Florida lawmakers OK measure to create ‘Hope Cards’ to aid domestic violence victims

The card is meant to give law enforcement another tool to help verify and immediately make an arrest when there’s a violation of a restraining order.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 6, 2024August 21, 2024

News & Views

Florida bill approving $20 million in compensation to Dozier school survivors is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis

The Florida Senate on Monday unanimously approved the proposal (HB 23) and the House passed the legislation last week.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 5, 2024June 25, 2025

News & Views

Florida approves $20 million compensation to Dozier School victims who suffered abuse

“Justice sometimes comes slowly and in increments,” he said. “But it nevertheless arrives…”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix February 27, 2024June 27, 2025

News & Views

Florida’s civilian police oversight boards are in jeopardy and could be dissolved

But reports found that cities with citizen review boards experience about a 15% reduction in the total Black arrest rates.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix January 22, 2024February 2, 2025

News & Views

Florida lawmakers push to remove language saying slaves benefited from slavery from state curriculum

Gov. Ron DeSantis has championed eliminating Critical Race Theory from public schools.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix January 16, 2024February 9, 2024

News & Views

Poll shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis now trailing Nikki Haley in Iowa caucus

The survey of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers found 48% pick Trump as their first choice candidate.

by Robin Opsahl and Florida Phoenix January 15, 2024January 19, 2024

News & Views

Florida lawmakers push for fixes to a signature law on affordable housing

The bill passed unanimously in the committee, and now moves to the Fiscal Policy Committee before hitting the Senate floor.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix January 15, 2024February 22, 2025

News & Views

DeSantis is looking at the possibility of finishing third in approaching Iowa caucus

Donald Trump is expected to dominate the Iowa caucuses on Monday night.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix January 12, 2024January 17, 2024

News & Views

Florida Republicans want age verification on porn sites, but enforcement in other states hasn’t been straightforward

Most recently, a federal judge in Texas struck down an age verification law in Texas while another dismissed a suit in Utah.

by Jackie Llanos and Florida Phoenix January 9, 2024April 9, 2025

News & Views

New proposal from Florida Republican would make virtually all abortions illegal

The measure would target physicians who perform abortions, and not the women who get them.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix January 9, 2024March 1, 2024

News & Views

Citing ‘cloud of uncertainty’, Tampa’s Andrew Warren won’t seek reelection as state attorney

‘…the governor has made clear that he does not care about the will of the voters…’

by Michael Moline and Florida Phoenix January 8, 2024April 12, 2024

News & Views

Committee aiming to put abortion rights on Florida’s 2024 ballot claims over 1 million signatures

That number surpasses the 891,523 needed by Feb. 1.

by Jackie Llanos and Florida Phoenix December 19, 2023September 19, 2024

News & Views

Tampa Rep. Fentrice Driskell: Loss in GOP primary could weaken Gov. DeSantis with Legislature

‘I don’t know that the Legislature is going to play ball with him in the same way that they have previously.”

by Michael Moline and Florida Phoenix September 18, 2023December 22, 2023

News & Views

In Tampa, a disabled teen on a long waiting list said lawmakers need to recast Florida’s legislative priorities

‘Back when Jeb Bush was governor, he fully funded the waiver,’ JJ said. ‘He actually cared about what happened to people like me. ‘

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 15, 2023May 7, 2025

News & Views

Abortion supporters and opponents clash outside Florida Supreme Court

The chants were combative in what has been one of the most divisive political issues in America for decades.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 8, 2023January 3, 2025

News & Views

DeSantis won’t decriminalize cannabis if elected president, but would any other candidate?

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 17, 2023April 26, 2024

News & Views

Federal ruling could allow sports betting in Florida by fall, in time for college and pro football

The deal promises to return $2.5 billion to the state during the first five years.

by Michael Moline and Florida Phoenix July 12, 2023August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida AG Moody, ACLU continue to spar over law restricting Chinese land ownership

Four Chinese immigrants and a real estate company that caters to Chinese clients filed a federal lawsuit in May.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 12, 2023March 15, 2025

News & Views

Citing ‘hostile actions,’ education group is the latest to pull its convention from Florida

No such cancellations have happened yet in the Tampa Bay area, according to officials.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 10, 2023December 7, 2024

News & Views

After years of inequality, Florida’s Black farmers may finally get a license for medical marijuana

The bill (HB 387) was originally crafted to allow physicians to use telehealth methods to renew medical marijuana certifications for qualified patients.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 10, 2023June 12, 2025