Florida State Fires Back in ACC Fight

Florida State Fires Back in ACC Fight

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With a hearing scheduled April 9, Florida State University this week fired back at a request by the Atlantic Coast Conference to put on hold — or dismiss — a lawsuit that could lead to FSU leaving the athletic conference. FSU filed the lawsuit Dec. […]

Settlement Reached in Education Law Fight

Settlement Reached in Education Law Fight

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE — The state and attorneys for students, parents and teachers have settled a battle about a 2022 Florida law that restricts instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation in schools. The settlement, which comes after months of talks, seeks to draw a distinction between preventing “classroom […]

10 Big Issues in the 2024 Session

10 Big Issues in the 2024 Session

By The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The 2024 legislative session ended Friday with an annual hanky-drop ceremony in the rotunda between the House and Senate chambers. Here are snapshots of 10 big issues from the session: — BUDGET: Lawmakers passed a $117.46 billion budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, which will start July […]

Lawmakers Target Wind Energy, Climate Issues

Lawmakers Target Wind Energy, Climate Issues

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House late Thursday gave final approval to a bill that would make a series of changes in state energy laws, including preventing offshore wind-energy generation and removing references to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The House voted 81-29 to pass the bill (HB 1645), […]

Plan Passes to Curb Homeless Public Sleeping

Plan Passes to Curb Homeless Public Sleeping

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A controversial proposal designed to prevent homeless people from sleeping in public places while requiring local governments to address the issue is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Republican-controlled Senate on Tuesday voted 27-12 along party lines to pass the bill (HB 1365), which would […]

‘Other End of the Tunnel’ for Dozier Victims

‘Other End of the Tunnel’ for Dozier Victims

By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Wiping away tears, men in their 60s, 70s and 80s watched Monday as the Florida Senate unanimously gave final approval to a plan to steer $20 million to survivors of abuse at the notorious Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna and another state […]

Court Rejects ‘Stop WOKE’ Restrictions

Court Rejects ‘Stop WOKE’ Restrictions

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A federal appeals court Monday rejected restrictions that Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers placed on addressing race-related issues in workplace training — part of a controversial 2022 law that DeSantis dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act.” A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court […]

House Backs Controversial Teacher-Prep Bill

House Backs Controversial Teacher-Prep Bill

By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House on Friday passed a measure that supporters say is designed to keep “identity politics” out of teacher preparation programs that lead to educators getting professional certificates — as Democratic members likened the bill to academic censorship. Members of the Republican-dominated House voted […]

Negotiators Work to Bridge Budget Differences

Negotiators Work to Bridge Budget Differences

By Jim Turner & Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — As budget talks continued Tuesday, Senate and House negotiators had quickly settled issues ranging from money for tourism marketing to school safety. But with most of the work on the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget taking place behind the scenes, differences remained on […]

U.S. Supreme Court Weighs Florida Tech Law

U.S. Supreme Court Weighs Florida Tech Law

By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — U.S. Supreme Court justices on Monday heard arguments about the constitutionality of a 2021 Florida law aimed at placing restrictions on social-media platforms, with attorneys for tech companies and the Biden administration arguing the law violates the First Amendment. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled […]

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