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Debbie Mucarsel-Powell launches challenge to Rick Scott

By Jim Turner,  News Service of Florida, Aug 22, 2023 TALLAHASSEE — Former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, an immigrant born in Ecuador who served one term in Congress, entered the race Tuesday to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott in 2024. The announcement made Mucarsel-Powell the top name in a Democratic field that includes former U.S.

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Republicans

Skip the RNC debate this Wednesday

While the Republican Party is caught up fighting each other, President Joe Biden and Florida Democrats are fighting to make our lives better. The more people get to know Ron, the less they like him. If his performance in past debates is any indication, it’s going to be a disaster. Ron wants to “Make America

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Environment

DeSantis is lying to our kids

The following Letter to the Editor was published in The Daily Sun on Aug 21, 2023. As the citizens of Hawaii tragically die in unprecedented wildfires and we on the mainland face record-breaking heat with ocean temperatures above 100 F, the DeSantis administration is now peddling climate lies to our kids. The conservative Prager University

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Analysis

Using Frederick Douglass to rationalize slavery? In Florida, Yes!

By Charles M. Blow, Opinion Columnist, New York Times, Aug. 16, 2023. Gov. Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign may be floundering as he struggles to win over Republican voters with his deadpan robotic demeanor, and he may be shuffling campaign staff like he’s taking a mulligan, but the damage he did to Florida to get himself to

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Law Enforcement

DeSantis suspension of Worrell questionable

The following editorial was published in The Daily Sun on August 15, 2023. OUR POSITION: Once again, Gov. Ron DeSantis has overstepped his authority in suspending a second state prosecutor, giving vague, broad reasons for his actions. Gov. Ron DeSantis is dodging a lot of bullets nowadays as he works to put his presidential campaign on solid

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Republicans

Dems mock Steube pitch to impeach

STAFF REPORT, The Daily Sun, Aug 15, 2023. SARASOTA — U.S. Rep. Greg Steube is being openly mocked by the Sarasota County Democratic Party for filing impeachment charges against President Joe Biden on Friday. The local Democrat leaders called the charges “absurd and unfounded.” Steube, who represents Charlotte and Sarasota counties along with a portion

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Analysis

Work won’t set you free

By Maya Vinokour, The Boston Globe, August 13, 2023. In late July, Florida’s Board of Education approved a new social studies curriculum that claims enslaved Black people in America “developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.’’ Endorsed by Governor Ron DeSantis (who has since attempted to distance himself from

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Opinion

Republicans know Trump is not best choice

The following Letter to the Editor was published in The Daily Sun on Aug 1, 2023. Every single one of them knows better. There isn’t one Republican voter or one Republican politician who doesn’t know deep down in his soul that Donald Trump is not qualified to be the president of our country. Perhaps in

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Picture of homes underwater in Florida
Environment

DeSantis oblivious to climate change issue

The following letter to the editor was published in The Daily Sun on July 27, 2023. As Florida Governor Ron DeSantis focuses on his struggling presidential campaign, he ignores real issues faced by Floridians due to climate change. The governor may not be persuaded by climate science, but actions by insurance companies may get his

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Opinion

Can DeSantis keep secrets from us?

The following editorial was published in The Daily Sun on July 27, 2023. OUR POSITION: Gov. Ron DeSantis is going too far by hiding information from the public that should be available through Florida’s Sunshine Laws. One of our biggest beefs with Gov. Ron DeSantis is how he has never warmed up to the idea the

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Elections

On the ballot in 2024

Bu Bob Morgan, Random Thoughts, July 18, 2023. While there won’t likely be any specific controversial referenda to vote on in 2024, and the election will mostly be about choosing individuals to represent us in local, state, and federal capacities, there will certainly be a substantial number of critical matters to be decided. The ballot

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Old sepia picture of two African-American boys poorly dressed with sad expressions
Opinion

Florida’s silver linings guide to slavery

By Renée Graham, Globe Columnist, Boston Globe, July 26,2023. Nearly 190 years before Florida education officials announced that schoolchildren would be taught that slavery was akin to a job training program for Black people, John C. Calhoun, a virulently racist, slaveholding former vice president and US senator from South Carolina, extolled what he claimed were

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Analysis

The Florida Board of Education’s new standards for African American history

By HEATHER COX RICHARDSON, Letters from an American, July 22, 2023. The Florida Board of Education approved new state social studies standards on Wednesday (Jul 20, 2023),  including standards for African American history, civics and government, American history, and economics. Critics immediately called out the middle school instruction in African American history that includes “how

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News

Energy companies behind bills filed in Florida Legislature

[A] gas company based in Maryland called Chesapeake Utilities wrote at least a couple energy bills for the Florida legislature this past session. “We saw, unfortunately, the fossil fuel industry show up in a very real way. Chesapeake Utility is just one example. We also saw the Florida Natural Gas Association registered on a lot

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Florida Legislation

DeSantis, Republicans helped insurance firms

The following Letter to the Editor was published in The Daily Sun on July 23, 2023. Recent data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation showed 521,819 Ian residential property claims have been opened with 23,818 still open without payment, 152,877 closed without payment, and who knows if adequate payments were made on the 287,021

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Opinion

Rocky Hanna: With 460,000 school library books, parents will determine kids’ access

Recently there have been new laws and regulations placed on schools by the governor and the Florida Legislature focused on determining whether books and educational material are deemed obscene or age appropriate. In the past, media specialists and librarians could use something called The Miller Test to determine whether a book was appropriate for school aged children.

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