Jay Waagmeester, Author at Creative Loafing Tampa

James Uthmeier, Chief of Staff to Governor Ron DeSantis, speaking at a microphone during the Annual National Day of Prayer event in front of the Florida State Capitol steps.

Gun lobby praises Florida AG over push for ‘nondangerous’ felon gun ownership

“Attorney General Pam Bondi needs to sit up and take notes! This is what a REAL pro-gun attorney general looks like.”

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix March 20, 2026March 20, 2026

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is elaborating on his newly espoused legal opinion that Florida’s ban on felons possessing firearms violates the Second Amendment when it comes to those who have committed nonviolent felony offenses. In a supplemental brief filed Wednesday night, Uthmeier urges the state’s First District Court of Appeal to reverse the conviction […]

Florida places temporary ban on H-1B visas in university system

The measure prohibits universities from using the H-1B program to hire “new employees” until Jan. 5, 2027.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix March 3, 2026March 3, 2026

Florida weighs state university visa hiring freeze at DeSantis’ request

University of South Florida had 107 H-1B visa recipients in FY2025.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix January 29, 2026January 29, 2026

A child's hand holds a purple marker writing the letter "a" multiple times on a cursive practice sheet.

Proposal to require Florida students pass cursive test swoops to House floor

The bill’s sponsor voted against it in previous legislative sessions.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix January 26, 2026January 26, 2026

Florida’s flamingo population needs intervention for recovery, UCF study says

Florida has only about 100 of its state bird in the wild.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix December 29, 2025December 29, 2025

A person identified as the Florida Senate President sits at a glossy table, gesturing with their hands while speaking to a cluster of professional microphones and recording devices.

Siding with DeSantis, Florida Senate president prefers to wait for SCOTUS before redistricting decision

That puts him at odds with a timetable for congressional redistricting set last week by a select committee in the Florida House.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix December 9, 2025December 11, 2025

A diverse group of people, formally dressed, are gathered in a brightly lit, modern hall with white ceiling panels and columns. Several members stand to the right of the podium, and a decorated Christmas tree is visible to the left.

With focus on affordability in 2026, Florida House Democrats eye changes to property insurance, housing and government spending

With a Republican super-majority, Democrats can’t pass legislation on their own.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix December 9, 2025December 9, 2025

The Ralph D. Turlington Florida Education Center building, a tall white government structure with horizontal rows of windows, stands against a clear blue sky, viewed from a street intersection below.

Judge: Hernando private school accepted state vouchers for students 130 miles away

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix November 26, 2025November 26, 2025

The Ralph D. Turlington Florida Education Center building, a tall white government structure with horizontal rows of windows, stands against a clear blue sky, viewed from a street intersection below.

‘Whatever can go wrong with this system has gone wrong’: Audit finds Florida’s voucher program caused funding shortfall for public schools

The audit, encompassing the 2024-2025 school year, was presented this week to lawmakers.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix November 21, 2025November 21, 2025

Man with a beard and a brown jacket over a blurred background of a parchment document. Overlaid text reads: 'Thank you Jesus First Public School Chaplain in Florida'. A hand holds an ID card identifying 'John Martin' as a 'LEVEL 2 CHAPLAIN' with an expiration date of '6/30/2026'.

Florida’s first-ever public school chaplain wrote an ode to Charlie Kirk, but insists he won’t use the position to proselytize

Rev. Jack Martin identifies with the Black Robe Regiment, a coalition of pastors committed to tearing down the wall of separation between church and state.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix October 13, 2025October 15, 2025

A man in a red hat stands between two young men with curly hair. They are holding a large white sign with the phrase "WE ARE CHARLIE KIRK" written on it in bold, red paint. They are standing near a body of water under a partly cloudy sky.

Florida education commissioner names state’s top debate trophy after Charlie Kirk

The Florida civics and debate initiative was launched while New College President Richard Corcoran was serving as the state education commissioner.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix October 6, 2025October 6, 2025

A sign reading "banned books" in a bookshop window display

PEN report: Florida accounts for 30% of nation’s book bans as trend slows

PEN America reported 600 titles in Hillsborough County that are “banned pending investigation.” The Florida Department of Education reported none in Hillsborough.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix October 1, 2025October 1, 2025

USF nabs University of North Florida’s president

LImayem, USF’s former business college dean, is the sole finalist in its presidential search.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix September 30, 2025September 30, 2025

Low-angle shot of a woman wearing a blue "USA" hat holding a large, vertical, framed photo of Charlie Kirk and an American flag. She stands on a grassy area beside a paved road lined with small American flags. In the background, someone holds an American flag umbrella and there is a woman in a black dress.

Pinellas teachers among those targeted for Charlie Kirk social media comments

Rep. Berny Jacques (R-Seminole) requested the Pinellas County Superintendent fire teachers who have conducted ‘abhorrent’ behavior on their social media accounts since Kirk’s death.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix September 17, 2025September 18, 2025

Modern apartment buildings in downtown Tampa, featuring a mix of high-rise and mid-rise structures. The buildings have colorful facades in shades of white, red, and blue, with many balconies and glass windows. A taller dark gray tower rises in the background against a clear blue sky.

Homelessness among Florida families up 28-percent, says report

Rents have also increased by nearly 40% between 2019-2023.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix September 8, 2025September 8, 2025

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a podium with a sign reading "FIGHTING FENTANYL" in bold letters. He is flanked by law enforcement officers in tactical vests, with American and Florida state flags in the background, along with Florida Department of Law Enforcement insignia.

DeSantis says the state is looking into opening a new immigration detention facility in west Florida

The first deportation facility, in the Everglades, opened earlier this summer, must be shut down, a federal judge ruled, although the state is fighting that ruling.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix September 4, 2025September 10, 2025

Florida Supreme Court declines to weigh in on Trump’s lawsuit against Pulitzer Prize board

Trump filed the defamation claim after the New York Times and Washington Post got awards for their reporting Russia’s alleged election interference in 2016.

by Florida Phoenix and Jay Waagmeester August 27, 2025September 1, 2025

DeSantis: Judge’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ order ‘is not going to deter us.’

He touted more immigration arrests hours after a judge ordered the facility shut down.

by Florida Phoenix and Jay Waagmeester August 23, 2025August 28, 2025

Ruling from Obama-appointed judge says Florida’s book ban law is ‘overbroad and unconstitutional’

The law, Judge Carlos Mendoza wrote, ‘does not evaluate the work to determine if it has any holistic value.’

by Florida Phoenix and Jay Waagmeester August 18, 2025August 23, 2025

Ingoglia alleges ‘numerous’ cases of local governments scrubbing data before DOGE audits

Florida DOGE has audited St. Petersburg, Manatee, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. Tampa is next.

by Jay Waagmeester August 7, 2025August 25, 2025