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Have shark attacks increased in Florida? Expert says no
A shark bit a child last week near Crandon Park, off Key Biscayne, leaving him with a minor superficial wound to his leg, just days after a man spearfishing off Key West was badly bitten by a bull shark. These are just two of the latest shark attacks that have...
As student aid requests lag in Florida, groups step in to help some fill out FAFSA
By summertime, most prospective college students know which school they're attending and how much they have to pay in tuition. But not Viviana Gonzalez. The Sumner High School graduate started filling out the FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, back in January. But a technical issue prevented her from completing the parents' portion of the form for months.
Republicans want to take Florida educational model nationwide with party platform
In its political platform adopted earlier this month, the Republican Party pledged to implement universal school choice, boost parental rights and promote "patriotic" standards for civics education.In other words, under former President Donald Trump, education across the country would look a lot like it does in Florida.Why it matters: Florida in recent years has been thrust into the national spotlight for its hyper-conservative approach to education, serving as a test kitchen for policies that public education advocates say undermine students' and teachers' rights.Some have criticized the state's Department of Education for its push to include Judeo-Christian ideas in public schools,...
Which Floridians would benefit from $17/hour
Data: Oxfam America; Chart: Axios VisualsMore than a quarter of Florida workers — mostly women, Black and Hispanic — would benefit from a raise in minimum wage to $17, according to new data from Oxfam.The organization revised its definition of a low-wage worker this year, from those earning less than $15 an hour to those earning less than $17.State of pay: This fall, state minimum wage increases to $13 per hour for non-tipped employees and $9.98 per hour for tipped employees.Flashback: Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2020 to make the minimum wage $15 by 2026. It will increase by a dollar on Sept. 30 every year until then.After that, the minimum wage will be adjusted each year for inflation.The big picture: Just 13% of U.S. workers earn less than $15 an hour; two years ago, that number was 31.9%, per Oxfam.
Lakewood Ranch High’s Technology Student Association team excels at national conference
Props to Lakewood Ranch High’s Technology Student Association. Represented by recent grad Mason Engelsburg and upcoming juniors Zachariah Kersey and Gavin Moore, the Mustangs’ TSA finished fifth in the nation in the Webmaster event at the annual conference last month in Orlando. The Webmaster project focused on green energy initiatives to reduce the negative effects of fossil fuels.
Bainum Family Foundation commits $100 million to early education
The Bainum Family Foundation has announced a five-year, $100 million commitment to early childhood education. The largest investment in the history of the foundation will expand its geographic reach beyond Florida and Washington, D.C. Through initiatives including WeVision EarlyEd, the foundation will use its resources to define ideal child care and make it real for families now and in the future. Moreover, the funding will provide grantees and partners with the stability they need to support young children and their families while advancing transformative ideas and solutions to pave the way toward a more equitable future.
Sam Greco Endorsed by FL NFIB, FL Chamber of Commerce, St. Augustine Business Coalition
It has been an exciting week on the campaign trail for Sam Greco. NFIB’s Florida PAC, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and the St. Augustine Business Coalition have all thrown their support behind Greco in the past week. Greco’s campaign continues to gain momentum. He now has the support...
ATM thieves use SUV to smash into CVS near St. Petersburg, leave empty-handed
PALMETTO, Fla. (WSVN) — A pair of brazen burglars were caught on camera as they crashed into a CVS near St. Petersburg looking for some quick cash, but despite their best efforts, they came away from the ATM ambush empty-handed. The security footage shows a person in a yellow...
Plenty of time before Nov. 5 ballots sent to printer, elections officials and experts say
President Joe Biden's decision Sunday to step down as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee will not affect the ability of elections officials to properly prepare ballots for the Nov. 5 election. Even before the president bowed out, elections officials across the state knew they would not be able to put the party's nominee...
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