New York unveils memorial to Pulse victims, LGBTQ community:
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled the design this week for a memorial dedicated to the LGBTQ community and to the 49 victims killed in the mass shooting at Pulse. Meanwhile, in Florida, Gov. Rick Scott has not publicly mentioned any creation of a state monument dedicated to the Pulse victims and survivors, though he did proclaim June 12 "Pulse Remembrance Day." In a statement, a spokesperson for Scott's office said the governor would be "glad to work with the Legislature to find additional ways to honor the lives of these innocent victims."
Orlando activists stage die-in at Marco Rubio's office over Trumpcare:
To the tune of "Wade in the Water," protesters in Orlando staged a die-in outside U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's downtown office last week to demand he vote against the Republican health care bill that could leave 22 million people uninsured by 2026. Ericka Jones, a disability rights activists, says she and other activists tried to go into the private building to Rubio's office but were stopped by security because they didn't have an appointment, though one of Rubio's aides did come to speak with them.
Florida has a deadly brain-invading parasite called rat lungworm:
A new study says an invasive parasite called rat lungworm has been found in several Florida counties, including Orange County. The parasite, which can cause meningitis in humans and animals, is found in rats, snails and slugs. Symptoms for humans include headaches, stiff neck, fever, vomiting, nausea, and paralysis. To avoid it, don't drink from a water hose, make sure to wash your produce, and don't eat raw or undercooked snails, freshwater shrimp, land crabs or frogs.
Transgender teen sues Florida school board after bathroom restrictions:
A transgender teenage boy is suing the St. Johns County School Board after his Ponte Vedra High School told him he couldn't use the boys' restroom. Drew Adams, 16, began expressing his gender identity at Allen D. Nease High School in 2015, according to Lambda Legal, the organization representing Drew and his mother. As a freshman, he used the boys' restroom without any problems until someone anonymously reported him. School officials told Drew he could only use the building's gender-neutral restrooms. Lambda filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the school board, arguing the district's policy is unconstitutional because it discriminates based on sex, which is protected under the 14th Amendment and Title IX education laws.
