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 […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Siding with Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Supreme Court decided Thursday that a state law requiring payment of “legal financial obligations” properly carried out a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences. DeSantis asked the court for what is known […]
By Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Republican-dominated Legislature has long pushed back against requiring employers to conduct immigration background checks for new hires, but a bill filed Friday includes a potential compromise that could hand a win to Gov. Ron DeSantis on the controversial issue. The bill, filed by Rep. […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida Gaining initial legislative support last year might have been the easy part for controversial and expensive toll-road projects envisioned to cut through more than 300 miles of mostly rural land from Collier County to the Georgia border. With many environmental and business groups split about the need […]
By The News Service of Florida A day before the 2020 legislative session starts, a Senate panel will consider legislation aimed at increasing teacher pay, a top priority for Gov. Ron DeSantis. The bill (SB 1088), sponsored by Senate Education Chairman Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, is meant to be a vehicle for the governor’s pitch […]
By Jim Saunders, Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The 2020 legislative session will start Jan. 14 as House and Senate members gather to hear Gov. Ron DeSantis’ State of the State address. Lawmakers will take up a wide range of issues during the 60-day session, along with negotiating a budget for […]
By Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — As a new year begins, and as we bid a final farewell to the past decade, Floridians should look out for a number of events in the next 12 months. For starters, two massive events are coming to the Sunshine State: the 2020 Super Bowl […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — It wasn’t the most important issue or event of 2019. But a little more than a week after Gov. Ron DeSantis took office, he held a news conference in Central Florida that removed any doubt the Rick Scott era was over. Flanked by Congressman Matt […]
By The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The U.S. Census Bureau on Monday released 2019 population estimates that showed Florida continues to be one of the fastest-growing states in the country. Here are some key comparisons: 10 STATES WITH THE LARGEST POPULATIONS: — California: 39,512,223— Texas: 28,995,881— Florida: 21,477,737— New York: 19,453,561— Pennsylvania: 12,801,989— […]
By The News Service of Florida Florida had another 49 reported cases of hepatitis A last week, bringing the total this year to 3,327 as of Saturday, according to new figures from the state Department of Health. With the end of the year nearing, the number of hepatitis A cases in 2019 has dwarfed the […]