Extreme macro close-up of an oriental latrine fly (Chrysomya megacephala) with metallic blue body and large red compound eyes resting on a weathered piece of wood.

Florida is turning away shelter dogs from other states due to concerns over flesh-eating screwworm

The screwworm is a fly that lays its eggs in body openings and feeds on live animals, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

News & Views

Florida officials brace for risk of parasitic screwworm

“We are going to need a unified front from the government, our agricultural community, and the public to respond to this threat.”

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida June 8, 2026June 8, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium in Boise, Idaho, advocating for an Article V Constitutional Convention to require a balanced federal budget.

News & Views

Florida lawmakers pass DeSantis property tax plan, but with carveout for public schools

The constitutional amendment (HJR 1F) needs 60 percent support from voters to take effect.

by Jim Turner, Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida June 3, 2026June 3, 2026

Based on the image provided in the Facebook post, here are a few options for SEO-friendly alt-text, ranging from concise to more descriptive: Option 1: Descriptive & Keyword-Rich (Best for SEO) Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium during the unveiling of a James Madison statue in Florida. The podium features a sign identifying Madison as the "Father of the Constitution," set against the backdrop of a historic courthouse with patriotic banners.

News & Views

DeSantis slams Florida House Speaker Perez, claims he has ‘a personal agenda’

“When you have people that got elected on our back, like the Speaker of the House, get in and do the opposite of what the voters expected us to do, I’m going to call that out.”

by Gray Rohrer, Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

Three-toed sloth clinging to a tree branch in the Costa Rica rainforest.

News & Views

Florida officials look to pause sloth imports after 55 deaths linked to failed Orlando attraction

Surviving sloths from Sloth World have been relocated to the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus entrance sign with landscaping.

News & Views

Florida lawmakers are divided over education spending, USF Sarasota-Manatee transfer

The House presented an $8.9 billion plan for the state’s 14 public universities, about $106 million short of the Senate’s preferred budget.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

News & Views

Florida has spent $460 million on immigration enforcement so far, records show

FDEM filed a budget amendment May 6 notifying the Legislature it was spending $45.3 million out of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund to pay off invoices for the 2025-2026 year.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida May 12, 2026May 12, 2026

News & Views

Breaking down the changes in Florida’s new congressional districts

A voting rights group filed suit against the new districts in Leon Circuit Court soon after DeSantis signed the bill (HB 1D).

by Gray Rohrer, Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at the Congressional Term Limits Retreat in Delray Beach, seated at a panel with state legislators to discuss a U.S. Constitutional amendment for congressional term limits.

News & Views

‘This is clearly unconstitutional’: Florida Democrats decry DeSantis’ new congressional map

House and Senate committees approved the new map (HB 1D, SB 8D) ahead of a floor votes later in the week.

by Gray Rohrer, Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

Modern multi-story building at the Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry Campus in Tampa, Florida, featuring white architecture and tropical palm trees under a clear blue sky.

News & Views

Critics slam Florida Department of Education move to block undocumented students from state colleges

The Board of Education will discuss the rules at its next meeting on May 14 at Miami-Dade College.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 28, 2026April 28, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sits at a draped table in Jacksonville, signing SB 1134 and HB 1217 legislation into law, flanked by five officials and American and Florida state flags in the background.

News & Views

DeSantis signs bills banning Florida cities and counties from supporting DEI programs, net zero carbon policies

“With DEI, the disfavored groups, number one obviously, would be white males, and I think they’ve been discriminated against,” DeSantis said Wednesday.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

News & Views

Florida wants to ban undocumented immigrants from state colleges

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 17, 2026April 17, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis standing at a podium with a sign that reads "School Choice Success: Florida is Leading the Nation." He is gesturing with his hands during a press conference, flanked by the United States flag and the Florida state flag.

News & Views

Florida seeks alternative to high school AP courses with own version of college-level history classes

U.S. history is the second subject in the FACT program. Last year, the DOE initiated a statewide pilot for college algebra.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 14, 2026April 14, 2026

Nikki Fried delivering a speech at a reproductive rights event. She is wearing a signature Nikki for Governor shirt, positioned behind a microphone with "Roe the Vote" signage visible.

News & Views

Florida Dem Chair Nikki Fried says party has more candidates signing up to run for office than ever have before

“People are just flooding our zone.”

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 10, 2026April 10, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis sitting at a desk and holding up signed legislative documents during a bill signing ceremony at a Florida Department of Law Enforcement center, surrounded by officials and a family wearing matching pink shirts.

News & Views

DeSantis signs ‘Missy’s Law,’ calls for House impeachment of judge

Impeachments of judges are rare, but the threat of impeachment carries weight.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida March 31, 2026March 31, 2026

News & Views

Florida sheriffs, including Grady Judd, criticize Trump’s mass deportation efforts

“There are those here that are working hard, they have kids in college, are in school, they’re going to church on Sunday, they’re not violating the law, and they’re living the American dream,” he told council members.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida March 16, 2026March 16, 2026

Voters casting ballots in private white voting booths with American flag 'Vote' graphics at a polling place in Verona, Virginia.

News & Views

Florida’s version of the ‘SAVE America Act’ heads to DeSantis

Democrats argue it will disenfranchise out-of-state students and seniors, two groups of people who are more likely to not have a valid driver’s license.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida March 13, 2026March 13, 2026