Florida Republicans file bill to shield churches from state emergency orders

Brodeur’s proposal would prohibit emergency orders restricting religious institutions from holding services or activities.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida December 1, 2021August 17, 2023

News & Views

‘Terribly drawn,’ ‘just lazy’: New Florida House maps get mixed reviews

The anti-gerrymandering group RepresentUs, working with the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, gave “F” grades to the House’s proposal congressional maps, indicating “poor for the category, could be much better.”

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida November 24, 2021August 3, 2023

News & Views

Over 70 years later, Central Florida judge finally exonerates the ‘Groveland Four’

Florida House Minority Leader Bobby DuBose, D-Fort Lauderdale, called for the Florida Legislature to compensate the men’s families.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida November 23, 2021August 17, 2023

News & Views

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to spend $1 billion to lower gas prices

“It’s clearly not going to eliminate all the inflation, because it’s gone up so much.”

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida November 22, 2021March 14, 2025

News & Views

Feds and state team up in response to Florida’s record manatee deaths

The state agency this week reported 1,003 manatees have died in Florida waters in 2021.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida November 19, 2021February 6, 2024

News & Views

Florida Gov. Ron DeSants signs bills banning vaccine mandates

Democrats criticized the new laws and the special session, which they decried as a waste of time and as being about DeSantis’ widely speculated White House ambitions in 2024.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida November 18, 2021August 17, 2023

News & Views

‘Political theater’: Florida Dems blast DeSantis’ special session on vaccine mandates

“This is not about helping anyone. This is not about guaranteeing anyone’s freedoms. This is not about governmental policy.”

by Ryan Dailey, Jim Turner and News Service of Florida November 16, 2021August 17, 2023

News & Views

‘Republicans typically want less government’: Florida Dems rip DeSantis’ Special Session on vaccine mandates

“Creating a new, you know, OSHA-like entity in the state when it already exists in the federal government seems a little counterintuitive from an entity that really wants less government, right?” Book said.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida November 2, 2021August 17, 2023

News & Views

Florida Democrats seek more public input in once-a-decade redistricting process

Maps must be finalized before qualifying for next year’s congressional and legislative races begins June 13.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida November 2, 2021August 17, 2023

News & Views

Florida sues Biden administration over COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors

DeSantis said the vaccination requirement for federal contractors will hurt Florida’s economy and continue an expansion of federal authority.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida October 29, 2021August 17, 2023

News & Views

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants $73 million to increase starting salaries for law enforcement officers

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida October 28, 2021November 30, 2024

News & Views

Florida’s top doctor says he can’t communicate clearly with mask on

“It is important to me to communicate clearly and effectively with people. I can’t do that when half of my face is covered.”

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida October 26, 2021August 17, 2023

News & Views

Florida Gov. DeSantis’ list of demands don’t include an outright ban of federal vaccine mandates

It was not clear Thursday when a special session would be held.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida October 22, 2021August 17, 2023

News & Views

Florida wildlife officials want $7 million to help deal with record manatee deaths

The request for money is also part of long-term goals to rebuild seagrass beds and wean manatees from artificial warm-water sites.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida October 14, 2021August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida backs plan to allow limited harvest of goliath grouper

Commissioner Robert Spottswood said the “limited” harvest should help the agency better determine the overall stock of the fish in the next three to five years.

by Jim Turner October 6, 2021August 17, 2023

News & Views

DeSantis doesn’t want the FBI looking into threats aimed at Florida educators

“Attorney General Garland is weaponizing the DOJ (Department of Justice) by using the FBI to pursue concerned parents and silence them through intimidation.”

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida October 5, 2021August 17, 2023

News & Views

Florida Gov. DeSantis sues Biden Administration over border ‘crisis’

Moody and DeSantis have harshly criticized the Biden administration’s immigration policies for months.

by Jim Saunders, Jim Turner and News Service of Florida September 28, 2021August 17, 2023

News & Views

New polling data shows that even Florida’s Trump voters are opposed to ‘gerrymandering’

The majority of voters polled have concerns about lawmakers getting to draw new political lines for their own districts.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida September 16, 2021August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida tourism agency says Delta variant is just a ‘bump’ in recovery

The state attracted 31.7 million domestic and international visitors during the second quarter of 2021, an overall 2.2 percent below where the state was in 2019.

by Jim Turner September 9, 2021August 17, 2023

News & Views

Despite recent fundraising trips, DeSantis says White House speculation is ‘nonsense’

Speculation has swirled recently about the possibility of Trump making a political comeback in 2024 and what that might mean for DeSantis and other potential Republican candidates.

by Jim Saunders, Jim Turner and News Service of Florida September 8, 2021August 3, 2023