Mary Ellen Klas
@MaryEllenKlas
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Politics and Policy Columnist, Bloomberg Opinion. Formerly: Miami Herald, Nieman fellow.
Joined December 2008
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The decline in local journalism is having an effect on government. My
@NiemanReports
piece here:
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NEW: Disney ends its silence, quietly tells its investors Florida law prevents state from dissolving special district without first paying debt /1
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.GovRonDeSantis decided to violate the state's public meeting laws and chose to exclude the
@MiamiHerald
and
@TB_Times
from a media briefing at the Capitol. He was so determined to keep us out, he had an FDLE vehicle pick up TV reporter Mike Vasilinda to give him back door access
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Judge Walker blocks Florida's Stop WOKE law from taking effect in state universities. "This is positively dystopian," he wrote and quoted Orwell: It should go without saying that “[i]f liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
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Details emerge on
@GovRonDeSantis
idea to repeal Disney's special district governing authority. To pay the Disney's $2 B in bond debt, Orange and Osceola county families would have to be assessed $2,200 tax bill says
@FarmerForFLSen
. "This is shoot first and ask questions later."
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.
@GovRonDeSantis
says he ordered the National Guard to come home from the U.S. Capitol because "they're not Nancy Pelosi's servants" and "this is a half-cocked mission at this point and I think the appropriate thing is to bring them home."
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Youth voter registration went up 41 percent in Florida after Parkland
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NEW: As most of Florida was waiting for COVID vaccines in January, the wealthy Keys enclave of Ocean Reef was vaccinating more than 1,200 residents. A month later, a prominent resident sent
@GovRonDeSantis
a $250,000 check. w/
@DavidGoodhue
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“Disney has more power now to determine its tax bill than it did a week ago,’’ said
@ElectRandolph
. “That’s what’s crazy to me. They want to punish Disney, but this is the furthest thing from that. You literally put them in the driver’s seat of how much they want to pay.” /end
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NEW: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO says if
@GovRonDeSantis
won't let them require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for passengers, they'll take their cruise ships out of Florida. via
@taydolven
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Most Florida voters favor assault-weapons ban, oppose guns in classrooms, polls say
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Asking for a friend: Did any of the reporters given exclusive access to the
@GovRonDeSantis
press conference ask why the governor has excluded
@MiamiHerald
and
@TB_Times
?
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Want to know the questions
@GovRonDeSantis
didn't want to get today, so he kept us out?
You are preparing four alternative hospitals to prepare for a surge in hospital capacity, please explain when Florida will reach its peak? What is the timeline?/thread
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Team of rivals: Anti-Trump former Republicans are joining with
@BernieSanders
Democrats and other left-leaning groups to coordinate Hispanic voter outreach and mobilization in Florida, with
@BiancaJoanie
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Ft. Lauderdale police officer suspended for shoving protester has been reviewed by internal affairs for using force 79 times in his 3+ years on the force, according to department records. via
@ChuckRabin
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You said you were going to be transparent throughout this process, why have to refused to disclose the nursing homes that have had COVID positive cases, except the one you considered negligent? /
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Health care workers are especially at risk; a 33-year Miami-Dade Nurse has died from
#COVID19
, what are you doing to assist them?
You are critical of the reckless behavior of people from NYC and NOLA. Are you fostering it by not imposing stricter restrictions across the state?
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Senate Rules rejects assault weapons ban 7-6 as crowd chants 'shame, shame, shame" followed by "vote them out"
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NEW: Fitch Ratings warned Thursday that if the state doesn’t resolve a conflict over its decision to repeal Disney's special district and its obligation to investors, the move could harm the financial standing of other Florida governments. /thread
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Florida statute creating Reedy Creek Improvement District reads: “State of Florida pledges...it will not limit or alter the rights of the District...until all such bonds together with interest thereon...are fully met and discharged.” /2
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Judge Cooper concludes: FL law "does not support a statewide order, or any action interfering with the constitutionally provided authority of local school districts to provide for the safety and health of children, based on the unique facts on the ground in a particular county."
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Another question we have asked
@GovRonDeSantis
but received not response: Do you agree
@realDonaldTrump
plan to rate counties of high medium and low risk? Do we have enough virus tests and antibody tests to scale up to reach this point?
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Says Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph: "It's the no lawyer left behind act." He predicts that there will be many lawsuits, including one from bondholders, alleging the state illegally impaired the contract. /5
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.
@GeoRebekah
fires back with lawsuit against Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Commissioner Rick Swearingen for raid
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.
@GovRonDeSantis
said he is determined to make
@Disney
pay, using its assets. But the only mechanism now in state law requires that the county pick up the unpaid debt of a dissolved special district - plus, Disney has ability to transfer its assets to cities it controls. /4
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New positive
#COVID19
cases in Florida: 565; total now at 3,763. This curve is not flattening.
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"I would do press events in May and I would never be asked about coronavirus,'' claims
@GovRonDeSantis
. We've transcribed everyone one of these press events. He was asked about
#COVID19
-related issues at EVERY press event.
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“It simply can’t go forward under the contract clause,’‘ said Jacob Schumer, a municipal attorney in the Maitland law firm of Shepard, Smith, Kohlmyer & Hand. “They [Florida Legislature] would have to pass something to address this.” /3
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UPDATE: Disney CEO
@RobertIger
fires back at
@GovRonDeSantis
, saying his "retaliation" against a company creating jobs, revenue and industry in Florida is “anti-business and anti-Florida.”
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Sen.
@JeffreyBrandes
asks: "My concern is this bill essentially wipes away Disneys' $2 billion of debt...if the legislative intent here is ultimately to attack them, then why would we want to cancel $2 billion of debt?"
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BREAKING: State officials knew Feb. 18 more than 500 in FL may have been exposed to
#COVID19
, confidential memos show — data the state refused to release, even to local hospitals and to state senators via
@Blaskey_S
@NickNehamas
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His media staff told another reporter, NSF's Jim Turner, that if he insisted that we be allowed in, Turner would be kept out. See video in the thread below.
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Sen.
@jenn_bradley
says that the debt will be transferred to the "general purpose government" which is likely to be the county. Asked if the 1.7 millon residents of Orange and Osceola should be asked if they want to assume the debt, she avoided an answer.
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NEW: After outcry from doctors, and federal questions about
@GovRonDeSantis
' refusal to pre-order pediatric vaccines, White House says governor has reversed course and will now let docs and hospitals order vaccines for young patients. by
@mawilner
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BREAKING: In a BIG REVERSAL,
@GovRonDeSantis
announces he will release the names of each of the nursing homes and ALFs where residents and staff test positive for
#COVID19
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BREAKING: Following a
@MiamiHerald
/
@tampabaytimes
investigation, a federal grand jury is investigating charter school bid-rigging in
@GovDeSantis
education department. Players include
@richardcorcoran
,
@ralpharza
, Trey Traviesa, by
@lmower3
@anaceballos_
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No reporter wants to be the story, so this is especially exasperating since I - and the entire newsrooms of both the
@MiamiHerald
and
@TB_Times
- have been working without stop for weeks to amplify this story and achieve the same goal as
@GovRonDeSantis
: to help keep people safe.
NEW: A
@MiamiHerald
/
@TB_Times
reporter was denied access to the Florida governor's coronavirus press conference today.
A state spokeswoman said our reporter could view the press conference on a live stream — where we wouldn't be able to ask questions.
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This week in Florida vaccines: Eligible residents turned away. Haphazard distribution. Doses going unused.
@GovRonDeSantis
as vaccine gatekeeper. Details shielded from public. Wealthy communities given favored access. "This is real-life monopoly."
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.
@FarmerForFLSen
pressed her: Where in this bill (which applies to Disney and 5 other districts) does it say that these six districts don't serve a public purpose?
@jenn_bradley
concedes there is nothing that says they don't serve a public purpose.
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For 2nd year in a row,
@GovRonDeSantis
uses his
#stateofthestate
speech aimed at an Iowa audience and makes NO mention the issues many Floridians want addressed: the rising costs of housing, property insurance, utility rates and workforce shortages. Then he heads back to Iowa.
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On final day to sign up to vote, Florida’s online registration site crashes. No word whether deadline gets extended. via
@samanthjgross
@anaceballos_
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NEW: When
@GovRon
DeSantis needed a company he could trust to fly migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, he turned to Vertol Systems Co., an aviation firm with a private jet, and close ties to his immigration czar, Larry Keefe. w/
@lmower3
@romyellenbogen
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BREAKING:
@GovRonDeSantis
aide Larry Keefe — using alias ‘Clarice Starling,’ from the Hannibal Lecter serial killer novels — helped his former client win the state contract to operate Florida’s controversial migrant flight program, by
@NickNehamas
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.
@GovRonDeSantis
has not declared his candidacy but his political committee is raising money with lobbyists, during session. They don’t want you to know. When I asked to attend the reception before the dinner, they said it was private. Anyone who talks to me is being punished.
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"This only highlights the problem with viewpoint discrimination—in the name of combatting “indoctrination” of one perceived orthodoxy, the State allows for “indoctrination” in its preferred orthodoxy."/4
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Don't skip the footnotes: "...here, the State has responded to fears of “woke indoctrination” in university classrooms. But rather than combat “woke” ideas with countervailing views...the State has chosen to eliminate one side of the debate.../3
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Florida’s right-leaning legislature moved to the middle. A governor and House speaker, both seeking higher...
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NEW: Before
@GovRonDeSantis
could say he kicked migrants out of Florida, he had to pay to fly them in. Newly released records shed new light on the behind-the-scenes dealings. Here's what we've learned:
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NEW: Hospital and county contradict DeSantis’ claim about role in Ocean Reef vaccine, with
@DavidGoodhue
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NEW:
@GovRonDeSantis
admin wouldn't release data on vaccination rates in Black communities. So we asked the feds. Findings: As state claimed success, numbers show disproportionately low number of Black people got vaccinations compared to surrounding areas.
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Follow up: Democrats
@NikkiFriedFL
and
@FarmerForFLSen
ask FBI for investigation into vaccine distribution.
@GovRonDeSantis
pushes back, says he had no role. County health officials say Ocean Reef 'received the vaccines as part of the Governor's program'
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NEW: South Florida small-scale farmers say they won’t plant as many winter fruits and vegetables this season because of
@GovRonDeSantis
’ immigration law. “They cannot risk their investment planting if there is not anyone to harvest it.” By
@syraob
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We thought
@GovRonDeSantis
had learned but, instead, it's happening again. He called a press conference to make an announcement but, to avoid pesky questions, he told only select media and designated a 'pool reporter' - state-run television.
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NEW: Where is
@GovRonDeSantis
traveling on state business? Legislature wants to make it a secret with a new public records exemption - and make it apply retroactively.
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Senate passes its school safety bill 20-18 after removing the ‘vast majority’ of teachers from plan to arm school personnel
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BREAKING: Documents show Florida may have violated its own guidelines in flying migrants to Martha’s Vineyard
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BREAKING: Deception at the door: GOP registered more at least 141 voters in Hialeah and Little Havana as Republicans - without their consent, according to a
@MiamiHerald
investigation. Reporting by powerful newsroom team.
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Gov. Rick Scott hears from shaken and angry Floridians after Parkland via
@mahoneysthename
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Florida does not have a handle on
#COVID19
spread.
@HarvardGH
map now says 40 of FL's 67 counties (2 more than Friday) are in red flag territory with more than 25 cases per 100k population. Shut down orders are recommended again.
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Coincidence that FDLE airplane typically used to transport Gov. Ron DeSantis on state business was used for “flight training” to travel to New Hampshire at the same time as one of his presidential campaign appearances?
An FDLE spokesperson said Gov. Ron DeSantis did not use the plane, nor was it for his security. Instead, the agency said the flight to New Hampshire was for “investigations and flight training.”
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BREAKING: State police raid home of
@GeoRebekah
, the COVID data whistleblower, suspecting her of hacking Florida’s emergency alert system w/
@anaceballos_
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"We have grown to understand some of the powers of these special districts and they can be quite sweeping,''
@jenn_bradley
says.
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NEW: After denying that detailed COVID-19 data relating to 2021 infections and vaccines existed, and then being forced by a court to turn it over,
@GovRonDeSantis
and
@HealthyFla
has agreed to post coronavirus data on a state web site & pay attorneys fees
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Judge John Cooper has begun reading his ruling in the parent's case against the state regarding mask order. He notes: "the Delta variant presents a higher risk of infection to children than did the previous form of COVID" and therefore comparisons to last year don't stand.
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Read more here:
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During its Q2 earnings call,
@Disney
CEO Bob Iger repeats the claim of the company's lawsuit: "this is about one thing and one thing only and that's retaliating against us for taking a position about pending."/1
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Fired COVID analyst
@GeoRebekah
asks court to order state to return seized computer gear, citing tech expert who says state didn't provide the evidence
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Fitch expects the state to “resolve the uncertainty.” But warned:“The failure to do so could alter our view of Florida’s commitment to preserve bondholder rights and weaken our view of the operating environment for Florida governments.” /2
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When
@RonDesantis
' great-great grandmother came from Italy in 1917, she was pregnant, illiterate and allowed in anyway. A century later, DeSantis wants to end "birthright citizenship" for "anchor babies." It won't be easy/1 By
@KMaxGreenwood
@anaceballos_
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Florida Department of Children and Families secretary Chad Poppell says there are 40,000 evictions happening in Florida. "There's a lot of need out there." Haven't heard this administration talk much about that.
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NEW: Forced to fire undocumented workers, owner of landmark Florida restaurant says it’s time politicians start listening and fix the broken immigration system - because state’s new law, plus federal policy, has a chilling effect that’s costs everyone.
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The executioners invading Ukraine have killed a dear friend and brilliant documentary reporter, Brent Renaud, and injured another dear colleague. Very sad loss for freedom. He was courageous, and remarkable.
American documentarian Brent Renaud was killed by Russian forces in Irpin, Ukraine today. He was carrying a NYT press card
#journalists
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Finally,
@GovRonDeSantis
gets asked about whether he agrees with Donald Trump that the "election was stolen," he doesn't answer.
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The state of the state for Sunshine in age of COVID: "They’re definitely not releasing everything. It has a huge impact on scientists’ ability to understand what’s going on.” As
@GovRonDeSantis
selected data, pandemic took a toll on Florida sunshine laws.
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NEW: Text messages show
@GovRonDeSantis
' aides celebrated their success luring migrants onto flights, and executives worked to plan the covert project weeks before a contract was signed and Martha's Vineyard was the destination. with
@NickNehamas
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Proud to be part of this team to win the Polk Award for investigation into
@GovRon
DeSantis’ migrant flights, with the amazing
@NickNehamas
,
@Blaskey_S
and
@anaceballos_
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.GovRonDeSantis doubles down, says he'll call legislators back into special session if federal government requires schools to require masks. "We're not doing that in Florida. We needs our kids to breathe." He claims: "There's not very much science behind it."
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Federal complaint accuses
@GovRonDeSantis
of vaccine discrimination: "The vaccine is funded by the federal gov't and the federal gov't has strict rules about ... discriminating based on factors like money, politics and race." via
@JDeleon1012
@RCCallihan
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Florida’s lawmakers injected vague and confusing conditions into state law with the intention of frightening educators into withholding books and lessons they don’t like. Now, they’ve gotten a black eye on the global stage, so they blame “bad actors” and are rewriting the law.
NEW: Florida education officials accuse Miami school of engaging in “political ploy" for requiring parental approval before students could participate in Black History Month events
School officials say they were trying to comply w state law.
w
@jimenamtb
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Some personal news: I'll be joining Bloomberg Opinion in November as Politics and Policy Columnist based in Florida. Still be focused on accountability of FL's power elite, my new role includes the regional South. Grateful for our team at
@MiamiHerald
and
@TB_Times
. Keep reading!
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NEW: Federal judge rules some of Florida’s new voting laws are unconstitutional, including new limits on ballot boxes and third party voter registration. by
@lmower3
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They have ripped the Bandaid off in Florida and atty gen
@AGAshleyMoody
is no longer pretending that governments should not control speech. Her brief in the book banning lawsuit actually argues: "Florida’s public- school libraries are a forum for government, not private, speech."
Florida is arguing that school libraries have the right to remove LGBTQ books. Or any book, for that matter.
School libraries are meant to convey the government’s message, it says. A “forum for government speech,” not a “forum for free expression.”
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.
@GovRonDeSantis
wanted to show he was cracking down on illegal immigration. He needed some examples. So he found 22 cases involving arrests. One problem: the people arrested were legal residents and crimes were unrelated to immigration. By
@anaceballos_
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Starting now, hundreds of public records for
@GovRonDeSantis
travel are deemed exempt. The governor just signed a retroactive exemption into law. We have asked, but have no answer: Will he make any effort to show Floridians that he is not using taxpayer $ for political trips?
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Keefe’s ties to Vertol Systems are the closest explanation yet for why the state has paid them more than $1.56 million to transport migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard last week. /5
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After
@GovRonDeSantis
missed the noon deadline to appoint a justice,
@flcourts
has just issued a writ of mandamas ordering him to make appointment by 5 p.m. If he blows that deadline, DeSantis, a lawyer, could be held in contempt of the law.
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Local news photographers are becoming increasingly rare. Gannett's
@alicia_c_devine
is gem. Consider the brilliant instincts here:
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UPDATE:
@GovRonDeSantis
breaks his silence on the possibility of additional abortion legislation, as spox tells us late Friday: “We look forward to working with the Legislature to further advance protections for innocent life.”
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For context,
@GeoRebekah
alleged
@GovRonDeSantis
was downplaying results to reopen the state. It was proven:
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NEW: Two weeks after
@GovRonDeSantis
announced the arrest of 20 people for voting illegally, conflicting state messages, a broken felon review system and weak evidence, is causing the state's case to fall apart. w/
@lmower3
and
@romyellenbogen
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I was there to shine a light on a routine element of the American political process, put faces to checks. “And yet the “Friends of Ron DeSantis” said they were very upset I had learned of the event. They repeatedly threatened to call security. This is your “Sunshine”state.
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We've asked the state for contract tracing records for months. But
@GovRonDeSantis
won't turn them over. Now, he says contract tracing doesn't work. So why is Florida paying $4 million to a company to build and use a contract tracing app? via
@scontorno
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In light of the
@60Minutes
dust-up and allegations of vaccine favoritism, reposting this story on how state gave Publix free reign to distribute vaccine where it chose. If
@GovRonDeSantis
wanted distribution to be equitable, why didn't the state check?
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Florida has 1.5 million more registered voters than 2016 and, despite the pandemic, early reports indicate voter turnout was significantly higher: 23.9% in 2016 and 28.1% in 2020. Good work, Florida.
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UPDATE: Data model shows Florida may have only one week to contain the virus before hospitals are overwhelmed, while
@GovRonDeSantis
pushes back against calls for stay-home order w/
@samanthajgross
and
@lmower3
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This happened: Three Republican Residents of The Villages Arrested for Casting Multiple 2020 Votes via
@thedailybeast
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It also warned that Reedy Creek's credit rating is at stake. If the Legislature reverses course and re-ratified the district or approves a "successor agency," it "would likely result" in "potentially preserving the ... creditworthiness of its outstanding debt." /3
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