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FL prisons are using wristbands to track inmates, and punishing those who refuse, some say
Quality Journalism for Critical Times A Florida Department of Corrections requirement that inmates wear electronic bracelets to monitor their movements in one facility is raising concerns among some family members and advocates that refusal to wear the devices is resulting in punishment. Denise Rock, with inmate advocacy group Florida Cares, said that “rampant conversations” are happening about the program among […] The post FL prisons are using wristbands to track inmates, and punishing those who refuse, some say appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Biden commends NATO strength, pledges more aid for Ukraine against Russia
Quality Journalism for Critical Times WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said NATO “is more powerful than ever” in remarks Tuesday to honor the 75th anniversary of the alliance and reaffirm allied support for Ukraine one day after Russian missile strikes on a children’s hospital killed dozens in Kyiv. Biden spoke at the annual North American Treaty Organization’s summit happening this week in […] The post Biden commends NATO strength, pledges more aid for Ukraine against Russia appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Confusion, clinic closures may have caused big declines in contraception use, study shows
Quality Journalism for Critical Times Clinic closures following the Dobbs decision and questions about the legality of emergency contraceptives, including disinformation that some are abortion drugs, may have contributed to a sharp drop in the rate of prescriptions for contraceptives in states with the most restrictive abortion bans, according to a University of Southern California study. The decline was significant […] The post Confusion, clinic closures may have caused big declines in contraception use, study shows appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
United by their objections to Trump, congressional Dems largely close ranks behind Biden
Quality Journalism for Critical Times WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats appeared to quell some inner tumult over supporting President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign after highly anticipated internal meetings Tuesday showed the president retained considerable support from the Congressional Black Caucus and other lawmakers. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Democrats from both chambers largely declined to detail their closed-door conversations. But […] The post United by their objections to Trump, congressional Dems largely close ranks behind Biden appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Ahead of Doral speech, Democrats blast Project 2025 and Trump’s abortion record
Quality Journalism for Critical Times Just a few hours before Donald Trump was scheduled to return to the campaign trail before an audience at Trump National Doral Miami, the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris campaign held a conference call on Tuesday afternoon at which they again denounced the former president’s record on reproductive rights and highlighted “Project 2025.” That’s the conservative manifesto […] The post Ahead of Doral speech, Democrats blast Project 2025 and Trump’s abortion record appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Continued conversation about noncitizen voting could chill immigrant turnout, advocates say
Quality Journalism for Critical Times Voting rights advocates say a GOP push for legislation prohibiting noncitizens from voting is not about creating laws — that’s already prohibited. Yet the U.S. House could vote this week on a Republican bill outlawing noncitizens from voting in federal elections. Critics of the measure say it would aggravate racial disparities and is meant to […] The post Continued conversation about noncitizen voting could chill immigrant turnout, advocates say appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
AG Moody ‘cautiously optimistic’ at declining number of opioid-related deaths
Quality Journalism for Critical Times Attorney General Ashley Moody is “cautiously optimistic” following the release of a report showing fewer drug-related deaths in the first half of 2023. Alcohol was the drug most frequently found in those who died from intoxicants in the period, with 2,957 instances, a 5% drop from the year before, followed by fentanyl, with 2,822 instances, […] The post AG Moody ‘cautiously optimistic’ at declining number of opioid-related deaths appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Federal regulator: Pharmacy middlemen appear to be raising prices, hurting patients
Quality Journalism for Critical Times The federal trade watchdog on Tuesday released an interim report saying that sprawling health care conglomerates are driving out competition in the pharmacy sector and appear to be increasing prices in the process. The interim report comes after the Federal Trade Commission in 2022 announced that it was undertaking a sweeping investigation of pharmacy middlemen known […] The post Federal regulator: Pharmacy middlemen appear to be raising prices, hurting patients appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
More states consider voter ID laws amid conflicting research on their impact
Quality Journalism for Critical Times Nevada voters may decide in November whether they should join three dozen other states in requiring voters to present valid identification before casting a ballot. And Maine may not be far behind, as the push for voter ID requirements grows nationwide despite conflicting studies over their effects. Conservative organizers in Nevada say they have gathered […] The post More states consider voter ID laws amid conflicting research on their impact appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt
Quality Journalism for Critical Times WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over […] The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
A tiny minority holds 336 million Americans at gunpoint
Quality Journalism for Critical Times If anyone doubted the downward spiral of our country, one look at the U.S. Supreme Court would disabuse them of the notion. For the past two, three years, “The Leonard Leo Six” — as MSNBC political commentator and “The Reidout” host Joy Reid describes them — have taken a flame thrower to the rights and […] The post A tiny minority holds 336 million Americans at gunpoint appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Revised abortion amendment financial forecast remains unfinished
Quality Journalism for Critical Times The panel charged with analyzing the financial impact of Florida’s proposed state constitutional abortion amendment struggled Monday to agree on what any litigation arising from it might cost, amid other disputes, and opted to schedule another meeting to continue the debate. The panel, in a session that spanned seven hours, went back and forth about […] The post Revised abortion amendment financial forecast remains unfinished appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Arkansas OB-GYN says proposed abortion-rights amendment could revive standard of care
Quality Journalism for Critical Times Of the several state abortion-rights initiatives trying to make it to the ballot this November, Arkansas’ is perhaps the most controversial among reproductive justice advocates, as it would reinstate an abortion policy more restrictive than under Roe v. Wade. Attempting to appeal to the conservative voters of the deep red, heavily gerrymandered state, Arkansans for Limited Government’s proposed Arkansas […] The post Arkansas OB-GYN says proposed abortion-rights amendment could revive standard of care appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation
Quality Journalism for Critical Times President Joe Biden pledged Monday to stay in his race for reelection, even after a weekend in which a growing number of Democrats asked for him to withdraw and a key U.S. House Republican called for an investigation into the president’s doctor. In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden argued that the calls for him to drop […] The post Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Biden in first TV interview since debate denies medical condition: ‘It was a bad episode’
Quality Journalism for Critical Times WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday in his first televised interview since the presidential debate defended his reelection bid and rejected calls that he should step aside amid growing anxiety among some Democrats about his mental and physical state. The 22-minute interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos came as some lawmakers and other prominent Democrats have […] The post Biden in first TV interview since debate denies medical condition: ‘It was a bad episode’ appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Hey! Let’s ditch everything that makes America America by electing Donald Trump!
Quality Journalism for Critical Times I don’t know about you, but I am so over democracy. What has democracy ever done for us? Apart from equal rights, respecting the essential dignity of every person, and the rule of law, I mean. Has it given us flying cars? It has not. But now the Supreme Ruling Junta Guardian Council Commissar Court […] The post Hey! Let’s ditch everything that makes America America by electing Donald Trump! appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
With our democracy under siege, this Independence Day was a somber one
Quality Journalism for Critical Times July 4th hits different when you’re confronted by the unescapable reality that the American experiment is over in a fundamental way. And no, that isn’t hyperbole if you read the U.S. Supreme Court opinion released last week in Trump v. United States by six right-wing justices who function more like insular high clerics than thoughtful jurists. […] The post With our democracy under siege, this Independence Day was a somber one appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Abortion surveillance isn’t new but monitoring has increased post Dobbs, activists say
Quality Journalism for Critical Times Abortion surveillance is something former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has said is up to states. But for abortion providers and advocates, surveillance and monitoring by anti-abortion activists has long been the reality. And post-Dobbs many states are actively trying to expand government surveillance. “There is a lot of confusion in our patient population […] The post Abortion surveillance isn’t new but monitoring has increased post Dobbs, activists say appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Cathy Jordan, ‘patron saint’ of medical cannabis in Florida, dies at the age of 74
Quality Journalism for Critical Times Cathy Jordan, who credited medical cannabis for keeping her alive for decades after she was diagnosed with ALS, died on July 4 at her home in South Florida at the age of 74. The news was relayed to the public on Thursday by Jodi James, president of the Florida Cannabis Action Network, who said she […] The post Cathy Jordan, ‘patron saint’ of medical cannabis in Florida, dies at the age of 74 appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
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The Phoenix is a nonprofit news site that covers state government and politics with a staff of five journalists located at the Florida Press Center in downtown Tallahassee. We have a mix of in-depth stories, briefs, and social media updates on the latest events, editorial cartoons, and progressive commentary. Reporters in many now-shrunken capital bureaus have to spend most of their time these days chasing around after more and more outrageous political behavior, and too many don’t have time to lift up emerging innovative ideas or report on the people who are trying to help solve problems and shift policy for a more compassionate world. The Florida Phoenix does those stories. The Phoenix is part of States Newsroom a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers.
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