Sheriff's Office investigates noose mailed to Ayala:
The Orange County Sheriff's Office is investigating a noose mailed to the office of Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala after she announced she wouldn't pursue the death penalty under her administration. Shortly after her announcement in March, state attorney's office employees opened an envelope addressed to Ayala that contained an index card with a noose made of green twine taped to the card. Ayala, who is the first African-American to be elected state attorney in Florida, has received other lynching threats, including one from a Seminole County Clerk of the Court who posted on Facebook that Ayala should "get the death penalty" and be "tarred and feathered if not hung from a tree."
Florida Sen. Frank Artiles resigns after racist, sexist rant:
Artiles, R-Miami, resigned after charges that he violated Senate conduct rules when he berated Sen. Audrey Gibson, a black Democrat from Jacksonville, last week at a Tallahassee bar, calling her "girl" and "bitch." Artiles also referred to other Republican senators as "niggas." Artiles seemed ready to fight the charges until a story from the Miami Herald revealed Artiles' political committee hired a former Hooters "calendar girl" and a Playboy model as paid political consultants. The two women reportedly have no experience, but did go on at least one fishing trip in Key West, where one of them posted on Instagram, "Caught 12 dolphins and got so excited that I threw up ... Jk I was just drunk. #ThanksFrank."
Hundreds join March for Science at Lake Eola Park:
Hundreds of people in Orlando joined more than 600 cities across the world on Earth Day in the March for Science, a movement dedicated to defending science in a time when many feel basic facts are under attack. The thousands of scientists and supporters who gathered on April 22 say President Donald Trump's policies, rollback of environmental regulations and budget cuts would threaten work on important issues, such as climate change. Trump, who once tweeted that climate change was a hoax, said in a statement Saturday, "We should remember that rigorous science depends not on ideology, but on a spirit of honest inquiry and robust debate."
Florida wildlife officials put black bear hunt on hold until 2019:
No bear hunts will happen in Florida for at least two years after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission agreed public support was not as high for another hunt. In 2015, hunters killed 304 bears during a controversial hunt that ended after just two days.