WEATHER ALERT
Jax Beach police offer accelerated hiring process to put more officers on the streets amid shortage
Read full article: Jax Beach police offer accelerated hiring process to put more officers on the streets amid shortageThe Jacksonville Beach Police Department is using an accelerated hiring process to address the officer shortage the department is facing.
New state voter fraud units finding few cases from midterms
Read full article: New state voter fraud units finding few cases from midtermsState-level law enforcement units created after the 2020 presidential election to investigate voter fraud are looking into scattered complaints more than two weeks after the midterms but have provided no indication of systemic problems.
Super party on for fans in Tampa, even if it's more low-key
Read full article: Super party on for fans in Tampa, even if it's more low-key(AP Photo/Dennis Waszak Jr.)TAMPA, Fla. – Craig Cathers is decked out like a guy who's ready — totally fired up — for his team to play in the Super Bowl. They’re just happy there’s a Super Bowl to celebrate even if the party isn’t as big as usual. Restaurants, local business and hotels aren't seeing the usual high traffic of patrons expected during a Super Bowl week. According to TicketIQ, the average list price to see the Super Bowl in person has been trending down recently and is sitting at $8,310. And then Paul will start planning for next year's Super Bowl trip to Los Angeles.
Appeals court: Florida can bar ex-felons from voting until they pay up
Read full article: Appeals court: Florida can bar ex-felons from voting until they pay upA federal appeals court ruled Friday that Florida can bar ex-felons from voting if they owe court fines or fees associated with their convictions, even if they are unable to pay. The 6-4 ruling by the full 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court’s ruling blocking the law. Chief Judge William Pryor wrote in the majority opinion that the state law doesn’t constitute a poll tax. Friday’s ruling was the latest high-stakes challenges to a 2019 Florida law requiring felons to pay court-ordered “legal financial obligations” -- fees, fines, costs and restitution -- associated with their convictions to be eligible to vote. President George W. Bush appointed Pryor, and former President Bill Clinton appointed Judge Charles Wilson.
Florida felons seeking voting rights back face court setback
Read full article: Florida felons seeking voting rights back face court setbackTALLAHASSEE, Fla. A federal appellate court has stayed a lower court ruling that gave impoverished Florida felons the right to vote. The order issued Wednesday disappointed voting rights activists and could have national implications in November's presidential election. Circuit Court of Appeals, requesting a stay of Hinkle's ruling and a review of the case by the full appeals court. Todays decision is a setback, said Paul Smith, vice president of Campaign Legal Center, which is representing felons seeking access to the ballot box under Amendment 4, a voter-approved measure that sought to return voting rights to released felons. Under Amendment 4, felons who have completed their sentences would have voting rights restored.