By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — More than two years after challenging his suspension by Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren hit a legal dead-end Friday. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the dismissal of Warren’s lawsuit against DeSantis, saying the […]
Weekly political notes from The News Service of Florida By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Directed to investigate possible wrongdoing related to COVID-19 vaccines, a statewide grand jury released a report Tuesday that found “deceptive and obfuscatory behavior” that “straddled the line between ethical and unethical conduct.” While it didn’t find […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida The Florida Senate and Secretary of State Cord Byrd last week urged a panel of federal judges to reject a lawsuit alleging that part of a 2022 Senate redistricting plan is unconstitutional because two Tampa Bay-area districts were racially gerrymandered. Attorneys for Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida Pointing to Florida’s decades-long fight with deadly citrus greening disease and damage from hurricanes, a major grower Monday announced it will “wind down” citrus operations and focus on more-profitable uses of its land. Fort Myers-based Alico Inc. said it will not spend additional money on citrus operations […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After an investigative agency sided with the company, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office will urge an administrative law judge to find that Starbucks has improperly used race-based hiring practices. Moody in May filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations alleging that […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Former Florida Gov. Kenneth “Buddy” MacKay, 91, died peacefully during an afternoon nap at his home in Ocala surrounded by his wife and sons on New Year’s Eve, a family spokesman said Thursday. MacKay’s decades-long public-service career included stints as a state legislator, U.S. representative, […]
By The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After facing a barrage of hurricanes, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Co. on Friday filed proposals to collect about $1.55 billion from customers to cover costs of restoring power and replenishing storm reserves. The proposals, if approved by the Florida Public Service Commission, would lead to […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida motorists could see a slight decrease in gasoline costs in the coming year despite fuel markets facing continued geopolitical tensions, potential tariffs and changes in U.S. energy policies, according to a report issued Monday. In an annual outlook, Boston-based GasBuddy forecast that the price […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Numerous big Florida legal issues are pending in state and federal courts as 2024 ends. Here are 10 legal issues to watch in 2025: — BOOK BATTLES: Publishers, authors and parents have filed federal lawsuits stemming from a 2023 state education law and school-district decisions […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A smattering of new state laws will arrive with the new year, but the highest-profile change — restricting access to social media for children — will not be immediately enforced. Ten laws passed during the 2024 legislative session will take effect Wednesday. They were among […]