By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the highly contagious omicron variant, Florida’s surgeon general on Monday indicated the state Department of Health would issue guidance that would “unwind the testing psychology” of the federal government. Comments by Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Gov. […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — First-time unemployment claims in Florida rolled in last month at a pace similar to the period before the coronavirus pandemic pounded the economy. The U.S. Department of Labor estimated 3,982 unemployment claims were filed in Florida during the holiday-shortened week that ended Dec. 25. If […]
Almost $1 million in handbags were stolen in a smash and grab robbery of the luxury bag store Only Authentics located in Palm Beach, Florida on Christmas Eve. The robbery took place a little more than two weeks after thieves initially stole close to $500,000 worth of bags. No arrests have been reported. The two […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — From elections to vaccines, state and federal courts are weighing major Florida lawsuits. Here are 10 big legal issues to watch in 2022: — ELECTIONS: With high-profile elections looming in November, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker is slated to start a trial Jan. 31 […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed for an audit Monday that could result in Florida’s pension system divesting holdings in Chinese companies, calling economic efforts to include China’s government on the world stage a “big failure.” DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In a blow to state and national Democrats, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy said Monday she will not seek a fourth term in 2022 in her Central Florida district. Murphy, a moderate “Blue Dog” Democrat who toppled longtime Republican Congressman John Mica in 2016, said in […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Continuing his administration’s campaign against critical race theory, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday teased legislation that he said would, in part, allow parents to sue schools that teach the theory. Flanked by Republican lawmakers, parents and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, the governor held an event […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis focused on national politics Friday as he rolled out a series of proposals for the upcoming 2022 legislative session aimed at the border policies of President Joe Biden. DeSantis called for state lawmakers to “fight against the Biden border crisis” by passing […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE — As she runs for governor in 2022, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried will have to fend off allegations that she violated state law by not properly disclosing financial information. The state Commission on Ethics on Wednesday issued an order finding “probable cause” that Fried did […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A divided federal appeals court Sunday rejected Florida’s request to at least temporarily block a Biden administration rule that would require health-care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, turned down a […]