Tagged Government

Lawmakers win round in redistricting fight

As they try to defend a congressional redistricting plan, the Florida House and Senate will be able to challenge part of a 2010 constitutional amendment that set rules for drawing maps, a Leon County circuit judge said Monday. The ruling by Judge J. Lee Marsh came in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of voting-rights…

Immigration fight heats up, state takes win

A federal appeals court Monday sided with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and kept in place rulings that blocked Biden administration immigration policies. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a request by the Biden administration for a stay of two rulings by Pensacola-based U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, who…

DeSantis enters presidential race

 Gov. Ron DeSantis made his White House bid official Wednesday, announcing a 2024 presidential run in an online discussion with Elon Musk that ended months of speculation and set up a clash with former President Donald Trump. As he entered a growing Republican primary field, DeSantis, 44, pledged to be an “energetic executive” who “will…

VA’s Office of Inspector General Strikes Again

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General was asked to review the response of facility leaders at a certain VA health location when there had been allegations of sexual harassment of a mental health patient. Specifically, the patient claimed to have been harassed via social media by a food service worker and reported…

Environmental groups seek veto of comp plan bill

Environmental groups are urging Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto legislation they contend will have a “chilling effect” on efforts to limit sprawl in Florida. DeSantis has until Wednesday to act upon a bill (SB 540) that in part allows “prevailing” parties to recover legal fees in comprehensive growth-management plan challenges at the state Division of…

DeSantis signs bill targeting diversity, equity and inclusion

Continuing an effort to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives from Florida’s higher-education system, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a measure aimed at prohibiting colleges and universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The governor also signed a separate bill that will prevent colleges and universities from requiring “political loyalty” tests…

Judge keeps immigration ruling in place

 A federal judge late Monday refused to put on hold a ruling that blocked a new Biden administration immigration policy challenged by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. Pensacola-based U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell denied a motion by U.S. Department of Justice attorneys for a stay of a temporary restraining order that he issued Thursday…

Desantis shelves cell phones, TikTok in schools

Saying that social media does “more harm than good,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed education changes that include prohibiting students from using cell phones during class time and curtailing use of the social-media platform TikTok on school grounds. Also, DeSantis signed bills creating a “Teachers’ Bill of Rights” and imposing eight-year term limits on…

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