Legal Proceedings Halted in PEN America vs. Escambia County School Board

Pensacola, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- A U.S. District Judge has issued a stay in the lawsuit filed by PEN America against the Escambia County School Board. According to the PNJ, the suit alleges First Amendment violations over book removals. The stay was signed on October 21, and pauses proceedings while two similar appeals concerning book bans are pending in federal court. One appeal challenges the removal of "And Tango Makes Three," while another questions the constitutionality of a law responsible for sweeping thousands of books from school libraries. PEN America, along with parents and major publishers, claim that the school board's actions disproportionately target books by authors of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. The Escambia County School Board has reportedly spent over $440,000 in legal fees related to the lawsuit.

Police Say Increasing Scams are Targeting Elderly in Milton

Milton, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- Milton Police are reporting an increase in scams targeting senior citizens. Two of the most common scams currently are the "Grandparent scam," which involves a scammer claiming a family member is in trouble and that they need to pay right away to keep them safe..... but they are now using AI to create a fake picture of the person they claim could be in danger.

"The AI piece is new, that's something we haven't seen before" says Milton Police Chief JEnnifer Frank.

Frank says the best thing to do if you are contacted, is to slow down and try to match up details. Another scam is the Publishers Clearing House scam, where the scammer claims you've won a big prize but have to pay the taxes to get the check. Victims have lost anywhere from 3 to 100-thousand dollars.

Conservation Group Seeks to Halt December Bear Hunt in Florida

Tallahassee, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- Bear Warriors United has filed for an emergency injunction to stop Florida's upcoming bear hunt. The organization argues that the decision by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission lacks sound scientific backing. The hunt is scheduled from December 6th through the 28th, and could see up to 172 black bears killed across the state. The group claims the FWC relied on outdated data for its decision to allow the hunt. Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey will hear the injunction request and the FWC's motion to dismiss the case during the week of November 17. The last bear hunt in Florida occurred in 2015, and the FWC maintains that current data supports the hunt's approval.