Brooke Baitinger
Sun Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
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Past articles by Brooke:
‘This fight didn’t begin here and it’s not gonna end here.’ South Florida joins in protests against SCOTUS Roe v. Wade decision
At rallies across South Florida, frustrated activists protested the Supreme Court's decision to overturn abortion rights. “What they did today is an abomination. This should not have happened,” said Elizabeth Ackerly, 71. → Read More
How Biden’s LGBTQ order could affect Florida’s laws and policies
Florida was front and center when President Joe Biden signed an historic executive order to protect transgender and non-binary kids from state laws that strip them of protection and inclusion. → Read More
Parkland activists join renewed push for gun safety laws
The push for laws that would prevent mass shootings and gun violence gained renewed energy in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting. Max Schachter, whose 14-year-old son Alex was murdered in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, testified before Congress on Wednesday morning. → Read More
Florida wants to ban kid-friendly drag shows. But the shows will go on, LGBTQ+ groups say
A Florida lawmaker, with the apparent support of Gov. Ron DeSantis, proposed banning drag shows aimed at children, charging parents who bring their child to drag shows and taking away their parental rights. → Read More
More kids die from gun violence than anything else. The rate is only going up.
It’s gun violence in general that kills the most children, and the rate is steadily rising each year, as more kids are involved in gun-related accidents, suicides, and homicides. Firearms were the leading cause of death in kids age 1 and older for the first time in 2020, the most recent year for which data is available. → Read More
Gun control advocates call on Marco Rubio to join their fight to end gun violence
In impassioned speeches, a group of moms, teachers, students, and gun control advocates called on Sen. Marco Rubio to join their fight to end gun violence, even if it would mean turning his back on his donors at the National Rifle Association. → Read More
State investigators dismiss Rebekah Jones’ claims of Florida fudging COVID-19 data
Rebekah Jones was thrust into the national spotlight when she accused the DeSantis administration of directing her to falsify COVID-19 positivity rates to support the push to reopen Florida after months of quarantine. In the investigative report, released Thursday, investigators said there was "insufficient evidence" to prove or disprove Jones’ claims. → Read More
‘We’ve been down that path’: How South Florida has stepped up school safety measures after the Parkland shooting
Students should be celebrating the carefree final days of the school year, but instead they’re on edge with the news of another school shooting. School officials are reminding students and their families that schools are safe and secure due to measures taken after the Parkland shooting. → Read More
Florida faces a big summer of travel and tourism. The ‘people had to come,’ DeSantis says
Florida is experiencing yet another boom in tourism well into May this year — with the slow days of summer long gone, industry experts say. Despite a rising number of COVID cases, including a projected surge this summer, travelers have been eager to enjoy time with their friends and family. → Read More
Miramar’s city manager is out after six months on the job. A new leader has been chosen.
Three city commissioners gave City Manager Whittingham Gordon the boot at his six-month evaluation. Gordon submitted a list of accomplishments to commissioners, but it appeared to do little to impress them. → Read More
Schools warn students: Don’t say gay in protest at graduation
A gay Florida student who drew national attention for his activism is part of a trend of teens who experts say are engaging in civilized dissent as more restrictions in Florida kick in. They say they’re practicing American democracy, which they feel is threatened. → Read More
Middle school teacher is arrested in sex case in Palm Beach County
A principal's statement says the teacher was reassigned to a position away from students and the school’s campus in March, when the School District Police received a complaint about him from his victim. → Read More
Only one reviewer complained of ‘critical race theory’ in Florida math textbooks
Only one reviewer who dug into the math books publishers hoped to sell to Florida schools complained there was “critical race theory” embedded in the texts. → Read More
South Florida abortion rights supporters mobilize after leaked draft Supreme Court opinion. Advocates rally in Fort Lauderdale.
Abortion rights activists are mobilizing in the aftermath of the leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion indicating the justices plan to overturn the Roe vs. Wade decision that broadly legalized abortion across the U.S. "We are going to be living in a post-Roe world. It is dangerous, it is scary." Democrats believe the ruling may turn out voters and punish Republicans in November, but that may… → Read More
Florida approves even more math textbooks after publishers removed ‘problematic’ elements
The state Department of Education has approved textbooks from two more publishers, including Savvas Learning Co., the one Broward County’s school district plans to adopt on Tuesday. → Read More
Headed to SunFest or the Air Show? You can expect some rain this weekend
Those looking forward to a weekend full of live music at SunFest in West Palm Beach or the air-and-sea spectacle of the Fort Lauderdale Air Show should bring umbrellas along. → Read More
South Florida schools face chaos as state bans math books with ‘prohibited topics’
South Florida districts were ready to spend millions of dollars — more than $34 million in Broward County alone — so the new textbooks would be on campuses when the new school year starts in August. But the state says some contain objectionable material. → Read More
Florida’s education department rejects math textbooks, saying some had critical race theory
Out of 132 submitted textbooks, the education department approved only 78 of them, and rejected more than ever before, according to a news release. It rejected 54, including several it said had critical race theory and other prohibited subjects. → Read More
NFL quarterback Dwayne Haskins: Radio calls capture emergency response in deadly crash
Radio transmissions provide some details about how officers and paramedics responded to the crash that killed NFL star Dwayne Haskins. → Read More
Palm Beach schools pull two books about transgender kids, including ‘I Am Jazz’
After complaints, Palm Beach County schools reviews two books, "I Am Jazz" and "Call Me Max," due to Florida's new Don't Say Gay law, according to a letter sent to school principals by the superintendent's office. → Read More