Florida senate passes bill weakening local ethics watchdogs, power of whistleblowers in need of anonymity
If Florida senators’ recent vote counts, local ethics commissions’ ability to investigate tips from whistleblowers in need of anonymity will no longer be a way to stand against public officials’ unethical behavior.
This Week in South Florida Full Episode: January 29, 2023
On the latest episode of This Week in South Florida, host Glenna Milberg welcomes State Sen. Shevrin Jones, Miami-Dade Administrative Judge Nushin Sayfie, Pompano Beach High School students Ally Vagelos, Krystal Felix and Zoey Katz, and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
Attorney Ben Crump plans to sue DeSantis over ban of African American studies course
Florida Senator Shevrin Jones, Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump and others hosted a press conference Wednesday regarding the DeSantis administration’s ban of a proposed Advanced Placement African American Studies course.
This Week in South Florida Full Episode: July 3, 2022
On the latest episode of This Week in South Florida, hosts Michael Putney and Glenna Milberg are joined by State Sen. Shevrin Jones, State Rep. Chip LaMarca, Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Jose Dotres and chair of Miami-Dade County’s Independent Civilian Panel Loreal Arscott.
Through tears, Florida senator says ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill is wrong
Florida senators are preparing to vote Tuesday on the controversial Parental Rights in Education, better known by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill because it prohibits kindergarten through third-grade classroom “instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity.”
This Week in South Florida Full Episode: January 23, 2022
On the latest episode of This Week in South Florida, hosts Michael Putney and Glenna Milberg welcome Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, Broward County Elections Supervisor Joe Scott, State Sen. Shevrin Jones and State Rep. David Borrero.
Florida could shield whites from ‘discomfort’ of racist past
A bill pushed by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that would prohibit public schools and private businesses from making white people feel “discomfort” when they teach students or train employees about discrimination in the nation’s past received its first approval Tuesday.
This Week in South Florida Podcast: December 19, 2021
On the latest episode of the This Week in South Florida podcast, host Michael Putney is joined by infectious disease expert Dr. Aileen Marty, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Broward Teachers Union President Anna Fusco and retired educator and author Dr. Marvin Dunn. The full episode can be seen at the top of this page.
Florida DMV offices return to appointment-only after walk-ins caused overwhelming lines
DMV offices in South Florida are back to operating on an appointment only basis after more than three months of offering walk-in services, where offices were overwhelmed and customers were forced to wait hours in the sun.
Florida: Black community numbers for COVID-19 vaccinations lower than other races
There is a stark contrast between Florida’s Black communities and white communities when it comes to the number of people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the Florida Department of Health, a little over 38,000 Black people have been vaccinated in the state of Florida compared to just over 494,000 white people. The Florida Department of Health has been working with places of worship to boost the number of vaccinations being given out, but is that enough? Community Activist James “Munch” Mungin II said that the church isn’t the main stable in the community anymore. “I think the state, I think the federal government needs to have a better communication plan within the Black community,” said Senator Shevrin Jones (D-35).
Temporary COVID-19 vaccination site administered 500 shots Sunday
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – A South Florida church is working with local leaders to help speed up the process of providing the COVID-19 vaccine to senior citizens. One of the pastors at the event told Local 10 News’ Trent Kelly that a total of 500 vaccinations were expected to be administered on Sunday. Members of the Florida Division of Emergency Management were on site, helping to set up the area where the shots will be administered. The site was run in conjunction with state Senator Shevrin Jones’ office. All 500 spots were locked up well before the event and all recipients of the vaccine were over the age of 65.
This Week in South Florida Podcast: August 23, 2020
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. Guests on the latest episode of the This Week in South Florida podcast include Christina White, Elections Supervisor in Miami-Dade County and Peter Antonacci, Broward Elections Supervisor, as well as Miami-Dade mayoral candidate Daniella Levine Cava, Broward State Attorney candidate Harold Pryor Jr, Broward County Sheriff candidate H. Wayne Clark and local lawmaker Shevrin Jones, who won a state senate primary. Subscribe to the weekly TWISF Podcast on iOS or Android
Free walk-up testing site opens in Broward County
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. Leaders is Broward County will hold a news conference Wednesday morning at a new coronavirus testing site in Pembroke Park. The news conference at the Koinonia Worship Center and Village at 4900 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd. is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.Broward County Mayor Dale Holness will speak at the press briefing, along with Rep. Shevrin Jones, Broward County Commissioner Dr. Barbara Sharief, Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony, West Park Vice Mayor Brian Johnson and West Park Commissioner Felicia Brunson. The walk-up testing site will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday only. No appointments are need to be tested and testing is free to all.
This Week in South Florida: State. Rep Shevrin Jones
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. State Rep. Shevrin Jones is still recovering after testing positive for COVID-19 two weeks ago. In each of the 11 days since his diagnosis, he has kept a video diary of his journey. Those presentations have been part personal sharing, part political challenge, with each coming two minutes at a time. Rep. Jones joined Local 10s Glenna Milberg on This Week in South Florida to discuss his experience with COVID-19 and how hes feeling.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis defends response to COVID-19 despite rising numbers
MIAMI A fractured response to the coronavirus pandemic by elected officials in Florida has many residents wondering who is actually in charge. Ron DeSantis held a long-winded news conference on Monday to defend his response to COVID-19. "You have seen the increase in positivity but there are a lot of parts of Florida that are still in the single digits," said DeSantis. DeSantis wears a mask more frequently to daily briefings, but has not wavered in his plan to let locals lead a patchwork of COVID-19 response. This weekend, state Rep. Shevrin Jones, who currently has COVID-19, asked the governor in a video diary what he and Democratic colleagues wrote in a letter.
Tammy Jackson Act signed into law; ensures inmates in labor receive proper medical attention
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s second Dignity for Incarcerated Women bill, the Tammy Jackson Act, was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. “Dignity Florida, a coalition of formerly incarcerated women, their families, and advocacy organizations across Florida, promoted the bill’s passage,” the news release stated. That bill was also signed into law by the governor and ensures that women receive free menstrual and healthcare products while incarcerated. “I am proud of the work we’ve done unanimously passing the 2019 and 2020 Dignity for Incarcerated Women bills, and seeing both signed into law,” Jones said in a statement. Valencia Gunter is an activist with the New Florida Majority and Dignity Florida, working to advance rights for incarcerated women and girls.
Conflicts arise over support of BLM movement at Lauderhill meeting
LAUDERHILL, Fla. – When it comes to supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, a conflict brewed during the city of Lauderhill’s commission meeting. The city commission meeting was a window into a conversation happening in communities across South Florida. The discussion was requested regarding the Black Lives Matter movement from Lauderhill Commissioner Richard Campbell. “When I see the extent of how diverse the support is, is it makes me have hope,” Campbell said. [RELATED: Watch Commission Meeting In Its Entirety]“There are a lot of reports that say it is the behavior of the victim and circumstance that dictate the actions of police, not race,” Berger said during the virtual meeting.
This Week in South Florida Podcast - June 7, 2020
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. Latoya Ratliff, a South Florida protestor that was hit by apparent rubber bullet, Ruban Roberts, president of the Miami-Dade County branch of the NAACP, South Florida Police Benevolent Association President Steadman Stahl, Florida State Rep. Shevrin Jones and Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak join the This Week in South Florida podcast. Subscribe to the weekly TWISF Podcast on iOS or Android
Black Lives Matter protest goes on, but not in Lauderhill
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. The City of Lauderhill issued a statement Saturday that they had been working with Black Lives Matter to postpone a protest on Sunday. But the group sent a notice on Twitter that it is continuing with its protest in Broward County. We hope to work with Black Lives Matter in the future to secure support from additional public safety agencies as well as identify an appropriate location for a peaceful protest.Good morning everyone! pic.twitter.com/Wsnumcx7E9 Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward (@BLM_Broward) May 31, 2020On Sunday, Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward stated on Twitter that they were continuing ahead with their protest despite law enforcement barring them from entry at the location originally planned. The group has shifted its protest to Huizenga Plaza on East Las Olas Boulevard.
This Week in South Florida podcast - September 8, 2019
MIAMI - Join Glenna Milberg and Michael Putney as they welcome Bahamas Consul General Linda Mackey, Minister of Tourism and Aviation in the Bahamas Dionisio D'Aguilar and Florida State Rep. Shevrin Jones on the "This Week in South Florida" podcast. SUBSCRIBE TO THE TWISF PODCAST - iOS | AndroidCopyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
Aerial views show complete devastation in Bahamas due to Hurricane Dorian
People on the ground described a hellish night as Hurricane Dorian slammed into Grand Bahama Island on Sunday as a Category 5 storm with winds of 180 mph. Here, in their own words, is what people are going through in the Bahamas as they deal with Dorian. 'This needs to end'Vernal Cooper sheltered from Dorian in a government building in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas. 'Howling, blasting, wailing'CNN's Patrick Oppmann described what the storm sounded like Sunday night as Dorian made its way through Grand Bahama Island. Inside the house, water is about 5 feet and will continue to rise.
Witnesses describe scenes of devastation as Dorian batters Bahamas
People on the ground described a hellish night as Hurricane Dorian slammed into Grand Bahama Island on Sunday as a Category 5 storm with winds of 180 mph. Here, in their own words, is what people are going through in the Bahamas as they deal with Dorian. 'This needs to end'Vernal Cooper sheltered from Dorian in a government building in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas. 'Howling, blasting, wailing'CNN's Patrick Oppmann described what the storm sounded like Sunday night as Dorian made its way through Grand Bahama Island. Inside the house, water is about 5 feet and will continue to rise.