Mitch Perry, Author at Creative Loafing Tampa

An industrial oil platform stands amidst choppy, dark blue waves in the Gulf of Mexico under a cloudy sky.

Environmental groups sue after Trump administration opens up oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico

The move puts the Endangered Species Act ‘in a shredder’ says an environmental attorney.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 3, 2026April 3, 2026

A coalition of environmental groups filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Trump administration over its decision this week to remove Endangered Species Act protections from species threatened by oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. On Tuesday, a group of administration officials called the Endangered Species Committee met for only the fourth time in its […]

Sydney Gruters, wife of RNC Chair and state Sen. Joe Gruters, says she’s running for Florida congressional seat

Florida’s CD 16 seat that will be vacated by Republican Vern Buchanan later this year.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 2, 2026April 2, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis sits at a green-draped table in The Villages, holding up the signed HB 991 election bill. He is surrounded by Florida legislators and officials clapping in support. Four Florida flags and two U.S. flags stand in the background of the wood-paneled room.

Voting rights groups sue after DeSantis signs bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote

HB 991 will take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium during a press conference at the Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center.

‘I was not involved at all in that race’: DeSantis distances himself from GOP’s Hillsborough special election loss

“I was very clear from the beginning that I was not going to be involved in that, and that’s just kind of the way that the cookie crumbles.”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 31, 2026March 31, 2026

A man with brown hair and sunglasses, circled in red, amidst a crowd of individuals clashing with police and using riot shields at a stone archway during the January 6 Capitol riot.

Tampa Jan. 6 rioter files $18 million lawsuit, alleging police assaulted members of ‘peaceful’ crowd

Fischer was indicted on seven criminal charges for his Jan. 6 actions, including several violent felonies.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 30, 2026March 30, 2026

Aerial view of St. Pete Beach, Florida, showing turquoise Gulf waters, white sand coastline, and luxury beachfront resorts under a clear blue sky.

New Census data shows Pinellas County witnessed second largest population decline in country

The third biggest loss in the country was Miami-Dade.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

DeSantis Administration claims NFL’s ‘Rooney Rule’ violates state’s anti-DEI law

The rule requires NFL teams to interview at least two minority candidates for vacant head coach, GM, and coordinator position.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 26, 2026March 26, 2026

Candidate Brian Nathan wearing a campaign t-shirt and talking to a voter in a grocery store parking lot next to a cart return sign

Florida Democrats won big Tuesday night. Was it a big deal or not?

‘If that kind of movement is happening now, it raises real questions about what the electorate could look like in a higher-turnout environment,’ says one Democratic official.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 26, 2026March 26, 2026

Brian Nathan, a U.S. Navy veteran from Tampa, walks in a parade.

In Tampa and Mar-a-Lago, Florida Democrats come up big on election night

Brian Nathan, a Navy veteran, union organizer, and first-time candidate, shocked Republican state Rep. Josie Tomkow in Hillsborough County.

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

DeSantis for President" vest, smiling and talking with a group of supporters during a campaign event.

‘We’ll see’: DeSantis won’t rule out another run for president

His comment comes after he spent $160 million on his 2024 campaign for president before dropping out after the Iowa caucus.

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

Governor Ron DeSantis signing SB 302 and HB 1417 in Bradenton to protect Florida’s coastlines and the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve.

DeSantis signs bill clearing path to block proposed Manatee County cruise port

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 19, 2026March 19, 2026

Florida Senate candidate Brian Nathan smiling in a professional indoor setting. The person has a short-cropped beard and glasses, wearing a dark grey suit jacket with a light yellow tie. Other individuals in business attire are visible in the soft-focus background of the office or event space.

Special election voting is underway for the Hillsborough County Senate Seat vacated by Jay Collins

As of noon Tuesday, 41,613 people had voted in the SD14 race between Republican Josie Tomkow and Democrat Brian Nathan.

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

Close-up of a person's hands inspecting a black semi-automatic pistol on a display stand in a weapon shop.

Florida AG says ‘nondangerous’ felons should be allowed to own guns

That opinion — never previously offered by a Florida attorney general — is being lavishly praised by Second Amendment advocates.

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

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor speaking at a podium during a Hillsborough County, Florida press conference, flanked by local officials and first responders.

Tampa Police Dept. revises its immigration policies following Florida AG’s warning

James Uthmeier had accused officials last week of implementing ‘sanctuary policies.’

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

Aerial panorama of Caladesi Island State Park in Florida featuring white sand beaches, turquoise Gulf of Mexico waters, and coastal mangroves under a blue sky.

Florida bill banning local governments from ‘net-zero’ policies heads to DeSantis

If signed into law by DeSantis, it would go into effect on July 1.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 12, 2026March 12, 2026

Florida bill banning local governments from enacting DEI initiatives heads to DeSantis

The Senate approved the bill last week, and it will now be sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis for consideration.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 11, 2026March 11, 2026

Florida Senate approves antisemitism task force that ‘does not include criticism of Israel’

The amendment drew plaudits from Senate Democrats.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 9, 2026March 9, 2026

Coalition calls on Florida lawmakers to address $759 million backlog of state park repairs

Florida now has 176 state parks.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 9, 2026March 9, 2026

Hiba Rahim of CAIR Florida speaking at a podium during a "Florida Day at the Capitol" press conference, surrounded by supporters holding signs and a photo of a young man.

Federal judge blocks DeSantis executive order declaring CAIR a ‘terrorist organization’

CAIR has never been declared a foreign terrorist organization by any federal agency.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 5, 2026March 5, 2026

Florida House passes bill allowing state to designate domestic terrorist organizations

Rep. Rita Harris, D-Orlando, said the bill places “an extraordinary concentration of power” in the hands of just a few government officials.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 4, 2026March 4, 2026