News & Views

Hillsborough River State Park would get a disc golf course and up to four pickleball courts, under controversial new plan

The plan, dubbed the “Great Outdoors Initiative,” was announced Monday in a news release.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida August 22, 2024June 7, 2025

News & Views

Proposal to add golf courses, pickleball to some Florida state parks draws fire

The Florida Springs Council described the proposal as “commodifying & developing our public lands.”

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida August 21, 2024September 6, 2024

News & Views

Florida Gov. DeSantis describes Idalia and Debby as ‘night and day, in recovery efforts

“With Idalia there was debris everywhere,” DeSantis said.

by Tom Urban, Jim Turner and News Service of Florida August 7, 2024May 10, 2025

News & Views

Hurricane Debby will be an ‘ongoing threat’ over coming days, says Florida Gov. DeSantis

“We have seen and will continue to see flooding in every part of the state of Florida,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida August 5, 2024August 13, 2024

News & Views

Working-class Floridians could be priced out of communities during post-storm rebuilding, says expert

“People like police officers, school teachers, administrators, they’re being priced out of your communities…”

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida July 31, 2024September 15, 2024

News & Views

Florida’s 14-day back-to-school sales tax ‘holiday’ starts next week

A similar holiday on disaster-preparedness supplies was held during the first two weeks of June.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida July 26, 2024August 2, 2024

News & Views

Florida approves NIL deals for high school athletes

High schools won’t be able to use promises of NIL deals to recruit players.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida July 24, 2024March 19, 2025

News & Views

‘We can show them unity’: Florida Democrats quickly lineup to endorse Kamala Harris

Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said the speed of support for Harris isn’t surprising.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida July 23, 2024October 17, 2024

News & Views

‘We just really need to make it through this year’: Despite slump, Florida citrus growers say they’re optimistic about the future

“Let these trees recover, and let’s get a good harvest and something we can start building some momentum on.”

by Jim Turner, Tom Urban and News Service of Florida July 15, 2024April 10, 2025

News & Views

Florida could see even more hurricanes this year, as experts ratchet up storm season forecast

The university’s Department of Atmospheric Science added two named storms and a major hurricane to its outlook for the 2024 season.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida July 10, 2024April 4, 2025

News & Views

Florida settles lawsuit over Piney Point leak into Tampa Bay

Lawmakers in 2021 decided to spend $100 million to help clean up the site.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida July 9, 2024September 5, 2024

News & Views

Bicycles, paddleboards, gym memberships: Here’s what you can get tax-free during Florida’s new ‘Freedom Month’

The Freedom Holiday is expected to reduce state and local tax revenues by $91.8 million.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida June 25, 2024June 19, 2025

News & Views

From ‘identity politics’ to stripper restrictions, here are some of the Florida measures slated to take effect July 1

Lawmakers also tucked another $2 billion in spending into bills, with that money not showing up in the budget (HB 5001).

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida June 24, 2024December 26, 2024

News & Views

DeSantis signs bill allowing Florida homeowners to shoot bears, vetoes bill banning left lane abusers

Annimal-rights activists argued the bill will create an “open season” on bears.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida June 24, 2024October 21, 2024

News & Views

Florida Democrats lock up 11 legislative seats, running unopposed ahead of Friday deadline

“We are not going to just let Republicans walk into office without being held accountable.”

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida June 17, 2024July 29, 2024

News & Views

A down-ballot effect is unlikely for Florida candidates after Donald Trump’s conviction, says experts

Fundraising has ratcheted up after Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, but experts in Florida pointed to issues such as voters already having their minds made up.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida June 3, 2024June 18, 2024

News & Views

‘All of the ingredients are there’: Florida residents told to prepare for ‘very intense’ hurricane season

The six-month season officially begins June 1.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida May 23, 2024July 7, 2024

News & Views

As hurricane season approaches, Florida’s 14-day tax ‘holiday’ returns

The tax holiday will run from June 1 to June 14 and is timed with the start of the six-month hurricane season.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida May 23, 2024July 17, 2024

News & Views

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs law scrubbing ‘climate change’ from Florida policy

“We’re restoring sanity in our approach to energy and rejecting the agenda of the radical green zealots.”

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida May 16, 2024May 21, 2025

News & Views

Free orange juice to remain a staple at Florida welcome centers

Free cups of juice had been a staple of welcome centers since 1949.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida May 9, 2024June 8, 2025

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