By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Nikki Fried, the last Democrat to hold a statewide office in Florida, was selected Saturday to chair the Florida Democratic Party as it looks to recover from its latest disastrous election cycle. Fried emerged the winner in a four-way contest at the Sheraton Orlando North […]
The News Service of Florida A House panel Wednesday approved a proposal that could lead to people and organizations getting hit with the tab for legal fees if they unsuccessfully challenge changes to comprehensive growth-management plans. The House Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee approved the bill (HB 359) despite opposition from environmental […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Senate began moving forward Tuesday with a proposal that would make every Florida student eligible for state-backed vouchers that could be used for private-school tuition and various other expenses, while opponents argued the measure would harm traditional public schools. The Senate Education PreK-12 Committee […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — For the second time in less than five months, a federal judge has rejected a lawsuit seeking to block a controversial Florida law that restricts classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor on Wednesday issued a 21-page decision dismissing […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined a legislative proposal Monday to expand rules to prevent state pension investments that use ratings he and other Republican leaders consider “woke.” DeSantis said the legislation, which will be pursued during the legislative session that will start March 7, would block […]
The News Service of Florida After losing a campaign last year for governor, former state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has launched a bid to chair the Florida Democratic Party. In a prepared statement Monday, Fried said she would “commit to rebuilding our party from the ground up” after Democrats in 2022 lost every statewide race […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Board of Medicine and the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine on Friday refused to scrap new rules prohibiting doctors from using gender-affirming care for trans youths, after dozens of transgender men and women pleaded with them to reverse the treatment bans. Also, at […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After an outcry, the Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors on Thursday dropped questions about student-athletes’ menstrual cycles from a physical evaluation form. The board voted 14-2 to drop the questions from the Preparticipation Physical Evaluation form. The board was slated later this […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo to make housing more affordable for workers started to move forward Wednesday despite some questions about issues such as preventing rent controls. The Senate Community Affairs Committee unanimously backed the wide-ranging bill (SB 102), which would provide incentives […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A proposal that would allow Floridians to carry concealed firearms without licenses began moving through the state House on Tuesday, as a debate emerged about whether the bill lives up to the “constitutional carry” label given by supporters. The House Constitutional Rights, Rule of Law, […]