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☆ Top DeSantis attorneys penned cease-and-desist letters threatening to prosecute TV stations over abortion ad, affidavit says
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Liam Reilly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Ron DeSantis penned the cease-and-desist letters sent by Florida’s health department threatening to criminally prosecute local TV stations over their airing of an abortion rights ad, the department’s former general counsel said in court documents. “I did not draft the letters or participate in any discussions about the letters prior to October 3,” Wilson wrote. Spokespersons for DeSantis and the Florida Department of Health did not immediately respond to CNN requests for comment. Wilson’s allegations come after local TV stations began airing an ad by Floridians Protecting Freedom, the group behind the state’s “Yes on 4 Campaign,” promoting a ballot measure seeking to overturn the state’s six-week abortion ban by enshrining abortion rights in the state’s constitution. Local TV stations also received support from FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who said earlier this month that “threats against broadcast stations for airing content that conflicts with the government’s views are dangerous and undermine the fundamental principle of free speech.”

Persons: Ron DeSantis, John Wilson, Sam Elliot, Wilson, Ryan Newman, Jed Doty, “, ” Wilson, Newman, Doty, ” Newman, Caroline, ” Caroline, Floridians, Joseph Ladapo, Jessica Rosenworcel, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Gov, Florida’s Department of Health, DeSantis, Florida Department of Health, CNN, Floridians, Ladapo Locations: New York, Florida, Local

A federal judge on Thursday issued a temporary restraining order against Florida’s surgeon general, the latest development in a legal battle over a television ad supporting the state’s abortion rights ballot measure. Earlier this month, the Florida Department of Health sent cease-and-desist letters to multiple broadcast stations that had aired the ad, threatening criminal charges against stations that didn’t stop playing it. The restraining order against Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo lasts through Oct. 29. Even before the decision, Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel had denounced the cease-and-desist letters as a violation of the First Amendment. The Florida Department of Health continued to oppose the ads in a statement on Friday.

Persons: “, Mark Walker, Joseph Ladapo, ” Walker, Jessica Rosenworcel, ” Rosenworcel, ”, John Wilson, Wilson, Jae Williams, ” Caroline, Lauren Brenzel, ” “, ” Brenzel, Bacardi Jackson, ” Jackson Organizations: Florida Department of Health, U.S, District, Florida, State of, Federal Communications, Tampa Bay Times, Miami Herald, The Florida Department of Health Locations: Florida, Caroline, coercing, State of Florida, Hurricane Milton

☆ Florida threatens TV stations over abortion rights ad. FCC calls it ‘dangerous’
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Brian Stelter | Liam Reilly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Florida Department of Health, however, cited local statutes in the cease-and-desist letters sent last week to WCJB in Gainesville and WFLA in Tampa. The threat from the health department underscores the intensity of the political battle over Amendment 4, a ballot measure that would enshrine abortion rights in Florida’s constitution. The cease-and-desist letters from John Wilson, general counsel for the state health department, appear to be part of that campaign. The health department did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment about the FCC rebuke. The local stations did not respond to requests for comment, but both stations continued to air the ads on Tuesday.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Jessica Rosenworcel, ” Rosenworcel, DeSantis, John Wilson, Jason Garcia, Wilson, Caroline, ” Organizations: CNN, Florida’s Department of Health, Gov, Republican, Democratic, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, Florida Department of Health, Orlando Locations: Gainesville, WFLA, Tampa, Florida’s, Florida

☆ Woman posing as her therapist wife counseled patients online, investigations found
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Brammhi Balajaran | Fabiana Chaparro | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A person made an unsettling discovery on social media in February 2023 – the woman she’d been seeing for online therapy sessions wasn’t actually a therapist. CNN tracked down an online obituary for 58-year-old Tammy Heath-Randolph that lists Peggy Randolph as the deceased’s wife. Randolph “denies knowing” Heath-Randolph had been conducting therapy sessions using her Brightside Health Therapist Portal log-in credentials, the settlement agreement states. Brightside Health took “swift and decisive action” once it learned of the breach, a statement provided to CNN. The impacted patients were fully reimbursed, Brightside Health said.

Persons: she’d, ”, Peggy Randolph, Randolph, Tammy Heath, Heath, Randolph “, ” Heath, “, Brightside, “ We’re, Hannah Changi, Randolph’s, ” Randolph Organizations: CNN, “, Florida Department of Health, Health, Randolph, Brightside, KFF Health Locations: Tennessee, Florida, Randolph, Heath

Such recruitment-based adoptions are the most difficult to carry out, social workers say. Gonzaga, who worked with his wife Heather Setrakian at eharmony and then on the Family-Match algorithm, referred questions to Ramirez. Social workers say Family-Match works like this: Adults seeking to adopt submit survey responses via the algorithm’s online platform, and foster parents or social workers input each child’s information. Adoption-Share is part of a small cadre of organizations that say their algorithms can help social workers place children with foster or adoptive families. “It’s wasted time for social workers and wasted emotional experiences for children.”___Contact AP’s global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/

Persons: –, Thea Ramirez, Ramirez, ” Ramirez, “ There’s, ”, Bonni Goodwin, “, Gian Gonzaga, Gonzaga, Heather Setrakian, Setrakian, Kristen Berry, ” Berry, Melania Trump, Virginia’s, Terry McAuliffe, Traci Jones, ” Jones, Virginia, Kylie Winton, Scott Stevens, Stevens, ” Jenn Petion, Petion, ” Petion, Fort, Bree Bofill, ” Bofill, Bofill, Ramirez didn’t, Ramirez wouldn’t, Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Biden, Connie, didn’t, We’ve, “ It’s Organizations: Associated Press, AP, University of Oklahoma, American Enterprise Institute, Democrat, ”, Virginia Department of Social Services, Georgia Department of Human Services, FamiliesFirst, Family, Family Support, Fort Myers, Children’s Network of Southwest, Miami, Care, Winton, AS GUINEA, Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, Tennessee, Biden White, Science, Technology, Brown University, U.S . Health, Human Services Department, Florida Department of Health, Health Locations: Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Brunswick , Georgia, eharmony, Pensacola, Jacksonville, Children’s Network of Southwest Florida, Virginia , Georgia, New York City , Delaware, Missouri, Investigative@ap.org

☆ U.S. officials say risk of locally acquired malaria remains low as nationwide cases jump to seven
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Joe Raedle | Getty ImagesU.S. public health officials say the risk of locally transmitted malaria in the country remains low as seven new cases in Florida and Texas raise questions. "Despite these cases, the risk of locally acquired malaria remains extremely low in the United States," the agency added. The seven are the first known cases of "locally acquired" malaria in the country since 2003. Health experts say the new locally acquired cases shouldn't warrant panic about widespread malaria transmission in the U.S. Here's what you need to know about the locally acquired malaria cases in the U.S. – and why the risk of transmission remains low right now.

Persons: Barrington Sanders, Joe Raedle, it's, vivax, Daniel Parker, –, Parker, Sadie Ryan, Ryan, Chandan Khanna, UC Irvine's Parker, we're, Rajiv Chowdhury, Chowdhury, Stephane de Sakutin Organizations: Miami - Dade Mosquito Control, Getty, Florida Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control, CDC, CNBC, UC Irvine, University of Florida, Florida Climate Institute, Local, Sarasota County Mosquito Management Services, AFP, UC, Florida International University Locations: Miami, Miami , Florida, Florida, Texas, Sarasota County, United States, U.S, Florida , Texas, Sarasota, Sarasota , Florida

We pay nearly $2,600 a year for homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and an umbrella policy. See Insider's picks for the best homeowners insurance companies »Our insurance coverageYou might be wondering what kind of hurricane insurance we have. You can get flood insurance, windstorm insurance, and homeowners insurance. And when someone, especially a Floridian, talks about hurricane insurance, they're usually talking about a combination of these policies. We have a combination of homeowners insurance and federally-backed flood insurance through FEMA.

Persons: —, I'd, I've Organizations: Service, FEMA, The Florida Department of Health Locations: Florida, Northeast, United States

☆ Flesh-eating bacteria on beaches: What to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Out of more than 100 Vibrio species, about 12 — the most common in the US being Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus — can cause a human illness known as vibriosis. Vibrio vulnificus is the species that can cause flesh-eating infections, known as necrotizing fasciitis. Vibrio bacteria can enter through even minor wounds, including cuts, scrapes, scratches, recent piercings, new tattoos or surgical incisions. Even though the risk of a Vibrio vulnificus infection is low, if contracted the effects can be severe. Around 1 in 5 people infected with Vibrio vulnificus die, sometimes within a day or two of getting sick.

Persons: Daniel Slim, Vibrio, vulnificus, it’s, ”, Jae Williams, wasn’t, Tracy Mincer, “, Linda Amaral, Williams, “ It’s, ” Williams, parahaemolyticus, Hurricane Ian, Vibrio vulnificus, Don’t Organizations: CNN, Research, Florida Atlantic University, US Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Florida Department of Health, Florida, Branch Oceanographic Institute, University of Amsterdam Locations: Florida, United States, Africa, Gulf of Mexico, Cancun, AFP, Caribbean, Hurricane, sargassum

☆ A giant seaweed mass heading for Florida's beaches is full of potentially dangerous bacteria that threatens a 'pathogen storm,' a study found
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A giant stretch of Sargassum seaweed is headed toward the beaches of Florida and Mexico. The interplay between plastic marine debris and bacteria could cause a "pathogen storm," a study found. The potentially dangerous Vibrio can stick to the plastic debris that gets caught in the mass of seaweed, the study found in seawater samples from the Caribbean and Sargasso seas. While there are some fears about the bacteria's "flesh-eating" qualities, experts told LiveScience this possibility was relatively uncommon. "What is important is that individuals should take caution," Jae Williams, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health, told LiveScience.

Persons: —, Linda Amaral, Andrew, Kofi Jones, Vibrio, Tracy Mincer, Mincer, LiveScience, sargassum, Jae Williams Organizations: Service, NASA, Research, Florida Atlantic University, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Florida Department of Health Locations: Florida, Mexico, Sargassum, Caribbean, Lakes, sargassum, St, Barbados

☆ Florida surgeon general appointed by DeSantis cut data from a COVID-19 vaccine safety study
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Associated Press | Sarah Gray | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo cut data from a COVID-19 vaccine safety study, per multiple reports. Ron DeSantis in 2021 to head the Florida Department of Health. The nonbinding recommendation made by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo last fall ran counter to the advice provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ladapo said that the risk of men ages 18 to 39 having cardiac complications outweighed the benefits of getting the mRNA vaccine. "(The vaccine) has done a lot to advance the health of people of Florida and he's encouraging people to mistrust it."

☆ Gun lobby celebrates 'historic' win in Florida after DeSantis signs bill eliminating permit and training requirements for concealed carry
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The NRA is praising a new Florida law that eliminates concealed-carry permit requirements. A majority of states have now made it legal to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Ron DeSantis after the Republican on Monday made Florida the 26th state to eliminate permit requirements for concealed carry of a firearm. The signing comes not only as DeSantis weighs a run for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, but as Florida is struggling to combat violent crime, in particular gun violence. In terms of gun violence, Florida is also slightly more dangerous than the national average.

☆ Cannabis company inks deal with Circle K to bring weed to Florida gas stations
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Select Circle K locations in Florida will begin selling marijuana for medical use in 2023. In Florida, citizens may receive a medical marijuana card for PTSD, cancer, and Parkinson's disease, among other conditions, Axios reports. "The opening of RISE Express stores at Circle K locations is a game-changer. Florida's current laws around marijuana use only permit the drug for those who possess a medical marijuana card typically issued for chronic conditions. Over 700,000 Floridians are currently registered active cardholders in the state's medical marijuana program, according to the Florida Department of Health.

☆ Dangerous flesh-eating bacterial infections increased in Florida after Hurricane Ian
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Carma Hassan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —An increase in infections with a rare flesh-eating bacteria was reported in Florida in the days after Hurricane Ian due to catastrophic flooding from the storm. Ian made landfall as a Category 4 storm on September 28 in Lee County, which includes Fort Myers and Sanibel Island in Southwest Florida. The Florida Department of Health in Lee County warned residents of the risks of Vibrio vulnificus on October 3. “DOH-Lee is observing an abnormal increase in cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections as a result of exposure to the flood waters and standing waters following Hurricane Ian. Since September 29, 2022, 26 cases of Vibrio vulnificus associated with Hurricane Ian have been reported to DOH-Lee.

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