Florida Republican behind effort to rollback child labor laws owns company with history of wage theft

Sen. Keith Perry is a co-sponsor on legislation that would loosen hazardous work requirements in construction for children as young as 16

by McKenna Schueler January 19, 2024November 10, 2024

News & Views

Florida GOP seeks to roll back child labor law, but critics argue the state is failing to protect children on the job as it is

A Tampa-area Tropical Smoothie Cafe,and several skating rinks in the Bay area were assessed thousands of dollars in civil penalties last year.

by McKenna Schueler January 8, 2024April 12, 2025

News & Views

Florida Democrat refiles bill to re-establish a state labor department

Meanwhile, Republican state Rep. Tiffany Esposito filed a bill Monday that could undercut efforts to enhance worker protections.

by McKenna Schueler November 14, 2023May 4, 2024

News & Views

A Tampa Bay Republican and a billionaire-backed conservative think tank are working together to roll back child labor laws

The number of minors working in violation of child labor law has spiked 88% since 2019

by McKenna Schueler November 7, 2023April 17, 2025

News & Views

Out of state abortions in Florida up nearly 25% as six-week ban looms

Neighboring Southern states have severely restricted or completely banned abortion.

by McKenna Schueler October 12, 2023August 6, 2024

News & Views

Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani files bill to prevent criminal charges for getting an abortion

Ron DeSantis falsely claimed on TV that state law currently only criminalizes abortion providers, not people who get abortions.

by McKenna Schueler October 9, 2023April 13, 2025

News & Views

Florida’s minimum wage went up — but will the state actually enforce wage violations?

Wage violations run rampant in Florida, in part because enforcement is toothless and few politicians are interested.

by McKenna Schueler October 5, 2023February 16, 2025

News & Views

Florida keeps using unpaid prison labor to prepare for hurricanes

We had a word for that once: slavery. Now? It’s a little more complicated.

by McKenna Schueler September 1, 2023May 1, 2025

News & Views

Florida parents launch Parenting With Pride program to counter ‘rising tide of right-wing extremism’

Over 1,000 families across Florida, from Pensacola to Key West, have expressed interest in the program

by McKenna Schueler August 16, 2023February 16, 2024

News & Views

Florida Democrats vow to ‘Take Back Florida’

Democrats will be traveling to a mix of Democratic and Republican-leaning counties over the next several weeks.

by McKenna Schueler August 3, 2023June 17, 2024

News & Views

UCF professor of civil rights history discusses Florida’s new Black history standards

‘The whitewashing of the history curriculum goes back decades.’

by McKenna Schueler July 31, 2023April 7, 2025

News & Views

Checking drugs for ‘tranq’ could prevent harm, but testing for xylazine is still illegal in Florida

There’s a catch with what the new law that decriminalizes fentanyl test strips.

by McKenna Schueler July 24, 2023July 15, 2025

News & Views

Mailers sent to Florida public workers are rife with disinformation about the state’s new union bill

An out-of-state think tank sent them in response to Florida’s newly passed SB 256.

by McKenna Schueler June 16, 2023June 25, 2025

News & Views

In just one month, Florida activist have gathered 100,000 signatures to get abortion on the 2024 ballot

Nearly 900,000 petitions are needed to get the measure onto the 2024 ballot, with a deadline of Feb. 1, 2024.

by McKenna Schueler June 12, 2023August 15, 2024

News & Views

‘Immoral and disgusting’: California officials link DeSantis to migrant flights

Documents linked this relocation of the migrants to a controversial program managed by Florida’s Division of Emergency Management.

by McKenna Schueler June 5, 2023September 17, 2023

News & Views

Riverview call center workers plan one-day strike Monday, demanding better working conditions, better pay

They’re organizing for better working conditions, better pay, respect, protection from layoffs, and safety in the workplace.

by McKenna Schueler June 2, 2023July 25, 2025

Arts & Entertainment

Under threat of a labor strike, the show goes on for ‘Mean Girls’ in Sarasota

Union performers will meet audience members outside tonight, to highlight their demands for a fair contract.

by McKenna Schueler April 11, 2023March 5, 2025

News & Views

All the anti-LGBTQ+ laws being proposed in Florida—and how we can fight back

Be proud—and get loud.

by McKenna Schueler March 20, 2023April 27, 2025

Best of the Bay

Best Vibes For Melancholy, Cigar-Smoking Rabble-Rousers On A Saturday In Ybor

The Dirty Shame

by McKenna Schueler September 30, 2022November 20, 2023

Best of the Bay

Best Church Sign To Drown Out The Haters

Allendale United Methodist Church

by McKenna Schueler September 30, 2022June 9, 2025

Do you have the best burger in Tampa Bay?