Third Grade 2021 Reading Scores Released by FDOE

Third Grade 2021 Reading Scores Released by FDOE

On Tuesday, June 22nd, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) announced the initial English Language Arts (ELA) results of the Grade 3 Florida Standards Assessment (FSA). Overall, the 2021 performance at Level 3 and above (on grade level and above) decreased by 4 percentage points when compared to 2019 (58% to 54%). The average score […]

The CSC Settles on Tax Rate, Creates Needs Assessment Committee

The CSC Settles on Tax Rate, Creates Needs Assessment Committee

At a meeting on Tuesday June 22nd in the Leon County Commission Chambers, the Leon County Children’s Services Council (CSC) unanimously voted to levy a .375 mills property tax to raise funds to support the groups programs. Leon County’s CSC was created after a voter referendum last November was approved by approximately 65% of the […]

DeSantis Signs Bill on Civics, ‘Intellectual Freedom’

DeSantis Signs Bill on Civics, ‘Intellectual Freedom’

By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Saying he wants Florida to be the “number-one state for civic literacy,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed bills aimed at boosting civics education in public schools and gauging “intellectual freedom” on college campuses. During a bill-signing event at a Fort Myers middle-school library, DeSantis […]

Leon County 2020 Crime Rate Down, Violent Crime Up

Leon County 2020 Crime Rate Down, Violent Crime Up

Driven by a decrease in property crime, the 2020 Leon County crime rate fell by 20.4% when compared to 2019 numbers. Leon County’s crime rate per 100,000 population was ranked 6th among the 67 Florida counties. In 2019 the Leon County crime rate was ranked 3rd. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s release of the […]

Tallahassee Gas Prices Up 45.6% Over Last 12 Months

Tallahassee Gas Prices Up 45.6% Over Last 12 Months

According to publicly available data, gas prices in Tallahassee have increased approximately 45.6% over the last 12 months. The current price of a gallon of regular gas, as of June 19, was $2.97. This is up from $2.04 per gallon reported one year ago. The chart below shows the 12-months trend of average gas prices […]

Judge Blocks CDC Restrictions on Cruise Ships

Judge Blocks CDC Restrictions on Cruise Ships

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Saying the “injury to Florida’s economy grows by the day,” a U.S. district judge Friday issued a preliminary injunction against federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention restrictions that have idled cruise ships in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 124-page ruling by U.S. […]

Residential Resales Up 47% in May, Average Price $307K

Residential Resales Up 47% in May, Average Price $307K

Sales of existing single-family homes in Leon county were up 47.6% when compared to numbers sold in the same month one year ago. There were 229 single-family home resales in May 2020 and 338 resales in May 2021. Last month there were 302 existing single-family homes sold. The average sales price in May 2021 increased […]

Florida, Other States Lose Obama Care Challenge

Florida, Other States Lose Obama Care Challenge

By Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a challenge by Florida and 17 other states to the Affordable Care Act, leaving intact the law that has helped more than 2 million Floridians obtain subsidized health insurance this year. The court, in a 7-2 decision, did […]