Florida Education Association

The State Board of Education on Wednesday approved changes in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s bylaws that include replacing mentions of the word “gender” with the word “sex,” amid a larger dispute between federal and state officials.The changes came as Florida and other Republican-led states are challenging a Biden administration rule that would help carry out Title IX, a decades-old law that bars discrimination in education programs based on sex.

A professor, a student and an organization at USF have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a new state law that restricts the way race-related concepts can be taught in classrooms — a law Gov. Ron DeSantis dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act.”

Amid a resurgence of COVID-19 infections and with the start of a new school year just weeks away, Governor Ron DeSantis, Friday, announced plans to sign an executive order barring schools in Florida from imposing mask mandates.

State health officials reported 1,613 new COVID-19 cases and 35 deaths on Monday. So far, more than 7.2 million people in Florida have been vaccinated including more than 2.8 million who have received a first dose and more than 4.4 million people who have completed the series.Governor Ron DeSantis is railing against YouTube and Google and accusing the tech giant of censorship for removing a video of a COVID-19 discussion he had with scientists who oppose government lockdowns, school closures and mask wearing.Florida is suing the Biden administration and the CDC to let cruise ships sail again after being shut down for more than a year during the COVID-19 pandemic.The Florida Education Association is seeking clarity on recently adopted exemptions to testing requirements for this school year.Public school districts in Southwest Florida plan to scale back their distance learning options for students returning to school in the fall.A bill to make pandemic-induced expansions on the use of telemedicine permanent continues advancing in the state legislature.FEMA is now offering financial assistance to help cover the cost of funerals for those who have died of COVID-19.Lee County Commissioners stopped manning toll booths to collect bridge tolls on the outset of the pandemic and now they’re considering making that change permanent. They’re also considering a proposed increase in bridge tolls paid by motorists.A Florida woman was sentenced to 30 days in jail, last week, for deliberately coughing on a cancer patient during a dispute, last year, that was caught on a video that went viral.

The Florida Department of Health reported 1,885 new cases of COVID-19, Monday, marking the ninth consecutive day of fewer than 4,000 cases and the lowest single-day increase in reported cases since June 15.State health officials also reported 68 new deaths of Florida residents, Aug. 31, increasing the statewide death toll to 11,331 fatalities.

State health officials reported 3,269 new cases of COVID-19, Thursday, increasing Florida's total to 611,991 cases. The Florida Department of Health also reported 135 new coronavirus-related deaths, Aug. 27, bringing the statewide death toll to 11,011 fatalities.

State health officials reported 2,673 new COVID-19 cases, Tuesday, increasing the statewide total to 605,502 cases. The Florida Department of Health also reported 183 new coronavirus-related deaths, Aug. 25, bringing the statewide death toll to 10,717 fatalities since the beginning of the pandemic.The downturn in the number of COVID-19 tests being reported in Florida continues, even though public health experts say more testing is crucial to containing the virus.

State health officials reported 2,238 new COVID-19 cases, Monday, increasing the statewide total to 602,829 cases.The Florida Department of Health also reported 72 new coronavirus-related deaths, Aug. 24, bringing the statewide death toll to 10,534 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.

State health officials reported 4,555 new cases of COVID-19, Thursday, increasing the statewide total to 588,602 cases. Aug. 20 marked the fifth consecutive day health officials have reported fewer than 5,000 new cases in a day.The Florida Department of Health also reported 119 new coronavirus-related deaths, Thursday, bringing the statewide death toll over the 10,000-fatality threshold with 10,186 total deaths. Thursday marked the 15th consecutive day that health officials reported at least 100 deaths.

State health officials reported 4,115 new cases of COVID-19, Wednesday, increasing the statewide total to 584,047 cases. Wednesday marked the fourth time this week, the Florida Department of Health reported fewer than 5,000 new cases of the virus in a day.Health officials also reported 174 coronavirus-related deaths, Aug. 19, bringing the state's death toll over the 10,000-death threshold with 10,067 fatalities.