Prosecutors and Red Tides and bears! Oh my! All in the past week in Tampa Bay | Editorial
A roundup of the good, the bad and the worrying this week across Tampa Bay and Florida.
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Clockwise: The Safety Harbor bear, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Red Tide threatens Tampa Bay, Allison Miller [ Times files ]
This article represents the opinion of the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board.
Published 51 minutes ago
After decades, voters have a choice.For the first time in 30 years, voters will have a choice for the top law enforcement officer in Pinellas and Pasco counties. Allison Miller filed this week to run in 2022 as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Bruce Bartlett for state attorney in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which covers Pinellas and Pasco. Miller, 38, a longtime assistant public defender, said she would make broader use of criminal diversionary programs and establish a civil rights division to track racial disparities in prosecutions. Bartlett took over in Janua
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that was supposed to help combat online censorship, only to draw the ire of tech companies and legal experts. In early spring, DeSantis announced plans for a Florida bill that would allow the state to penalize social media companies for censoring politicians. The bill, S.B. 7072, was presented as a tool for combating "cancel culture" and Big Tech s supposed monopoly on communication.
“The Constitution is clear that presidents do not have the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce or to unilaterally undo an act of Congress,” said Mr. Knudsen. “We will continue to fight this federal overreach along with the 22 other states so that Montanans can benefit from the jobs, tax revenue, and enhanced energy independence the Keystone XL will bring to our communities.”
The proposed pipeline extension, which begins in Canada and crosses the border at Montana on its way to Steele City, Nebraska, touches neither of the newly added states, but Republicans said the cancellation’s impact on the U.S. economy and energy independence would be profound.
Thursday s Afternoon Update | 6/3/2021
Florida COVID hospitalizations at lowest point in a year
Hospitalizations from COVID-19 are at their lowest level in the state in over a year, the Florida Hospital Association said Wednesday. There were roughly 1,842 COVID hospitalizations in Florida Wednesday. According to their data, the state’s hospitalizations have declined 19% in the last two weeks and stand 38% lower than one month ago. Current hospitalizations stand at only 20 percent of the peak reached in July 2020 with approximately 33 percent of existing hospital capacity available, according to a statement. More from the AP.
CDC says if court rules for Florida in cruise lawsuit, Alaska sailing could be threatened
New filings in the federal lawsuit between Florida and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the restart of the cruise industry have raised the specter that a ruling in Florida’s favor could essentially end any chance for Alaska to welcome cruises this year.