Yes, Florida has to follow the Endangered Species Act when it comes to protecting its beloved, highly imperiled manatees--at least for now, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Reading up on this case is a down-the-rabbit-hole experience that leaves casual observers wondering "what the heck is going on here?" For most Floridians, it's a given that the state would prioritize protecting manatees--particularly those who understand that the threats to manatees also carry potentially deadly implications for the state's major water bodies.

State officials shouldn't need a federal law to force them to fight against the hazards to the environment they are supposed to be protecting--a mission that is right there in the........

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