By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Trulieve, the state’s largest medical marijuana operator, is now the nation’s biggest cannabis retailer, after closing on a $2.1 billion deal to acquire former competitor Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. The transaction marks a major development in Florida, where Harvest held one of 22 licenses […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With Gov. Ron DeSantis describing her as a “true fighter,” Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The governor issued a statement Monday about the diagnosis, though the statement did not provide details about issues such as the type of breast […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE — While Florida looks to round the corner on administering 100,000 monoclonal antibody treatments to people with COVID-19, Gov. Ron DeSantis pledged Thursday to “fight like hell” to continue receiving the treatments as the federal government this week took control over distribution of the drugs. The […]
By Jim Saunders and Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge Wednesday rejected a request by parents of disabled children to block Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts to prevent school districts from requiring students to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Judge K. Michael Moore issued a 34-page ruling that denied […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Saying the state’s system of standardized testing in public schools is “quite frankly, outdated,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced that lawmakers will consider a proposal during the 2022 legislative session to end the Florida Standards Assessments. The statewide exams in English-language arts and math, […]
The News Service of Florida President Joe Biden expressed disappointment Friday in Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republican governors who have criticized a White House directive to require COVID-19 vaccinations and tests for large numbers of public and private workers. Appearing at a Washington, D.C. middle school to urge parents to get children vaccinated if […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A Leon County circuit judge on Wednesday again blocked Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order that seeks to bar school mask mandates, giving at least a temporary victory to parents challenging the order. Judge John Cooper issued a written ruling last week that said DeSantis’ had […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Disney Cruise Line on Tuesday joined other lines that dock in Florida in planning to require COVID-19 vaccinations for most passengers ages 12 or older traveling to the Bahamas. The announcement came after Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis last week said cruise ships will only […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Legendary Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden died Sunday morning at age 91, about two weeks after announcing he had a terminal illness. University President John Thrasher recounted knowing the larger-than-life coach for years, describing Bowden as an “incredible” man known as much for […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A 13-year-old Broward County soccer player and her parents are challenging a a new state law that bans transgender female athletes from participating on girls’ and women’s sports teams, arguing that it is unconstitutional and “ignores basic medical science” about trans students. The measure (SB […]