By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The growth-management group 1000 Friends of Florida and an Orange County resident Tuesday filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a new state law that blocks cities and counties from approving “more restrictive or burdensome” changes to growth plans. The lawsuit, filed in Leon County […]
Leon County prosecutors have convened a grand jury to explore possible wrongdoing associated with Hope Florida, according to a report Friday by the Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee bureau. State Attorney Jack Campbell’s office over the past few weeks issued subpoenas for witnesses to appear before the grand jury during the week of Oct. 13, […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Pointing to laws allowing use of medical marijuana and hemp, a state appeals court Wednesday reversed course and said police officers can’t search vehicles only on the basis of smelling cannabis. The 2nd District Court of Appeal’s main opinion said that for “generations, cannabis was […]
By The News Service of Florida Amid confusion over the impact of an appeals-court decision that overturned the state’s ban on openly carrying firearms, a House Democratic leader on Tuesday filed a measure seeking to ensure that certain places — such as legislative meetings, jails and police stations — remain gun-free zones. Rep. Christine Hunchofsky, […]
Florida this week began accepting immigrant detainees at a repurposed prison in Baker County as part of the state’s support of President Donald Trump’s mass-deportation efforts, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. The use of Baker Correctional Institution, which the state mothballed as a prison four years ago because of staffing shortages, coincided with a […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — When Florida lawmakers in December 2022 overhauled property-insurance laws, they shielded insurers from having to pay policyholders’ attorney fees after claims disputes — a top priority of the industry. But a state appeals court Thursday said the change only went so far. A three-judge panel […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Republican leaders from 22 other states are trying to help Florida convince a federal appeals court to put on hold a judge’s ruling that required winding down operations at an Everglades immigrant-detention center challenged by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe. Attorneys general from the […]
Average gasoline prices in Florida dropped 15 cents a gallon over the past week, while demand is expected to increase for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. Mark Jenkins, a spokesman for the AAA auto club, said there’s no guarantee the price decline will hold through the holiday. “For almost a year, Florida gas prices have […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A divided appeals court Wednesday revived a lawsuit that alleges a South Florida city’s zoning restrictions on where a gun shop could operate violated a state law that prevents local regulation of firearms. A three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal, in a […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Legislative leaders, a state Supreme Court justice and a former governor were among a host of heavyweights who paid homage Tuesday to “the epitome of a servant leader,” former Florida State University President and former House Speaker John Thrasher. Several hundred people gathered at Ruby […]