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Published by Reuters UK By Krisztina Than BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary’s Christian LGBT community hopes a visit by Pope Francis to Budapest next week can help heal wounds in a deeply divided society amid an intensifying anti-LGBT campaign by the country’s deeply conservative government. Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a right-wing nationalist in power since 2010, has sought to promote social policies he says safeguard Christian values against Western liberalism. He has targeted gender issues and what he calls LGBT propaganda in his campaign over the past few years, along with migrants. The pope will make an official vis… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) has sent Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts a strongly-worded invitation to testify over his “decade-long failure” to fix the ethics problems he and his justices have created which have created a “crisis of public confidence,” but several Republican Senators are warning against him appearing. Declaring that the “status quo is no longer tenable,” Chairman Durbin says in his invitation (copy below) that “there has been a steady stream of revelations regarding Justices falling short of the ethical standards expected of other federal judges and, i… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Katharine Jackson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a Republican bill intended to ban transgender women and girls from competing in women’s and girls’ school sports, delivering at least a short-term victory to social conservatives. The House passed the measure by 219-203 but it has little chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate. President Joe Biden has also voiced his opposition to the bill, calling it discriminatory, and has vowed to veto it if needed. Still, the vote was a win for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy who hopes to keep his narrow Republican majority unified, as a fight over raising the nation’s debt ceiling looms. “There’s a reason why there’s men and women’s sports,” McCarthy told reporters on the grounds of the Capitol, where he held a news conference with three female athletes who had competed with transgender athletes and lost. “It’s about fairness. And if there’s one final fiber of America, it’s about giving people an opportunity.” If passed, the bill would change the civil rights law known as Title IX to require that a student’s sex be “based on an individual’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” Enacted in 1972, Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities that receive federal funding. It was created to ensure equal opportunity for participation and opened the door for more women in sports. Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal, who said during Wednesday’s debate that she is raising a transgender daughter, said, “This bill fuels a virulent hate campaign against kids who just want to play with their friends.” The White House on Monday said the bill would effectively deny access to sports for transgender students, even at the elementary school level. Republicans have stepped up their focus on transgender youth. On Wednesday, Florida education officials voted to ban classroom instruction on gender identity and social orientation in public schools through high school. That expanded on a law signed by likely Republican presidential candidate Governor Ron DeSantis, which had banned such lessons for younger students and was derided by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Twenty-one U.S. states already have transgender school sports bans in place, according to the Human Rights Campaign LGBTQ advocacy group. The Biden administration has proposed prohibiting schools from banning transgender athletes from playing on teams consistent with their gender identities, with exceptions possible for the highest levels of competition. (Reporting by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) – Advocacy groups filed a lawsuit on Thursday seeking to strike down a new Tennessee law that bans doctors from providing gender-affirming medical treatment such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery to transgender minors. The American Civil Liberties Union and LGBTQ group Lambda Legal in a lawsuit filed in Nashville, Tennessee federal court say the law, which takes effect July 1, unlawfully discriminates against transgender people based on their sex. The law would ban any medical procedure performed for the purpose of enabling a minor to identify with a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth. Republican state lawmakers who passed the bill in February said it was necessary to protect young people from being permanently harmed. But many medical associations have said the law is transphobic and that gender-affirming care can be life-saving. The new lawsuit says depriving transgender youth of medically necessary care will have devastating consequences for them and their families. Untreated gender dysphoria can trigger anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts, the groups said. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three families with transgender children and a Memphis-based doctor who performs gender-affirming procedures. The office of Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, a Republican, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the ban into law last month along with a separate measure restricting drag performances in public. A federal judge blocked the drag law earlier this month pending the outcome of a lawsuit by an LGBTQ theater group. The laws are part of escalating efforts by Republican lawmakers to regulate the conduct of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill intended to ban transgender women and girls from competing in women’s and girls’ school sports. The proposal is seen as having little chance of passing the Democrat-led Senate. The ACLU and Lambda Legal claim in Thursday’s lawsuit that Tennessee’s law violates the Equal Protection clause of the U.S. Constitution by singling out transgender people. They also say the law violates the federal Affordable Care Act, which prohibits sex discrimination in the provision of healthcare. Several other U.S. states have banned gender-affirming care for minors, and over the last several weeks groups have sued over laws adopted in Utah, Florida, Indiana and Arkansas. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Richard Chang) View the full article

Published by Raw Story Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has taken his war against Disney way too far, wrote columnist Eugene Robinson for The Washington Post on Thursday — to the point where even former President Donald Trump is looking like the adult in the room. “Is there something wrong with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis? What kind of politician declares war against Mickey Mouse and Tinker Bell? Does he have some sort of problem with impulse control?” wrote Robinson. “I mean, seriously, what kind of governor threatens the revenue of a company that is his state’s biggest private employer, No. 1 corporate taxpayer and most po… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Fox News admitted it lied as part of the historic $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems — but its millions of viewers won’t hear that. The network’s highest-ranking stars, chiefly Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity, will not issue on-air retractions despite their lies about the 2020 presidential election, RadarOnline.com has learned. Mega Dominion had cited 20 specific broadcasts and tweets in which the voting company argued Fox News knowingly promoted lies that it had rigged the presidential election. Those anchors entangled also included Jeanine Pirro, Lou Dobbs and Maria Bartiromo. But none of the network’s stars will be forced to issue groveling retractions or apologies to Fox News viewers or Dominion, despite the company initially seeking that as part of the settlement, sources told RadarOnline.com. “During the settlement negotiations, Fox maintained all along that it would not issue on-air apologies or retractions,” a source said. Mega “Privately, Fox believed it would have to pay a number, but it wasn’t prepared to willingly do anything to compromise its talent to its audience — or compromise its business. Added the insider: “The payout might hurt in the hip pocket but the business of Fox News continues.” Fired Fox News Producer Abby Grossberg Reveals She Has ‘Secret Recordings’ Relevant To Dominion’s $1.6B Lawsuit Against Embattled Network Ex-Prez Donald Trump Unleashes On Fox News In 2 AM Rant, Demands Network ‘FINALLY ADMIT’ 2020 Election Was Stolen Fox News Reaches $787.5 Million Settlement With Dominion Voting Systems In Defamation Case Tuesday’s last-second settlement ended a messy two-year legal battle and avoided what was being billed as the media trial of the century. The witness list for the trial included Fox boss Rupert Murdoch, his son Lachlan Murdoch, and top-rated anchors like Hannity and Carlson. Mega The settlement — hailed widely in the media as ground-breaking — represents “vindication and accountability,” according to Dominion lawyer Justin Nelson. “For our democracy to endure for another 250 years, and hopefully much longer, we must share a commitment to facts… Today represents a ringing endorsement for truth and for democracy.” Fox said in a statement that it “acknowledge[s] the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false.” “This settlement reflects Fox’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards,” it added in a statement. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. Mega “We are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues.” The channel’s highest-ranking executives and biggest stars, such as Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity, would have been forced to confront how lies they never believed were promoted on the network’s air to its millions of loyal viewers. And RadarOnline.com has been told by sources that the settlement the network reached with Dominion will not require its dishonest personalities to acknowledge reality and issue retractions on the air. View the full article

Published by AFP Analysts had predicted the Fox News trial could have been one of the most consequential libel hearings in US legal history New York (AFP) – Fox News’s massive payout to settle a defamation case doesn’t end its legal woes, with the network facing other lawsuits and shareholder action over its broadcasting of election conspiracy theories. The news behemoth agreed Tuesday to pay $787.5 million to voting technology company Dominion, which sued the channel for airing false claims that its machines were used to steal the 2020 presidential ballot from Donald Trump. The right-wing network still faces a $2.7 billion lawsuit from another electronic voting company — Smartmatic — which claims that Fox News broadcast lies that “decimated” its business prospects. “Dominion’s litigation exposed some of the misconduct and damage caused by Fox’s disinformation campaign. Smartmatic will expose the rest,” Smartmatic attorney J. Erik Connolly vowed in a statement. He added that the company was “committed to clearing its name, recouping the significant damage done to the company, and holding Fox accountable for undermining democracy.” Tuesday’s agreement, announced after jury selection and just before opening arguments were due to start, was settled for about half the $1.6 billion that Dominion initially sought. It avoided a high-profile trial that would have seen a parade of Fox personalities, including owner Rupert Murdoch and star anchor Tucker Carlson, forced to testify. Fox News, which argued that it was protected by First Amendment free speech rights, acknowledged in a statement an earlier ruling by the presiding judge that the conservative network had broadcast false claims. But US media reported that the channel’s anchors will neither have to admit nor apologize on air for spreading the falsehoods — comments that would likely anger its loyal viewers. At the heart of the trial was going to be whether Fox News aired the falsehoods despite knowing they were untrue. To win, Dominion would have to have proven “actual malice” — that Fox knew the information was wrong or had a “reckless disregard” for the truth. ‘Emboldened’ The high bar has been a bedrock of US media law since 1964. “The big takeaway is that the underlying law didn’t change,” Syracuse law professor William Banks told AFP. “So though there may be emboldened plaintiffs they still have a high burden of proof,” he added. Smartmatic sued Fox News in a New York state court in February 2021, alleging the network knowingly aired more than 100 false statements that its technology was used to rig votes for Joe Biden. A spokesperson for Fox News did not respond to a request for comment but the network has denied the allegations in previous statements. Smartmatic’s complaint cites comments by former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and as well as anchors including Lou Dobbs and Jeanine Pirro. In February this year, a New York appeals court rejected Fox News’s request to dismiss the case. A trial date has not yet been set. Last month, a Fox News producer filed two lawsuits against the network, alleging that its lawyers coerced her into giving false testimony in the Dominion case and claiming a “hostile work environment.” Fox is also reportedly facing separate claims from shareholders accusing it of being in breach of fiduciary duties related to its coverage of Trump’s claims. One complaint has already been submitted to a chancery court, the Financial Times has reported. Murdoch admitted in a deposition in the Dominion case that some on-air hosts had “endorsed” Trump’s lie but he denied that the network in its entirety had pushed it, according to court documents filed by Dominion. View the full article

Published by Reuters LONDON (Reuters) – Pope Francis has gifted fragments believed to be from the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified to form part of a new processional cross which will be used at the coronation of Britain’s King Charles next month. The new cross, made from recycled silver along with Welsh slate and reclaimed wood, was a gift from the king to the Church in Wales to mark its centenary in 2020. It will lead the coronation procession at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6. It features two small shards from the relic donated by the pope which have been shaped into a cross behind a rose crystal gemstone. “In a significant ecumenical gesture, the Cross of Wales will incorporate a relic of the True Cross, the personal gift of Pope Francis to His Majesty The King to mark the Coronation,” the Church in Wales, a branch of the Anglican Church, said in a statement. After the coronation, the cross will be shared between the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches in Wales. “Its design speaks to our Christian faith, our heritage, our resources and our commitment to sustainability,” said Andrew John, the Anglican Archbishop of Wales, who blessed the cross at a service on Wednesday in Llandudno in North Wales. “We are delighted too that its first use will be to guide their majesties into Westminster Abbey at the Coronation Service.” Charles has close links to Wales. As heir to the British throne, he held the ancient title of Prince of Wales until he became king last September on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. His son and heir William is now Prince of Wales. (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Gareth Jones) View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega A former member of Menudo came forward with shocking claims that Jose Menendez, the slain father of imprisoned Menendez brothers Lyle and Erik, sexually assaulted him during his childhood, RadarOnline.com has learned. Roy Rosselló detailed a time years ago when Jose was affiliated with Menudo because he had signed the group as an executive of RCA Records, claiming Jose drugged and raped him during a visit to his home in New Jersey. Menudomega Rosselló was 14 at the time, the Claridad crooner said in a segment that aired on the Today show April 18 from the upcoming three-part docuseries scheduled to premiere on Peacock. “That’s the man here that raped me,” he said while pointing to a photo of Jose, who was shot dead by his sons in 1989. “That’s the pedophile.” Rosselló declared, “It’s time for the world to know the truth.” Rossello said that he was also assaulted by one of Menudo’s former managers, Edgardo Diaz, a claim that Diaz vehemently denied. Menudomega CRIME SCENE PHOTOS: Revisit The Menendez Brothers’ Home Where Their Parents Were Brutally Murdered Grim Anniversary: The Menendez Brothers’ Horrific Parent Murders 30 Years Later Marriages, Death Plots & Escape Plan: The Menendez Brothers’ Prison Secrets Exposed! Following two hung juries and mistrials, the siblings were retried together in 1996 and found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for gunning down their father, Jose, as well as their mother, Mary Louise, a former beauty queen AKA Kitty, inside of their Beverly Hills home. After the brothers were convicted of the killings, a judge ruled that their claims of sexual abuse involving Jose were inadmissible. Although prior appeals from Lyle and Erik have been denied, it is wondered if Rosselló’s allegations could be the catalyst for a new trial. erik menendezmega “Frankly I feel horrible. It’s sad to know that there was another victim of my father,” Erik said amid the explosive claims. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. “It’s a remarkable thing to happen so many decades later. Of course you know that would have made a difference at trial. Certainly that would have made an enormous difference because the entire trial centered on the belief of these events,” added Lyle. lyle menendezmega View the full article

Published by Raw Story Staffers at a subdivision of the National Archives and Records Administration, a federal agency Donald Trump has recently assailed as “a radical left troublemaking organization,” went out of their way to save the former president from embarrassment by making a last-minute substitution in a photo spread for an official publication commemorating his presidency. Emails exclusively obtained by Raw Story show that one staffer flagged a photo that was slated for inclusion in an official presidential papers volume because “Trump’s mouth is a little too close for comfort to the child’s mouth.” The pho… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Theater audiences will get to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee when a new musical based on Muhammad Ali enters the ring. “Ali,” based on the life of the late, great boxer and civil rights activist, will have its world premiere at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts in his hometown of Louisville in the fall of 2024. Lead producer Richard Willis announced Tuesday that Clint Dyer will write and direct the production, while Teddy Abrams will compose the music. Dyer currently serves as the deputy artistic director of London’s National Theatre. Doing double duty as the … Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – British pop star Elton John urged U.S. senators on Wednesday not to ease up on the fight against HIV and AIDS, as Congress faces a September deadline for reauthorizing the multi-billion-dollar U.S. program to fight the disease. “There is no better symbol of American greatness than PEPFAR, and you should all be very proud of your extraordinary efforts,” John, whose foundation has raised hundreds of millions of dollars to fight AIDS, told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on reauthorizing the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Facebook A GoFundMe page set up for Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager from Kansas City who was shot twice after he rang the wrong doorbell, reached $3 million in donations, RadarOnline.com has learned. On April 13, Yarl, 16, went to pick up his younger siblings when he accidentally approached the wrong home. Upon ringing the doorbell, the homeowner, Andrew Lester, 84, shot him twice through the glass door. GoFundMe After back-to-back mass shootings in Nashville and Louisville, the horrifying news of the innocent teenager being senselessly shot by the man was almost too much to bear. The GoFundMe, organized by Yarl’s aunt Faith Spoonmore, provided insight into the teen’s condition. “Ralph is currently at home with the family. He can ambulate and communicate,” the update read. “A true miracle considering what he survived.” After the teen was shot, he managed to gather himself enough to run to neighbors for help. Sadly, it took approaching three different homeowners until someonesprang into action. GoFundMe Florida Transgender Teacher Removed From Middle School After Allegedly Threatening To ‘Shoot’ Students Good Samaritan Recalls Rushing To Ralph Yarl’s Aid After Teen Was Shot For Ringing The Wrong Doorbell Ex-Planned Parenthood Exec Takes His Own Life After Botched Police Raid Yarl was taken to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries and has since been released. “Each day is different. He has a long road ahead,” the update continued. “However, we are very thankful that he is still here with us.” Donors from around the world flocked to the GoFundMe page to offer their support and leave encouraging messages for the family. mega “People should not be shot for ringing a doorbell. Thank goodness you survived this terrible attack,” wrote one donor who wished Yarl a speedy recovery. “Brave young man, so sorry this happened to you. With love from Ireland,” read another note from a donor overseas. The GoFundMe update included an acknowledgment of the donors’ kind words. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. “I’ve been taking the time to read the emails and comments to Ralph,” the update stated. “It warms our hearts to see him smile at all the kind words.” According to the GoFundMe, donations will be put towards Yarl’s medical expenses and recovery. Any funds left over “will be used for college expenses at Texas A&M, a trip to West Africa, and other expenses.” Yarl aspired to be a chemical engineer and planned to attend Texas A&M University, with hopes of earning a scholarship for academics or music. View the full article

Published by uInterview.com FormerSaturday Night Live star, Victoria Jackson, went on a wild rant about homosexuality at a city council meeting in Franklin, Tennessee. Jackson, who was a member of SNL from 1986 to 1992, took to the podium to speak out against the LGBTQ community and their efforts to celebrate Pride this year. She was one of the many residents attending the meeting to speak for or against the local Gay Pride parade. > 50 ‘BEST’ CELEBRITY MUGSHOTS – FAMOUS PEOPLE AT THEIR LOWEST Footage of Jackson, 63, speaking at the meeting was streamed on the city’s YouTube channel, which shows the comedian introducing … Read More View the full article

Published by SI Swim By Lauren Chan 2023 SI Swimsuit rookie, Lauren Chan, gets vulnerable about finding herself and starting anew. Atop the list of things I never thought I’d do, in escalating order: be in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, be gay and come out to the world in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. But Taylor Swift is single again, so: I’m here! I’m a lesbian! And I’m telling you right now! Because I identified as straight until recently, most people I’ve privately come out to have been surprised at this change in my sexuality. First and foremost: me. Believe it or not, I was shocked that I—a 30-something, married… Read More View the full article

Published by uInterview video Frankie Grande on LGBTQ horror film ‘Summoning Sylvia’ Join the uInterview channel for access to exclusive videos & opportunities to ask our celebrity guests your questions: https://bit.ly/40F7coQ LEAVE A COMMENT OR A REACTION so we know how you really feel! Follow us: IG: @uinterview Twitter: @uInterview Facebook: @uInterview Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner attacked the transgender community by claiming trans individuals were “oversaturated” and “destroying the family unit,” despite being a member herself, RadarOnline.comhas learned. Caitlyn made the bizarre remarks when announcing her new PAC, Fairness First, which zones in on “parent rights” and keeping “boys out of women’s sports.” Caitlyn ruffled feathers with her latest comments about fellow trans-woman Dylan Mulvaney‘s brand deals with Nike and Bud Light. mega Caitlyn spoke about the Fairness First PAC initiative to Breitbart. The Olympian, who made an unsuccessful run for California governor in 2021, claimed that “state laws” were needed to “ultimately govern our schools at a state level.” “They need to provide state-level guidance to their local school boards, from a legislative perspective, to govern who can compete in what leagues,” Caitlyn told the outlet as she noted that a key issue was boys participating in girls’ sports. mega Caitlyn Jenner SLAMS Nike, Accuses Brand Of Going ‘Woke’ With Transgender TikToker Dylan Mulvaney Partnership Bud Light Boycott: Megyn Kelly Says Embattled Brewery Should Have Teamed Up With Caitlyn Jenner Instead Of Dylan Mulvaney Caitlyn Jenner Sucking Up To Sean Hannity & Tucker Carlson To Fulfill Her Political Ambitions: Sources “Our advocacy is to align athletes with sports that are at a chromosomal or DNA level — not birth certificate,” Caitlyn continued. “Which has been extremely visible in sports, is an effort to break down the family unit.” The outspoken conservative said that “the family unit” was “under assault and looking to be replaced by teachers.” In a more direct attack, Caitlyn went after the “radical rainbow mafia.” Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. mega Caitlyn boasted about being Fairness First’s spokesperson — and how her exposure as a Fox News contributor helped elect “officials from school boards, the state level and the federal level, to work on policy issues and advocate for our recommendations.” The former reality star doubled down on the PAC’s widespread commitment to the “family unit” and its boots-on-the-ground effort to keep teachers out of “parental rights.” “We have events and grassroots partnerships in the works to show up to school board meetings, state capitols to testify, LGBT people to testify in congress, to stop the radical rainbow mafia,” Caitlyn stated. mega When asked if transgender rights would be a tipping point issue for conservatives, Caitlyn stayed true to her PAC’s “parental rights” core. “I think this actually comes down to parental rights. Big government left-wing liberals are all about destroying the family unit, at any cost,” Caitlyn replied. “That means government gets to take the place of the parents and the families.” While Caitlyn acknowledged that “trans is not made up or fake,” she claimed that “trans” was “oversaturated due to indoctrination and is the latest way the left is destroying the family unit.” The ex-E! star warned that “we won’t see the true impact” of minors transitioning “for years to come.” View the full article

Published by AFP Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, won reelection in 2022 and has made battling a supposed progressive 'woke' ideology a central concern of his second term Miami (AFP) – Florida on Wednesday extended its controversial ban on lessons related to gender identity and sexual orientation to all school grades, a move pushed by the southern US state’s Republican governor and likely presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. Dubbed by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, the policy was initially limited to kindergarten through third grade, but the state’s Board of Education on Wednesday approved an expansion to grades four through 12. The expansion had already been approved by the Department of Education, which like the board is led by DeSantis appointees, and does not need legislative approval to take effect. The new rule stipulates that teachers “shall not intentionally provide classroom instruction to students in grades 4 through 12 on sexual orientation or gender identity unless such instruction is … expressly required by state academic standards.” It also allows for an exemption if the lesson is “part of a reproductive health course or health lesson for which a student’s parent has the option to have his or her student not attend.” Teachers who violate the policy could have their licenses suspended or revoked, according to the text. Equality Florida, an LGBTQ rights group, expressed outrage at the move. “Shame on the DeSantis Administration for putting a target on the backs of LGBTQ Floridians,” the group said in a statement. It accused Republican officials of having a “lust for government censorship.” DeSantis, who won reelection in 2022 in a landslide victory, has made battling politicians, teachers and businesses he accuses of wanting to impose a progressive “woke” ideology on others a central concern of his second term. He has increasingly courted conservative voters with controversial proposals on education and immigration in recent months, as jockeying for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination heats up. A rising star of the American right, DeSantis is widely expected to go toe-to-toe with former president Donald Trump, who has already declared his candidacy. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Dawn Chmielewski and Lisa Richwine (Reuters) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ new oversight board has discovered another “11th hour agreement” that allows Walt Disney Co to set its own utility rates at its Orlando theme parks, the board’s chairman said on Wednesday. A Disney subsidiary, which provides utility services to the central Florida district that includes the Walt Disney World Resort, negotiated an agreement in February to extend its contract through 2032, Chairman Martin Garcia said at a public meeting. Disney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. “Last Friday afternoon I learned for the first time about one of these new 11th hour agreements entered into between Disney and the district. This one relates to our utility services,” Garcia said. “We’ll have to evaluate the legality of that agreement, that essentially enables Disney to set their utility rates. “I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Garcia said. The board was established to provide state oversight of a special district around Walt Disney World. DeSantis, a likely Republican presidential candidate who has frequently attacked “woke Disney,” said the company has long operated with an “unfair advantage” in the state through the district. He has previously complained about an agreement Disney made with outgoing board members to preserve the company’s option to add a fifth major theme park and more retail space and hotel rooms at the resort. Legislation filed this week would seek to invalidate the agreement. State Republicans last year began targeting Disney after it publicly clashed with DeSantis over a law that restricts classroom instruction of gender and sexual orientation. Republicans named the bill the Parental Rights in Education Act, while opponents criticized it as the “Don’t say gay” law. Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger has called moves to limit Disney’s oversight of its theme parks “anti-business” and “anti-Florida.” (Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) View the full article