Here's a local and state news update from Florida Today and WFIT. I'm Evan Niemczyk.
A federal judge in Miami has ordered Florida International University to immediately stop enforcing an outright ban on so-called ‘expressive activities’ that take place in doors. The ruling is a major victory for students in an escalating free speech battle. WLRN’s Danny Rivero has more.
"Federal judge Jacqueline Becerra said that if FIU had its way – more than 60 years of Supreme Court precedent on the free speech rights of students would have to be thrown out.
The judge found that the school likely violated the first amendment rights of seven students .. when it disciplined them for unveiling t-shirts that said ICE OFF FIU during a campus event.
A school can only regulate speech – when it is disruptive, found Becerra. And in this case – the school presented no evidence while disciplining the students that showed the silent protest – was disruptive.
Andrew Caro is a senior at FIU and one of the plaintiffs..
" Just knowing that the judge that was hearing us, Judge Becerra, was ruling in our favor was just really very overwhelmingly positive for me and my six other students charged."
The students say they are planning a town hall meeting for next month.
I’m Danny Rivero in Miami."
It’s the start of the school year at the University of Central Florida, and move-in week at universities across Florida means settling into a new room and getting oriented to campus. But for some students, it also means registering to vote.
As Central Florida Public Media’s education reporter Kayla Kissel explains, an annual voter registration effort called “Dorm Storm” is reaching out to young voters as they move onto campuses across the state.
"People Power for Florida is a youth-led group that registers and educates young voters with non-partisan voter registration information year-round.
Its fifth annual “Dorm Storm” campaign targets students as they move into new communities.
At UCF, volunteers helped students register for the first time or update their addresses.
Incoming freshman Gabriel Purselley, who just registered to vote, says he felt like he missed out by not voting in the primary, but now he’s ready.
“Felt like I could voice my speech louder, something like I couldn't do before, but now I could do. So I'm prepared.”
In Orange County, over 30 percent of 18-year-olds are registered, compared with over 75 percent of voters 45 and older.
Democratic State Representative Anna Eskamani says part of the problem is that young people may not know how the voting process works.
“It's not as simple as some might think it is, and students don't really have the opportunity to learn about voting, there are serious education gaps.”
Eskamani says universities could help by including nonpartisan voting information in orientation, student emails and online courses.
People Power For Florida estimates it will register over 1,000 new voters across the state.
Kayla Kissel, Central Florida Public Media."
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical wave off the coast of Africa that could develop into a tropical depression.
Forecasters are also tracking two other systems in the Atlantic, though one is expected to dissipate.
The Atlantic hurricane season has been relatively quiet, but the most active period is traditionally between mid-August and mid-October.
For these stories and more, visit FloridaToday.com and WFIT.org. I'm Evan Niemczyk