By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A divided federal appeals court Tuesday ruled that Florida can begin enforcing a 2024 law aimed at preventing children from having access to certain social-media platforms, rejecting arguments that the measure violates First Amendment rights. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, […]
Average gasoline prices in Florida jumped 18 cents during the past week, as millions of people prepare to take to the roads for the Thanksgiving holiday period. Florida motorists paid an average of $3.10 a gallon for regular unleaded gas Monday, up from $2.92 a week earlier, according to the AAA auto club. AAA attributed […]
By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix The Senate’s plan to address the school choice voucher system’s shortfalls was made public Friday. “A myriad of accountability problems” went on display this week when two legislative committees reacted to an independent audit showing “funding did not follow the child” to private schools or homeschool. Now, Sen. Don Gaetz, […]
By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix The state’s school voucher program has exhibited “a myriad of accountability problems” and caused a funding shortfall for public schools, a state audit released this week shows. The audit, encompassing the 2024-2025 school year, was presented this week to lawmakers, who are spending the weeks leading up to the legislative […]
By Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix TAMPA — Legislation signed into Florida law in 2022 that changed how long juveniles can be held in pre-trial detention before adjudicatory hearings has led to a “drastic reduction” in crimes such as auto robberies, a top law enforcement official said Wednesday. “There were kids 13, 14, 15-years-old prolifically across Florida […]
By Florida Phoenix Staff Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky ordered a 6.9% decrease in workers’ compensation rates for the coming year. The reduction applies to both new and renewal policies effective Jan. 1, 2026. “I am pleased to approve a substantial rate cut of 6.9% for Florida’s workers’ compensation policies this upcoming year. This rate decrease […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — An administrative law judge Tuesday rejected Ocoee’s challenge to a decision by the Florida Department of Commerce that changes to a city comprehensive plan were “null and void” because of a controversial new state law. The law, passed during this spring’s legislative session, has drawn […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The longest-serving current member of the Florida Supreme Court, Justice Charles Canady, is leaving the bench to join the University of Florida as director of the Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education. Canady — whose wife, state Rep. Jennifer Canady, is in line to […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Saying “the First Amendment is not absolute,” a federal judge rejected an initial attempt to require state officials to reinstate a biologist who was fired because of a social media post after the murder of conservative leader Charlie Kirk. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker’s ruling […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida education leaders on Thursday approved a set of principles that would teach a conservative-backed vision of the United States. The State Board of Education, which also approved social-studies changes intended to highlight ideological evils of communism, signed off on Florida becoming the first state […]