By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida Pointing to Florida’s decades-long fight with deadly citrus greening disease and damage from hurricanes, a major grower Monday announced it will “wind down” citrus operations and focus on more-profitable uses of its land. Fort Myers-based Alico Inc. said it will not spend additional money on citrus operations […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After an investigative agency sided with the company, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office will urge an administrative law judge to find that Starbucks has improperly used race-based hiring practices. Moody in May filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations alleging that […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Former Florida Gov. Kenneth “Buddy” MacKay, 91, died peacefully during an afternoon nap at his home in Ocala surrounded by his wife and sons on New Year’s Eve, a family spokesman said Thursday. MacKay’s decades-long public-service career included stints as a state legislator, U.S. representative, […]
By The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After facing a barrage of hurricanes, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Co. on Friday filed proposals to collect about $1.55 billion from customers to cover costs of restoring power and replenishing storm reserves. The proposals, if approved by the Florida Public Service Commission, would lead to […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A smattering of new state laws will arrive with the new year, but the highest-profile change — restricting access to social media for children — will not be immediately enforced. Ten laws passed during the 2024 legislative session will take effect Wednesday. They were among […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — State Rep. Hillary Casel on Friday became the second House Democrat to switch her party affiliation since the November elections, further adding to Republicans’ supermajority. Cassel, a Dania Beach attorney, said in a post on X that she supports House Republicans’ “vision for a better, […]
By Jim Turner and Tom Urban, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Senate President Ben Albritton on Monday suggested phasing out a decade-old law that allows some undocumented immigrant students, known as “dreamers,” to receive in-state tuition rates at Florida universities and colleges. Albritton addressed the issue during a media availability, after Sen. Randy […]
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz this week sharply criticized utility regulators for not adequately justifying decisions, likening the state Public Service Commission to a “black box.” Muniz repeatedly raised the issue Tuesday as the Supreme Court heard arguments in an appeal of a 2023 Public Service Commission order approving rates for […]
By The News Service of Florida Florida continues to see a slowdown of first-time unemployment claims since brief spikes following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The federal agency on Wednesday estimated that 6,085 initial unemployment claims in the state were filed last week, down from a revised count […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Receiving President-elect Donald Trump’s endorsement and setting off political dominoes, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced Monday he will run for a Northwest Florida congressional seat vacated by former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz. Trump also threw his endorsement behind state Sen. Randy Fine, R-Brevard […]