Florida to end

vaccine mandates

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida plans to become the first state to eliminate vaccine mandates that have been a cornerstone of public health policy for decades in keeping schoolchildren and citizens safe from infectious diseases.

State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo describes current vaccine requirements as an immoral intrusion on rights. He argues that parents should make health decisions for their children.

Vaccines have been proven over decades of use to be safe and the most effective way to stop the spread of communicable diseases, especially among schoolchildren. Dr. Rana Alissa from the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics warns that removing vaccines increases risks for students and staff.

Judge reverses

Harvard cuts

BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge in Boston has ordered the reversal of over $2.6 billion in federal funding cuts to Harvard University. The ruling, issued Wednesday, marks a significant victory for Harvard in its legal battle with the Trump administration.

Judge Allison Burroughs found the cuts were illegal retaliation for Harvard’s refusal to comply with White House demands on governance and policies. The administration had linked the funding freezes to antisemitism issues on campus, but the judge called this a smokescreen.

The White House said the administration would appeal the decision, making it unlikely that researchers receive funding any time soon.

US and Mexico

pledge cooperation

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico and the United States have agreed to continue collaborating on cross-border security issues like fighting the trafficking of drugs, guns and fuel.

The announcement came during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit Wednesday. Both countries emphasized that the cooperation would respect each other’s sovereignty. Initially, a broad security agreement was expected, but it evolved into a reaffirmation of ongoing collaboration. A new “high-level implementation group” will oversee these efforts.

The focus remains on stopping fentanyl and other drugs from entering the U.S. and controlling migration, which has significantly decreased.

‘Ketamine Queen’

pleads guilty

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A woman dubbed the “Ketamine Queen” has pleaded guilty to selling Matthew Perry the ketamine that killed him.

Jasveen Sangha became the fifth and final defendant charged in the overdose death of the “Friends” star to plead guilty Wednesday after an agreement with federal prosecutors. The plea means the 42-year-old will avoid a trial that had been planned for later this month.

Prosecutors cast Sangha as a prolific drug dealer who sought to sell especially to celebrities and other wealthy customers. According to court documents, she sold Perry 25 vials of ketamine four days before his death from an overdose of the drug.