By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Panhandle Republican who in recent years has become a national political lightning rod, was picked Wednesday by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as U.S. attorney general. Trump’s announcement that he is nominating Gaetz to lead the Department of Justice came […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis wasn’t on the ballot last week, but he won big. Democrats laughed at the governor early this year when his presidential campaign sank without a ripple in Iowa. His critics gleefully predicted that DeSantis had scuttled his once-promising political career by badly over-reaching in his challenge to Donald Trump for the Republican […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida voters left no doubt on Election Day that Republicans are in control of the political levers across the Sunshine State, with GOP leaders winning on issues and maintaining strongholds in the Legislature. Amid Tuesday’s ruby-red afterglow, Republican officials quickly started planning ahead. Former President […]
By Jim Turner & Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Incoming House Speaker Daniel Perez on Thursday rolled out changes to House committees, while saying lawmakers have “spent taxpayer funds excessively and indiscriminately in the last few years.” Perez, R-Miami, detailed a revised committee structure while also announcing a leadership team for […]
By Dara Kam and Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In a show of Republican strength in Florida, incumbent Corey Simon on Tuesday handily defeated Democratic challenger Daryl Parks in what was considered the only competitive state Senate race and the GOP maintained supermajorities in both legislative chambers. Simon’s double-digit victory in […]
By The News Service of Florida State university-system leaders are trying to quickly educate themselves about how a tentative legal settlement involving compensation for athletes, including some no longer in school, might change college sports in Florida. The system’s Board of Governors on Wednesday directed members of its Budget and Finance Committee to learn about […]
BY Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A federal appeals court recently backed a chapter of the group Moms for Liberty in a constitutional challenge to Brevard County School Board policies that placed restrictions on speakers at board meetings. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said policies targeted […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After seeking help from the Florida Supreme Court on the meaning of the word “riot,” a federal appeals court Monday overturned an injunction against a 2021 state law aimed at cracking down on violent demonstrations. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Four busy Florida ports will see direct impacts from an International Longshoremen’s Association strike for higher wages that began Tuesday. JAXPORT in Jacksonville, Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, PortMiami and Port Tampa Bay are among ports along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts where tens of […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Ranchers, farmers and timber growers are reporting widespread damage from the wind and rain of Hurricane Helene, which raced through rural North Florida last week. Chicken houses had roofs blown off. Acres of sweet corn and carrots were laid horizontal. Irrigation systems have been uprooted. […]