Online Sales Tax Plan Backed in Florida Senate

Online Sales Tax Plan Backed in Florida Senate

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida The Florida Senate on Thursday approved a proposal that would require out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes, with the money slated to be used to help Florida business owners avoid increases in unemployment taxes. In a 30-10 vote, the Senate backed the proposal (SB 50), which […]

Vaccination Age to Drop to 40 Next Week

Vaccination Age to Drop to 40 Next Week

By The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced that all Floridians ages 40 and older will be able to receive COVID-19 vaccinations starting Monday and that all adults will be eligible on April 5. The announcement came after eligibility expanded to people ages 50 and older this week. “We have made […]

City Gets Update on Mobile App that Allows Citizens to Record Police Interactions

City Gets Update on Mobile App that Allows Citizens to Record Police Interactions

The Tallahassee Police Department will be the first agency in the nation to implement a hands-free, stream recording app that includes multiple contacts and a portal for review this Spring. The efforts coincide with Objective 5D of the City’s Strategic Plan: “provide state-of-the-art technology to support public safety initiatives.” According to the March 24 meeting […]

The PBA Takes Frustration with Contract Negotiations to the Streets

The PBA Takes Frustration with Contract Negotiations to the Streets

The Big Bend Police Benevolent Association, frustrated with contract negotiations with the City of Tallahassee, took a bold step and placed a controversial message on several billboards around town. The billboards read, “Thinking of sending your child to college in Tallahassee? Think again! Tallahassee is the 5th most dangerous city in Florida. Murders are the […]

Lawmakers Looking Again at Vaping Regulations

Lawmakers Looking Again at Vaping Regulations

By Dara Kam, The News Service of Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE — More than two years after the U.S. surgeon general declared youth vaping an epidemic, Florida lawmakers again are working on an effort to regulate the sale of electronic cigarettes and raise the age to use tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21. Gov. Ron […]

GOP Lawmakers Back Election Changes

GOP Lawmakers Back Election Changes

By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida Republican lawmakers are pushing ahead with sweeping election changes largely focused on making it more difficult for people to vote by mail, an effort mirrored in GOP-led state houses throughout the country. In a party-line vote Monday, the House Public Integrity & Elections Committee […]

Weekly Report Ending March 21st: Leon COVID Cases, Positivity Rate, and Hospitalizations Down

Weekly Report Ending March 21st: Leon COVID Cases, Positivity Rate, and Hospitalizations Down

TR’s weekly report (March 15 – March 21) on Leon County COVID cases, hospitalizations, and testing positivity rates is detailed below. TR’s March 14th weekly report can be reviewed here. The weekly COVID report, ending March 21st, shows decreases in new cases, the positivity rate and hospitalizations. Since the middle to the end of January 2021, […]

Nikki Fried: “Legalizing Cannabis Solves Lots of Problems and Creates None”

Nikki Fried: “Legalizing Cannabis Solves Lots of Problems and Creates None”

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried – a former cannabis lobbyist whose fiancee created a cannabis company with Fried’s father – recently tweeted that “Legalizing cannabis solves lots of problems and creates none.” Fried’s comments come despite several reports that show increases in hospitalizations and suicides due to the legalization of marijuana. Also, in 2019 a […]

City Commission Approves Reimbursement of City Manager Reese Goad’s Attorney Fees

City Commission Approves Reimbursement of City Manager Reese Goad’s Attorney Fees

The City Commissioners voted on March 10 to reimburse City Manager Reese Goad’s attorney’s fees related to two ethics complaints. The decision comes after the dismissal of both complaints. According to the meeting agenda, the two complaints filed on September 15, 2020, alleged that Goad pressured subordinates to speak on his behalf at a meeting […]

Governor DeSantis Makes Leon County Children’s Services Council Appointments

Governor DeSantis Makes Leon County Children’s Services Council Appointments

Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Mark O’Bryant, Carmen Conner, Zandra Glenn, Paul Mitchell and Liza McFadden to the Leon County Children’s Services Council.   DeSantis chose the five from a list of fifteen names, included below, submitted by the Leon County Commission. The ballot initiative to create the Children’s Services Council passed in […]