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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
By the News Service of Florida With the backing of Senate Republican leaders, former Florida State University and NFL football player Corey Simon will try to unseat Sen. Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee, in November. Simon, who was appointed in 2020 as CEO of Volunteer Florida, filed paperwork Monday to run in Senate District 3. His candidacy […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a bill aimed at dissolving a special taxing district that has granted Walt Disney World unique self-governing powers for more than five decades, even as a leading bond-rating agency cautioned investors about the proposed changes. The bill (SB 4-C) […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — As state leaders take on what they are calling a “fatherhood crisis” in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill that will provide about $70 million to bolster programs aimed at equipping dads with parenting resources and helping foster youth. The measure (HB […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A fiercely debated bill that would bar instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity for young public-school students is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis, despite Democrats’ warnings Tuesday that the measure’s approval sends “a message of hate” to Floridians. Senators voted 22-17 to pass the […]