Florida

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New Site of GOP Convention Does U-Turn on Masks

They are now mandatory in Jacksonville

(Newser) - President Trump moved the Republican National Convention to Jacksonville because North Carolina's governor refused to guarantee that would be no social distancing measures in place during the event—but the Florida city is now introducing restrictions of its own. In what the Florida Times-Union calls a "surprising reversal"...

Pence Cancels Political Events in 3 States

But he'll still visit Florida, Texas, and Arizona

(Newser) - Mike Pence called off campaign events in Florida and Arizona this coming week as the states experience a surge in new coronavirus cases, the AP reports. Pence will still travel to those states, which have set records for new confirmed infections in recent days, the White House confirmed, saying he...

Florida Just Reported a Huge Surge in Cases

Nearly 9K in a single day leads to big new restriction on bars

(Newser) - Earlier this week, Florida reported a record 5,511 new coronavirus cases in a single day. That now seems pale in comparison to Friday's figure: 8,942. The state Department of Health also reported 137 new deaths, reports the Miami Herald . In response, state officials imposed a severe new...

Fla. Cop Charged With Tasing Woman, With Knee on Her Neck

Former Miami Gardens police officer Jordy Yanes Martel charged with battery

(Newser) - A Miami police officer has been charged with battery after video surfaced of a January arrest in which he dragged a black woman from an SUV, put a knee on her neck, and stunned her twice with a Taser. Booked into jail on Thursday, Jordy Yanes Martel, a Hispanic man...

Uproar Greets Florida Gov's Comments on 'Hispanic Farmworkers'

Ron DeSantis said they're driving the recent spike in COVID-19 cases

(Newser) - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said last week that "overwhelmingly Hispanic" farmworkers and day laborers were the main sources of new coronavirus infections in his state, and now Latino leaders are calling for him to apologize. "It's absolutely embarrassing, appalling," state Rep. Javier Fernández said Monday,...

Huge Dust Cloud Heads for America
Huge Dust Cloud
Heads for America
Jun 20, 2020 9:30 AM CDT

Huge Dust Cloud Heads for America

The Saharan dust is expected to hit the Gulf Coast this week

(Newser) - Gulf Coast residents, get ready for brilliant sunsets—and a few possible health hazards. A massive dust cloud is heading west across the Atlantic and could affect the lives of people from Florida to Texas, AccuWeather reports. "According to scientists ... this is an abnormally large dust cloud," says...

Plan to Release GMO Mosquitoes Moves Ahead

Florida approves experiment, though a last hurdle remains

(Newser) - A plan to set loose 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida and Texas will move forward despite concerns from environmentalists who liken it to a "Jurassic Park experiment." The non-biting male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes developed by British biotechnology company Oxitec contain a protein, passed to biting female...

2 Black Lives Matter Protesters Found Dead

Activists had been reported missing in Florida

(Newser) - Two women who met after recent Black Lives Matter protests against the death of George Floyd were found dead in Florida on Saturday, Fox News reports. The bodies of Oluwatoyin Salau, 19, and Victoria Sims, 75, were both found in the vicinity of suspect Aaron Glee's Tallahassee home; he...

One State Goes All Out for Trump's Birthday

Caravans of motorcycles, boats, and trucks are seen in Florida

(Newser) - Trump supporters in Florida were celebrating the president's birthday Sunday with caravans, flotillas and parades throughout his adopted homestate, the AP reports. In Palm Beach County—home of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort—separate caravans of trucks, motorcycles, and boats were riding along highways and the intercoastal waterway...

Fired Scientist Posts the 'Real' Virus Numbers

Rebekah Jones says the Florida Dept. of Health pressured her to manipulate numbers

(Newser) - You might call them dueling dashboards. A Florida data scientist who got fired for insubordination has set up a dashboard tallying the state's coronavirus numbers—which eclipse the official count, the Washington Post reports. "I wanted to build an application that delivered data and helped people get tested...

Guy Charged With Felony for Being a 'Cool Father'

Shaun Michaelsen, 41, was arrested in Florida

(Newser) - A Florida man is facing felony charges after police said he let a 12-year-old girl drive his SUV and told her to speed because he wanted to be a "cool father"—even though he is not her dad, the AP reports. Shaun Michaelsen, 41, told the arresting officer...

&#39;Cristobal&#39; Heads for Gulf Coast
'Cristobal' Heads for Gulf Coast
Jun 6, 2020 10:00 AM CDT

'Cristobal' Heads for Gulf Coast

Tropical Storm Cristobal brings wind and heavy rains

(Newser) - A re-energized Tropical Storm Cristobal advanced toward the US Gulf Coast early Saturday, bringing with it the heavy rains that already caused flooding and mudslides in Mexico and Central America, the AP reports. After weakening to a tropical depression while moving over land in Mexico's Gulf coast, Cristobal headed...

Cops: Man 'Still Had Hamburger in His Ear Upon Arrival'

Florida woman accused of domestic battery against boyfriend

(Newser) - Florida is trying to get back to some level of normalcy during the coronavirus pandemic—and the latest crime report shows it may be doing just that. The Smoking Gun reports that Tanya Cordero, 47, was arrested Monday after an incident in a mobile home in Largo, Fla. Per an...

Generous Customer Keeps Cafe Afloat

Good Samaritan doled out $40K in Naples, Florida

(Newser) - The first gesture was kind: A customer gave cafe owner Bill Salley $2,000 for himself and his four employees in March when they had to shut down in March because of the coronavirus. The second gesture may have actually saved Salley's business in Naples, Florida, reports WINK . The...

They Were Called to a Ship Fire. Then the Ship Exploded

'It’s one of the worst things probably in a career that you will ever do'

(Newser) - Nine firefighters responding to a fire aboard a ship in Florida have been hospitalized after the ship exploded, authorities said. The explosion occurred nearly three hours after firefighters first responded to a ship at Blount Island after reports of a fire on Thursday afternoon, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department...

Floridians Can Get Drive-Thru Botox in Building's Garage

'Just wear a mask, put your head out the car window'

(Newser) - Floridians who want to get rid of worry lines but are worried about COVID-19 now have the option of drive-thru Botox injections. Celebrity plastic surgeon Michael Salzhauer, also known as "Dr. Miami," has been offering the procedure for $600 in the garage of his Miami building. "The...

Cops: Man in His 70s Killed Intruder Who Attacked Wife

Suspect smashed through front door of Florida home

(Newser) - A Florida man in his 70s fatally shot an intruder who smashed through his front door and attacked his wife, police say. According to a Facebook post from the Bay County Sheriff's Office , the man was outside his Panama City home early Tuesday morning when he was approached by...

Here's How Disney World Plans to Reopen

It'll take six weeks and face coverings will be required

(Newser) - The Walt Disney World Resort fully intends to open its parks this summer. Park officials on Wednesday proposed a plan to reopen Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11, followed by Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15, per WESH . Guests will be required to reserve park entry in...

2 GOP Governors Offer to Host Republican Convention

Trump has threatened to pull it from NC

(Newser) - Two GOP governors are offering up their states to host the Republican National Convention—a day after President Trump threatened to pull the convention out of North Carolina if that state’s Democratic governor doesn't assure him that the August gathering can go forward despite coronavirus fears. Georgia Gov....

Judge: Fla. Felons Don't Have to Pay to Vote

Convicted felons had been required to pay fines before they could vote

(Newser) - A Florida law requiring felons to pay legal fees as part of their sentences before regaining the vote is unconstitutional for those unable to pay, or unable to find out how much they owe, a federal judge ruled Sunday. The 125-page ruling was issued by US District Court Judge Robert...

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