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☆ Florida voters will decide whether to protect abortion rights and legalize pot in November
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Octavio Jones | Getty ImagesThe Florida Supreme Court issued rulings Monday allowing the state's voters to decide whether to protect abortion rights and legalize recreational use of marijuana, rejecting the state attorney general's arguments that the measures should be kept off the November ballot. Abortion rightsThe proposed amendment would protect the right to an abortion after the state in back-to-back years passed tougher restrictions currently being challenged in court. Faith Halstead, chants along with other protesters and activists near the Florida State Capitol where Florida State Senators voted to pass a proposed 6-week abortion ban in Tallahassee, Florida, on Monday, April 3, 2023. While many voters aren't enthusiastic about a rematch between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, it could inspire more abortion rights advocates to cast a ballot. People gather on the steps of the Federal Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on May 7, 2022 for a rally to support abortion rights.

Persons: Octavio Jones, General Ashley Moody, Faith Halstead, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Moody, Roe, Wade Organizations: Getty, Florida Supreme, Republican, Florida State Capitol, Florida State, Washington Post, Trump, Florida, Florida Sun, Tribune, Service, Supreme Locations: Tampa , Florida, Florida, Tallahassee , Florida, Fort Lauderdale, U.S, Maryland, New York

☆ Court blocks Florida law barring Chinese citizens from owning property
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A U.S. appeals court has blocked Florida from enforcing a ban on Chinese citizens owning homes or land in the state against two Chinese nationals who were in the process of buying property when the law was adopted. Circuit Court of Appeals said on Thursday the individuals were likely to prevail on claims that Florida's ban violates a federal law governing real estate purchases by foreign nationals. A Florida federal judge in August had declined to block the law, prompting an appeal by the plaintiffs. Lawmakers in several Republican-led states including Texas, Louisiana and Alabama are considering similar restrictions on Chinese citizens owning property. It also bars most citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia and North Korea from owning property near military installations and infrastructure such as power plants and airports.

Persons: Ashley Moody, Bethany Li, Li, Ron DeSantis Organizations: Circuit, Appeals, Republican, Constitution, Asian American Legal Defense, Education Fund, Republican Gov, Chinese Communist Party Locations: Miami , Florida, U.S, Florida, Atlanta, Texas , Louisiana, Alabama, China, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, North Korea

☆ US Court Blocks Florida Law Barring Chinese Citizens From Owning Property
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Daniel Wiessner(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court has blocked Florida from enforcing a ban on Chinese citizens owning homes or land in the state against two Chinese nationals who were in the process of buying property when the law was adopted. Circuit Court of Appeals said on Thursday the individuals were likely to prevail on claims that Florida's ban violates a federal law governing real estate purchases by foreign nationals. A Florida federal judge in August had declined to block the law, prompting an appeal by the plaintiffs. Lawmakers in several Republican-led states including Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama are considering similar restrictions on Chinese citizens owning property. It also bars most citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia and North Korea from owning property near military installations and infrastructure such as power plants and airports.

Persons: Daniel Wiessner, Ashley Moody, Bethany Li, Li, Ron DeSantis, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Circuit, Appeals, Republican, Constitution, Asian American Legal Defense, Education Fund, Chinese Communist Party Locations: Florida, Atlanta, Texas , Louisiana, Alabama, China, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Albany , New York

☆ Supreme Court says Florida can’t enforce anti-drag law
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Ariane De Vogue | Devan Cole | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Florida law that limits drag shows in the state will remain blocked, the Supreme Court said Thursday, dealing a blow to a key initiative championed by Republican Gov. Florida had asked the high court to narrow a lower court’s injunction that stopped the law from being enforced statewide. The 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals declined Florida’s emergency application for a stay of the district court’s injunction, triggering the state’s ask to the Supreme Court for relief. Since the district court temporarily blocked enforcement of the law, the restaurant has returned to normal operations. The challenge to the law continues at lower courts, and Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at the University of Texas School of Law, cautioned against drawing broader implications from Thursday’s order.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, Ashley Moody, –, ”, ” Moody, Moody, Hamburger, Hamburger Mary’s, Steve Vladeck, Kavanaugh, Barrett, ” Vladeck, “ Organizations: CNN, Republican Gov, Conservative, University of Texas School of Law Locations: Florida, Ron DeSantis . Florida, ”, Orlando, “ Florida

That includes Ohio, where voters Tuesday enshrined abortion access in the state constitution. Opponents want to ban abortion throughout pregnancy. The state Supreme Court in 2019 upheld a lower court decision that there is a right to abortion in the state constitution. ___NEBRASKAAbortion rights advocates have submitted language to Nebraska' secretary of state for a ballot question that would expand abortion access. In the third trimester, the state could ban abortion — except when it's needed to save the woman's life.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Ron DeSantis, General Ashley Moody, State Jay Ashcroft, Ashcroft, ___, it's, Jay Inslee Organizations: Ohio, U.S, Supreme, Democratic, ___, Republican Gov, Republican, Republicans, ___ MARYLAND Lawmakers, State, ___ NEVADA Voters, ___ SOUTH DAKOTA Voters, WASHINGTON Democratic Gov, Associated Press Locations: Ohio, Maryland, New York, ARIZONA, ___ COLORADO Colorado, Colorado, ___ FLORIDA, Florida, IOWA, Iowa, MISSOURI, Missouri, ___ NEBRASKA, Nebraska, PENNSYLVANIA, ___, South Dakota

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida's Republican attorney general will oppose a proposed amendment protecting the right to an abortion if it makes next year's ballot, she told the state Supreme Court when she advised justices Monday that a petition has reached enough signatures to trigger a language review. Attorney General Ashley Moody notified the court of its responsibility and said she will eventually argue the language isn't valid, though she didn't explain why. DeSantis approved last year banning abortion after 15 weeks is being challenged in court. DeSantis, who is running for president, has said he would support a federal abortion ban after 15 weeks. If the amendment makes the ballot and is approved by at least 60% of votes cast, it would protect the right to an abortion up to the point the fetus can survive outside the womb.

Persons: —, Ashley Moody, DeSantis, — DeSantis Organizations: Republican, Republicans Locations: TALLAHASSEE, Fla

Florida said the White House is conditioning transportation funding on the state's agreement not to enforce provisions that the Secretary of Labor believes undermine collective bargaining. Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and their respective agencies are among the defendants. The Labor Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "Florida passed laws to protect workers from being strong-armed by unions," Republican state Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a statement. "We're pushing back against this overreach to protect our state's autonomy and Florida workers."

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Biden, Ron DeSantis, Bill, Julie Su, Pete Buttigieg, General Ashley Moody, Donald Trump, Jonathan Stempel, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Department of Labor, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Republican, Labor, U.S . Department, Department of Transportation, Labor Department, Florida Education Association, Democrat, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, Florida, paychecks, U.S, Southern District, Southern District of Florida, New York

☆ Supreme Court to weigh GOP-backed social media ‘censorship’ laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Lawrence Hurley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The Supreme Court of the United States building seen in Washington D.C., United States on September 28, 2023. The states argue that they have the authority to regulate social media companies to ensure that users receive equal access to the platforms. Circuit Court of Appeals, prompting the state to appeal to the Supreme Court. "It is not at all obvious how our existing precedents, which predate the age of the internet, should apply to large social media companies," he wrote. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments and issue a ruling in its new term, which begins next week and ends in June.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Biden, Ashley Moody, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Elena Kagan, — David Ingram Organizations: Washington D.C, WASHINGTON, Republicans, Tech, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Computer and Communications Industry Association, U.S, Capitol, Trump, Disney, NBC News, Circuit, Supreme, Appeals, Conservative, Thomas, Liberal, Communications, Google Locations: United States, Washington, Florida, Texas, Atlanta, New Orleans

☆ Florida's attorney general says DeSantis suspending an elected state attorney is 'democracy in action'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ron DeSantis suspended Democratic State Attorney Monique Worrell. It was the second time in just over a year DeSantis has suspended an elected, Democrat-identifying state attorney. Florida's Attorney General, Ashley Moody, called Worrell's suspension, "democracy in action." Ron DeSantis on Thursday after he suspended an elected state attorney, calling it "democracy in action." While appearing on "Fox & Friends First," Moody was asked if it was controversial that DeSantis singlehandedly removed an elected official from office.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Monique Worrell, Ashley Moody, Andrew Bain, Moody, DeSantis, —, Worrell, Donald Trump, Generra Peck, James Uthmeier, didn't Organizations: Florida Gov, Democratic, Service, Republican, Orange, Orange County Court, Fox & Friends Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon, Orange County

☆ Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, a DeSantis ally, wants to stop pot legalization from going before voters in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ron DeSantis, asked the state Supreme Court to nix a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize pot in the state. The Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Drug Free America Foundation were outside entities opposing the ballot measure in briefs they filed. In 2018, Florida voters overwhelmingly authorized medical marijuana usage through a similar ballot measure, and they tend to be similarly successful in other states. Despite DeSantis' definitive statement against cannabis legalization last week, his record on the issue has been mixed. As a US Congressman, DeSantis voted in favor of spending bill amendments to protect state cannabis programs from federal interference.

Persons: DeSantis, —, Ashley Moody, Ron DeSantis, nix, Moody, Truelieve Organizations: Florida's, Service, Republican Gov, GOP, Department of Health, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Drug Free America Foundation, Navy Locations: Florida, telehealth

☆ DeSantis sues Biden administration over education standards that control access to federal student loans, in early sign about his plans for colleges if he's elected president
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Ron DeSantis of Florida is suing the Biden administration over a federal law requiring colleges and universities to get a quality stamp of approval from certain accrediting agencies. The association recently threatened Florida State University's accreditation when it was considering hiring Richard Corcoran, the state's former education commissioner, as its university president. Ron DeSantis signs a Florida education bill into law. 1 in higher education, largely because of its high graduation rates and low tuition. More broadly, Republicans have developed a hostile relationship with higher education institutions in recent years, viewing them as aligned with liberal policies and even decrying them as "Marxist."

Persons: DeSantis, Biden, —, Ron DeSantis, We're, they're, accreditors, Richard Corcoran, Ashley Moody, Moody, Douglas R, Clifford, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, Gov, Biden, US Department of Education, Hillsborough Community College, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Colleges, Department of Education, Florida State, University of Florida, United States, Court, Southern District of, White, Florida Gov, Tampa Bay Times, AP, US News, The Education Department, New College of Florida, Republicans Locations: Florida, Tampa , Florida, Texas, Virginia, Fort Lauderdale, Southern District, Southern District of Florida, Tampa, Sarasota

☆ Not on the DeSantis agenda for president: Decriminalizing cannabis
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Florida governor said last year that he didn't like the "putrid" smell. But DeSantis did help advance access to medical marijuana in Florida. Ron DeSantis said legalizing cannabis would not be on his agenda if he's elected to the White House in 2024. DeSantis, who did advance rules for medical cannabis use in Florida, said he wouldn't pursue legalization nationally, expressing concerns about more young people accessing weed. On Capitol Hill, the issue of cannabis legalization has become more bipartisan, particularly as a growing number of states have made it available medically and recreationally.

Persons: DeSantis, —, Ron DeSantis, Casey DeSantis, it's, Joe Biden, Susan Walsh, Biden, DeSantis succesfully, Ashley Moody, Nikki Fried —, Democratic Party —, Charlie Crist, Chuck Schumer Organizations: South, Service, Gov, White House, Veterans, American Medical Association, Companies, Florida Gov, Navy, Republican Florida, Politico, Democratic Party, Democratic, Gallup Locations: South Carolina, Florida, Augusta , South Carolina

The preliminary order, from U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle in Tallahassee, applies only to three transgender children in the lawsuit and their health care providers. The other four families did not join an emergency bid to block the law because they do not expect to need gender-affirming care in the immediate future. The offices of Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and Governor Ron DeSantis did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Florida's medical licensing boards adopted bans on gender-affirming care for minors in March, and DeSantis last month signed a similar ban passed by the state legislature. He harshly criticized the law as motivated by "bigotry," noting that one state legislator had called transgender witnesses at a public hearing "demons."

Persons: Robert Hinkle, Susan, Ashley Moody, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, people's, Hinkle, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, David Gregorio Our Organizations: District, U.S, Constitution, Thomson Locations: Florida, U.S, Tallahassee, New York

☆ In emergency meeting, DeSantis-appointed board votes to counter-sue Disney
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The DeSantis-appointed board that oversees Disney's district has sued the company. The move comes after Disney filed a lawsuit in federal court in Tallahassee. The board lawsuit will be filed in Central Florida, where Disney World is. Under a decadeslong arrangement with the state, Disney doesn't have to run its plans by zoning commissions or building-inspection departments. Last week, DeSantis' newly appointed board said "nothing is off the table" as it took on a major overhaul of the area.

☆ 5 reasons fighting Disney is a political winner for DeSantis — and 6 reasons it could hurt his shot at the presidency
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

It does a ton of business in China, which many GOP voters view as a threat to the US. DeSantis already ran on being anti-Disney — and wonTaryn Fenske, DeSantis' communications director, has described the Disney fight as being "the will of Florida voters." And they might not vote for DeSantis if they think the Disney fight is a killer in a general election. Families often work hard and save for years to take their children to Disney World. If DeSantis can't bring a resolution to the Disney fight, can he handle the job of president?

☆ DeSantis' hand-picked board is trying to claw back 'superior authority' over Disney World after the previous board hamstrung its power
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ron DeSantis' board is trying to claw back its power over the Disney World special district. Disney had stripped its governing board of power in an attempt to render DeSantis' board powerless. DeSantis' hand-picked board has drafted a proposal that would give it "superior authority" over. Ron DeSantis' hand-picked board is trying to claw back "superior authority" over Walt Disney World after the company's previous board hamstrung its power, according to a proposal viewed by the Orlando Sentinel. And now, in his latest move, DeSantis filed a resolution dubbing his own board the "superior authority" over the entire Disney World district, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

☆ Florida is ground zero for moving scams where companies demand extra fees — or steal your stuff
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Moving company scams are on the rise, and almost half originate in Florida. But the Sunshine State is also increasingly home to scammers operating fraudulent moving companies targeting Florida residents and people across the country. No one's regulating," Susan Chana Lask, a New York-based consumer rights attorney who settled a lawsuit last year with a Florida-based moving company, told Insider. Her office announced last November that it had shut down 19 fraudulent moving companies and recovered $27 million in fines and restitution from the scammers. The sharp increase in moving scams across the country has also prompted the Biden administration to announce it's taking action.

☆ DeSantis says he's considering adding new taxes and tolls at Disney World to punish the company over its power play
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ron DeSantis acknowledged Disney had "tried to pull a fast one" over control in Florida. Ron DeSantis of Florida has pledged he isn't done with trying to control Walt Disney World. He pledged that the company, which had benefitted from a special carve-out for decades, would eventually pay its debts and taxes. DeSantis said the legislature would void Disney's actions and also consider taxes on hotels, new tolls, and developing properties. Ron DeSantis made at Hillsdale College.

☆ DeSantis leaves everyone on a cliffhanger on his retribution over the Disney power play: 'Buckle up'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ron DeSantis acknowledged Disney had "tried to pull a fast one" over control in Florida. Ron DeSantis of Florida has pledged he isn't done with trying to control Walt Disney World. DeSantis didn't say what would come next in his battle with the family-favorite company, a feud that first began in early 2022. First DeSantis signed a bill into law in April 2022 to dissolve the Reedy Creek district that oversees Disney. On his book tour stops, DeSantis frequently boasts about taking on Disney over the Parental Rights bill, which he said was necessary to protect children.

☆ California, three other states join U.S. bid to stop JetBlue-Spirit merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - California and three other states on Friday joined the U.S. Justice Department lawsuit aimed at preventing JetBlue Airways (JBLU.O) from buying rival discount carrier Spirit Airlines (SAVE.N) for $3.8 billion. In addition to California, Maryland, New Jersey, and North Carolina signed on to the lawsuit filed in early March. "We look forward to litigating this important case alongside our state law enforcement partners to stop JetBlue from eliminating its rival, Spirit," Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki said in a statement. Adding state attorneys general to the lawsuit could mean extra staffing for litigation, and additional expertise regarding potential effects of the deal on particular states. Reporting by Diane Bartz and David Shepardson Editing by Chris Reese and Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Florida insiders react with shock, amusement, and dread after Disney outmaneuvers DeSantis to keep most of its power
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

It appears Walt Disney World won't be losing power over its land after all — at least not yet — following a high-profile battle with Republican Gov. "It was a pretty brilliant move by the outgoing board to basically take all the power away," one Florida-based lobbyist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Insider. Ron DeSantis got married at Disney World in 2009. Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida who co-authored the book "Politics in Florida," told Insider. The company told Insider in a statement that it was "discussed and approved in open, noticed public forums."

☆ DeSantis warns Disney World he'll take a third swing at them after the company wrote in a loophole that collapsed his takeover plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

DeSantis warned that Disney hadn't seen the last of their feud: "There's more to come." "There's a lot of little back and forth going on now with the state control," DeSantis said, the audience booing at the mention of Disney. The governor-appointed board is talking to lawyersIn his new book, DeSantis has a chapter about the dust-up with Disney and how he retaliated against the company. He even revealed that he and his wife, Casey DeSantis, got married at Walt Disney World — a fact first reported by Insider. "The media STILL doesn't realize that Governor DeSantis always thinks 10 steps ahead," Christina Pushaw from the governor's rapid response team wrote on Twitter.

March 9 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Thursday upheld a Florida law barring people under age 21 from buying a gun, rejecting a challenge by the National Rifle Association gun rights lobby group. Two Republican state lawmakers have introduced a measure to lower the age to 18, as it was previously. Federal law already imposes a 21-year age requirement for handguns. A federal judge in 2021 upheld the law, finding it was a kind of "longstanding" restriction that courts had upheld in the past. The 11th Circuit panel decided on Thursday that this one was, pointing to more than a dozen 19th century state laws barring people under 21 from buying guns.

March 8 (Reuters) - A federal judge in Florida on Wednesday agreed with the state's Republican attorney general that the policy of President Joe Biden's administration to release many people who illegally cross the U.S.-Mexican border rather than detaining them violates U.S. immigration law. Republican critics have called the policy "catch and release." The judge agreed with the argument made by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who challenged the policy. Moody sued DHS in 2021, claiming its policy, officially known as Parole Plus Alternative to Detention, violates a U.S. law called the Immigration and Nationality Act. Federal immigration law allows DHS to "parole" migrants rather than detaining them "on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit."

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - JetBlue Airways Corp (JBLU.O) said on Monday it believes there is a "high likelihood" the U.S. Justice Department will file an antitrust lawsuit this week to block its $3.8 billion takeover of low-cost rival Spirit Airlines Inc (SAVE.N). JetBlue said in a statement that it accounted for the possibility of a lawsuit when it provided a timeline to close the deal in the first half of 2024. JetBlue prevailed in a months-long bidding war for Spirit Airlines after the ultra-low-cost carrier accepted its offer in late July. JetBlue Chief Executive Robin Hayes said on Monday he expected a government lawsuit to stop the deal and that the company would fight it, the Wall Street Journal reported. JetBlue is also awaiting the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department which asks the court to force JetBlue and American to scrap its Northeast Alliance.

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