Statewide Elections and Independent Voters

Statewide Elections and Independent Voters

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With the general election two months off, post-primary polls indicate Florida’s gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races are close as battles loom for remaining “persuadable voters.” A poll commissioned by the senior-advocacy group AARP said Gov. Ron DeSantis leads Democratic challenger Charlie Crist by a margin […]

Florida Counties to Get Money for Electric Buses

Florida Counties to Get Money for Electric Buses

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection said this week that $68 million will be divided among 13 counties moving from diesel to electric buses. The money, coming from Florida’s share of a 2016 settlement between Volkswagen and the U.S. Department of Justice over emissions violations, is expected to cover the costs of 227 electric buses […]

DeSantis Takes Aim at ‘Ideological’ Investing

DeSantis Takes Aim at ‘Ideological’ Investing

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Continuing to target what he calls “woke” corporations, Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to prohibit state investments that use “environmental, social and governance” ratings, which can include taking into account impacts of climate change. DeSantis plans to have the State Board of Administration, which oversees investments, […]

Crist, Fried Duke It Out in Debate

Crist, Fried Duke It Out in Debate

By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With both claiming to be Florida Democrats’ best bet to defeat Gov. Ron DeSantis in November, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried traded barbs Thursday in their only debate before next month’s primary election. The verbal sparring came amid an increasingly acrimonious […]

Rash of Overdoses Ramps Up Fentanyl Fight

Rash of Overdoses Ramps Up Fentanyl Fight

By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida QUINCY — State and local authorities are working “feverishly” to fight the distribution of fentanyl in Florida after a string of overdose deaths over the weekend rocked the rural community of Gadsden County. Nine deaths in the county are suspected to have been caused by fentanyl, likely […]

DeSantis Signs Immigration Bill, Seeks Grand Jury

DeSantis Signs Immigration Bill, Seeks Grand Jury

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Continuing to criticize the Biden administration’s border policies, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a controversial immigration bill and asked the Florida Supreme Court to impanel a statewide grand jury to probe issues such as the smuggling of undocumented immigrant children into the state. Flanked […]

Property Insurance Changes Aimed at Stabilizing Market

Property Insurance Changes Aimed at Stabilizing Market

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers began moving forward Monday with a plan to try to bolster the state’s troubled property-insurance market, but homeowners shouldn’t expect immediate relief from soaring premiums. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the plan (SB 2-D) on the first day of a special legislative session […]

DeSantis Vetoes Controversial Rooftop Solar Bill

DeSantis Vetoes Controversial Rooftop Solar Bill

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In a win for the rooftop-solar industry and environmental groups, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday vetoed a controversial bill that would have made major changes in rules for rooftop-solar energy. The bill (HB 741) dealt with a somewhat-wonky issue known as “net metering.” But it […]

DeSantis Sets May Session on Property Insurance

DeSantis Sets May Session on Property Insurance

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers will return to the Capitol the week of May 23 to address problems in the property-insurance system that have led to homeowners losing coverage and facing soaring premiums. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday called a special session from May 23 to May 27 […]

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