A newly appointed board in Florida has discovered that their predecessors passed a restrictive covenant granting Disney "prior review and comment" over any changes made to properties in the district. This agreement was signed just weeks before the new board was appointed, stripping them of many of their powers. The board is now working to find ways to challenge the covenant and gain back the power that was taken away from them.
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Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a former middle school principal, sparked a heated debate on Capitol Hill when he yelled at his GOP colleagues for not supporting stricter gun measures in the wake of the Nashville school shooting. Rep. Bowman accused Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., of “carrying water for the gun lobby” and called his colleagues “cowards” for not doing more to protect children. His passionate plea for stricter gun control legislation has been met with mixed reactions from both sides of the aisle, sparking a much-needed conversation about the issue.
Paul Rusesabagina, the man who inspired the film "Hotel Rwanda," has returned to the United States and is set to reunite with his family. He arrived at the US Army’s Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio on Wednesday, and the U.S. government is focused on ensuring that Rusesabagina and his family’s well-being are prioritized. It is unclear when Rusesabagina will be reunited with his family, but it is expected to be soon.
Kentucky Legislature Passes Extreme Anti-Transgender Bill, Sparking Outrage from LGBTQ Rights Groups
Kentucky Legislature Passes Extreme Anti-Transgender Bill, Sparking Outrage from LGBTQ Rights Groups
Kentucky's legislature has passed SB150, an extreme anti-transgender bill that bans gender-affirming health care for minors, prohibits discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in K-12 schools, and bars transgender students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity. The bill has been met with strong opposition from LGBTQ rights groups, who argue that it is unconstitutional and will have a detrimental impact on the mental health of transgender youth. The bill is set to go into effect in July 2021.
Donald Trump has filed an appeal against a court ruling that would force several of his former aides to testify before a grand jury as part of a criminal investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The appeal was filed with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and the Justice Department has not commented on the appeal. This is one of several defeats the former president has suffered in his efforts to use executive privilege claims to block the testimony of former aides and allies.
The new board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to oversee Disney's special taxing district is considering legal action over a multi-decade agreement that gives Disney control over much of its vast footprint in Central Florida for 30 years. The agreement has been met with criticism from local residents and activists, who argue that it gives Disney too much control, and the board is now exploring its legal options to challenge the agreement.
NFL player Ryan Hamlin recently joined Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Bill Posey on Capitol Hill to introduce the Access to AEDs Act, which seeks to raise awareness of the dangers of sudden cardiac arrest in children and increase access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in schools. Hamlin, who experienced sudden cardiac arrest himself, shared that more than 7,000 children under the age of 18 experience sudden cardiac arrest every year in the US, and that 1 in every 300 youth have an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk. The Act is supported by organizations such as the American Heart Association and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and would provide grants to schools to purchase AEDs and provide training for staff and students on how to use them.
The Biden administration has auctioned off 73 million acres of waters in the Gulf of Mexico to offshore oil and gas drilling, drawing criticism from environmentalists who argue it contradicts the president's campaign pledge to ban new fossil fuel development on public lands. The sale is expected to generate over $1 billion in revenue and major oil companies like Chevron, Shell, and BP are expected to submit the highest bids. The Biden administration has defended the sale, arguing that it will help the U.S. transition to a clean energy economy.