By The News Service of Florida A proposal that would require all Florida private employers to use the federal E-Verify system to check the immigration status of new workers is ready to go to the full House after the 2026 legislative session starts. The Republican-controlled House Commerce Committee on Thursday voted 16-5 along party lines […]
By The News Service of Florida Florida had a 3.9 percent unemployment rate in September, the state said Thursday after a delay in releasing numbers because of this fall’s federal government shutdown. The numbers depend on information from the U.S. Department of Labor. The Florida Department of Commerce will release October and November numbers on […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In his final budget proposal, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday rolled out a $117.36 billion plan for the 2026-2027 fiscal year that includes increased money for teachers and law-enforcement officers. DeSantis, who can’t run for another term next year, said the proposal “builds off the […]
By The News Service of Florida The Council on American-Islamic Relations said Tuesday it will go to court to challenge an executive order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis that designated the group as a “terrorist” organization. “As you know, your designation has no basis in law or fact,” the group, commonly known as CAIR, said […]
After the proposal died in the House during the 2025 session, Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said Monday the Senate will take up his “rural renaissance” plan during the first week of the 2026 legislative session. Albritton, who has made the issue a priority of his time as Senate president, told reporters he is “hopeful” […]
By Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix ST PETERSBURG — Could Gwen Graham add heft to David Jolly’s candidacy for governor by becoming his running mate in Florida next year? That question occurred when the former Tallahassee-based U.S. representative appeared with Jolly last week during a political rally in Pinellas County that drew 400-plus attendees. Jolly has […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A divided federal appeals court Thursday sided with abortion opponents and ruled a Clearwater ordinance creating a buffer zone outside an abortion clinic violates First Amendment rights. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, ordered a district judge […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After a ruling last week allowed Florida to begin enforcing a 2024 law designed to prevent children from having access to certain social-media sites, tech industry groups Wednesday asked a federal appeals court to quickly hear arguments about whether the law violates First Amendment rights. […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Four proposed constitutional amendments aimed at reducing property taxes for homeowners continued moving forward Tuesday in the Florida House, despite concerns about how they could hit funding for local services. The Republican-controlled State Affairs Committee voted along party lines to approve the proposals, including a […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Unions representing college faculty members have challenged a state Department of Education plan that would expand requirements for professors to post syllabi and other course material online. The Florida Education Association and the United Faculty of Florida filed the administrative challenge last week, contending that […]