State News – Page 3 – Capital Outlook

Insurance tax breaks get backing

April 23, 2024

Fentrice Driskell By Jim TurnerNews Service of Florida A tax package that began moving forward in the Senate and a revised tax proposal in the House could provide some assistance to homeowners with property-insurance costs. The Senate and House have released the tax proposals as they prepare during the next

‘Unborn child’ bill advances in house

April 23, 2024

Rep. Yvonne Hinson News Service of Florida A House committee approved a controversial measure that would allow parents to file civil lawsuits seeking damages for the wrongful death of an “unborn child,” with critics of the bill saying it is too broad and could shrink the number of doctors who

Judge rejects part of elections law challenge

April 23, 2024

Voting registration organizations has support from the NAACP in their challenge of a 2023 election law.Photo special to the Outlook By Jim SaundersNews Service of Florida A federal judge rejected part of a challenge to a 2023 Florida elections law that prevents people with certain felony convictions from “collecting or

Lawmakers look at curbing corporal punishment

April 23, 2024

Rep. ChristopherBenjamin By Ryan DaileyNews Service of Florida A proposal that would require parents to “opt in” for students to receive corporal punishment in schools got initial approval Wednesday from a House panel, with some of the bill’s supporters saying it doesn’t go far enough in curbing the disciplinary practice.

Teacher ‘identity politics’ fight teed up

April 23, 2024

Rep. Patricia Williams By Ryan DaileyNews Service of Florida A bill that seeks to keep what supporters describe as “identity politics” out of teacher-preparation programs is ready for consideration by the Florida House, as critics warn it will stifle accurate teaching of history. The Republican-controlled House Education & Employment Committee

History of communism bills draw questions

April 23, 2024

Sen. Shevrin Jones By Ryan DaileyNews Service of Florida Proposals that could lead to instruction on the history of communism in school grades as low as kindergarten have sparked a debate about whether such lessons are appropriate for young students. Under current state standards, public-school students do not encounter lessons

Harriot ignites thought-provoking conversations on Black America’s unfiltered history at EWU

February 9, 2024

Michael Harriot delivered an impactful speech recently at Edward Waters University.Photo by Cilicia Anderson Special to the OutlookEWU Office of Communications Michael Harriot’s message was brutally unfiltered. Speaking before a diverse audience in the Milne Auditorium at Edward Waters University, Harriot vehemently shared his perspective on the history of Black

Plaintiffs seek to speed up redistricting case

February 9, 2024

Al Lawson NSF Staff Report Civil rights groups and other plaintiffs asked the Florida Supreme Court to speed up a congressional redistricting case to try to resolve it in time for the 2024 elections. The Supreme Court said last week it will take up the case but set a schedule

Patriotic groups get support for school visits

February 9, 2024

Rep. Angie Nixon By Ryan DaileyNews Service of Florida A proposal that would allow certain “patriotic organizations” to speak with students in public-school classrooms got initial approval from a House panel. The House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee last Thursday unanimously approved the bill (HB 1317), which would allow representatives from

Raising local taxes could become harder

February 9, 2024

A measure in the Legislature could control how much city and county governments could increase property tax.iStock photo By Jim TurnerNews Service of Florida City and county boards would face a higher threshold for approving property-tax hikes, under a proposal that started moving forward in the Legislature. In a 15-7