Storm surge model upgraded ahead of hurricane season

Earlier this week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its third upgrade to the Probabilistic Storm Surge (P-Surge) model, just in time for the 2023 hurricane season.

The P-Surge model is the primary tool used by forecasters across the nation to predict storm surge events, commonly associated with hurricanes and tropical storms.

More HERE

Ron DeSantis derides ‘paid agitators’ in Governor’s Office

'These people are paid to be agitators quite frankly.'

Gov. Ron DeSantis doesn’t believe there is anything spontaneous about protests in the Capitol Plaza Level this week.

During a very friendly Newsmax interview, the Florida Governor suggested the protesters were in fact paid provocateurs, using a loaded phrase to make his point.

More HERE

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Marjorie Greene Gets Put In Her Place After GROSS Attack by Rep. Frost

DeSantis signs bill to let board void Disney agreements

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed into law a bill that allows the new board overseeing Disney World’s government services to cancel the last-minute agreements that stripped it of some of its powers.....MORE

Florida group campaigns for a constitutional amendment supporting abortion rights

After the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a law to prevent abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, abortion-rights supporters want to take the issue to voters.

Floridians Protecting Freedom, a newly formed group, will hold a news conference Monday in Tallahassee to begin a campaign to pass a constitutional amendment supporting abortion rights, according to a news release Friday.

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Andrew Gillum is cleared on one charge, mistrial on others

After five days of rocky deliberations, jurors on Thursday acquitted former Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum on charges of lying to federal investigators but were unable to reach a verdict on conspiracy and fraud charges.....MORE

As Legislature passes ban on transgender care, LGBTQ groups promise legal action

Florida legislators are backing a permanent ban on transgender care for minors, but it appears that the battle may soon shift to a federal courtroom.....MORE

Maxwell Frost Rips Marjorie Taylor Greene For 'Disgusting Comments' About Adoption And Parenthood

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Voices of Ybor City - Casa Santo Stefano Restaurant

2nd Certified Rape Crisis Center opens in Hillsborough County

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay has now opened a second Certified Rape Crisis Center in Hillsborough County.

Mayra Espinosa, a sexual assault nurse examiner with the center, says they looked at records to see where a potential new site should be. She says about 15% of people who came for an exam last year were from the SouthShore Tampa Bay area, including places like Ruskin, Riverview and Wimauma.

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Black Californians could receive up to $1.2 million in reparations payments, task force says

The State of California is one step closer to paying reparations to Black residents whose ancestry goes back to the American slave trade.

The California Reparations Task Force released estimates, as well as breakdowns of the methodology used to determine the amounts, on Monday ahead of a critical vote that will take place later this week.

As outlined by the San Francisco Chronicle, an eligible resident who lived in California their whole life and was 71 or older could, in theory, receive as much as $1.2 million.

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Florida Republicans pass anti-immigration bill, giving DeSantis $12 million for migrant flights

“Immigrants are not the enemy,” Rep. Dotie Joseph, D-North Miami, said. “Hate is.”....MORE

Crisis in Corrections | Part 7

The I-Team reveals the factors building to what some state leaders call a breaking point in the Florida Department of Corrections.

DUMBING DOWN: Trump vows to escalate GOP attack on higher education

Donald Trump has rolled out a new campaign promise: to go after colleges that implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, and “radically transform” higher education by forcing schools to defend “American tradition and western civilization.”

Trump appears to be taking a page from the Ron DeSantis playbook after the Florida governor announced similar measures in his state. Trump’s announcement falls short of clear policy directives but sounds much like those DeSantis has already attempted or announced.

More HERE

Crisis in Corrections | Part 6

The I-Team reveals the factors building to what some state leaders call a breaking point in the Florida Department of Corrections.

Immigration reform bill headed to DeSantis’ desk

An immigration reform package is headed to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.

Republican lawmakers gave SB 1718 final approval Tuesday. The bill would crack down on illegal immigration in the Sunshine State.

This was another one of those bills that had lawmakers fiercely divided. Republicans say it protects Floridians while Democrats call it inhumane.

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Hundreds of thousands of Floridians at risk of losing Medicaid

According to the Associated Press, as states begin checking everyone’s eligibility for the first time in three years, up to 14 million of the 84 million people currently on Medicaid could lose their coverage.

Local healthcare leaders estimate 900,000 Floridans are at risk of losing their Medicaid coverage. They say those who have been covered through the pandemic are now being notified of renewal in waves, which started April 1st.

At True Health, a local healthcare nonprofit that, they help people with their Medicaid paperwork while also providing medical services. Their regional director of operations, Jafet Rios, has worked in insurance enrollment for the last 10 years. He shared that many on Medicaid are now getting renewal notices in the mail with yellow stripes. He says that is a sign you could be at risk, and you need to file out paperwork to renew. He explained there are many reasons why someone may lose their eligibility.

More HERE

Crisis in Corrections | Part 5

The I-Team reveals the factors building to what some state leaders call a breaking point in the Florida Department of Corrections.

DeSantis signs measure expanding Florida death penalty law

Under the new legislation, child rapists get a minimum sentence of life in prison without parole and are eligible for capital punishment. 

The legislation goes against a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision in which the court found it unconstitutional for states to use the death penalty as punishment for the rape of a child if the victim had not died.

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'Feeding Tampa Bay' building new, larger warehouse to help more in need

Feeding Tampa Bay is making a big change that will allow it to help more people in need.

Breaking ground this summer, the non-profit is building a new, larger warehouse that will allow it to assist more people across Tampa Bay who are dealing with food insecurity.

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Tampa Bike Month Celebration

MAY 11, 2023 AT 5:30 PM

Coppertail Brewing Co

Rideshare drivers protest across Tampa Bay

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Republicans Are Freaking Out That Ron DeSantis Is Getting His Butt Kicked By Disney

Some Florida voters re-thinking support for DeSantis amid his feud with Disney

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Legal war begins: DeSantis’ board countersues Disney

For decades, Disney exerted its influence to gain total control over its private government and received special treatment no other Florida businesses got, the state-run Central Florida Tourism Board argues in a lawsuit seeking to regain control of Disney World’s special government district.

The state-run board countersued Disney in Orange Circuit Court following Disney’s decision to file a federal lawsuit against them and Gov. Ron DeSantis last week.

More HERE

Crisis in Corrections | Part 4

The I-Team reveals the factors building to what some state leaders call a breaking point in the Florida Department of Corrections.