By The News Service Florida An estimated 5,384 first-time unemployment claims were filed in Florida last week, a drop of 500 from the prior week, according to a U.S. Department of Labor estimate on Thursday. The estimate covers a period shortened by the President’s Day holiday and is the lowest weekly figure for the year. The […]
By Ana Goñi-Lessan, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Rep. Gallop Franklin of Tallahassee was elected as House Democratic Leader for the 2028-2030 legislative term Wednesday evening. Democrats have been in the minority in the House since the 1990s and for the current term have been in superminority status. Still, Franklin has big plans […]
By Liv Caputo, The Florida Phoenix A $608 million federal reimbursement that Florida’s been counting on to pay for the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” lockup won’t cover construction costs — if the money comes through at all, Justice Department lawyers have declared. Instead, any potential dollars would only fund “operational costs,” not “construction or facility modification,” […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida A proposal to tighten voter eligibility rules was approved by the Republican-controlled House on Wednesday over the objections of Democrats who contend seniors and students will be among those blocked from casting a ballot. The House voted 83-31 on the bill (HB 991), which contains wide-ranging changes […]
By Amy Farnum-Patronis, FSU News Florida State University’s Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to approve a three-year contract extension for President Richard McCullough, who became president in 2021, reaffirming the board’s confidence in his visionary leadership. “Our board could not have a better partner in moving Florida State University forward than President McCullough,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Peter Collins. “His vision and determination have […]
By Mitch Perry, The Florida Phoenix A new public opinion survey of likely Republican voters in Florida shows once again that Byron Donalds continues to benefit from the endorsement he received from Donald Trump in the race for governor this November. The poll from the Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida […]
By The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet, sitting as the State Board of Immigration, on Tuesday approved approximately $40 million in grants for immigration enforcement. It was a last-minute drop of millions of dollars compared to the previous funding request of $53 million attached to the Cabinet agenda. State Board […]
By the News Service of Florida Gas prices in Florida saw a little jump as the past week got underway, but a downturn over the weekend erased the increase. The auto club AAA put a gallon of gas in Florida at $2.88 on Sunday, matching the prior Sunday, while still anticipating an uptick on the […]
By The News Service of Florida A bill that would expand the Capitol Complex has passed another hurdle in the House. The measure (HB 975) would make the Florida Department of Management Services collaborate with Capitol Police and local law enforcement to provide enhanced security measures surrounding the capitol. The bill passed the Justice Budget Subcommittee […]
By Jay Waagmeester, The Florida Phoenix State education officials amended the rules governing Schools of Hope, a program that was expanded at the end of the last legislative session and caused a stir in public schools around the state ever since. The Florida Board of Education passed a rule Friday that would, among other things, […]