By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A controversial 2021 state law making it harder for people to vote by mail could complicate holding special elections to fill two Florida congressional seats after President-elect Donald Trump tapped Republicans Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz to serve in his administration. The 2021 law included […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has filed a lawsuit alleging that the Federal Emergency Management Agency violated the civil rights of supporters of President-elect Donald Trump in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton. Moody filed the lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in Fort Pierce, […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida posted a record third-quarter tourism total this year, with the numbers bolstered by U.S. visitors as international travel continued to lag behind pre-pandemic levels, according to the Visit Florida tourism-marketing agency. Despite the state taking hits from two hurricanes in August and September, Visit […]
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, […]