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Arkansas bans transgender people from using school bathrooms that match gender identity
Politics

Arkansas bans transgender people from using school bathrooms that match gender identity

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday signed a law prohibiting transgender people at public schools from using the restroom that matches their gender identity, the first of several states expected to enact such bans this year amid a flood of bills nationwide targeting the trans community.The bill signed by the Republican governor makes Arkansas the fourth state to place such restrictions at public schools, and it comes as bills in Idaho and Iowa also await their governor's signature. And it might be followed by an even stricter Arkansas bill criminalizing transgender adults using public restrooms that match their gender identity.Arkansas' law, which won't take effect until later this summer, applies to multi-person restrooms and locker rooms at public schools and chart...
US Agencies Debunk Florida Surgeon General’s Vaccine Claims
News

US Agencies Debunk Florida Surgeon General’s Vaccine Claims

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — U.S. health agencies have sent a letter to Florida's surgeon general, warning him that his claims about COVID-19 risks are harmful to the public.The letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was sent Friday to Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo.Ladapo was appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021 and has attracted national scrutiny over his close alignment with the governor in opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other health policies embraced by the federal government.Ladapo last year released guidance recommending against COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children, contradicting federal public health leaders whose advice says all kids should get the shots.He also has recommended against men ag...
Latino Republicans push back on party’s immigration agenda
Politics

Latino Republicans push back on party’s immigration agenda

MIAMI (AP) — More than half of the residents in the slice of Miami that includes Little Havana were born abroad. And when Republican U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar ran for reelection last year, she won by 15 percentage points.The GOP’s dominance of Florida’s 27th congressional district is emblematic of the party’s inroads with Latino voters in recent years in much of the U.S. and especially in Florida. Those gains helped Gov. Ron DeSantis decisively win reelection last year and contributed to the GOP taking back control of the U.S. House.That strong showing, however, is leading to some tension as the newly emboldened Republicans in Washington aim to launch an aggressive agenda, particularly around immigration policy. Salazar is among a handful of Republicans pushing back against a sweep...
Viewers reach out to News 6 Mental Health Phonebank
Health

Viewers reach out to News 6 Mental Health Phonebank

ORLANDO, Fla. – This week’s mental health coverage at News 6 couldn’t have come at a better time.Throughout Friday, a Mental Health Phonebank hosted by News 6 and Mental Health Foundation of Central Florida — sponsored by the Camaraderie Foundation — lent a listening ear to the Central Florida community.Mental health professionals and volunteers on the phonebank said that for some of the hundreds who called in, just being able to express their feelings turned their day around for the better.Cassie Bressler was one volunteer on the phonebank. She said that people called with a variety of needs, with some seeking support services and others just looking to vent.[TRENDING: Become a News 6 Insider]“Saying, ‘I hear you, I’m so sorry you’re going through (this),’ some of them, that’s all they...
Prosecutor ousted by DeSantis over abortion law will file appeal to get his job back
Politics

Prosecutor ousted by DeSantis over abortion law will file appeal to get his job back

The elected state prosecutor suspended by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is filing an appeal in his federal lawsuit against the governor in a renewed bid to get his job back.Andrew Warren, a twice-elected Democratic state attorney in Hillsborough County, filed a notice of appeal in the case Tuesday, seeking to bring it to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta. DeSantis suspended Warren last year because the prosecutor signed statements saying he would not pursue criminal charges against seekers or providers of abortion or gender transition treatments, as well as policies about not charging people with some minor crimes. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspends state attorney over stanc...
Sanford cigar store hopes to get economic aid from Nicole
Business

Sanford cigar store hopes to get economic aid from Nicole

SANFORD, Fla. — The clock is ticking for those needing help recovering from Hurricane Nicole with Monday marking the deadline to apply for assistance for physical damage. However, those that suffered economic injury have a few extra months. What You Need To Know Monday, Feb. 13 deadline is for physical damage aid from Hurricane Nicole Sept. 13 is the deadline for federal economic injury aid A cigar store in Sanford applied for economic injury aid and is still waiting to hear back Executive Cigar Sanford opened up their doors a little more than 3 years ago and in June of last year, Joe Dalton joined the team as managing partner.  He said he has lived here long enough to experience flooding. As Hurricane Nicole rolled through the area, he experienced flooding again, but this time...
States Americans are moving to — and the states they are ditching
Business

States Americans are moving to — and the states they are ditching

The pandemic sparked a restlessness in American life, with many families opting to move in search of more space or a lower cost of living. That trend continued in 2022, with hundreds of thousands of people uprooting their lives and moving to new states. But some regions are benefitting from an influx of new residents — a trend that can help those areas grow their economies and expand their tax bases — while others are witnessing a net loss of residents. About 25 U.S. states saw more people move within their boundaries last year, while about 25 states lost residents or were relatively flat, according to an analysis of census data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).The states that are gaining residents share a few traits, said Nadia Evangelou, senior economist and dir...
Three men indicted in Texas for alleged $14.5M health care fraud scheme
Health

Three men indicted in Texas for alleged $14.5M health care fraud scheme

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Three men were indicted in Texas on charges related to a $14.5 million health care fraud scheme. Kuba Zarobkiewicz, 35, of San Antonio, Anthony Fermin, 32, of Boca Raton, Florida, and Farrukh Mirza, 39, of Richmond, Texas were charged with  22 counts related to health care fraud, identity theft and kickbacks, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. According to court documents, Zarobkiewicz and Fermin own various medical equipment companies and pharmacies involved in a scheme to defraud Medicare. Their role in the scheme was to pay kickbacks to telemarketing firms owned and operated by Mirza in exchange for signed doctor’s orders issued for unnecessary hip, knee and back braces, federal prosecutors allege. The three were charged in...
Political Commentator Allegedly Kicked Out of Restaurant in Miami – NBC 6 South Florida
Politics

Political Commentator Allegedly Kicked Out of Restaurant in Miami – NBC 6 South Florida

A political commentator for Fox News was allegedly kicked out of a North Miami bookstore and restaurant for speaking about politics. Paradis Books and Bread has closed its doors for a while after the incident with analyst Gianno Caldwell. The situation is getting a lot of attention on social media. Caldwell tweeted after the incident saying he was in disbelief this had happened. TWEET: I can't believe what just happened. I met up with friends for breakfast at Paradis Books and Bread in North Miami & while we were having discussions about politics, we were told by the owner that we were not welcomed there because we aren't politically aligned. Outrageous. I can't believe what just happened. I met up with friends for breakfast at Paradis Books and Bread in Nort...