Joseph Varner News Today

LAS VEGAS ­— The Bureau of Land Management has completed the variance process for the Bonanza Solar Project, a major early step in the application process for solar energy development that allows the BLM to fully consider the project under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The BLM’s decision to advance the project to the next stage of review comes after close coordination with Tribal governments, appropriate federal, state and local agencies, and public outreach.

A U.S. district judge has ordered mediation in Florida’s lawsuit challenging federal restrictions that have idled the cruise-ship industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

| ASTA plans to file an amicus brief related to Florida and Alaskas lawsuit against the federal government and the CDC seeking to overturn its Conditional Sailing Order. Photo Credit: Semachkovsky/Shutterstock.com ASTA plans to file an amicus curiae, or "friend of the court," brief on Wednesday related to Florida and Alaskas lawsuit against the federal government and the CDC seeking to overturn its Conditional Sailing Order. An amicus brief is filed by a party that is offering information or ex...

Floridas cruise ship fight sent to mediation By NSF Staff Jordan Bowen reports TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A U.S. district judge has ordered mediation in Florida’s lawsuit challenging federal restrictions that have idled the cruise ship industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.  U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday on Tuesday directed attorneys for the state and federal government to mediate the case by June 1. He appointed Joseph Varner as the mediator.  Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, backed b...

| The MSC Armonia in PortMiami in 2019. A judge has ordered Florida and the CDC into mediation in the states lawsuit over the agencys cruise ban. A judge ordered Florida and the CDC into mediation today, telling the two sides in the states case against the agency over its cruise ban to resolve their differences out of court.  Florida sued the Biden administration in federal district court on April 8 to overturn the ban on cruising, saying the yearlong lockdown of the cruise industry by the fed...