By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Siding with publishers and authors, a federal judge Wednesday ruled that a key part of a 2023 Florida law that has led to books being removed from school library shelves is “overbroad and unconstitutional.” U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza issued a 50-page decision in a […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday appointed Sen. Jay Collins, a Tampa Republican and retired Army Green Beret, to the long-vacant position of lieutenant governor amid speculation that Collins could run for governor in 2026. DeSantis said he selected Collins, who served 23 years in the […]
The state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. added more than 600 policies last week as it continues to slowly grow. Citizens had 783,344 policies on Friday, up from 782,728 policies a week earlier and 781,467 policies two weeks earlier, according to data posted on its website. The policy count has gradually increased in recent weeks amid […]
By The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and state Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia have signaled they will send auditors to Jacksonville on Aug. 7 and Aug. 8 as part of their “DOGE” scrutiny of local spending. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan on Thursday released a request from the state, which was dated […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A U.S. district judge on Monday pushed state and federal officials to provide a copy of an intergovernmental agreement showing “who’s running the show” at an Everglades immigrant-detention center, calling the situation “urgent” as at least 100 detainees have been deported amid legal wrangling over […]
By The News Service of Florida A Texas-based company filed a federal lawsuit this week against the Florida Division of Emergency Management, alleging it is owed more than $7.5 million after the firm helped evacuate people from war-torn Haiti in 2024. TAD Recovery Services, LLC, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in the federal Northern District of […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — About 100 undocumented immigrants have been deported from an airstrip adjoining the detention center dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” and “the cadence” of outgoing flights is increasing, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday. Speaking to reporters outside the detention complex in the Everglades, DeSantis and other state officials […]
By The News Service of Florida Florida State University on Thursday joined the University of Florida in approving plans to increase costs for out-of-state students during the upcoming academic year. The FSU Board of Trustees approved 10 percent increases in fees that are charged to out-of-state students on top of the tuition charged to all […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis could ask lawmakers to redraw congressional boundary lines after the Florida Supreme Court last week upheld a 2022 map that gave Republicans control of a North Florida district previously held by a Democrat. DeSantis raised the possibility of further redistricting Thursday as […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A staunch political ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Blaise Ingoglia was sworn in Monday as Florida’s chief financial officer, vowing to focus on local-government spending and insurance companies. Ingoglia, a homebuilder from Spring Hill and a state legislator since 2014, also tried to stay away […]