State

Gov. Ron DeSantis. File photo

Gov. Ron DeSantis. File photo

Revised abortion ’statement’ sought, theft law OK’d

News Staff
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Lawsuit seeks revised abortion ‘statement’ After two Florida Supreme Court rulings last week, backers of a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to ensure abortion rights have filed a lawsuit over a “financial impact statement” that would be presented to voters.
Hurricane Michael caused massive damage in Northwest Florida in 2018. File photo

Hurricane Michael caused massive damage in Northwest Florida in 2018. File photo

‘Very, very busy’ hurricane season eyed

News Staff
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Floridians received a second reminder Thursday to brace for a busy 2024 hurricane season, as Colorado State University researchers issued a forecast pointing to warm Atlantic Ocean water that fuels storms.
Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed plan through the Legislature in 2022, saying opponents did not prove lawmakers acted with “racially discriminatory purpose.” File photo

Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed plan through the Legislature in 2022, saying opponents did not prove lawmakers acted with “racially discriminatory purpose.” File photo

Federal judges uphold redistricting plan

News Staff
Thursday, March 28, 2024
A three-judge federal panel Wednesday rejected a constitutional challenge to a congressional redistricting plan that Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed through the Legislature in 2022, saying opponents did not prove lawmakers acted with “racially discriminatory purpose.”
House Speaker Paul Renner expressed confidence that a new social-media law will withstand a First Amendment challenge. Colin Hackley/File

House Speaker Paul Renner expressed confidence that a new social-media law will withstand a First Amendment challenge. Colin Hackley/File

Social media bill signed as legal fight looms

News Staff
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
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.
Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, is the ranking Democrat on the House Ways & Means Committee. Submitted

Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, is the ranking Democrat on the House Ways & Means Committee. Submitted

Backroom briefing: Passing grade

News Staff
Friday, March 22, 2024
Orlando Rep. Anna Eskamani, the ranking Democratic member of the House House Ways & Means Committee, gave a “B” to a tax package that passed this month.
Florida State’s football team plays at Doak Campbell Stadium. News Service of Florida/Tom Urban

Florida State’s football team plays at Doak Campbell Stadium. News Service of Florida/Tom Urban

Florida State fires back in ACC fight

News Staff
Thursday, March 14, 2024
With a hearing scheduled April 9, Florida State University this week fired back at a request by the Atlantic Coast Conference to put on hold — or dismiss — a lawsuit that could lead to FSU leaving the athletic conference.
Victims of abuse at the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and supporters watched Monday as the Florida Senate approved a compensation program. Photo by Tom Urban/News Service of Florida

Victims of abuse at the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and supporters watched Monday as the Florida Senate approved a compensation program. Photo by Tom Urban/News Service of Florida

'Other end of the tunnel' for Dozier victims

News Staff
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Wiping away tears, men in their 60s, 70s and 80s watched Monday as the Florida Senate unanimously gave final approval to a plan to steer $20 million to survivors of abuse at the notorious Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna and another state reform school.
With a Friday deadline looming, House Speaker Paul Renner said Wednesday that he and Gov. Ron DeSantis are trying to work out differences on a bill aimed at keeping children under age 16 off social-media platforms. File photo

With a Friday deadline looming, House Speaker Paul Renner said Wednesday that he and Gov. Ron DeSantis are trying to work out differences on a bill aimed at keeping children under age 16 off social-media platforms. File photo

Renner, DeSantis look at social media ‘alternatives’

News Staff
Friday, March 1, 2024
With a Friday deadline looming, House Speaker Paul Renner said Wednesday that he and Gov. Ron DeSantis are trying to work out differences on a bill aimed at keeping children under age 16 off social-media platforms. “We’re looking at alternatives and what we can do together,” Renner told reporters.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments in a challenge to a 2021 Florida law that placed restrictions on large social-media companies. File photo

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments in a challenge to a 2021 Florida law that placed restrictions on large social-media companies. File photo

U.S. Supreme Court weighs Florida tech law

News Staff
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
U.S. Supreme Court justices on Monday heard arguments about the constitutionality of a 2021 Florida law aimed at placing restrictions on social-media platforms, with attorneys for tech companies and the Biden administration arguing the law violates the First Amendment.
Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, is sponsoring a bill that would lead to designating behavioral-health teaching hospitals. Colin Hackley/File

Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, is sponsoring a bill that would lead to designating behavioral-health teaching hospitals. Colin Hackley/File

Lawmakers OK behavioral health teaching hospitals

News Staff
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
With the bill citing an “urgent need” to increase the number of doctors and other workers to care for people with mental-health and substance-abuse issues, the Florida Senate on Tuesday began moving forward with a $114 million plan that includes designating behavioral-health teaching hospitals.