Financial Disclosure Law Blocked

Financial Disclosure Law Blocked

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge has blocked a 2023 Florida law that required municipal elected officials to disclose detailed information about their personal finances, ruling that the law likely violated First Amendment rights. U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian on Monday issued a preliminary injunction, siding with municipal […]

Legislative Races Take Shape as Qualifying Starts

Legislative Races Take Shape as Qualifying Starts

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A long political career has taught former state Rep. James Bush not to wait when it comes to filing candidate qualifying paperwork. One time, Bush recalled, he was disqualified after a notary public didn’t properly sign his paperwork. Another time, in 2002, Bush was among […]

DeSantis Vetoes Bill Targeting Hemp Industry

DeSantis Vetoes Bill Targeting Hemp Industry

By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — who’s come out swinging against a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow recreational marijuana — on Friday delivered a victory to potential pot competitors by vetoing a measure that would have severely restricted the sales and production of euphoria-inducing hemp-based products. Lawmakers passed […]

DeSantis, Cabinet Eye Emergency ‘Hub’

DeSantis, Cabinet Eye Emergency ‘Hub’

By The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet are scheduled next week to consider buying a Central Florida warehouse site that would be turned into a “hub” for storing and moving supplies during emergencies. The 40-acre site is in Auburndale, along Interstate 4, and would be purchased from CH Realty […]

Senate President Ben Albritton All In for Corey Simon

Senate President Ben Albritton All In for Corey Simon

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Incoming Senate President Ben Albritton said he’s prepared to do “whatever it takes” financially to protect a North Florida seat held by Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee. Albritton’s comment confirmed that vast amounts of money could be pumped into the race in Senate District 3, which […]

Justices Weigh UF Campus Shutdown Case

Justices Weigh UF Campus Shutdown Case

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE — In one of numerous similar lawsuits in Florida and across the country, the state Supreme Court on Wednesday weighed whether a University of Florida graduate student could seek to require the school to refund money for services that were not provided during a COVID-19 campus […]

Trump Verdict Draws Outrage, Praise

Trump Verdict Draws Outrage, Praise

By The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida Republicans on Thursday quickly attacked the conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records, while Democrats said the verdict showed nobody is above the law. A 12-member jury returned the verdict more than a month after the criminal hush-money trial began […]

FHSAA Approves Athlete-Pay Rules

FHSAA Approves Athlete-Pay Rules

By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida High School Athletic Association on Tuesday opened the door for student-athletes to earn money from business agreements such as endorsement deals, with the organization’s president calling the move a “good starting point.” The FHSAA’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve a seismic […]

Vouchers for Home Education Increase

Vouchers for Home Education Increase

By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A state voucher program that began in the 2023-2024 school year is on pace to double in size — at least — as applications roll in from families who educate children at home and are seeking funds to make a range of purchases. What’s known […]

North Florida Land Deal Finalized

North Florida Land Deal Finalized

An $8.25 million deal to purchase a conservation easement that would preserve 4,808 acres of land north of Tallahassee has been finalized, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced Friday. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet approved the deal with Gem Land Co. in September. “These types of acquisitions are essential to further conserve […]