Latest news with #WiltonSimpson
Fox News
07-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
DeSantis signs bill banning fluoride additives in Florida public water: 'Hydrate, not medicate'
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 700 into law Tuesday, eliminating the ability of local governments to add fluoride or other medical additives to the state's public water supply, a move cheered by supporters of medical freedom and health transparency. "Jamming fluoride in the water supply … is essentially a forced medication," DeSantis said during a news conference in Tallahassee. "At the end of the day, we should all agree that people deserve informed consent." The new law, part of the broader Florida Farm Bill, does not ban fluoride entirely. Floridians will still be able to purchase fluoridated water from private suppliers. But it draws a firm line against the government deciding what goes in your glass without your say. UTAH BANS FLUORIDE FROM PUBLIC DRINKING WATER, ALIGNING WITH MAHA MOVEMENT "When it gets hot in the Sunshine State, no one clamors for a cold glass of fluoride," state Sen. Keith Truenow told Fox News Digital. "We will protect our natural resources and give Floridians the ability to make the best choices without government forcing unnecessary additives." Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who joined DeSantis at the signing, emphasized that this isn't about denying people fluoride, but ensuring they aren't medicated without consent. FLUORIDE EXPOSURE LINKED TO 'DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS' ON HEALTH OF PREGNANT WOMEN, INFANTS "Today, Florida took a bold step and declared that drinking water will hydrate, not medicate," Simpson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "No Floridian should be medicated without their consent, plain and simple. Through our Florida Farm Bill, we're saying loud and clear: Florida's water will be clean, it will be safe and it will be medication-free. That's what freedom looks like in the Free State of Florida." The effort aligns with the national "Make America Healthy Again" movement led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His initiative emphasizes consumer choice, reduced reliance on centralized health mandates and a renewed skepticism of top-down medical policies. "Today's efforts to prohibit local governments from unilaterally adding fluoride to public drinking water is the logical next iteration of our commitment to being the Free State of Florida," said Bryan Griffin, communications director for DeSantis. "And Ron DeSantis has delivered yet again." DeSantis also tied the move to a growing public distrust of medical institutions, citing the fallout from COVID-era policies. "People are just much more skeptical when these elites are trying to jam anything down our throats," he said. "The burden is on them to prove why this should be forced on people. And it really shouldn't be." The legislation also includes broad support for Florida's agriculture sector, new consumer transparency laws and restrictions on environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices that target farmers and ranchers. DeSantis has also promised action on geoengineering. "Florida is not a testing ground for geoengineering," DeSantis wrote on X Tuesday. "The Free State of Florida means freedom from governments or private actors unilaterally applying chemicals or geoengineering to people or public spaces." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Critics of SB 700 argue fluoridation has long been used to fight tooth decay, particularly in children. But DeSantis pointed to updated guidance from State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who raised concerns about fluoride's effects on pregnant women and children. "You don't even have to agree with that analysis," the governor said, "but people should still have the right to opt out." Kennedy did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A Federal Judge Greenlights a Lawsuit That Claims Florida's Ban on Lab-Grown Meat Is Unconstitutional
"We will save our beef," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared when he signed the nation's first ban on cultivated meat last May, portraying the law as part of his administration's "focus on investing in our local farmers and ranchers." Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson concurred that the governor was "standing up for Florida's farmers and consumers," saying "we must protect our incredible farmers" from "a disgraceful attempt to undermine our proud traditions and prosperity." He promised to "keep Florida's agricultural industry strong and thriving." According to Upside Foods, a California-based manufacturer of lab-grown poultry products, those comments reflect the protectionist motivation of Florida's law, which it says effectively discriminates against out-of-state businesses. On Friday, a federal judge in Florida concluded that the company, which sued state officials last August, had plausibly alleged a violation of the "dormant" Commerce Clause, a doctrine that "prevents the States from adopting protectionist measures and thus preserves a national market for goods and services," as the U.S. Supreme Court put it in 2019. "One of the primary reasons for the enactment of the Constitution was to secure a national common market," said Paul Sherman, a senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, which represents Upside. "Today's ruling is an important vindication of the principle that states cannot close their borders to innovative out-of-state competition, and a warning to other states that are considering banning cultivated meat." The technology that DeSantis perceives as a threat to "our local farmers and ranchers," which was first developed in 2013, uses cell samples to grow meat in bioreactors, obviating the need to raise and slaughter animals. Worldwide, more than 150 companies are working on such products, which have been approved for sale in Singapore, Israel, and the United States, where their distribution so far has been limited to chicken briefly sold by a few restaurants. Less than a week after DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1084, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey likewise approved a preemptive ban on cultivated meat. Other states, including Arizona, Tennessee, and Texas, have "considered similar bills banning lab-grown meat," Reason's Emma Camp notes, although they "ultimately did not pass." In addition to portraying Florida's ban as unconstitutional protectionism, Upside argued that it was preempted by federal law. Although U.S. District Judge Mark Walker rejected that claim, he found that Upside "has plausibly alleged that Florida's ban violates the dormant Commerce Clause by discriminating in effect against interstate commerce through excluding out-of-state businesses and products from Florida's market to protect in-state businesses against a projected decline in market share." Walker therefore rejected the state's motion to dismiss Upside's lawsuit. S.B. 1084 makes it a crime to manufacture or distribute "any meat or food product produced from cultured animal cells." That offense is classified as a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum fine of $500 and up to 60 days in jail. Grocery stores or restaurants that sell the prohibited products can lose their operating licenses and face administrative fines of up to $5,000 per violation. Those penalties apply to any business that sells cultivated meat to Florida consumers, regardless of where it is located. But as Walker notes, "a facially neutral law can violate the dormant Commerce Clause if it discriminates in effect against interstate commerce." In this case, Upside "asserts that Florida's ban discriminates against out-of-state firms and products because it prohibits out-of-state cultivated meat from entering Florida to compete against in-state conventional meat," Walker writes. "Florida's ban on cultivated meat, Plaintiff says, is a proxy for discriminating against out-of-state products since cultivated meat is entirely produced outside of Florida. Plaintiff alleges that the ban also confers a benefit to in-state conventional meat and agricultural businesses by shielding them from the potential decline in market share that they would face from competing with out-of-state cultivated meat. And according to Plaintiff, the ban's protectionist effects were intentional." In addition to quoting the press release that DeSantis issued when he signed S.B. 1084, Upside's complaint notes that he praised the bill "from behind a podium that featured a sign stating, 'SAVE OUR BEEF.'" That signing event featured the president and president-elect of the Florida Cattlemen's Association, who "acknowledged that the purpose of the Ban is to protect their industry from out-of-state competition." The reason "we have all these cattlemen here," DeSantis explained, was that Florida had "put down the mark very clearly: We stand with agriculture. We stand with the cattle ranchers. We stand with our farmers." If the state allowed the sale of cultivated meat, he said, it would "wipe the people sitting here today out of business." Simpson, the agriculture commissioner, complained that it was "Californians [who] are participating in this crap." DeSantis acknowledged that Florida allows the sale of plant-based meat substitutes made by companies such as Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat. The crucial difference with cultivated meat, he said, is that "they want to say it's the same as raising cattle and doing it naturally, so there will be then no reason that you have this [conventional meat] industry. So it is designed to be a threat to agriculture as we know it." In light of that danger, he explained, "we're snuffing this out at the beginning." State legislators who supported the ban delivered a similar message. "If you believe that we are doing this because we know that Florida's agriculture can hold us down and provides plenty of safe, quality beef and agricultural products, you are absolutely correct," Rep. Danny Alvarez (R–Hillsborough County), the bill's House sponsor, said in March 2024. Around the same time, Rep. Dean Black (R–Nassau County), a rancher, said Floridians who want to try cultivated meat should "go to California," but they "sure as heck" should not be able to get it "here in Florida." As Upside's case proceeds, Walker notes, Florida will have to rebut the inference of protectionism by citing a legitimate public interest that cannot be served by "nondiscriminatory alternatives." But Upside argues that the state's ban is "not supported by any adequate health or safety justification." In approving the sale of the company's products, the lawsuit notes, the Food and Drug Administration "had no questions regarding the safety of UPSIDE's preharvest production process or the safety of foods composed of or containing cultivated chicken resulting from UPSIDE's production process." Upside adds that "the safety and healthfulness of cultivated meat and poultry is subject to the same standards of federal regulation as conventional meat and poultry." Even as DeSantis bragged about banning cultivated meat, Upside notes, he "did not voice any food-safety issue regarding cultivated meat products." More generally, state officials "did not cite concerns that cultivated meat is less healthy or safe than conventional meat." If anything, Upside argues, "cultivated meat and poultry poses fewer health and safety concerns than conventional meat because it is grown under clean and controlled conditions and thus not exposed to animal waste, animal pathogens, or environmental toxins." Even if "there were a legitimate, nondiscriminatory justification" for legislation regarding cultivated meat, Upside says, "Florida has a variety of less burdensome alternatives." If legislators wanted to avoid "consumer confusion over the nature of UPSIDE's product," for example, they could impose "disclosure requirements for food establishments that ensure cultivated meat or poultry is not sold as conventional meat or poultry." In addition to presenting himself as the savior of Florida ranchers and farmers, DeSantis bizarrely claimed he was "fighting back against the global elite's plan to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish or bugs to achieve their authoritarian goals," counterintuitively presenting legal restrictions on consumer choice as a blow against authoritarianism. Upside "doesn't want to force anyone to eat cultivated meat," the company says. "But it does want the opportunity to distribute its product to willing consumers, so that those consumers can decide for themselves whether UPSIDE's product is worth eating. And UPSIDE has a right to do so, because SB 1084 is unconstitutional." The post A Federal Judge Greenlights a Lawsuit That Claims Florida's Ban on Lab-Grown Meat Is Unconstitutional appeared first on
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Florida officials warn of busy wildfire season, urge residents to prepare
The Brief Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service say this wildfire season could be especially dangerous. The state has already seen more than 1,000 wildfires burn over 51,000 acres since the start of the year. Florida Wildfire Awareness Week runs April 6–12. DOVER, Fla. - Florida's top agriculture official is warning residents to get ready for what could be an especially dangerous wildfire season. What they're saying Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service say conditions are ripe for more fires than usual, with Florida's peak wildfire months, April through June, just getting started. The National Interagency Fire Center has predicted an "above normal wildfire potential" across the state this spring. "Don't wait until you see smoke in the air. Create a defensible space around your yard, prepare your homes, make an emergency supply kit, and obey local burn laws," Simpson said in an April 7 news release. "Every fire prevented is one less fire we must respond to, and that will help ensure the safety of our firefighters and our communities." By the numbers Florida has already seen more than 1,000 wildfires burn over 51,000 acres since the start of the year. Several counties are under local burn bans, and some regions have faced Red Flag Warnings from the National Weather Service. Rick Dolan, director of the Florida Forest Service, said multiple factors could fuel a difficult season, including storm debris from past hurricanes and below-average rainfall. "Spring is here, and we need to be wildfire ready," Dolan said. "I'm encouraging people to pay attention to the weather, especially wind, relative humidity, and days since rain." Florida Wildfire Awareness Week runs April 6–12, honoring the devastating 1998 fire season when more than 500,000 acres burned and hundreds of homes were lost. What you can do Officials are encouraging residents to learn how to protect their property and communities by clicking here. To track current wildfire activity, click here. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source This story was written with information from a news conference on April 10, 2025, along with additional details from the Florida Forest Service and National Interagency Fire Center. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Red flag warnings possible today as several Florida counties feel drought, face fire threat
Recent rain ahead of another cold front is helping reduce the number of wildfires around Florida, but the driest areas of the state are still experiencing a severe drought. That's not good since Florida's peak wildfire season typically occurs in April, May, and June, according to Wilton Simpson, Florida commissioner of agriculture. ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Gusty winds, dry air and low relative humidity could bring red flag warnings Thursday afternoon through the central Florida peninsula, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management. Thursday morning, there were 33 wildfires burning, down from 37 Wednesday, according to the Florida Forest Service. Since January, over 1,000 wildfires have burned over 51,000 acres in Florida, Simpson said. The average statewide drought index remained the same Wednesday as it was on Tuesday, 341. A red flag warning is issued when "critical fire weather conditions" are in place. "A red flag warning means warm temperatures, very low humidity, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger," the National Weather Service said. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the largest wildfires burning in Florida as of April 4 were (data is updated every Friday): East Marsh Fire: One mile west of DeLand. 3,777 acres. 80% contained. Fernadez Fire: Four miles northeast of Lake Kathryn. 565 acres. 80% contained. Red Horse Fire: Fire started on private land seven miles northwest of Bowling Green. 390 acres. 95% contained. "Wildfire names are generally based on the geographic location of the fire or a nearby geographic feature," according to Tim Brown, communications manager with the Florida Forest Service in an email. "For example, the '344 Fire' was due to its location near 344 Street." Forecast for Thursday, April 10: Pensacola: Sunny. High 75. Low 62. Tallahassee: Sunny. High 81. Low 58. Jacksonville: A slight chance of showers before 7 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 11 a.m. Partly sunny. High 76. Low 60. Daytona Beach: A 20 percent chance of showers before 10 a.m. Mostly sunny. High 76. Low 60. Melbourne: A 20 percent chance of showers before 10 a.m. Mostly sunny. High 78. Low 62. Port St. Lucie: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m. Mostly sunny. High 79. Low 61. West Palm Beach: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny. High 76. Low 70. Naples: Sunny. High 81. Low 65. Fort Myers: Sunny. High 84. Low 63. Sarasota: Sunny. High 76. Low 66. Orlando: Mostly sunny. High 80. Low 61. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida was 341 Wednesday, the same as it was on Tuesday. The drought index uses a scale from 0, which is very wet, to 800, which is very dry. Dry conditions on the weekend, combined with falling relative humidity is expected to bring "sensitive to locally elevated wildfire conditions" throughout the state Saturday, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management. As of Wednesday, April 9, there were 16 Florida counties with a mean Keetch-Byram Drought Index over 500, which means drought or increased fire danger. Broward: 519, a substantial drop from 594 Tuesday Charlotte: 557, up 2 from Tuesday Collier: 583, down slightly from 583 DeSoto: 516, up 1 Glades: 545, remained the same Hardee: 558, up 2 Hendry: 591, remained the same Lake: 533, up 2 Lee: 597, remained the same Manatee: 542, up 2 Miami-Dade: 523, a substantial drop from 553 Tuesday Monroe: 542, down 8 Palm Beach: 570, down 10 Pasco: 510, up 4 Sarasota: 550, up 3 Sumter: 518, up 3 Another 13 of Florida's 67 counties have index numbers in the 400s. Five counties are within 25 points of hitting 500: Highlands: 482 Hillsborough: 485 Martin: 489 Polk: 477 Volusia: 497 According to the Florida Forest Service, burn bans are in place for the following counties: Charlotte Collier Glades Hendry Highlands Lake Sarasota The open burning of yard debris is always prohibited in these counties: Duval Hillsborough Orange Pinellas Early Friday, a weak cold front is expected to bring some showers to portions of the state. A few locally strong thunderstorms capable of small hail can't be ruled out, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management. By Saturday morning, the front will push offshore, bringing mostly dry conditions and elevated wildfire conditions to the state. High temperatures will reach the middle to upper 70s across North Florida and lower to middle80s across Central and South Florida on Friday. Slightly cooler conditions will keep high temperatures in the lower 70s across North Florida, middle to upper 70s across Central Florida and upper 70s and lower 80s across South Florida Saturday afternoon. Low temperatures will fall into the upper 40s to lower 50s across North Florida and middle 50s to middle 60s across Central and South Florida Friday night. By Saturday night low temperatures will fall into the 40s again across North Florida, 50s throughout interior Central and South Florida and middle 50s to lower 60s across coastal Central and South Florida. We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida red flag warnings. Active wildfires, dry weather forecast
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Drought, Florida fire danger continues as '344 Fire' burns: Latest updates
Rain continued to stay away from much of Florida's peninsula this week, spurring on the threat of fires in Florida, as well as several weather advisories. As of Saturday at 9 a.m., there were more than 60 active fires burning in the state of Florida, totaling to 28,018 acres burned. ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location A fire weather watch has been issued for several counties along the east coast in South Florida. Low humidity and gusty winds, combined with existing drought conditions, have prompted the weather advisories earlier this week. Here's what you should know, along with the latest updates on the fires in Florida. Crews have battled the blaze, dubbed the "344 Fire," in southeast Miami-Dade County for eight days, with state agencies urging residents and visitors to avoid the U.S. 1 area due to smoke and heavy emergency response. As of 5 p.m. local time on Thursday, the fire has charred about 24,000 acres and was 30% contained, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service said in a released statement. We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida fires burn amid drought, wildfires: Latest updates
