A new report from the non-profit Common Sense found that more than 800,000 students in Florida don’t have digital access at home, and an immense number of them are students of color.
The Federal Department of Education’s survey found significant differences by race: 68 percent of Asian, 58 percent of Black, and 56 percent of Hispanic fourth graders were learning entirely remotely, while just 27 percent of white students were.
“Internet has become one of the most expensive utility bills that a family has,” said Mindy Taylor, of the Digital Equity Initiatives of the Hillsborough Education Foundation. “So it’s often a struggle for families to be able to afford a broadband internet connection.”
These numbers are concerning when communities of color are struggling to access internet and digital devices more than white Americans.
Florida House committee approves Gail’s Law regarding rape kits
A Florida House committee this week unanimously approved Gail’s Law, which would allow victims to track their rape kits. The push for the legislation comes after 13,000 victims’ of sexual assault learned their tests were never processed.
Florida has a long history of not processing evidence that could have helped get the peace that the victims deserved.
“Tens of thousands of victims who have subjected their bodies to highly invasive evidence collections have never seen justice,” said Rebecca O’Connor, vice president of public policy for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.
The number of untested rape kits sends a horrible message to victims, which leads them to become hesitant to report their rape because of how few kits lead to convictions.
“We often if not always encourage our victims to find some kind of closure outside of the criminal justice system. Because if it does end up going to court, and getting a conviction, sometimes even that could be 5, 10 years later,” said Gina Dickerson, director of Sexual Assault Services at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
State law now requires kits to be submitted for testing within 30 days and processed in 20 after that. This bill could mark the first step in prioritizing sexual assault victims to get their justice in Florida.
Join St. Puppy’s Day in the park to help local animal shelters in Tampa Bay
The Rotary Club of Spring Hill is hosting a free fundraiser event to take your dog to and have lots of fun, all while helping nonprofit animal shelters.
This fun-filled event will have many contests, music, vendors, and more. It all takes place on March 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All of the proceeds will go towards different animal shelters in the Tampa Bay area. So bring your dog down to St. Puppy’s Day in the Park to enjoy a fun-filled day with your pup.
Preview: Friday’s feature looks at the return of ballroom dancing
Credits
Anchors: Payton Kirol, Dylan Zuccarello
Producer: Gabe Castro
Reporters: Deanna Lampasona, Alice Barlow
Writer: Brad Haft
Graphics editor: Sean Stover
Video Editors: Brad Haft
Show Editor: Demi Asensio
Videographer: Leo Santos
Associate Producer: Bryony Deighton, Demi Asensio
Web Editor: Julianna Jung
Executive Producer: Niamh Larkin
Graduate Assistant: Emmanuel Maduneme
Faculty Adviser: Jeanette Abrahamsen, Wayne Garcia
