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 […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s unemployment rate inched up to 3.8 percent in August, after holding steady at 3.7 percent since April, according to a report released Friday by the state Department of Commerce. The August rate represented 424,000 Floridians qualified as unemployed, up 7,000 from July. The civilian […]
By Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix TAMPA — While Byron Donalds hasn’t received the backing of Gov. Ron DeSantis in his quest to succeed him as governor of Florida next year, the U.S. House member from Naples has no problem showering the love on the state’s chief executive. “We have the best governor in America right […]
By Christine Sexton, Florida Phoenix The main Democratic candidate for governor — former Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly — called Thursday for changes to Florida’s universal school voucher program, which helps pay to send students to private school. Jolly, however, did not call for the elimination of the program notwithstanding criticism of it by many […]
By The News Service of Florida The University of South Florida College Republicans and the Pinellas County Young Republicans this week filed a federal lawsuit arguing that improper statistical methods were used in the 2020 U.S. census. The lawsuit, which names as defendants the leaders of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Census […]