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

A dirt nature trail winding through a lush swamp environment surrounded by trees draped in Spanish moss.

News & Views

Florida Legislature poised to defund land conservation program

‘You can’t just park on the side of the road, sneak under a barbed wire fence, and take your family for a hike on a cattle ranch.’

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

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport.

News & Views

Bill calling for $5M plan to rename Florida airport after Trump passes House

‘I think this is crazy that we are trying to name an airport after this man, okay?’ said Miami-Dade Democratic Rep. Ashley Gantt.

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

News & Views

Florida could get more nuclear power

It’s technology the U.S. isn’t using yet.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix February 16, 2026February 16, 2026

Jay Collins, wearing a blue suit and red tie, sits smiling with his hands folded in his lap.

News & Views

In the Panhandle, Jay Collins boosts raises for correction officers amid misconduct investigation

Southern Poverty Law Center recently found that overcrowding and understaffing at a nearby prison led to complaints of excessive force and staff misconduct.

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

A wide-angle selfie of a person in a charcoal grey polo shirt and a brown "Vet Voice Foundation" baseball cap. They are wearing sunglasses and smiling in front of a stone wall labeled "MARCH OF FREEDOM," where several other people are sitting. The background features a brick-paved plaza with palm trees, a blue event tent, and tall city buildings under a bright, partly cloudy sky.

News & Views

Army vet who blew the whistle on Trump joins race to run against Tampa’s Sen. Ashley Moody

Retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman joins Jacksonville state Rep. Angie Nixon and former Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins in the race for the Democratic nomination.

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

A close-up, low-angle shot from behind a police cruiser, focusing on the illuminated red and amber emergency light bar on the roof. The numbers "303" are visible on the trunk in the foreground. In the blurred background, another police vehicle's lights are visible on a tree-lined street under a bright, overcast sky.

News & Views

Proposed Florida law would require corroboration to make anonymous complaints against cops

Law enforcement remains split on the proposal.

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

A woman with her head covered speaks at a podium with a group of people behind her.

News & Views

On ‘Muslim Day,’ CAIR Florida fights terrorist label in Tallahassee

Tampa-based CAIR Florida is speaking out against several bills filed this legislative session, including one designating it a terrorist organization.

by Mitch Perry February 2, 2026February 2, 2026

Vern Buchanan wearing headphones for translation, sitting at a desk with a microphone and American flag

News & Views

Sarasota U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan leaving Congress after 20 years

Trump endorsed him for re-election in November.

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

A woman holding a sign that reads 'Every Student Protected, Every Family Respected' during a press conference inside the Florida Capitol.

News & Views

Equality Florida: DeSantis’ LGBTQ-targeted bills are ‘smoke bomb’ distractions [PHOTOS]

Floridians should focus on issues like affordability and the Hope Florida scandal, the group said.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix January 22, 2026January 22, 2026

News & Views

Advancing Florida bill would make it even harder to get unemployment

The GOP-backed measure is meant to crack down on alleged fraud in the system.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix January 21, 2026January 21, 2026

Rows of rifles and shotguns displayed on tables at an indoor gun show with attendees in the background.

News & Views

Florida House passes bill to lower long gun age limit

It’s still stalled in the state Senate.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix January 16, 2026January 16, 2026

News & Views

Tampa Rep. Susan Valdés sponsors bill to create Corrections accountabilty position

The idea has been pushed for several years by criminal justice reform advocates.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix January 8, 2026January 8, 2026

News & Views

Proposed law would require Florida voters to show proof of citizenship

A similar bill died in committee last year.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix January 7, 2026January 8, 2026

A public official in a white suit stands at a podium reading “Ban Congressional Insider Trading,” speaking to an audience in front of a large U.S. flag as people in the crowd clap in the foreground.

News & Views

Pinellas Republican wants to ban congressional stock trading

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has been battling with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to force a vote on the issue.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix January 7, 2026January 7, 2026

A public official wearing a light-colored jacket speaks to reporters outside a government building, surrounded by microphones and cameras held by members of the press, with several people standing nearby.

News & Views

Florida Republican wants to ban public colleges from admitting undocumented students

SB 1052 instructs public colleges and universities to exclusively admit students who are ‘citizen[s] of the United States” or “lawfully present therein.’

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix January 7, 2026January 7, 2026