By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In a major victory for abortion opponents, the Florida Senate on Thursday passed a bill that would require parental consent before minors could have abortions. The 23-17 vote tees up the measure for the House, which is almost certain to pass it. The bill would […]
The News Service of Florida House Appropriations Chairman Travis Cummings on Wednesday said he is not overly concerned about the financial impact of corporate donors halting donations to the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program. School voucher supporters said this week the decision by Wells Fargo and Fifth Third Bank to stop future contributions to the […]
By Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio said Monday a decision by Wells Fargo and Fifth Third Bank to pull contributions to a Florida school-voucher program is a “publicity stunt aimed at earning wokeness points with the radical left.” The banks announced last week that they would stop […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Raising the minimum wage will be on the November ballot. Allowing recreational marijuana won’t. With a critical petition-signature deadline Saturday, those and other high-profile ballot initiatives have met different fates. Two initiatives are on the ballot, two others could be headed that way, one has […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s office would have to replace stickers that display her smiling face on gas pumps by mid-September under a House budget proposal. The directive is tied to the House’s proposed $91.37 billion budget that was released Thursday. The budget also would require […]
By The News Service of Florida The Florida Senate isn’t expected this year to address a major state Supreme Court ruling that said unanimous jury recommendations are not necessary before death sentences can be imposed. “I don’t think we’re going to take steps in the Florida Senate to change or address that,” Senate President Bill […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration contends the state is “threatened with irreparable harm” if a federal judge’s ruling is upheld. But attorneys for felons who want voting rights restored say the state’s position seeks to undermine a “bedrock constitutional principle.” More than a year after Floridians […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — As Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to make a priority of reshaping the Florida Supreme Court, he will choose from among nine nominees to replace former justices Barbara Lagoa and Robert Luck. The Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominee Commission on Thursday released the list of nominees, […]
By Amy Farnum-Patronis, Florida State University News Four of Florida State University’s online graduate programs are ranking in the nation’s Top 20, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Best Online Programs. “It is very exciting to see our online graduate programs recognized among the top 20 in the nation,” said Robert Fuselier, director of […]
By Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — State lawmakers this week kicked off the 2020 legislative session with an action-packed schedule that featured speeches from Republican leaders, early tension over high-profile issues and a key Florida Supreme Court ruling. In his State of the State address Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis told legislators […]