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 […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida The state has warned Port Canaveral leaders that they are putting at risk current and future infrastructure money if they don’t reverse dock plans that appear to favor cruise ships over the space industry. In a letter Friday, Department of Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly and Department […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida When they go to the polls Aug. 20, Democratic primary voters in the Orlando area will decide the winner of one Florida Senate seat, while voters in other parts of the state will set the final slate of Senate candidates for the November elections. The primary elections […]
BY Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Hurricane Debby made landfall about 7 a.m. Monday near Steinhatchee with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, bringing the rural Big Bend region its second hurricane in less than a year, according to the National Hurricane Center. Debby is expected to slow and turn northeast, […]