Political experts don’t anticipate last week’s conviction of former President Donald Trump in New York will create significant down-ballot momentum–either way–for candidates in Florida. Fundraising has ratcheted up after Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, but experts in Florida pointed to issues such as voters already having their minds made up. Carol…
A federal judge Wednesday issued a final decision blocking part of a 2023 Florida elections law that placed new restrictions on voter-registration groups, including preventing non-U.S. citizens from “collecting or handling” registration applications. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a permanent injunction against the part of the law that targeted non-citizens, saying it violated…
With the state preparing for a legal challenge from the tech industry, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a high-profile bill aimed at keeping children off social-media platforms. “You better believe, I am going to fight like hell to uphold this in court,” Attorney General Ashley Moody said during a bill-signing event in Jacksonville. Lawmakers…
When Florida lawmakers went home after ending the 2024 legislative session Friday, they left behind hundreds of bills that did not pass. Here are snapshots of 10 issues that died during the session: — DEFAMATION: Proposals to revamp defamation laws could have exposed media organizations to increased liability. That could have included making it easier…
Havana resident Chrissy Shorter-Arnold is suing Gadsden County Commissioner Eric Hinson as an individual and in his official capacity as commissioner. According to a complaint filed in the United States District Court Northern District of Florida, while searching for information about the Gadsden County Voting Lines redistricting, Shorter-Arnold realized she had been blocked from Hinson’s…
A federal appeals court Monday rejected restrictions that Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers placed on addressing race-related issues in workplace training — part of a controversial 2022 law that DeSantis dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act.” A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the restrictions violated First Amendment rights. “This…
Florida’s 60-day legislative session is expected to end on time Friday after the release Tuesday of a $117.46 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year. House Speaker Paul Renner announced at 11:49 a.m. Tuesday that the spending plan was “on the desk,” after House and Senate budget leaders finished negotiations Monday. “It was a textbook…
A bill is heading to the full Florida Senate that would lead to local referendums in November about whether voters want to impose eight-year term limits on county commissioners. The Senate Rules Committee on Monday voted 18-2 to approve the measure (SB 438), sponsored by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill. Previous versions of the bill…
America the homeless. A never-ending problem that is devastating the nation with a pandemic of drugs, prostitution, and stockpiles of trash. Who is responsible for the out-of-control homeless camps taking over America’s public parks, streets, store fronts, and more? There once was a time when everyday Americans were scurrying to raise funds and open facilities…
Describing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed 2024-2025 budget as “very responsible,” House and Senate Republican budget chiefs on Tuesday brushed aside concerns about the $114.4 billion spending plan. Democrats have said they hoped to see more in the proposal to address issues such as stemming rising housing and insurance costs and making improvements at the Florida…
