Florida farmers to receive $675 million in federal block grant for hurricane relief

Florida producers have suffered more than $3 billion in losses from Hurricanes Idalia in 2023 plus Debby, Helene, and Milton in 2024, Simpson said.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 22, 2025July 28, 2025

News & Views

Hillsborough Rep. Susan Valdés has no regrets about defecting to Republican party

‘The thing is, unfortunately, the Democratic Party left me a long time ago,’ she said.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 21, 2025August 21, 2025

News & Views

With CFO pick, DeSantis snubs Sarasota’s Trump-backed Sen. Joe Gruters

Blaise Ingoglia was always the inside pick for the governor to fill the position.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 17, 2025July 29, 2025

News & Views

Florida Republican introduces immigration legislation that would protect Dreamers

Certain others would get legal status under the ‘Dignity Act.’

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 17, 2025July 28, 2025

News & Views

Trump-approved Rep. Byron Donalds leads all Florida Republicans in 2026 poll on governor’s race

In a four-way contest Donalds leads Casey DeSantis by eight points.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 15, 2025July 22, 2025

News & Views

Hillsborough’s Rep. Fentrice Driskell will run for Florida Senate seat in 2026

Florida House Democratic Leader was elected to the House in 2018 and is term-limited.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 15, 2025July 30, 2025

News & Views

‘You want some? Come get some?’: In Tampa, Trump’s border czar Tom Homan responds to hecklers

He appeared Saturday at the Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 14, 2025July 22, 2025

News & Views

An open primary for Florida Democrats? Nikki Fried’s staff is collecting data on that proposal right now

The party is looking for ways to break through to voters in a state that’s become a GOP stronghold.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 14, 2025August 2, 2025

News & Views

Accuracy of hurricane intensity models would ‘almost certainly’ drop off after Trump cuts to NOAA, experts say

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also includes $200 million in cuts to NOAA’s weather forecasting and public alert programs.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 10, 2025August 14, 2025

News & Views

At forum, Hillsborough Republicans are spared questions about immigration and the rift between DeSantis and fellow GOP lawmakers

They also didn’t touch the topic of Hope Florida.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 9, 2025July 23, 2025

Food & Drink

Forthcoming tariff on Mexican tomatoes benefits Florida growers

U.S. importers in Arizona and Texas they say the tariffs will result in higher costs for them, leading to higher prices for consumers.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 7, 2025August 25, 2025

News & Views

Florida Sen. Rick Scott was ‘surprised’ by spending in ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ but he still voted for it anyway

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a calculation Sunday showing the bill would add $3.25 trillion to deficits over 10 years.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 2, 2025August 3, 2025

News & Views

Tampa Bay congress members lead Florida Republican support of Big Beautiful Bill

Vern Buchanan, Anna Paulina Luna and Laurel Lee urged Congress to pass the bill on behalf of Floridians. Eight Florida House Republicans did not sign the letter.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 30, 2025August 1, 2025

News & Views

There’s now a lawsuit to stop ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ from operating in the Florida Everglades

Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity filed the suit in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida.

by Mitch Perry, Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix June 27, 2025July 4, 2025

News & Views

Organizers for Florida’s citizen-led amendments prep for ‘surge’ of petition gathering

There will also be an intense focus on collecting signatures this weekend in St. Petersburg.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 27, 2025July 2, 2025

News & Views

Florida’s slavery memorial, ‘Circle of Chains,’ is now open to the public in Tallahassee

Lawmakers are eying a formal dedication this fall.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 27, 2025July 29, 2025

News & Views

DeSantis says ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ will have ‘zero impact’ on Everglades restoration

Democrats pushing back “don’t want the laws enforced at all” on immigration, he said in Tampa on Wednesday.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 25, 2025July 8, 2025

News & Views

DeSantis warns of New Yorkers fleeing to Florida if ‘leftist’ Mamdani wins

The New York City Democratic mayoral primary happening Tuesday could impact Palm Beach.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 24, 2025July 3, 2025

News & Views

‘We overreacted:’ DeSantis signs financial relief law for condo owners after Surfside regulations

He spoke about it in Clearwater last Monday.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 23, 2025August 1, 2025

News & Views

Free prison phone call funding makes the Florida budget for a second time

DeSantis vetoed the measure last year.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 23, 2025June 26, 2025