Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday to create a police force dedicated to pursuing voter fraud and other election crimes. It’s a top priority for many Republicans who believe former President Donald Trump’s false claims that his reelection was stolen.
The new law comes after the Republican governor made voting legislation a focus this year, pushing the Republican-controlled Legislature to create the policing unit as states reevaluate their own election systems in the wake of Trump’s allegations.
Guest: Cecile Scoon, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida.
Florida Wildlife Corridor
Long before Florida was the third-largest state in the country, it was mostly wild. It was sparsely populated but teeming with millions of plants and animals of all varieties. The good news is that a wonderful wildlife corridor in Florida remains. The bad news is that it will dwindle away if it's not protected.
The Florida Wildlife Corridor is like a quilt of interconnected natural lands like national parks and state forests that together span more than 40% of the state.
Florida conservationists met earlier this month in Orlando for a first-ever Florida Wildlife Corridor Summit. And they strategized ways to preserve the corridor for future generations, including the awarding of new grants.
Guest: Mallory Dimmitt, CEO, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation.
Filipino-American art
There’s a brand new mural Downtown, and it’s dedicated to Filipino-Americans in Jacksonville. Filipinos make up this city’s largest population of immigrants with a strong and vibrant local community of more than 33,000.
Guests:
- Artist Grace Bio.
- Diana Donovan, executive director of the Cultural Council.
What’s good Wednesday
- April is the Month of the Military Child — a time to recognize and thank the children of our service members and veterans.
- Tomorrow, the Northeast Florida Safety Council will host its 8th annual Workers’ Memorial Observance to honor people who’ve lost their lives in workplace-related fatalities. The free event is open to the public and will pay tribute to local residents who’ve lost their lives.
- Bring your appetite to Taste of Murray Hill at 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Florida Christian Center on Edgewood. Nearly two dozen Murray Hill merchants will give visitors a taste of what they have to offer. It’s a fundraiser for low-income seniors and a beloved community event.
- World Tai Chi Day is Saturday. Tai chi is a practice that involves a series of slow gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind and controlled breathing. Tai chi originated as an ancient martial art in China. Over the years, it has become more focused on health promotion and rehabilitation.
- Orthopedic Humanitarian Initiatives, a Jacksonville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will be presenting “Motion is Lotion,” a Walk & Talk Workshop on the benefits of stretching, walking and exercise for musculoskeletal health. The event will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday at Losco Regional Park.
- The BookMark in Neptune Beach will celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, all day long. For every $100 spent in an independent business, $73 stays in the community, compared with only $43 for a national chain.
- The Museum of Science & History is hosting its inaugural GALAXY fundraiser. Guests will enjoy live entertainment by DJ Jacob Towe, interactive experiences throughout the museum and out-of-this-world culinary creations from The Chef’s Garden and handcrafted cosmic cocktails by Oliv’r Twist. Proceeds from the black-tie gala will support the MOSH Genesis capital campaign to build a new museum on the Northbank of Downtown Jacksonville.
- This Sunday, join The North Florida Women's Chorale, directed by Kerry Fradley, as they perform their annual free spring concert in Jacksonville Beach. It’s at 4 p.m. at Palms Presbyterian Church, at 3410 3rd St. South. Join them for this lighthearted concert, which includes the music of ABBA.
