »The Point, Aug. 12, 2021: Intensive Care Beds Across Florida Fill Up Due To COVID-19 Surge
Ninety percent of them are full.
Read More »Debate About Masking in Florida Schools Continues
The State Board of Education is also considering a voucher program that would allow public school students to transfer to private schools without mask mandates.
Read More »COVID-19: In Florida Hospitals, ‘There Are Only So Many Beds’
A South Florida hospital chain is suspending elective surgeries and putting beds in conference rooms, an auditorium and even a cafeteria as many more patients seek treatment for COVID-19.
Read More »Politics Surround Pandemic In Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ management of COVID-19 has boosted his countrywide cachet among fellow Republicans as he seeks re-election to the governor’s mansion next year and mulls a run for president in 2024.
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