By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida A day after being indicted by a grand jury on forgery and other charges, state Rep. Carolina Amesty, R-Windermere, turned herself in at the Orange County Jail on Thursday. The 29-year-old legislator, who is running for re-election in November, was indicted on charges of forgery, uttering a […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida Trying to quell a bipartisan uproar, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that “half-baked” plans to bring golf courses, resort-style lodges and pickleball courts to state parks will be revamped. DeSantis said the Department of Environmental Protection will gather more public input before it could move forward with […]
By The News Service of Florida A federal judge next week will consider a renewed attempt to shield Escambia County School Board members from testifying about a decision to remove the children’s book “And Tango Makes Three” from school libraries. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor is scheduled to hold a hearing Sept. 4 on a […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida Environmentalists are seeking assurances that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has scrapped plans for a series of golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park after a state spokeswoman said the proposal has been dropped. Audubon Florida, the Sierra Club and other groups also are rallying against additional changes […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida Some Republican lawmakers are criticizing a controversial proposal to add lodges, pickleball courts and golf at state parks, as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office on Thursday defended the idea of making the sites “more visitor-friendly.” The Florida Department of Environmental Protection this week announced the proposal, dubbed the […]
By The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Port Canaveral leaders acquiesced Wednesday to demands by the state and reversed plans for a new cruise terminal that could have been an impediment to future needs of the space industry. The Port Canaveral Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to end plans set in May for redesignating […]
By The News Service of Florida Democratic-endorsed school board candidates fared somewhat better Tuesday than candidates backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. In July, DeSantis pitched an initial list of 23 endorsements for 2024 races. Of those candidates, six won primaries Tuesday, 11 lost and six others moved on to runoffs that will be decided in […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida Florida saw increased tourism during the second quarter of 2024, while it continues trying to get the international market back to pre-pandemic levels. With the totals driven by tourists from other parts of the U.S., Visit Florida on Thursday estimated the state had 34.2 million visitors during […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida More than a quarter of the 120 Florida House seats have primary elections Aug. 20, with Democrats competing in 14 districts and Republicans squaring off in 21. The Florida Democratic Party this year has a strategy of fielding candidates in all House districts. But because of how […]
By The News Service of Florida More than 762,000 people had voted as of Wednesday morning in the Aug. 20 primary elections, with most casting ballots by mail. Data posted on the state Division of Elections website showed 743,793 vote-by-mail ballots had been cast, with 315,464 by Republicans, 306,581 by Democrats, 111,169 by unaffiliated voters […]