Tampa police officer who ran over man with squad car is denied qualified immunity in wrongful death case

As the family of Dusharn Weems seeks justice in court for their loved one who died after being run over by a Tampa Police Department officer, the cops have tried to use a controversial legal doctrine to have the case thrown out.

But a judge has ruled against TPD’s argument for qualified immunity, which is often used to protect officers accused of wrongdoing, leading police transparency advocates to call for an end to it.

More HERE

Map shows Brightline stations: Target date set for grand opening in Orlando

After about 10 years of anticipation, Brightline officials have set the second quarter of 2023 as their target date for the grand opening of their station at Orlando International Airport.

Director of Public Affairs, Katie Mitzner, says more than seven million hours of construction so far have the project at about 90% complete. “Our station will be completed in the next month. Our vehicle maintenance facility where we are today has been completed and will be opening soon, and so as we hit all of these milestones, we’re now getting ready to complete the corridor and then the next step is testing,” Mitzner said.

Trains will be tested along the beachline at speeds up to 125 miles an hour. There are no public crossings on that stretch of track.

More HERE

Protests against Ron DeSantis represent ‘intersectionality’

A state Senator from Florida is taking his argument against Ron DeSantis‘ war with the College Board to the national stage.

Shevrin Jones told MSNBC viewers Saturday morning that the battle against the Governor’s rejected African American Studies Advanced Placement course proposal illustrates true “intersectionality,” a logical response to what he and other Democrats see as DeSantis’ latest attempt to whitewash inconvenient history for political ends.

“For those who did not know the definition of intersectionality, it was defined for them on Wednesday at the march. People from all over the state of Florida joined in unity and solidarity,” Jones said. “To make it clear that if you come for one of us, you come for all of us, from students and parents, black, white, gay, straight, transgender, and all types of religions, they all were there on Wednesday.”

More HERE

The First Gen Z Congressman Has Landed in Washington

Tampa Community Political Forum

Florida Democrats can't let a corrupt corporate lobbyist take over the party

Nikki Fried, who wants to take over the Florida Democratic Party, likes to brand herself as “something new.” But what she really represents is the status quo.

Actually, she’s far worse than that. Nikki Fried is a corporate lobbyist turned pliant politician, who has a long and well-documented history of siding with Big Businesses over everyday Floridians, engaging in unethical and untrustworthy behavior, and allying with some of the most corrupt Republican politicians in Florida.

More HERE

Gov. DeSantis' book-burning plan

" To cancel black history (and a lot of other history too) goes back 150 years to the brutal suppression of black people following reconstruction and the skewed & incomplete history we've learned for more than a century. Here, Dr. Henry Louis Gates draws a through line from DeSantis to Mildred Lewis Rutherford of the Daughters of the Confederacy & there's no paywall (or Gov.) to stop you from learning this history yet. So read it now while you still can & make sure it's known and shared."

Commissioner Pat Kemp

MORE

Tampa Fire Rescue unveils new mural at its headquarters

Florida University Students Plan Mass Walkout to Protest DeSantis "Destroying Our Schools"

Students at several Florida universities are planning a statewide walkout after school officials handed over data about transgender students’ health care to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.....MORE

Tampa Berner Asher Edelson for Vermont

Hello folks! I will be posting a link

to Cat TV. Please give what you can, whether it’s 5 or 25 dollars, it will go a long way to getting my message out there! I hope to earn your vote, Bennington!

HELP HIM HERE

Father of Parkland shooting victim slams Florida GOP for permitless carry bill

Rep. Maxwell Frosr: Chip in to Latino Victory Fund

I want to tell you about Latino Victory — an organization dedicated to building political power in the Latino community. They work to make sure that the voices and values of Latinos are reflected at every level of government, and in the policies that drive our country forward.

Latino Victory was a key supporter of our campaign, and their work is more important than ever.

Growing up, my Abuela Yeya would tell me stories about coming from Cuba with my mother in tow during the freedom flights in the late 1960s to pursue the American Dream. She then worked 70+ hours a week in a factory for starvation wages in unsafe conditions to support her family– a story that many Latino immigrants know far too well and are still living today.

HELP THEM HERE

Sierra Club Endorsements'

HELP THEM HERE

Ron DeSantis' NEW SICK STUNT Exposed by Texas Paul

Andrew Joseph Foundation: Compassionate Journey

The Andrew Joseph Foundation

Matt Gaetz Evades Sex Trafficking Charges Despite Receipts

Florida parents consider fleeing the state over 'horrifying' DeSantis threat to eliminate AP courses

Far-right Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies set off a major controversy when the Republican governor banned, from public high schools, an advance placement course on African-American history.

HERE

Fed up Biden SHREDS Republicans by name in SCATHING speech

Gorod in Ybor City

APRIL 11, 2023 AT 10 PM

Crowbar - Ybor City

So We're All In Agreement?

Tell DeSantis to Stop Erasing Our History

HERE

Under Fire, Rick Scott Changes Plan To Exempt Social Security, Medicare From Sunsetting

Folk Medicine & Maker's Market

MARCH 5, 2023 AT 10 AM – 4 PM

Roots to Crown - St. Pete

The First Gen Z Congressman Has Landed in Washington

SONREAL in Ybor City

Crowbar - Ybor City

Fed up Biden SHREDS Republicans by name in SCATHING speech

Orlando group behind restoring felon voting rights nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

The Orlando organization that spearheaded the campaign to restore voting rights to felons in Florida has been nominated for a

 Nobel Peace Prize. more

DeSantis Asked 'What's Your Defense' For Spending $10 Million To Transport Migrants Out Of State

Rick Scott amends sunsetting plan to exclude Medicare, Social Security

After facing backlash from the White House and members of his own party, Florida Sen. Rick Scott on Friday amended a controversial proposal in his “12 Point Plan to Rescue America” that would have sunset all federal legislation after five years, including Social Security and Medicare.....MORE

VR Hike - Wheedon Island St. Pete

North Star Boys in Ybor City

MARCH 30, 2023 AT 7 PM

Crowbar - Ybor City

Floridians protest Gov. DeSantis' 'Stop Woke Act'