DeSantis administration removes child vaccine exemptions based on ‘moral or ethical beliefs’

The rule hearing was requested by the Florida chapters of the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix September 30, 2026September 30, 2026

An aerial top-down photo shows a suburban residential neighborhood in Tampa, Florida, featuring single-family homes with private swimming pools, landscaped backyards, green lawns, and clean paved streets lined with palm trees.

News & Views

New calculator allows you to see how your local roads, libraries and more will be impacted if Florida’s Amendment 3 passes

“We really hope this will be a one-stop shop and something easy to use where people can see how the amendment would impact the community.”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 29, 2026September 29, 2026

Aerial view of a flooded suburban Florida neighborhood after a tropical storm, showing houses, backyards, and cars partially submerged in floodwaters.

News & Views

Majority of Florida residents refuse to believe state’s property insurance crisis is any better, says poll

The poll comes as property insurance becomes a major issue in the Florida gubernatorial race.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 28, 2026September 28, 2026

News & Views

David Jolly: ‘I need the national Democratic Party to come into Florida and start spending money’

Donalds has now raised more than $115 million via his political committee, while Jolly has raised $15.8 million.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 28, 2026September 28, 2026

Map of Florida Congressional District 16 highlighting Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, and Wauchula.

News & Views

Tampa Bay’s Congressional District 16 could be a lot less red than everyone thought

Republican Sydney Gruters was the early favorite to keep the seat red, but Democrat Kelly Kirschner says momentum is on his side.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 25, 2026September 25, 2026

News & Views

Florida Judge appointed by DeSantis faces reprimand for saying he’d like to see trial lawyers shot in his courtroom

“I would like to tell the deputy to pull his gun and shoot all three of you as far as my level of frustration right now.”

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix September 25, 2026September 25, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a podium with a sign reading "Taking Down Voter Fraud," flanked by Florida and U.S. flags during a press conference.

Florida News

‘Reeks of voter intimidation’: 40 days before the midterm elections, DeSantis says he found 20 people who committed voter fraud

“How about some accountability for state officials at the highest levels who abused 10 million of taxpayer dollars for political purposes? “

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 25, 2026September 25, 2026

Exterior view of The New York Times Building entrance on 8th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan with a yellow taxi driving past.

News & Views

Florida sues NY Times over alleged anti-Israel bias; demands internal records

Litigation comes weeks after AG James Uthmeier requested the records from the paper, asserting its coverage could harm shareholder value.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

News & Views

Florida Senate candidate Angie Nixon to pay $250 and do community service for staging sit-in at DeSantis’ office

Nixon said Tuesday that she did not plead guilty and that she did nothing wrong that night.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

David Jolly speaking at a podium in front of an American flag with a Jolly Graham for Florida campaign sign

News & Views

While David Jolly says he’d fire Joseph Ladapo as surgeon general on day one, Byron Donalds isn’t quite sure

It was a little over a year ago that Ladapo and Gov. Ron DeSantis announced their plan to drop all required vaccine mandates for children

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

Charlie Kirk speaking at a Turning Point USA event at California State University, Northridge

News & Views

Administrative judge sides with Florida teacher punished for Charlie Kirk Facebook post

In May, the state settled with a state-employed biologist fired after posting about Charlie Kirk after his killing.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

News & Views

Majority of Florida universities fall in national rankings, per U.S. News & World Report

Among various rankings throughout the year, U.S. News & World Report’s are perhaps the most widely cited.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

News & Views

While in Tampa, Byron Donalds’ running mate dodges questions about Trump, deportations

Lieutenant governor nominee pressed at Tiger Bay Club over whether he or Byron Donalds disagree with the president on any of his policies.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 21, 2026September 21, 2026

News & Views

David Jolly says a complete ban on data centers in Florida should be ‘on the table’

Democratic gubernatorial candidate had said he’d issue a year-long moratorium if elected governor. Now he’s going beyond that.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 18, 2026September 18, 2026

Exterior shot of Westcott Building's classic red brick Gothic architecture on the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee, Florida, framed by green lawns, palm trees, and the active Westcott Fountain with the university seal in the foreground.

News & Views

Florida bar exam passage rate drops by more than 3%

Florida State University had the highest passage rate.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix September 18, 2026September 18, 2026

News & Views

Florida Republican breaks with Trump on immigration enforcement in campaign ad

‘Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcements have gone too far,’ the South Florida Republican says.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 17, 2026September 17, 2026

News & Views

Jolly and Donalds clash on how to fix Florida’s property insurance crisis

Donalds says Jolly wants a ‘hurricane tax’ for all property owners, citing a recent study. Jolly responds that the study never looked at his plan.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 17, 2026September 17, 2026

News & Views

Florida residents are raising the alarms over data centers and AI. Where do Byron Donalds and David Jolly stand?

Democrat wants a moratorium on any data centers for a year; Republican says he’ll leave it up to local governments to make that decision.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 16, 2026September 16, 2026

News & Views

Florida Republicans officially endorse property tax-cutting Amendment 3

Meanwhile, the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Florida) is opposing the measure.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 15, 2026September 15, 2026

News & Views

‘Just leave me alone and let me teach’: Florida professors fear being targeted by students, government, says survey

“I am always worried that I am being recorded or that my lectures, course materials, will be challenged by students or administrators.”

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix September 14, 2026September 14, 2026

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