By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Pointing to laws allowing use of medical marijuana and hemp, a state appeals court Wednesday reversed course and said police officers can’t search vehicles only on the basis of smelling cannabis. The 2nd District Court of Appeal’s main opinion said that for “generations, cannabis was […]
By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix Gov. Ron DeSantis is threatening to put lawmakers on the spot about property taxes during the heat of their reelection campaigns. The governor, during a news conference at Jacksonville International Airport Wednesday, reiterated that he believes voters should decide the fate of the property tax in the state come the […]
By The News Service of Florida Amid confusion over the impact of an appeals-court decision that overturned the state’s ban on openly carrying firearms, a House Democratic leader on Tuesday filed a measure seeking to ensure that certain places — such as legislative meetings, jails and police stations — remain gun-free zones. Rep. Christine Hunchofsky, […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Twenty-five cities and counties filed a lawsuit Monday challenging a new state law that blocks local governments from approving “more restrictive or burdensome” changes to growth plans for the next two years. The challenge, filed in Leon County circuit court, contends that the law (SB […]
By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix Complaints filed by professors “disrupted” by Florida’s ban against diversity, equity, and inclusion spending were mostly dismissed by a federal judge last week. The academics, through American Civil Liberties Union attorneys, filed the suit against the state earlier this year, claiming SB 266 from 2023 imposed viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment, […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After weeks of Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies criticizing local spending and taxes, state House members have started digging into the possibility of asking voters in 2026 to slash property taxes. And local governments that rely on property taxes to pay for such things […]
By Livia Caputo, Florida Phoenix U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has begun to reimburse Florida law enforcement for acting as federal immigration enforcement by arresting and detaining undocumented immigrants. And though they presented Gov. Ron DeSantis Friday with hefty checks signed by President Donald Trump totaling more than $38.4 million for transportation and equipment costs, […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Local-government officials Tuesday offered some pushback against state efforts to cut property taxes and question city and county spending. With a Florida House panel finishing a two-day review of property-tax issues, city and county officials defended their financial management amid Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to […]
By Livia Caputo, Florida Phoenix A Florida judge Wednesday permanently closed the city of South Miami’s case to determine whether cities must enter into partnerships with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, adding that future attempts would be “futile.” Jonathan Sjostrom, chief judge for the Second Judicial Circuit in Leon County, sided with Gov. Ron DeSantis and […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Ocoee is challenging a decision by the Florida Department of Commerce to reject the city’s revised comprehensive plan because of a controversial new state law. The Orange County city filed the challenge Tuesday at the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings as communities in many parts […]