Florida Phoenix, Author at Creative Loafing Tampa - Page 18 of 35

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis set to sign law banning psychedelic mushroom spores

A violation of the new ban would be a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of $1,000.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 15, 2025June 20, 2025

Byron Donalds brings campaign for governor to Largo, but provides few details on policy

He was at MAGA coffee shop Conservative Grounds.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 14, 2025June 14, 2025

Marijuana legalization group joins the fight against Florida’s crackdown on ballot initiatives

Smart & Safe Florida called new restrictions signed into law by Gov. DeSantis ‘legislative gaslighting.’

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix May 13, 2025July 31, 2025

Ron DeSantis says he’s not interested in a ‘summit’ to solve Florida legislature’s budget breakdown

The governor has been relentless in blasting the Florida House over the past month, initially over a committee’s investigation into the Hope Florida Foundation.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 13, 2025June 26, 2025

Back in Tampa, Ron DeSantis and state troopers spent Monday talking about arresting immigrants

Last week, FHP arrested 30 people on behalf of the federal government.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 13, 2025July 23, 2025

Survey: More Floridians support property tax cuts over sales tax cut

House Speaker Daniel Perez said the Florida Constitution prohibits the Legislature from exercising direct control over property taxes.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 12, 2025June 19, 2025

The Florida Legislature’s $2.8 billion tax cut deal is off the table

The breakdown means legislators are nowhere near coming up with a new budget, which needs to be in place by July 1 or the state risks a government shutdown.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix May 12, 2025May 16, 2025

Rep. Maxwell Frost is coming to talk to voters in the district of Sarasota Republican Greg Steube

Steube voted for a budget resolution earlier this year that could potentially make deep cuts to Medicaid.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 9, 2025July 1, 2025

Filibuster record holder, Sen. Cory Booker, co-headlines Florida Democrats’ summer gathering

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will be there, too.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 9, 2025May 24, 2025

A row of white voting booths with 'VOTE' and American flag graphics inside a busy polling place or election office, with people and camera crew visible in the background.

Florida bill requiring voters to show proof of citizenship fails, drawing relief on both sides of the issue

The bill angered voting rights and voting integrity advocates alike.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 9, 2025June 3, 2025

At Hula Bay in Tampa, DeSantis stands by Florida attorney general defying federal courts

He said the episode raises a ‘larger issue’ of who can enact public policy in the United States.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 7, 2025May 31, 2025

DeSantis says defector Democrats are ‘smuggling their leftism into the Republican Party’

His latest comments also criticized a property tax panel a ‘dog and pony show.’

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 7, 2025August 5, 2025

DeSantis will sign legislation making Florida the second state in the US to ban fluoride

The governor promised to sign the ‘chemtrails’ bill, too.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 7, 2025May 17, 2025

There’s already a lawsuit related to Florida’s brand new law for citizen ballot initiatives

Florida Decides Healthcare has been working for more than a year to get its proposed constitutional amendment on expanding Medicaid.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 6, 2025May 27, 2025

Corporal punishment among education issues addressed in 2025 Florida legislative session

Last-second bartering yielded two education omnibus bills.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix May 6, 2025July 25, 2025

Florida lawmakers pass restrictions on state employees’ politicking, but DeSantis has already said he’ll veto the proposal

The proposal came after reports that employees in the governor’s office called lobbyists to request donations for a PAC.

by Jackie Llanos and Florida Phoenix May 5, 2025June 1, 2025

Florida state parks, open carry, child labor, and more winners and losers from the 2025 legislative session

Sovereign immunity was a no-go, too.

by Florida Phoenix May 5, 2025June 8, 2025

On anniversary of Florida’s six-week abortion ban, providers say ‘We’re still here’

By the state’s count, there were 19,198 fewer abortions in 2024 than in 2023.

by Jackie Llanos, Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix May 1, 2025July 15, 2025

The State Park Preservation Act has one more stop before DeSantis’ desk

The Florida Senate approved it unanimously.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 1, 2025May 21, 2025

Amendment allowing Florida’s wrongfully incarcerated to get compensation heads to DeSantis

Since 1989, 91 people in Florida have been exonerated or released from incarceration as a result of post-conviction DNA testing.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 30, 2025June 21, 2025