FLORIDA BAR

May 14 2026ENVIRONMENT

Florida Stops Sloth Imports After Tragic Deaths at Closed Orlando Zoo

Florida has put a temporary hold on bringing sloths into the state after many of the wild‑caught animals died at a now‑closed attraction in Orlando. The two‑month pause was ordered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to stop new imports while it reviews rules for keeping these a

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May 10 2026POLITICS

Florida’s new voting maps: who really benefits?

Florida lawmakers recently approved a plan to redraw voting districts, shifting the balance to give Republicans an even stronger grip on the state’s 28 U. S. House seats. The new setup would turn a 20-8 Republican majority into a lopsided 24-4 split. That’s a big change from just a few years ago, wh

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May 06 2026EDUCATION

Florida schools test a different take on U. S. history for college credit

Florida is rolling out a new history course this fall, one that skips the traditional AP U. S. history route. Instead of using the College Board’s well-known program, the state created its own version called FACT U. S. History. The goal? To give students another way to earn college credit while avoi

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May 04 2026SCIENCE

Breeding Better Barley: A Look at the Genes That Fight Early Sprouting

Barley doesn’t always wait to be harvested. Sometimes, rain before cutting triggers premature sprouting in the field, turning starch into sugar and ruining quality. Scientists have now found small genetic differences that help some barley plants resist this problem, called preharvest sprouting. Inst

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Apr 27 2026BUSINESS

Napa’s Wine Scene Shifts: A Tasting Room Closes, Spirits Rise

Barber Cellars in Petaluma has announced that its downtown tasting room and cheese shop will shut down on June 5, after eleven years of serving guests with wine, food and laughter. The owners said the decision came from financial pressure in the current wine and tourism market, as well as personal h

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Apr 27 2026SPORTS

Gators’ New Court Spirit: A Young Player’s Energy Shakes Up Tennis

Florida tennis is no longer just about quiet focus and precise strokes. A new voice on the courts, a young player from London, is turning every match into a rally of cheers and teamwork. He grew up playing soccer, rugby, cricket, and golf, learning early that fun comes first. When he switched to

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Apr 27 2026POLITICS

Florida’s Redistricting Dilemma: Why Census Flaws Matter Now

Florida is preparing for a special legislative session next month to redraw congressional district lines, a move that happens more often than people realize. The state’s population grew fast in the last decade, but the 2020 Census missed about 750, 000 residents—a significant error that could shape

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Apr 22 2026POLITICS

Why Michelle Obama’s Hair Was Never Just About Hair

Barron Trump’s turn to register for military service under new rules didn’t come as a surprise—nearly every American man his age faces the same requirement. But unlike his father’s comments about Olympic teams and college sports, this shift quietly folded into a much bigger conversation about milita

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Apr 22 2026CRIME

Florida Investigates AI for Possible Role in Campus Shooting

Florida’s top prosecutor recently announced a criminal investigation into OpenAI and its chatbot ChatGPT after a deadly shooting at a university last spring. The shooter, who killed two people and injured six others, reportedly used the AI tool to ask about guns and ammunition before the attack. Inv

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Apr 20 2026POLITICS

Florida strengthens crime victims' privacy rights after court ruling

Florida has long been a leader in protecting crime victims, starting with a constitutional change in 1988 that guaranteed basic rights. In 2018, voters approved Marsy’s Law, giving victims stronger, clearer protections like privacy. But in 2023, a Supreme Court decision took that privacy right away,

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