Public School Advocates Worried
Public school advocates are worried as they should be, about a set of bills that are on fast-forward in the Florida legislature. Those bills will greatly expand charter schools in Florida, essentially allowing any student to use state money to attend private schools. The bills are part of a greater plan by the GOP to essentially end the public school system as we know it, a major user of taxpayer money. The bill passed along party lines with Democrats fearing that the program is totally underfunded.
Ford Recall
Ford is recalling more than 1.2 million Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans from the 2013 through 2018 model years because their front brake hoses could rupture and leak brake fluid, which could increase the risk of a crash. The problem is due to a design flaw. Owners should be getting a letter from the company or you can contact your local dealer.
Legislature Ignores Wishes Of Voters
The GOP led Florida legislature, totally ignoring the wishes of a majority of voters, Thursday advanced a bill that would outlaw any abortion in the state after 6 weeks. The measure could give DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president, additional fodder to woo conservative voters. The governor has indicated he will back the proposed ban, despite poll after poll indicating that at least 57% of Florida voters believing that safe, legal abortions should be available in the state. Only 39% believe that abortion should be illegal. That poll conducted by Pew research.
Another Airline Close Call – This Time In Florida
Federal investigators say an air traffic controller cleared a plane to take off from Sarasota, Florida, while an American Airlines jet was making its final approach to the same runway last month, leading the American pilots to abandon their landing. The National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday that the American and Air Canada Rouge planes were separated by six-tenths of a mile — about 3,000 feet — at their closest point.
Covid Pill Paxlovid Up For Final Approval
Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill Paxlovid won another vote of confidence from U.S. health advisers Thursday, clearing the way for its full regulatory approval by the Food and Drug Administration. The medication has already been used by millions of Americans since the FDA granted it emergency use authorization in late 2021. The agency has the final say on giving Pfizer’s drug full approval and is expected to decide by May.
TikTok Under Fire In US and Elsewhere
TikTok is once again fending off claims that its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, would share user data from its popular video-sharing app with the Chinese government, or push propaganda and misinformation on its behalf. China’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday accused the United States itself of spreading disinformation about TikTok’s potential security risks. A law implemented by China in 2017 requires companies to give the government any personal data relevant to the country’s national security or what it deems relevant.
