CIVIL RIGHTS CASE FILED TO STOP FLORIDA BOY’S CIRCUMCISION
A Florida woman who fled with her son to keep his circumcision fight from going forward has filed a civil rights lawsuit on behalf of the boy, hoping a federal judge might intervene where state judges haven’t. Heather Hironimus filed the complaint late Monday, repeating her claims that surgery on her 4-year-old son isn’t necessary, that the boy doesn’t want it, and that his constitutional rights are being violated. Aside from seeking to stop the procedure, Hironimus is trying to avoid her own arrest, which was ordered after she fled in February and ignored a judge’s demand that she appear in court and allow the surgery to go forward.
FLORIDA SENATE PASSES BILL TO ALLOW BEER GROWLERS
A bill to help Florida’s craft brewing industry and allow sales of popular 64-ounce growlers of beer could soon head to the desk of Gov. Rick Scott. The Florida Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed the bill (SB 186) that deals with growlers. It heads over to the House, which is working on a similar bill. Under a separate law enacted before craft breweries became popular in Florida, beer can only be sold in containers up to a quart or a gallon or more.
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE REPEALS 38-YEAR OLD BAN ON GAY ADOPTION
Florida’s 38-year-old ban on gay adoption is getting tossed out by the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature. The Florida Senate on Tuesday voted 27-11 for an adoption bill (HB 7013) that repeals the law first passed in 1977. It now heads to Gov. Rick Scott. Sen. Don Gaetz, the sponsor of the bill, called the current ban “meaningless” since it is no longer enforced. An appeals court ruled it unconstitutional in 2010.
3 INJURED IN MIAMI POLICE SHOOTOUT
Authorities in Miami say a suspect has been shot and wounded after opening fire on an officer with an assault rifle and leading police on a chaotic car chase. Miami police spokesman Sgt. Freddie Cruz said Tuesday’s events began when a man emerged from a taxi with the assault rifle and started shooting at an officer, who returned fire. Neither man was hit, but Cruz says the suspect managed to steal the officer’s cruiser and speed away. The chase ended a short time later in North Miami. Officers traded shots with the suspect, who was injured and taken for treatment at a local hospital. Authorities say two bystanders were also wounded with apparently non-life threatening injuries.
PUBLIC PYTHON HUNT WILL RETURN TO FLORIDA EVERGLADES
Florida is bringing back a public hunt for invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission plans to hold the next “Python Challenge” early next year. Registration opens in October. About 1,600 people participated in 2013 during the first monthlong python hunt on state lands. Most of the 68 pythons collected were caught by experienced hunters.
