Florida News | Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Margarita Wars is coming – Get your tickets here!

University of Florida threatens student pro-Palestinian protesters with suspension, banishment from campus for 3 years

The university said employees or professors caught breaking its rules would be fired.

By Amanda Friedman, Vivienne Serret and Fresh Take Florida

Apr 26, 2024

The University of Florida threatened pro-Palestinian student demonstrators with suspension and banishment from campus for three years if they violate a host of rules of behavior over protests that continued for a second day late Thursday. The university said employees or professors caught breaking its rules would be fired...

An unidentified University of Florida campus police officer watches over about 50 pro-Palestinian protesters who demonstrated on campus Thursday, April 25, 2024, for a second consecutive day. There was no violence or police response – a contrast to what was happening at some other college campuses around the U.S.

DeSantis approves $200 million boost for My Safe Florida Home grant program

The program offers inspections and grants up to $10,000 to help residents upgrade homes.

By Jim Turner and News Service of Florida
Apr 24, 2024
DeSantis says he'll approve $1.5 billion from Florida budget for Everglades restoration

The $117.46 billion budget (HB 5001) is among 164 bills from the 2024 legislative session that have not been delivered to DeSantis.

By News Service of Florida
Apr 23, 2024
Florida will appeal ruling after judge says state can't enforce pronoun law against teacher

Walker’s decision said that the law violated the First Amendment.

By News Service of Florida
Apr 19, 2024
Environmental group will try again to make clean water a constitutional right in Florida

The proposal would establish “an enforceable, fundamental right to clean and healthy waters.”

By Jim Turner and News Service of Florida
Apr 19, 2024
Florida Gov. DeSantis signs public school chaplains bill, says satanists need not apply

‘We’re not playing those games in Florida,’ he vows.

By Michael Moline and Florida Phoenix
Apr 18, 2024
President Joe Biden is coming to Tampa next week

Biden will appear in Tampa on Tuesday, but details of the visit were not released.

By News Service of Florida
Apr 18, 2024
Former Florida Gov. Graham remembered as ‘a friend and a consummate public servant’

“As a governor, senator, and legislator, he spent decades fighting for the people of Florida.”

By Jim Turner, Dara Kam and News Service of Florida
Apr 18, 2024
Florida Democrats are now running billboards to get people to run for state office

By Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix
Apr 17, 2024
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill that opens the door for kindergarteners to learn about communism

The state education department will be tasked with drawing up academic standards for the lessons.

By Ryan Dailey and News Service of Florida
Apr 17, 2024
'Florida has a chance to make history': Only three states have passed recreational weed on the ballot by more than 60 percent

In the past two years, voters in six red states have voted on recreational weed.

By Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix
Apr 17, 2024
Citizens, Florida's 'last resort' insurance company, adds 4,000 policies

Numbers, however, are down from last fall.

By News Service of Florida
Apr 17, 2024
DeSantis signs Florida education reform bill that includes limiting ‘book challenges’

The law also will direct state education officials to create a “classical education teaching certificate.”

By Ryan Dailey and News Service of Florida
Apr 16, 2024
Suspended Hillsborough prosecutor Andrew Warren now says he will run for re-election

He previously said he wouldn’t run out of concern DeSantis would suspend him again

By Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix
Apr 16, 2024
DeSantis says he’ll sign Florida bill limiting challenges to school books by nonparents

“It is done intentionally, and it is part of an agenda, and that’s wrong,” DeSantis said during a news conference.

By Michael Moline and Florida Phoenix
Apr 16, 2024
Phone conversations with Florida law enforcement can be recorded without their consent, says court

“They have no expectation of privacy when they’re conducting official business and it doesn’t matter where they’re at.”

By Vivienne Serret and Fresh Take Florida
Apr 15, 2024
Florida's citrus industry is expected to have another terrible year

Despite Thursday’s reduced estimates, Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Matt Joyner expressed optimism.

By Jim Turner and News Service of Florida
Apr 12, 2024
DeSantis quietly signs bill blocking heat protection standards for Florida workers

The measure is known as a “preemption” bill, as it would take away authority from local governments.

By Jim Turner and News Service of Florida
Apr 12, 2024
Pot companies are pouring money into Florida's recreational marijuana initiative

Until last month, Trulieve had largely been the sole financial supporter of the effort.

By News Service of Florida
Apr 11, 2024
Tampa Bay Democrats hold town hall and discuss passing bills in Florida’s GOP-led legislature

‘I feel like I’m still in the Matrix.’

By Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix
Apr 11, 2024
Federal court orders Florida to explain its standing in immigration suit against Biden

Moody and DeSantis have made a high-profile issue of criticizing the federal government’s handling of immigration issues

By Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida
Apr 11, 2024