By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Siding with publishers and authors, a federal judge Wednesday ruled that a key part of a 2023 Florida law that has led to books being removed from school library shelves is “overbroad and unconstitutional.” U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza issued a 50-page decision in a […]
By The News Service of Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson are expected this week to tout a new program that involves buying and distributing fresh food products to help people who are “food insecure.” Albritton said Monday during a Hardee County legislative delegation meeting that he and Simpson will […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday appointed Sen. Jay Collins, a Tampa Republican and retired Army Green Beret, to the long-vacant position of lieutenant governor amid speculation that Collins could run for governor in 2026. DeSantis said he selected Collins, who served 23 years in the […]
The state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. added more than 600 policies last week as it continues to slowly grow. Citizens had 783,344 policies on Friday, up from 782,728 policies a week earlier and 781,467 policies two weeks earlier, according to data posted on its website. The policy count has gradually increased in recent weeks amid […]
By The News Service of Florida General revenue tax collections in June slightly topped a projection, as consumers continued to make purchases ahead of anticipated tariff impacts. In a report released Friday, the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic said Florida collected about $4.85 billion in net general revenue in June, $31.6 million more than […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With a high-stakes hearing scheduled to start Monday, Florida Power & Light and numerous parties have reached a “settlement in principle” on a plan for base electric rates over the next four years, the utility said Friday. But other parties, including most notably the state […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — As the state House moved forward this week with a rare mid-decade look at drawing new congressional maps, a federal judge put a temporary hold on construction at Alligator Alcatraz. Attorneys in the lawsuit over the detention center will now focus on whether construction of […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Siding with environmental groups, a U.S. district judge on Thursday temporarily blocked state and federal officials from further expansion of an immigrant-detention center in the Everglades. Judge Kathleen Williams’ temporary restraining order put on hold for two weeks additional construction or infrastructure, paving or installation […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — State wildlife officials could allow oyster harvesting in part of Northwest Florida’s Apalachicola Bay, where the fishery collapsed more than a decade ago and continues to struggle to recover. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff members have recommended a “limited opening,” as some oyster […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Describing the case as having “exceptional importance,” the Florida Department of Environmental Protection this week argued a federal appeals court should overturn decisions that required the agency to take a series of steps to protect manatees in the northern Indian River Lagoon. The department filed […]