Hope Florida Foundation officials answer questions in Tallahassee, and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer reacts to a demand to change the city's approach to immigration enforcement.

School cell phone ban bill passes the Florida House

The Florida House unanimously passed a bill Wednesday that would ban cellphone use in schools, except in certain situations.

House Bill 949 was approved by a vote of 117-0, and will now head to the Florida Senate for consideration. 

Under the bill, all use of wireless communication devices would be banned at school, except in a designated area that the legislation would require each school to create. Students would be able to use their wireless communication devices in the designated area only with express permission of a school administrator, of if it is part of their individualized education plan, 504 accommodation plan or if the student is given a doctor's note that says they need to use if for health reasons.

Republican state Rep. Demi Busatta said the legislation will not only help students focus on learning, it will also improve their overall school experience.

"Cell phones not only cause constant distractions to a student's focus during the school day, which impedes their ability to learn, but it also has shown to increase bullying," Busatta said.

Members of the Florida Senate have expressed a desire to take a more measured approach to regulating cell phones in schools, but Republican state Rep. Michelle Salzman said she believes this bill gives educators the tools they need to help their students learn while also keeping them safe.

"There are some issues — there will be some concerns," Salzman said. "But I'm fully confident that these superintendents and these school districts — the principals, the teachers — they're going to embrace the change and do what they need to do to make sure their kids are safe, because I'm certain that that is their No. 1 priority."

While she sees it as a positive step forward, House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said she's not sure the bill will make it to the governor's desk this session.

"It might take another session or two to really get it where it needs to be and, and passed into law," she said. "So I don't think the efforts were fruitless. And I'm glad we're taking care to really protect kids."

Judge finds cause to hold Trump administration in criminal contempt for violating deportation order

A federal judge on Wednesday said he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for violating his orders to turn around planes carrying deportees to El Salvador.

U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg warned he could refer the matter for prosecution if the administration does not "purge" its contempt. Boasberg said the administration could do so by returning to U.S. custody those who were sent to the El Salvador prison in violation of his order so that they "might avail themselves of their right to challenge their removability."

If the Justice Department declines to prosecute the matter, Boasberg said he will appoint another attorney to prosecute the contempt.

"The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders — especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it," Boasberg wrote.

It marks an escalation in a battle between the judicial and executives branches of government over a president's powers to carry out key White House priorities. The Republican president has called for Boasberg's impeachment while the Justice Department has accused the judge of overstepping his authority.

Boasberg, who was nominated to the federal bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, ordered the administration last month not to deport anyone in its custody under the Alien Enemies Act. Trump invoked the 1798 wartime law over what he claimed was an invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

When Boasberg was told there were already planes in the air headed to El Salvador, which has agreed to house deported migrants in a notorious prison, the judge said the aircraft needed to be returned to the United States. But hours later, El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, announced that the deportees had arrived in his country. In a social media post, he said, "Oopsie...too late" above an article referencing Boasberg's order.

The Trump administration has argued it did not violate any orders, noted the judge did not include the turnaround directive in his written order and said the planes had already left the U.S. by the time that order came down.

Erik Dellenback resigns as Hope Florida's executive director one day after testifying in Tallahassee

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' office confirmed Wednesday that Hope Florida Executive Director Erik Dellenback has resigned from his position.

"Mr. Dellenback is resigning to pursue the opportunity to become the new CEO of Florida Family Voice and will remain involved with Hope Florida in an advisory capacity," an official from DeSantis' office said in a statement.

Dellenback's resignation comes as the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity created to support the initiative, faces scrutiny over its operations.

At the center of the tumult is a $10 million donation the foundation received from a $67 million Medicaid state settlement that was previously undisclosed to the state Legislature.