What 17 Years of Dog Sitting has Taught Me about Animals — and People

https://www.msn.com/en-au/pets-and-animals/pets/what-17-years-of-dog-sitting-has-taught-me-about-animals-and-people/ar-AA1KmVxU

By Anne Rodgers

My first pet sitting job fell in my lap when my neighbors Chuck and Betty came looking for dog care. They owned a zesty Shih Tzu named Dusty and didn’t mind paying someone to give her personal attention and several walks a day when they were out of town.

While they were away, their home’s AC broke down, so I installed a giant oscillating fan in the living room to survive the sweltering afternoons. On an impulse, I scooped Dusty up and stood in front of the fan, swaying gently. I wasn’t sure if she’d enjoy the direct breeze, but she didn’t squirm.

I set her down after a bit, but half an hour later she was back, standing at my feet, looking up hopefully. I repeated our cooling off routine, and from then on, she let me know whenever she needed a repeat of our refreshing drill.

DeSantis Names State Sen. Jay Collins as Lieutenant Governor

Florida is now the only state in the country to have military veterans as both governor and lieutenant governor.

After roughly six months, Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis finally decided on his next lieutenant governor: state Sen. Jarrid “Jay” Collins [pictured here].

The governor said on Aug. 12 in Tampa that he considered two things when making his decision. First, the person had to be “strong on policy,” with a “record of delivering big conservative results.” Second, the person had to be “somebody that’s going to run towards the fire,” not sit on the fence or fear criticism.

“It’s about performance and record and deeds, and Jay, on that measure, has amassed a stellar record, and I believe he will continue to be an outstanding leader in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said.

The new lieutenant governor, who was sworn into office in a ceremony at the Tampa Green Beret Association’s Team House in Tampa, affirmed that his mission was to continue to “keep Florida free” and build on what DeSantis, a Republican, has done to preserve the quality of life and foster growth.

Florida Becomes Second State to Ban Fluoride in Public Drinking Water

By Brenda Baletti

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis today said he will sign a bill banning the addition of fluoride to public drinking water, making Florida the second state to end the practice. The ban will take effect July 1.

Senate Bill 700, known as the “Florida Farm Bill,” passed the state House last week 88-27, sending the bill to the governor’s desk. The bill prevents “the use of certain additives in a water system.”

In a press conference, DeSantis said Florida is ending fluoridation because, “When you do this in the water supply, you’re taking away a choice of someone who may not want to have overexposure to fluoride.”

He said research shows the chemical has serious negative health consequences for children and pregnant women.

“We don’t want local governments unilaterally injecting a chemical into the water supply and exposing people to potentially harmful side effects,” he added.

He also said people can add fluoride to their water at home if they want to.

DeSantis was joined at the press conference by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo.

‘Painful Truths’: Florida Grand Jury Finds ‘Profound and Serious’ Issues With Vaccine Development and Safety in U.S.

By Suzanne Burdick, Ph.D.  (pictured right)*

Gov. Ron DeSantis convened the grand jury in December 2022 to investigate “any and all wrongdoing” concerning COVID-19 vaccines. Jury members reviewed documents and interviewed witnesses involved in the COVID-19 production process.

“While we did not find criminal activity,” they wrote in their 140-page report, “we did find a pattern of deceptive and obfuscatory behavior on the part of sponsors and regulators that often straddled the line between ethical and unethical conduct.”

Florida’s Surgeon General Comes Out Against Fluoride in Water Supply

Ladapo admitted to previously being in favor of fluoridation .... 

Florida’s Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo issued a new guidance on Nov. 22, advising against the long-standing practice of adding fluoride to the public drinking water supply.

“Adding fluoride to water increases the risk of neuropsychiatric disease in children and reduces their IQ,” Ladapo said in a post on social media platform X. “We can strengthen teeth without consuming this neurotoxin.”

In his guidance, Ladapo states that fluoride, which is known to strengthen teeth and make them more resistant to decay, is “widely available from multiple sources,” such as toothpaste and mouthwashes, and cites several studies that found a connection between negative mental side effects and fluoride exposure during childhood and pregnancy.

Bay Area Legal Services Disaster Relief

By Madison Arnold | October 18, 2024, 4:45 PM EDT * 

Less than a year after graduating from law school, Jason K. Susalla found himself in disaster relief work accidentally, starting in 2010 with Bay Area Legal Services Inc. in Florida as a part-time attorney on a phone intake team.

Nearly 15 years later, with Hurricane Milton roaring through the Sunshine State, Susalla was at the center of the relief efforts, exchanging messages with emergency management and other officials to provide assistance to those in need.

DeSantis Takes Charge after Trump Assassination Attempt — Then Points out Glaring Problem with Feds Leading Investigation

By Julio Rosas, 09/17/24

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) officially announced on Tuesday that statewide law enforcement agencies will conduct their own investigation into the second assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump since the most egregious crime affiliated with the incident, attempted murder, falls under Florida's jurisdiction.

"The suspect, Ryan Routh, is believed to have committed state law violations across multiple judicial circuits in this state, Palm Beach judicial circuit, judicial circuits including Martin County, as well as, perhaps, the judicial circuit represented by Broward County. I directed state agencies to move expeditiously and provide full transparency to the public," DeSantis explained.

DeSantis said he does not believe it is in the best interest of the nation for the FBI and the Department of Justice to lead the investigation considering that those same agencies are trying to prosecute Trump in Florida. DeSantis pointed to how there are still unanswered questions from the FBI on the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas and the first assassination attempt on Trump in July.

"In addition to holding the suspect accountable, the public deserves to know the truth of how this assassination [attempt] came to be," he added.