By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Talk of détente between the camps of President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis took a turn this week as DeSantis tapped Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, as Florida’s chief financial officer, snubbing the state senator who garnered the president’s blessing for the post. DeSantis […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent in June, while private-sector jobs were down 21,000 from May, according to a report released Friday by the state Department of Commerce. The state estimated 415,000 Floridians qualified as unemployed in June, up 1,000 from May. […]
The latest jobs report shows the Leon County June unemployment rate increased to 4.3%. The May unemployment rate was 3.8%. The increase was driven by more than 1,000 people entering the workforce. The 4.3% unemployment rate is the highest reported in Leon County since August 2021 when the unemployment rate was 4.4%. The U.S. June […]
LOCAL NEWS On Thursday afternoon, the Children’s Services Council of Leon County voted to approve the $10.5 million FY2025-26 budget, adopt the current millage rate of .03477, and to fund an after-school program impacted by federal budget cuts. Steve Stewart discusses the LCS budget shortfall and possible solutions. On Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025, the Network […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The state Supreme Court on Thursday said a potential class-action lawsuit can move forward about whether the University of Florida should be required to refund money to students for services that were not provided during a COVID-19 campus shutdown in 2020. Justices, in a 5-2 […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Three years after Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed a congressional redistricting plan through the Legislature, the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a challenge by voting-rights groups that argued part of the plan violated the state Constitution. Justices, in a 5-1 decision, said an alternative requested […]
On Thursday afternoon, the Children’s Services Council of Leon County voted to approve the $10.5 million FY2025-26 budget, adopt the current millage rate of .03477, and to fund an after-school program impacted by federal budget cuts. In addition to the FY2025-26 budget, the focus of the meeting was an emergency request by Leon County School […]
LOCAL NEWS Steve Stewart discusses local law enforcement issues and the recent operation to aimed at arresting sexual predators. Accused Florida State University gunman Phoenix Ikner’s trial date has been set. During a case management hearing Wednesday, Leon County Judge Lance Neff announced jury selection for the case will begin November 3. But that date […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday appointed state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia as Florida’s chief financial officer, gaining more control over the state Cabinet and potentially setting up a proxy battle in 2026 with President Donald Trump. DeSantis called Ingoglia, a Spring Hill Republican whose social media […]
LOCAL NEWS Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna recently revealed the school district is facing a projected $12.5 million shortfall. ________________________ A total of 16 individuals have been arrested following “Operation Rabbit Hole,” a multi-agency effort aimed at identifying and arresting individuals who use the internet to prey on children. __________________________ The Steve Stewart Show: […]