Gov. Ron DeSantis wasn’t on the ballot last week, but he won big. Democrats laughed at the governor early this year when his presidential campaign sank without a ripple in Iowa. His critics gleefully predicted that DeSantis had scuttled his once-promising political career by badly over-reaching in his challenge to Donald Trump for the Republican […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida voters left no doubt on Election Day that Republicans are in control of the political levers across the Sunshine State, with GOP leaders winning on issues and maintaining strongholds in the Legislature. Amid Tuesday’s ruby-red afterglow, Republican officials quickly started planning ahead. Former President […]
By Jim Turner & Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Incoming House Speaker Daniel Perez on Thursday rolled out changes to House committees, while saying lawmakers have “spent taxpayer funds excessively and indiscriminately in the last few years.” Perez, R-Miami, detailed a revised committee structure while also announcing a leadership team for […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Republicans had a great night. Democrats? Not so much. And 60 is a magic number in Florida. Here are five takeaways from Tuesday’s elections: — NO DOUBT: In 2022, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis won a second term by 19.4 percentage points, and Republican U.S. Sen. […]
By Dara Kam and Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In a show of Republican strength in Florida, incumbent Corey Simon on Tuesday handily defeated Democratic challenger Daryl Parks in what was considered the only competitive state Senate race and the GOP maintained supermajorities in both legislative chambers. Simon’s double-digit victory in […]
By The News Service of Florida State university-system leaders are trying to quickly educate themselves about how a tentative legal settlement involving compensation for athletes, including some no longer in school, might change college sports in Florida. The system’s Board of Governors on Wednesday directed members of its Budget and Finance Committee to learn about […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — When Florida voters went to the polls in 1998, they passed a constitutional amendment that made a series of election-related changes, including requiring nonpartisan races for county school board seats. But 26 years later, voters could change course. Voters are casting ballots on a proposal, […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With the industry’s problems exacerbated by Hurricane Milton, Florida citrus growers are turning to state and federal lawmakers for help. Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Steve Johnson said Wednesday he’s met with farmers from North Carolina and Georgia, who sustained damage in last month’s Hurricane Helene, […]
A federal judge has shielded Escambia County School Board members from having to testify in a legal battle about the removal of children’s books from school libraries. United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho on Friday issued a 15-page order agreeing with the school board that members do not have to give depositions because of […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Damages to farmers and ranchers from Hurricane Milton may double the statewide agricultural destruction from three other storms that pummeled Florida since August 2023, according to state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Wilton Simpson. Simpson estimated Milton caused between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion, […]