By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge Thursday refused to block a new Florida law that restricts people from China from owning property in the state, saying plaintiffs are unlikely to be able to show the measure was motivated by discrimination or lacks a “rational basis.” U.S. District Judge […]
By Ryan Dailey and Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday suspended Orlando-area State Attorney Monique Worrell, accusing the prosecutor of “neglecting her duty” and being lax on criminal enforcement. DeSantis’ suspension of Worrell, elected in 2020 as state attorney for Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit in Orange and […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s restrictions on instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity have “effectively banned” an Advanced Placement psychology course throughout the state, according to the organization that develops the college-level courses offered to high-school students. The College Board, which develops the courses, said in a press […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Tallahassee A group representing journalists is supporting Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in a federal-court fight against Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying state retaliation against the entertainment company violated the First Amendment. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group, filed court documents Friday […]
By The News Service of Florida A former Florida Department of Corrections officer has gone to the state Supreme Court in a dispute about his firing for using medical marijuana. An attorney for former officer Samuel Velez Ortiz filed a notice last week that is a first step in challenging a June 21 decision by […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge listened to more than two hours of arguments Tuesday about whether he should block a new Florida law that restricts people from China from owning property in the state. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor asked numerous questions of attorneys for the state […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Amid a pause in Florida Atlantic University’s search for a new president, leaders of a First Amendment group and a national higher-education association are pointing to a controversial new law shielding presidential candidates’ identities as harmful to public trust and academic freedom. Meanwhile, a former […]
By The News Service of Florida The State Board of Education is slated next week to weigh approval of a slew of proposed rules, including measures that would prohibit use of the social media app TikTok on campuses and bar teachers from asking students about their preferred pronouns. Some of the proposals, which will go […]
By Jim Saunders & Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida insurance market took a hit Tuesday, as Farmers Insurance said it will end residential, auto and umbrella policies in the state, forcing tens of thousands of customers to look elsewhere for coverage. The company said the move will affect only […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The market for reinsurance — a critical piece of Florida’s property-insurance system — is improving. But it comes at a price. Those are takeaways from new reports as Florida insurers try to bounce back after two years of homeowners losing policies and facing major rate […]