Joseph Ladapo

Dr. Haywood Brown, the former vice president for diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity at USF, stepped down following comments of him talking about DEI circulated on social media.

When roll call was taken, commissioners Leo Longworth, Gary Ball and Laura Simpson decided to stick with fluoride. Tanya Tucker and Mayor Trish Burdin-Pfeiffer voted no.

The county's safety and health committee took no action on fluoridation after the surgeon general's presentation to convince members to end the practice.

There's a bill filed that would ban fluoridation statewide. On "The Florida Roundup," Melbourne's mayor and a pediatric dentist give differing views on whether the practice should continue.

Lakeland delayed a hearing over the water issue until the Bartow workshop, which presented experts on both sides. Attendees included Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who wants to end fluoridation.

Commissioners voted to bring an ordinance on removing fluoride from the water supply at a later date. The county must also consider repairing the current fluoridation system.

The topic is on the agenda for Tuesday's meeting. If commissioners vote to follow the guidance of Florida's surgeon general, Manatee would join more than a dozen other local governments to end the practice.

The 4-1 vote came the council heard public comments from he proposal's opponents and supporters, including Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo.

On Wednesday, the Naples City Council voted to stop the practice of adding fluoride to the city’s water supply. It was decided with a 4-to-3 vote following public comment from citizens on both sides of the issue.

Elected officials respond to Florida surgeon general’s recommendation that cities and counties remove fluoride from drinking water.

The surgeon general calls it "public health malpractice" to fluoridate water, citing research that suggests exposure to high levels of fluoride can cause lower IQ in kids. National experts say there is not enough data to determine if the lower level present in most U.S. water supplies has the same effect.

Trump's pick of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead HHS worries pediatricians. In Florida, the childhood vaccination rate is decreasing more rapidly under a Surgeon General who is skeptical of vaccines.