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Church Hosts ‘Drag Gospel Worship’ Service Amid Governor’s Ongoing Battle Against Drag for Kids

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Allendale United Methodist Church (AUMC) in St. Petersburg, Florida, hosted a “drag worship” service Sunday amid an ongoing battle in the state over drag shows for kids.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law in May that authorizes the government to fine or suspend the licenses of businesses that violate a prohibition against drag shows with children present. In October, an appeals court barred the law from taking effect, citing first amendment concerns. Florida has asked the Supreme Court to reinstate the ban, saying the injunction, “exceeded the district court’s remedial authority.”

The “Drag Gospel Worship” featured several drag queens, including one who appeared to be dressed up as Jesus Christ, according to video of the service. One drag queen featured in the service, known as “Momma Ashley Rose,” founded the Rose Dynasty Foundation, which raises money for charities with an LGBT focus through “variety shows, carnivals, and children’s shows.”

“Drag, as an art form, is a grand celebration of human creativity and diversity. It embodies the qualities of love, grace, and acceptance that we, as a community, are striving to manifest,” an AUMC program reads. “It’s an unapologetic proclamation that everyone is deserving of love and a place in this world. This display of resilience and courage is an expression of our commitment to honor the sacred worth of all people — regardless of race, sexuality, gender, or background.” (Read more from “Church Hosts ‘Drag Gospel Worship’ Service Amid Governor’s Ongoing Battle Against Drag for Kids” HERE)

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Some Parents Fight to Remove Dave Ramsey’s Finance Book From Classrooms Over Bible References, Other Objections

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Some Florida parents and teachers are fighting to get a finance book written by radio host and money expert Dave Ramsey removed from classrooms, raising concerns about its references to the Bible and other objections, NPR reported.

Pasco County School District received nearly 60 letters from community members demanding the removal of Ramsey’s “Foundations in Personal Finance.”

This year, the Florida Department of Education approved the book as part of a new financial literacy requirement for incoming high school freshmen.

The movement to remove the title from classrooms is being led by Florida Freedom to Read Project, an organization working to prevent conservatives’ “book banning effort” and “censorship attempts.”

“Our vision is to bring together parent-led groups from across the state of Florida and unite our voices to protect every student’s right to access information and ideas,” the nonprofit’s website states. “We want to support our public school districts with fulfilling their duty under the law to keep every decision student-centered, especially as they face the ‘Parents’ Rights’ movement.” (Read more from “Some Parents Fight to Remove Dave Ramsey’s Finance Book From Classrooms Over Bible References, Other Objections” HERE)

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Airlift Ordered by DeSantis Evacuates 300 Americans From Israel

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An airlift operation initiated by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis evacuated 300 American citizens trapped inside Israel and is set to arrive in Florida on Sunday night.

The Messenger reported that the Republican presidential candidate will be at Tampa International Airport, along with Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis, to welcome home those onboard the flight.

DeSantis signed an executive order on Thursday authorizing the state to conduct rescue and evacuation operations in Israel following Hamas’ deadly terror attacks last weekend, which have killed well over two dozen Americans.

In the executive order, DeSantis took a shot at President Joe Biden for another lackluster response to a foreign policy disaster that has unfolded on his watch.

“The Biden administration has failed to launch any form of rescue or evacuation operations for Americans, including Floridians, stranded in the region, and has failed to provide information requested by the State of Florida about any plans for such operations,” DeSantis said.

(Read more from “Airlift Ordered by DeSantis Evacuates 300 Americans From Israel” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

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Woman Found in Alligator’s Jaws Was Arrested for Trespassing Two Months Ago

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The woman whose lifeless body was found clenched between a 14-foot alligator’s jaws was arrested just two months earlier for trespassing on county wetland property.

Sabrina Peckham, 41, was identified by police Saturday as the victim being dragged by the beast in a canal along a residential street in Largo, a small community just four miles south of Clearwater.

The homeless woman was caught by Pinellas County deputies around 6:30 a.m. on July 14 for trespassing onto county wetland just half a mile from where she was found dead Friday, court records show.

Peckman ignored posted signage warning against unlaw entry.

After pleading no contest to the misdemeanor, she was released from the county on Sept. 8 and was ordered to $500. (Read more from “Woman Found in Alligator’s Jaws Was Arrested for Trespassing Two Months Ago” HERE)

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Hurricane Makes Landfall in Florida as Strong Category 3 Storm

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Hurricane Idalia has made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region Wednesday as a strong Category 3 storm.

Idalia made landfall near Keaton Beach in the Florida Big Bend around 7:45 a.m. It maintained its status as a “major” hurricane at the time of landfall with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Hurricane-force winds extend 25 miles out from the storm’s center, but tropical storm-force winds are extending up to 175 miles out from there. However, as of 9:00 a.m., Idalia’s maximum sustained winds had diminished to 110 mph.

(Read more from “Hurricane Makes Landfall in Florida as Strong Category 3 Storm” HERE)

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GOP Rep. Moves to Impeach President Biden Over Alleged Ties to Hunter Dealings

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A Republican congressman from Florida unveiled articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden on Friday, alleging he was deeply tied to allegations and investigations surrounding his son Hunter.

Rep. Greg Steube, a member of the House’s far-right Freedom Caucus, alleged that Biden was complicit in his family members’ business machinations and took steps to protect them from the legal fallout.

“It’s long past time to impeach Joe Biden,” Steube said in a statement. “The evidence continues to mount by the day – the Biden Crime Family has personally profited off Joe’s government positions through bribery, threats, and fraud.”

“Joe Biden must not be allowed to continue to sit in the White House, selling out our country.”

Steube laid out four articles of impeachment: abuse of power, obstruction of justice, fraud and financial involvement in drugs and prostitution. (Read more from “GOP Rep. Moves to Impeach President Biden Over Alleged Ties to Hunter Dealings” HERE)

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Florida State University Fires Professor Behind Retracted Racism Studies: Report

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Florida State University has reportedly fired a professor who had five studies on racism retracted, bringing an end to a years-long, acrimonious conflict over allegations of academic fraud.

Dr. Eric Stewart, Ph.D., was fired on July 13, according to a termination letter obtained by Retraction Watch.

Stewart was terminated for his behavior and his “extreme negligence and incompetence” in “basic data management” that has resulted in an “unprecedented” number of retracted articles and others now in question, wrote James Clark, the school’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

“Decades of research that were once thought to be at the forefront of the criminology discipline have been shown to contain numerous erroneous and false narratives,” Clark wrote, adding that the retractions have “negatively affected the discipline on a national level.” (Read more from “Florida State University Fires Professor Behind Retracted Racism Studies: Report” HERE)

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Mom, 18, Used Fake Hitman Website in Attempt to Kill off 3-Year-Old Son — Allegedly Agreed to Pay $3,000 for Toddler’s Murder

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A young Florida mother was arrested Tuesday after trying to use a parody service to rent a hitman to kill her toddler son.

Jazmin Paez, 18, allegedly solicited an assassin through the fake website RentAHitman.com to take out her 3-year-old before Thursday.

The Miami-Dade mom is accused of submitting pictures of her little boy and the exact location he was going to be, court documents obtained by NBC Miami show.

Investigators posing as the for-hire killer spoke with Paez to flesh out the demented plan, during which time the blood-thirsty mother allegedly agreed to hand over $3,000 for her son’s murder.

After matching her IP address to the home of Paez and speaking with the child’s grandmother — who verified that the intended target was Paez’s child — authorities swooped in to arrest her. (Read more from “Mom, 18, Used Fake Hitman Website in Attempt to Kill off 3-Year-Old Son — Allegedly Agreed to Pay $3,000 for Toddler’s Murder” HERE)

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Federal Judge Blocks Florida Election Law That Would Have Set Limits on Voter Registration

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A federal judge on Monday blocked a Florida election law that would have set limits on voter registration in the state. . .

The legislation, passed this spring, makes it illegal for people convicted of certain felonies and for non-citizens – including those who have permanent legal residency in the US – to collect or handle voter registration applications. Third-party organizations could face fines of up to $50,000 for each ineligible person involved in collecting the applications.

“Florida may, of course, regulate elections, including the voter registration process,” Walker said in the ruling granting a preliminary injunction. “Here, however, the challenged provisions exemplify something Florida has struggled with in recent years; namely, governing within the bounds set by the United States Constitution.”

(Read more from “Federal Judge Blocks Florida Election Law That Would Have Set Limits on Voter Registration” HERE)

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‘America’s Most Wanted’ Murder Suspect Outran Cops for 39 Years, Hid in Plain Sight as California Official

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. . .A Florida man who outran cops for 39 years despite three appearances on “America’s Most Wanted” was caught in California this month while serving as president of a local water board, according to reports.

Donald Santini, 65, vanished from Hillsborough County in 1984 after being named the prime suspect in the brutal strangulation murder of Cynthia Ruth Wood, whose body was found dumped in a canal.

“We are all flabbergasted,” a colleague of Santini on the Lake Morena Views Mutual Water Company told ABC 10.

“He was a pillar of the community. He seemed upstanding. He was an advocate, non-confrontational, and was hardly hiding. I am still trying to process all of this.”

Using more than a dozen aliases and frequent changes of location, Santini eluded capture before finally being tracked down to Campo, a rural community of just 3,000 people an hour outside of San Diego. (Read more from “‘America’s Most Wanted’ Murder Suspect Outran Cops for 39 Years, Hid in Plain Sight as California Official” HERE)

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