SUMMARY: Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz has confirmed he is considering a run for governor in 2026, stating on his talk show, “Of course I am.” Gaetz resigned from Congress in November amid a House ethics report revealing serious allegations of misconduct, which he denies. Other potential GOP contenders include Congressman Byron Donalds, who is exploring his candidacy, and First Lady Casey DeSantis, although she has reportedly expressed no interest in running. On the Democratic side, names like Nikki Fried and Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo are emerging, with Pizzo ready to challenge Gaetz if he enters the race.

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The post Gov. Matt Gaetz? The Possibility Lingers as Florida’s Political Scene Heats Up appeared first on www.abcactionnews.com

SUMMARY: Florida’s high school graduation rate rose to a record 89.7% in the 2023-24 school year, an increase of 1.7% from the previous high of 86.9% in 2018-19. The rate improved by 2.4% compared to the 2021-22 school year. Governor Ron DeSantis attributed this success to prioritizing education and empowering parents. Improvements were seen across various demographic groups, including a 2.1% increase for Black students and a significant 4.6% rise for English language learners. Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. emphasized this achievement as evidence of Florida’s commitment to a quality education tailored to student needs.

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The post Florida boasted record 89.7% graduation rate in 2024 | Florida appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

SUMMARY: The Supreme Court appears poised to uphold a law banning TikTok in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells it by January 19. Justices expressed concerns over national security, emphasizing TikTok’s ties to China and the potential risks of data misuse by the Chinese government. Although TikTok’s lawyer sought a pause on the ban, few justices seemed inclined to support this. ByteDance has refused to sell TikTok, while a consortium led by Frank McCourt has proposed acquiring its U.S. assets. If the ban remains, app stores will prohibit new downloads and updates, leaving existing users with a non-functional app over time.

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The post Supreme Court seems likely to uphold a federal law that could force TikTok to shut down on Jan. 19 appeared first on www.news4jax.com