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THURSDAY APRIL 3, 2025
10% TARIFFS U.S. President Donald Trump announced on April 2, 2025, a 10% tariff on exports from most Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, to the American market. The decision, unveiled during a White House media conference, is part of a broader move to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries that tax U.S. imports. continues on B3 – 10% Tariffs
See related EDITORIAL on A7
Miami-Dade Commissioners vote to stop adding fluoride to drinking water In a move that has sparked widespread debate, Miami-Dade County commissioners voted Tuesday to cease the addition of fluoride to the county’s drinking water. The decision followed a presentation by Florida’s Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who raised concerns about the practice during a public meeting.
The resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez, passed despite opposition from Commissioner Eileen Higgins and Raquel A. Regalado. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has yet to announce whether she will veto the legislation. For 60 years, Miami-Dade County has fluoridated its water supply, a practice supported by numerous scientific and medical organizations, including the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Water Works Association, and the American
Dental Association. Supporters argue that fluoridation, at levels recommended by health authorities, significantly reduces dental cavities. However, Dr. Ladapo, along with figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, have challenged the established consensus. Ladapo previously raised concerns about potential developmental issues in children, particularly pointing to research that suggests fluoride could be neurotoxic, potentially
lowering IQs in babies. “The science shows that fluoride is neurotoxic, and the debate should be about whether it should be added to the water,” Dr. Ladapo stated in the past. Commissioner Gonzalez echoed these concerns, referencing the evolution of scientific understanding and citing a 2015 recommendation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Barack Obama, which lowered the recommended fluoride levels in drinking water. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water, soil, and various foods. It is continues on B4 – No more fluoride
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