News Service of Florida, Author at Creative Loafing Tampa

Hakeem Jeffries speaking at a press conference regarding Epstein files at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.

Jeffries warns Florida GOP that new map will backfire: ‘Dummymandering their way into the minority’

Florida lawmakers are scheduled to begin a special session Tuesday to consider new congressional districts.

by News Service of Florida April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to campaign in Florida after the New York Democrat warned the GOP’s desire to redraw the Florida congressional map will backfire. In Jacksonville on Wednesday, DeSantis dared Jeffries to come to Florida, betting his liberal politics would push Floridians into the GOP camp […]

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sits at a draped table in Jacksonville, signing SB 1134 and HB 1217 legislation into law, flanked by five officials and American and Florida state flags in the background.

DeSantis signs bills banning Florida cities and counties from supporting DEI programs, net zero carbon policies

“With DEI, the disfavored groups, number one obviously, would be white males, and I think they’ve been discriminated against,” DeSantis said Wednesday.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

Florida Chief of Staff James Uthmeier at a press conference in front of the Attorney General seal and American flags, standing at a podium labeled "Investigating OpenAI" with colleagues.

Florida opens ‘criminal investigation’ into ChatGPT, fueled by FSU shooting

The move comes two weeks after Uthmeier revealed the state’s initial investigation into OpenAI.

by News Service of Florida April 22, 2026April 22, 2026

Real-time Florida wildfire incident tracking map showing Acorn Boulevard fire containment and resource data.

Florida is experiencing one of the worst wildfire seasons in decades

Since the start of the year, 1,797 wildfires on state and federal lands in Florida have consumed 103,211 acres, according to the Forest Service.

by News Service of Florida April 22, 2026April 22, 2026

Florida gas prices dip below $4-a-gallon, but experts say it probably won’t last

In Florida, the average was $3.99 Monday morning.

by News Service of Florida April 21, 2026April 21, 2026

UrbanLink branded Lilium Jet eVTOL aircraft flying over the Miami coastline, featuring its signature distributed electric propulsion system and sleek white fuselage

Florida Gov. DeSantis signs law allowing tax dollars to fund flying car infrastructure

“You could essentially be looking at something that was envisioned in ‘The Jetsons,’ or maybe ‘The Fifth Element.”

by News Service of Florida April 21, 2026April 21, 2026

Florida wants to ban undocumented immigrants from state colleges

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 17, 2026April 17, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis standing at a podium with a sign that reads "School Choice Success: Florida is Leading the Nation." He is gesturing with his hands during a press conference, flanked by the United States flag and the Florida state flag.

Florida seeks alternative to high school AP courses with own version of college-level history classes

U.S. history is the second subject in the FACT program. Last year, the DOE initiated a statewide pilot for college algebra.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 14, 2026April 14, 2026

FDLE officials and James Uthmeier at the Miami Regional Operations Center announcing updates on cold case investigations

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s campaign backed by Big Tobacco, gun companies and more

The gun manufacturer Sig Sauer Inc., which was behind a failed effort in the 2026 legislative session to shield gun makers from liability lawsuits over a defect that isn’t required by federal law, gave the political committee $50,000.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida April 13, 2026April 13, 2026

Close-up of a black fuel nozzle at an American gas station with colorful grade selection buttons for regular, mid-grade, and premium gasoline.

Florida gas prices expected to rise, again, after Trump issues blockade in Iran

Florida’s average had been on a slow decline since April 2, when it hit $4.23 a gallon.

by News Service of Florida April 13, 2026April 13, 2026

Nikki Fried delivering a speech at a reproductive rights event. She is wearing a signature Nikki for Governor shirt, positioned behind a microphone with "Roe the Vote" signage visible.

Florida Dem Chair Nikki Fried says party has more candidates signing up to run for office than ever have before

“People are just flooding our zone.”

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 10, 2026April 10, 2026

A large harvest of live Asian swamp eels (Monopterus albus), also known as Vietnamese rice eels, gathered in a container for a local food market.

Florida has an Asian swamp eel problem

They can breathe air, survive in low-oxygen conditions, and persist through wet and dry seasons by burrowing into mud.

by News Service of Florida April 8, 2026April 8, 2026

Close-up of a person's hand holding a yellow fuel nozzle while refueling a car at a gas station

Florida gas prices spike another 24 cents as war in Iran continues

For electric vehicles, the cost per kilowatt-hour at Florida charging stations rounded to 41 cents this past week.

by News Service of Florida April 7, 2026April 7, 2026

lorida Governor Ron DeSantis signing a bill into law in Tampa, surrounded by officials and standing next to a sign that reads "No Sharia Law

DeSantis signs Florida bill allowing state to label groups as ‘domestic terrorist organizations’

The measure also outlines rules for expelling students at state universities who “promote” support for such groups.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida April 6, 2026April 6, 2026

Florida AG says state can now fund religious charter schools, and ‘encourage’ Christianity

The U.S. Supreme Court last year effectively upheld an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision rejecting a push to create a Catholic charter school.

by Gray Rohrer and News Service of Florida April 3, 2026April 3, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis sitting at a desk and holding up signed legislative documents during a bill signing ceremony at a Florida Department of Law Enforcement center, surrounded by officials and a family wearing matching pink shirts.

DeSantis signs ‘Missy’s Law,’ calls for House impeachment of judge

Impeachments of judges are rare, but the threat of impeachment carries weight.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida March 31, 2026March 31, 2026

Air traffic control tower at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

DeSantis signs bill to spend $5.5 million to rename Florida airport after Trump

“Republican leaders decided to prioritize wasting five million of your taxpayer dollars on renaming an airport after the President.”

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida March 31, 2026March 31, 2026

Florida universities remove sociology from general education courses

It’s part of the state’s push against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in Florida’s public university system.

by News Service of Florida March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a press conference. He is wearing a dark blue suit with a patterned blue tie and a white shirt. An American flag pin is on his lapel. He has short, dark brown hair and is gesturing with his right hand as he speaks into a microphone. In the blurred background, there's a golf cart and what appears to be a large, taxidermied animal. The image is credited to Dave Decker.

DeSantis says if Cuba falls, he hopes exiles will want to leave Florida and rebuild the island

“Kids and grandkids will be going to spring break there,” DeSantis continued.

by News Service of Florida March 26, 2026March 26, 2026

Trump’s unpopularity, high gas prices and more, helped Florida Dems flip two seats, says analysts

“President Trump’s unpopularity cast a long, dark shadow over these Republican candidates in these races.”

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida March 25, 2026March 25, 2026