COVID politics leave a Florida public hospital shaken
An internal review last month found that Sarasota Memorial, one of Florida's largest public hospitals, did far better than some of its competitors in saving COVID patients’ lives. But that did little to quell detractors, whose campaign against the hospital has not relented. The hospital had become the latest public institution under siege by an increasingly large and vocal right-wing contingent in one of Florida’s most affluent counties, where a backlash to pandemic policies has started reshaping local government.
sun-sentinel.comNew College conservative board votes to abolish DEI office
Trustees picked by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to oversee New College of Florida voted Tuesday to abolish its small office that handles diversity, equity and inclusion programs targeted by conservatives throughout the state university system.
Hurricane Ian: A Lesson on Privilege
Late September was filled with great uncertainty as Hurricane Ian approached South Florida. It became clear that Hurricane Ian would have little effect on Miami. Hurricane Ian is a perfect example of natural disasters exposing inequity in society. In hindsight, it’s easy to see how fortunate southeast Florida was to evade Hurricane Ian, but is that enough? The road to recovery from Hurricane Ian will be long and costly.
themiamihurricane.comDeSantis: More doses of coronavirus vaccine coming to Florida
Appearing at a community center in Venice on Wednesday, the governor said that more of Florida’s allotment — at least for now — will go to counties where fewer seniors have been vaccinated. On Wednesday, that was Sarasota County. Venice will get 3,000 doses to give out to seniors at a state-run site, and Walmart could soon give doses out at some of its Sarasota County pharmacies.
sun-sentinel.comSarasota farm finds new way to sell crops
Nicole Bozkurt Sarasota, Florida 2 p.m. Thursday, April 23Sarasota farm finds new way to sell cropsWhile the public ravages the supermarkets for the last of the produce available, Worden Farm has found a new way to sell its organic goods, and without the help of local grocery stores. The pandemic has sparked a new creation for the farm: veggie boxes. Each $25 box is packed full of a variety of organic vegetables and delivered to homes throughout Sarasota County and St. Petersburg. With a surplus of vegetables, the Farm has even begun donating its veggie boxes to local, struggling families who recently lost jobs due to the pandemic. A list of recipes can be found on its website, Worden Farm to Table.Worden Farm is an 85-acre certified organic family farm in Southwest Florida that has been in business since 2003.
themiamihurricane.comThoughts At Large
The Gantt ReportBy Lucius GanttTHOUGHTS AT LARGE:Keep an eye on whats going on in Sarasota, Florida. A law suit filed in federal court in Tampa accuses Sarasota County of violating the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by shifting the boundaries of County Commissioner Mike Morans District 1. Wealthy Floridian Hugh Culverhouse Jr., an investor in hedge funds, oil and gas, is putting his name and money behind the law suit. The Oyibo family has accused a hospital of medical malpractice after a severe case of gout affecting Usman Oyibo was misdiagnosed and labeled as a mysterious unknown disease. Trump has raised money and Russians have contributed money to Senators that are willing to sell their votes and support to the highest bidders.
thewestsidegazette.comHypnotized to death? School reaches settlement with families after teens die
The families of three Florida high school students who died after their principal hypnotized them have prevailed in a wrongful death suit against the school. Each family will receive $200,000 in a legal settlement with the Sarasota County school board. But the parents of one of the victims, Brittany Palumbo, told CBS News this case is about raising awareness, not money. Vladimir Duthiers reports.
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