By The News Service Florida An estimated 5,384 first-time unemployment claims were filed in Florida last week, a drop of 500 from the prior week, according to a U.S. Department of Labor estimate on Thursday. The estimate covers a period shortened by the President’s Day holiday and is the lowest weekly figure for the year. The […]
By Ana Goñi-Lessan, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Rep. Gallop Franklin of Tallahassee was elected as House Democratic Leader for the 2028-2030 legislative term Wednesday evening. Democrats have been in the minority in the House since the 1990s and for the current term have been in superminority status. Still, Franklin has big plans […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida A proposal to tighten voter eligibility rules was approved by the Republican-controlled House on Wednesday over the objections of Democrats who contend seniors and students will be among those blocked from casting a ballot. The House voted 83-31 on the bill (HB 991), which contains wide-ranging changes […]
By The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet, sitting as the State Board of Immigration, on Tuesday approved approximately $40 million in grants for immigration enforcement. It was a last-minute drop of millions of dollars compared to the previous funding request of $53 million attached to the Cabinet agenda. State Board […]
By the News Service of Florida Gas prices in Florida saw a little jump as the past week got underway, but a downturn over the weekend erased the increase. The auto club AAA put a gallon of gas in Florida at $2.88 on Sunday, matching the prior Sunday, while still anticipating an uptick on the […]
By The News Service of Florida A bill that would expand the Capitol Complex has passed another hurdle in the House. The measure (HB 975) would make the Florida Department of Management Services collaborate with Capitol Police and local law enforcement to provide enhanced security measures surrounding the capitol. The bill passed the Justice Budget Subcommittee […]
By The News Service of Florida Florida attracted a record 143.3 million visitors last year, up 0.2 percent from 2024, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office announced Friday. The preliminary estimate is bolstered by domestic tourism, which accounted for 91.5 percent of the travelers. The 131 million domestic visitors was up 0.3 percent from 2024. Overseas travel […]
By Jim Turner, The Florida News Service Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet will be asked Tuesday to designate 22 acres at Hillsborough College into the talks involving a stadium location for the Tampa Bay Rays. Hillsborough College is working with the Rays ownership over the use of about 113 acres of the Dale […]
By The News Service of Florida A bill that would immediately remand someone who was found guilty of a dangerous crime into custody unanimously passed through the Senate Appropriations Committee on Civil and Criminal Justice on Wednesday. Entitled “Missy’s Law,” SB 928 would also require the person to stay in custody pending sentencing or further […]
By The News Service of Florida A proposal that would scale back a 2025 law that temporarily blocked cities and counties from approving “more restrictive or burdensome” changes to growth plans is headed to the Senate floor. The Rules Committee on Tuesday backed the measure (SB 840) that has yet to see any action in […]