Posted inNews
Florida bill loosening child labor law begins to snatch up support from Democrats
Democratic Rep. Susan Valdes said she trusts the bill can still be changed for the better before its final passage
McKenna Schueler
General news reporter for Orlando Weekly, with a focus on state and local government and workers' rights. You can find her bylines in Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, In These Times, and Facing South.
Posted inNews
Florida lawmakers poised to create new criminal penalty based on fentanyl myth pushed by cops
A wave of misinformation is driving the new proposal
Posted inNews
‘Don’t give up’: VA Orlando Healthcare offers esketamine for treatment-resistant depression
One veteran in Central Florida felt a difference within the first week of treatment.
Posted inNews
Florida child labor bill poised for a vote by full Florida House
The bill would legally allow employers to work minors 16 and older over 30 hours per week and gut other protections for older teens on the job
Posted inNews
Florida Republican co-sponsor of child labor bill owns company with history of wage theft
Sen. Keith Perry is a co-sponsor on legislation that would loosen hazardous work requirements in construction for children as young as 16
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Florida Republicans advance watered-down proposal to weaken child labor law following public pressure
The legislation passed its first committee hearing Wednesday, despite opposition from the Florida PTA and others
Posted inNews
Democrat Tom Keen flips GOP seat, wins House District 35 special election
Keen’s victory offers a ray of hope for Florida Democrats
Posted inArts + Culture
Orlando’s Out and Proud Productions stages a nonbinary version of ‘The Last Five Years’
Grab those tissues, it’s a weeper
Posted inNews
Florida Democrats seek to repeal anti-LGBTQ laws as Republicans propose new ones
‘We need to do what we can to fight back,’ said Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani
Posted inNews
Wells Fargo workers in Daytona Beach vote to unionize, becoming second unionized branch in the country
Wells Fargo is the first major U.S. bank to see a successful union drive.
Posted inNews
Florida Republican cuts public comment on bill that could affect wages of thousands of workers
The proposal would in part erase local living wage laws in cities like Orlando, Tampa and Miami
Posted inNews
Florida bill weakening child labor law gets OK from Republican-dominated House panel
Florida Republicans want to ‘let kids be kids,’ unless those kids can serve as cheap labor.
Posted inNews
OnePulse spent $680,000 in state taxpayer funds on salaries, but will not be audited by state
That money is gone.
Posted inNews
Miami Republican wants to ban virtually all abortions in Florida
The proposed legislation comes less than a year after a six-week abortion ban was approved by the Republican-dominated Legislature
Posted inNews
Orlando city leaders vote to make it illegal to intentionally block sidewalks
Only commissioner Bakari Burns voted against the ordinance, which critics worry will disproportionately target homeless people
Posted inNews
Who enforces child labor law in Florida? Just 7 state employees, plus the feds
As Florida Republicans seek to roll back child labor law, critics argue the state is failing to protect children on the job as it is
Posted inNews
Anti-homeless ordinance in Orlando up for a final vote by city leaders Monday
A public hearing will be held ahead of the final vote on Monday if you’ve got your own two cents to share
Posted inNews
Botched Florida GOP mailer advertises wrong date for January special election
Candidate Erika Booth, a classroom teacher, touts a campaign focused on education and financial literacy skills.
Posted inNews
Florida’s most important stories about abortion rights in 2023
Some leaders sought to further undercut abortion rights, others worked to strengthen them, and activists on both sides carried on the fight
Posted inNews
15 most important Florida stories about workers’ rights in 2023
Nationwide strikes hit Orlando, loose labor laws see legislative support and more