Latest news with #JamesUthmeier
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Gulf World Marine Park: Florida opens criminal investigation into dolphin deaths
Several dolphins have reportedly died over the span of five months at a Florida marine park and aquarium, prompting several investigations, including a statewide criminal investigation, according to officials and media reports. Attorney General James Uthmeier said Friday that his office had opened criminal investigations into Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, Florida, and its apparent parent company, Mexico-based The Dolphin Company. Concerns have been raised in recent weeks and months following the reported deaths of five dolphins and concerning inspections noting algae-filled swimming pools and tanks, and low staffing to maintain the facility. The FWC and the USDA, which oversees marine care, animal movements, and facility inspections, are also investigating. What we know Five dolphins under the care of Gulf World Marine Park in Florida's Panhandle have died since October, according to several media reports, citing Florida state Sen. Jay Trumbull. Sen. Trumbull posted an update on March 28 that a second dolphin had died, marking two dolphin deaths in a month. Additional reports indicate that three dolphins died over the span of a week in October 2024. "Another dolphin has died at Gulf World. This marks the second in just over a month—and it's part of a disturbing and unacceptable pattern. These are not isolated incidents—they are signs of failure, and they demand immediate action," Sen. Trumbull said in a Facebook post. "From the moment we were first made aware of the situation, we demanded action. We engaged with all relevant state agencies immediately to intercede in any way possible and have continued to press for swift intervention ever since." The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has conducted 19 inspections at Gulf World Marine Park since 2014. The most recent inspections were conducted on Jan. 8 and March 4, 2025. Those inspection reports detail a facility seemingly in disrepair: "All the dolphin pools still have an excessive amount of at least 6 inches of algae bloom along all the walls and bottom of pools and clumps of algae floating in pools" - March 4 inspection "When the APHIS inspector was standing above the main pool, looking down into the water, it was difficult to see the dolphins if they are approximately three feet below the water" - March 4 inspection "At the time of the inspection, there is no working filter for dolphin east pool which went down on November 13, 2024. According to staff, the filtration for dolphin west is only functioning at 50 percent" - Jan. 8 inspection "There is an abundance of algae growth in multiple dolphin pools with the inspector scraping algae off a step that was almost 6 inches in length" - Jan. 8 inspection "The facility has lost six maintenance employees in the past three months leaving them with two maintenance employees. Additionally the facility has lost seven animal care employees in the past three months" - Jan. 8 inspection "At the time of the inspection, the penguins had been moved to an indoor room due to colder temperatures. The room where the animals are housed appears to be an storage space with carpet, old sound equipment with cords hanging down the cabinets, paint for crafts in the area, dust and debris throughout the room" - Jan. 8 inspection "The perimeter around the dolphin stadium pool is in the early stages of disrepair with paint flaking off right at the edge of the pool" - Jan. 8 inspection "The facility still has not provided shade over the far side of dolphin east pool where dry guest interactions are done, or the over the main show stage where the dolphins station for food during training sessions with the trainers or during public guest interactions after shows" - Jan. 8 inspection "Along the far wall of the sea lion stadium pool where a seal was swimming, rust is still coming through the wall and running down the wall and into the water" - Jan. 8 inspection FOX 35 Orlando reached out to The Dolphin Company and Gulf World Marine Park on Friday for comment, but did not hear back. Click to open this PDF in a new window. Click to open this PDF in a new window. On March 1, a dolphin named "Jett" died after performing a trick during a public show. He was found on the bottom of the pool with blunt force trauma to his rostrum and skull, according to the March 4, 2025, inspection report. "When he came down into the water he went to the bottom of the pool and did not resurface. Due to excessive algae growth, the trainers could not visualize what occurred and according to conversations with the staff, they believed he was hanging out on the bottom of the pool because he did not receive a bridge reinforcer," the report states. "The trainers did not suspect anything was wrong, until he did not resurface in a timely manner. The trainers then separated the remaining dolphins, cleared the stadium and entered the pool to find him on the bottom. When he was pulled to the surface there was evidence of trauma to his rostrum, and it was clarified by the veterinarian that he was deceased. Preliminary necropsy results confirmed that cause of death was blunt force trauma to his rostrum and skull." A vet theorized that when the dolphin re-entered the water during the show, he hit a shallow shelf, damaging his rostrum and skull. "Due to the lack of clarity in the water and the inability for the trainers to see what happened, all reaction time was significantly delayed," the inspection stated. USA Today, citing Marine Mammal Inventory Reports, noted that the three dolphins who died in October 2024 were euthanized due to "an unspecified life-threatening condition, a bacterial lung disease and a systemic infection." Staff reportedly blamed construction near a pool where the dolphins were living on the deaths. According to its website, The Dolphin Company operates 21 dolphin experiences and marine aquariums in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Italy. There are four in Florida: Gulf World, Panama City Marineland, St. Augustine Miami Seaquarium, Miami Dolphin Connection, Duck Key It's unclear if the state's investigation includes the other Florida facilites. According to USA Today, The Dolphin Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 31 in Delware. The report said the company wants $8 million in debtor-in-possession funding or financing to restructure the business. USA Today reported that Gulf World Marine Park was sold to The Dolphin Company in 2015 for $15 million, citing court documents. According to its website, Gulf World was founded on Memorial Day in 1970. What they're saying "Thank you, @AGJamesUthmeier for your leadership on this matter. The FWC is fully committed to coordinating with the Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution to ensure justice is served and Florida's marine life is protected from abuse" - FWC in a X post on May 30. "Today, my office opened a statewide criminal investigation into Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach and its Mexico-based parent company, The Dolphin Company" - Attorney General James Uthmeier in a X post on May 30 "Gulf World Marine Park is a Class C Exhibitor, license number 58-C-0992. APHIS has been in regular contact with the facility and has been conducting frequent inspections. The most recent inspection posted to the Public Search Tool is from a March 4 inspection" - USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service "This remains an active ongoing criminal investigation in conjunction with local, state, and federal officials, including the State Attorney's Office. FWC recognizes and shares the rightful concerns of the community and will provide updates as soon as they become available" - FWC in a X post on May 28. "The reported dangers to worker, visitor, and animal safety at Gulf World must be addressed without delay. City, county, state, and federal representatives are urgently working together to demand Gulf World comply with all investigations and applicable regulations. We continue to invite Gulf World to collaborate with us" - Panama City Beach Mayor Stuart Tettemer, March 24 Requests for comment were sent to Gulf World Marine Park and The Dolphin Company via their websites. The Source The information in this article comes from statements and/or social media posts from Attorney General James Uthmeier, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, public USDA inspection reports, local and national media reports, and a March 24 news release from the City of Panama Beach.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Snapchat Snaps Back on State Law
The company that operates Snapchat asked a federal judge this week to put on hold — or reject — a lawsuit filed by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier alleging violations of a 2024 state law aimed at keeping children off some social-media platforms. Attorneys for Snap Inc. argued in a 49-page filing Wednesday that Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker should issue a stay of Uthmeier's lawsuit while a case filed last year by the tech-industry groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association plays out. The industry groups, which allege the law (HB 3) violates First Amendment rights, are seeking a preliminary injunction to block the measure. 'Snap — through its membership in NetChoice — and the attorney general have fully briefed and submitted their arguments on the motion for a preliminary injunction to enjoin HB 3 under the First Amendment, and a decision granting that motion would dramatically affect the disputes in the present case,' Snap's attorneys wrote. 'Allowing the present case to proceed before that decision would be duplicative, wasteful, and unfair.' But if Walker turns down the request for a stay, Snap argued he should dismiss Uthmeier's lawsuit. The law seeks to prevent children under age 16 from opening social-media accounts on platforms that meet certain criteria — though it would allow parents to give consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to have accounts. Children under 14 could not open accounts. 'The statute categorically bars individuals under age 14 from creating accounts on the websites it covers and requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds, infringing on protected speech of minors,' wrote Snap's attorneys, who include former state Solicitor General Christopher Kise. 'As numerous courts have concluded, requiring minors to obtain parental consent before accessing 'social media' abridges First Amendment rights.' Uthmeier filed the lawsuit April 21 in state court in Santa Rosa County, with the case moved last week to federal court. The law was one of the highest-profile issues of the 2024 legislative session, with supporters saying it targets addictive features of social-media platforms — a key argument in Uthmeier's lawsuit against Snap. 'Despite being subject to HB 3, Snap contracts with and provides accounts to Florida users who it knows are younger than 14,' the lawsuit said. 'It also fails to seek parental consent before contracting with and providing accounts to Florida users who it knows are 14 or 15 years old. Snap is openly and knowingly violating HB 3, and each violation constitutes an unfair and deceptive trade practice under FDUTPA (a state law known as the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act).' The law did not name platforms that would be affected but included a definition of such platforms, with criteria related to such things as algorithms, addictive features and allowing users to view the content or activities of other users. Uthmeier's lawsuit alleged that Snapchat meets criteria, such as having addictive features, that make it subject to the age restrictions. For example, the lawsuit said Snapchat uses 'push notifications' that appear on users' phone screens when they are not using the platform. 'Push notifications exploit users' natural tendency to seek and attend to environmental feedback, serving as distractors that monopolize attention,' the lawsuit said. 'Young users are especially sensitive to these triggers and less able to control their response and resist reopening the app. Snapchat sends push notifications to users, regardless of age, frequently and at all hours of the day and night.' But in the filing Wednesday, Snap's attorneys raised a series of arguments, including that the law violates the First Amendment and the U.S. Constitution's Commerce Clause and is preempted by a federal law known as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. In addition to arguing that the law infringes on speech rights of minors, Snap's attorneys contended that its age-verification requirements violate the rights of adults. 'The statute also burdens the rights of adults to access covered services,' the filing said. 'Because it requires age-verification, it effectively requires everyone, including adults, to verify their ages before accessing those services — or, more precisely, to surrender sensitive personal information prior to accessing protected speech. As courts have repeatedly reaffirmed, requiring adults to verify their age before accessing speech significantly burdens First Amendment rights.' In the lawsuit filed last year by the industry groups, Walker on March 13 turned down an initial request for a preliminary injunction, saying the groups had not shown they had legal standing to challenge the law. But the groups on March 28 filed a revised lawsuit and a renewed motion for a preliminary injunction. That motion remained pending as of Friday morning. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Attorney general targets 2 Florida hospitals over lack of price transparency
Attorney General James Uthmeier issued subpoenas Friday to Florida-based hospitals to ensure they comply with price transparency laws. 'Patients are still consumers, and they deserve transparency,' Uthmeier said in a video posted on X. 'The big healthcare industry complex continues to rake in billions off Americans in their most vulnerable moments. We must protect patients.' Uthmeier said under Florida law, a hospital's failure to provide price disclosure may constitute an unfair and deceptive trade practice. He said his subpoenas are related to patient charges, disclosures, billing practice, price transparency and surprise billing protections. The attorney general said his investigation is in line with President Donald Trump's price transparency executive order. Patient advocacy groups in Florida have been pushing for more price transparency. 'Hospitals have hidden their prices yet have forced patients to sign a blank check before they can get care,' said Cynthia A. Fisher, founder and chairman of a nonprofit focused on healthcare price transparency. 'As long as prices have been hidden, hospitals have been able to charge whatever they want. The attorney general's action aims to protect patients by providing actual, upfront prices. This investigation will protect Floridians from hospitals' predatory practices, prevent overcharges, and make bills accountable.' Uthmeier's subpoenas were delivered to Southern Baptist Hospital of Florida in Jacksonville and Adventist Health (Advent Health) in Central Florida, according to the advocacy group. released its seventh semi-annual Hospital Price Transparency Report in fall 2024, which examined 2,000 hospitals' compliance with the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule. The November 2024 report indicates that only 29% of hospitals in Florida were fully compliant with the federal price transparency rule, a drop from 41% in February 2024. Only 39 of 135 Florida hospitals reviewed were fully complying with the rule. 'By keeping their prices hidden, hospitals continue to block American consumers from their right to compare prices and protect themselves from overcharges,' Fisher said. 'During a patient's most vulnerable hour, all too often, hospitals require them to sign contracts accepting full financial responsibility without acknowledging any prices. Florida law clearly states that unfair and deceptive acts and practices are 'unlawful,' which include omitting material information like prices. Yet, that is exactly what Florida hospitals have been doing.' Florida Health Price Finder is a state-operated website developed by the Agency for Health Care Administration to show prices of common services. South Florida Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
PatientRightsAdvocate.Org Applauds Florida Attorney General's Bold Action to Protect Healthcare Consumers
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, (PRA) applauded Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier for formally opening an investigation into the deceptive and predatory practices of Florida hospitals flouting state law and federal price transparency rules. "Hospitals have hidden their prices yet have forced patients to sign a blank check before they can get care. As long as prices have been hidden, hospitals have been able to charge whatever they want," said Cynthia A. Fisher, Founder and Chair of PRA. Florida law states that unfair and deceptive acts and practices are "unlawful," which include omitting material information like prices. Yet, hospitals often require patients to sign contracts accepting full financial responsibility without any knowledge of prices. "The Attorney General's action seeks to protect patients through actual upfront prices. This investigation will protect Floridians from hospitals' predatory practices, prevent overcharges, and make bills accountable," continued Fisher. "Ultimately, these consumer protections will help Americans to lower their costs." The Attorney General's investigation is in line with President Trump's historic price transparency executive order that requires real, upfront prices, not estimates, which will empower consumers with competition and choice, and lower the cost of healthcare. Background: Across Florida, some hospitals have charge-to-cost ratios showing charges over 10x the hospital's cost. In 2021, non-profit Advent Health Orlando made news for billing a patient with insurance over half a million dollars following her son's birth. After a press inquiry, the hospital lowered the bill to just $300 total. In PRA's latest Hospital Price Transparency report, only 29% of Florida hospitals reviewed were in full compliance with the federal price transparency rule, and only 3% posted sufficient pricing data for consumers to shop and compare. Wide price variation is prevalent nationwide. Last week, CMS took steps to reveal all actual prices to consumers so they can identify the vast variation and make informed decisions. Price transparency has received wide bipartisan support in Congress and from Americans nationwide. According to a new poll by PRA, 96% of voters agree that Americans "deserve to know the price of their healthcare before they receive it." Economists agree that healthcare price transparency would save up to $1 trillion in the American economy annually. About PRA: (PRA) is a leading national healthcare price transparency organization dedicated to ushering in systemwide transparency through advocacy, testimony, media, legal research, and grassroots campaigns. PRA believes that the availability and visibility of actual, upfront healthcare prices will greatly lower costs for patients and employers through a functional, competitive healthcare marketplace. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Patient Rights Advocate
CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
Snap Inc. asks judge to pause or dismiss Florida lawsuit accusing platform of violating state social media law
The company that operates Snapchat asked a federal judge this week to put on hold — or reject — a lawsuit filed by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier alleging violations of a 2024 state law aimed at keeping children off some social-media platforms. Attorneys for Snap Inc. argued in a 49-page filing Wednesday that Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker should issue a stay of Uthmeier's lawsuit while a case filed last year by the tech-industry groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association plays out. The industry groups, which allege the law (HB 3) violates First Amendment rights, are seeking a preliminary injunction to block the measure. "Snap — through its membership in NetChoice — and the attorney general have fully briefed and submitted their arguments on the motion for a preliminary injunction to enjoin HB 3 under the First Amendment, and a decision granting that motion would dramatically affect the disputes in the present case," Snap's attorneys wrote. "Allowing the present case to proceed before that decision would be duplicative, wasteful, and unfair." But if Walker turns down the request for a stay, Snap argued he should dismiss Uthmeier's lawsuit. The law seeks to prevent children under age 16 from opening social-media accounts on platforms that meet certain criteria — though it would allow parents to give consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to have accounts. Children under 14 could not open accounts. "The statute categorically bars individuals under age 14 from creating accounts on the websites it covers and requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds, infringing on protected speech of minors," wrote Snap's attorneys, who include former state Solicitor General Christopher Kise. "As numerous courts have concluded, requiring minors to obtain parental consent before accessing 'social media' abridges First Amendment rights." Uthmeier filed the lawsuit April 21 in state court in Santa Rosa County, with the case moved last week to federal court. The law was one of the highest-profile issues of the 2024 legislative session, with supporters saying it targets addictive features of social-media platforms — a key argument in Uthmeier's lawsuit against Snap. "Despite being subject to HB 3, Snap contracts with and provides accounts to Florida users who it knows are younger than 14," the lawsuit said. "It also fails to seek parental consent before contracting with and providing accounts to Florida users who it knows are 14 or 15 years old. Snap is openly and knowingly violating HB 3, and each violation constitutes an unfair and deceptive trade practice under FDUTPA (a state law known as the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act)." The law did not name platforms that would be affected but included a definition of such platforms, with criteria related to such things as algorithms, addictive features and allowing users to view the content or activities of other users. Uthmeier's lawsuit alleged that Snapchat meets criteria, such as having addictive features, that make it subject to the age restrictions. For example, the lawsuit said Snapchat uses "push notifications" that appear on users' phone screens when they are not using the platform. "Push notifications exploit users' natural tendency to seek and attend to environmental feedback, serving as distractors that monopolize attention," the lawsuit said. "Young users are especially sensitive to these triggers and less able to control their response and resist reopening the app. Snapchat sends push notifications to users, regardless of age, frequently and at all hours of the day and night." But in the filing Wednesday, Snap's attorneys raised a series of arguments, including that the law violates the First Amendment and the U.S. Constitution's Commerce Clause and is preempted by a federal law known as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. In addition to arguing that the law infringes on speech rights of minors, Snap's attorneys contended that its age-verification requirements violate the rights of adults. "The statute also burdens the rights of adults to access covered services," the filing said. "Because it requires age-verification, it effectively requires everyone, including adults, to verify their ages before accessing those services — or, more precisely, to surrender sensitive personal information prior to accessing protected speech. As courts have repeatedly reaffirmed, requiring adults to verify their age before accessing speech significantly burdens First Amendment rights." In the lawsuit filed last year by the industry groups, Walker on March 13 turned down an initial request for a preliminary injunction, saying the groups had not shown they had legal standing to challenge the law. But the groups on March 28 filed a revised lawsuit and a renewed motion for a preliminary injunction. That motion remained pending as of Friday morning.
