Broward County

The U.S. Department of Education is sending more than $420,000 to make up for wages the state withheld after the board refused to allow parental opt-outs for masks in schools.

Prosecutors say two executives with SpineFrontier are accused of paying millions of dollars in bribes disguised as consulting fees to surgeons in exchange for the surgeons using the manufacturer's products.

The districts are challenging the department's authority to issue the parental opt-out rule and argue the wording does not prevent them from requiring medical exemptions from wearing masks.

Now that the FDA has fully approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19, some health care experts hope to see more vaccine mandates and more people getting their shots.

The state Board of Education said Alachua and Broward violated a state Department of Health rule that requires parents to be allowed to opt out of student mask mandates.

Leon and Alachua officials decided to require parents to submit doctors’ notes for children to be exempt, drawing objections from the education commissioner. Broward officials could be next after a Tuesday vote.

The Broward County School Board is defying Gov. Ron DeSantis by requiring masks, triggering yet another battle between local elected officials and state leaders over COVID-19 policy.

Federal investigators allege the pair assisted individuals in acquiring fake diplomas and transcripts from nursing schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

A similar effort in Orange County last week resulted in about 1,500 students and family members receiving their coronavirus shots.

Officials are also working on door-to-door vaccinations, shots at workplace sites and media campaigns to boost the rates.