By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix Complaints filed by professors “disrupted” by Florida’s ban against diversity, equity, and inclusion spending were mostly dismissed by a federal judge last week. The academics, through American Civil Liberties Union attorneys, filed the suit against the state earlier this year, claiming SB 266 from 2023 imposed viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment, […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After weeks of Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies criticizing local spending and taxes, state House members have started digging into the possibility of asking voters in 2026 to slash property taxes. And local governments that rely on property taxes to pay for such things […]
By Livia Caputo, Florida Phoenix U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has begun to reimburse Florida law enforcement for acting as federal immigration enforcement by arresting and detaining undocumented immigrants. And though they presented Gov. Ron DeSantis Friday with hefty checks signed by President Donald Trump totaling more than $38.4 million for transportation and equipment costs, […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Local-government officials Tuesday offered some pushback against state efforts to cut property taxes and question city and county spending. With a Florida House panel finishing a two-day review of property-tax issues, city and county officials defended their financial management amid Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to […]
By Livia Caputo, Florida Phoenix A Florida judge Wednesday permanently closed the city of South Miami’s case to determine whether cities must enter into partnerships with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, adding that future attempts would be “futile.” Jonathan Sjostrom, chief judge for the Second Judicial Circuit in Leon County, sided with Gov. Ron DeSantis and […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Ocoee is challenging a decision by the Florida Department of Commerce to reject the city’s revised comprehensive plan because of a controversial new state law. The Orange County city filed the challenge Tuesday at the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings as communities in many parts […]
By The News Service of Florida A House Republican on Tuesday filed a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to impose 12-year term limits on county commissioners and school board members. The proposal (HJR 27), which Rep. Jeff Holcomb, R-Spring Hill, filed for consideration during the 2026 legislative session, could refuel a debate about whether to […]
By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix A federal trial judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the state’s enforcement of a federal law to verify voter registration with the voter’s identification card. The suit in U.S. District Court in Orlando named Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, the Republican National Committee, Republican Party of Florida, and supervisors […]
By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas has found probable cause that a Clay County teacher displayed “gross immorality” in posting about Charlie Kirk’s death, he announced Monday as Attorney General James Uthmeier launched a tip line to report “violent extremism.” The teacher, left nameless by Kamoutsas, could lose her teaching license after she […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A state House panel Monday began a two-day review of property taxes as it looks at potential changes that could have a major impact on local governments. Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing lawmakers to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot to reduce […]