Florida’s vote-by-mail restrictions would unnecessarily burden voters, groups suing to overturn law say

“The combination of SB 524 and SB 90 would increase burdens on all voters, particularly voters of color and voters with disabilities.”

by Dara Kam and News Service of Florida March 25, 2022July 20, 2024

News & Views

Florida manatees are on the move, and officials are asking boaters to stay alert

Seasonal manatee zones, requiring boaters to slow down in certain areas, go into effect April 1 and continue through Nov. 15.

by Jim Turner, Tom Urban and News Service of Florida March 24, 2022October 8, 2024

News & Views

Florida judge is expected to uphold law that requires a 24 hour waiting period for abortions

“This law is an insult to Floridians and their ability to make their own medical decisions.”

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 24, 2022August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida wants to shield officials in lawsuit accusing state of overusing solitary confinement in prisons

The lawsuit contends that the department has overused solitary confinement, including for inmates diagnosed with mental illnesses.

by News Service of Florida March 23, 2022April 21, 2025

News & Views

University of South Florida selects Rhea Law as new president

The initial contract will last up to five years and will need approval from the state university system’s Board of Governors.

by Ryan Dailey and News Service of Florida March 23, 2022August 28, 2024

News & Views

Florida Gov. DeSantis calls Lia Thomas’ NCAA women’s swimming title ‘a fraud’

“Now, the NCAA is basically taking efforts to destroy women’s athletics,” DeSantis said.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida March 23, 2022June 9, 2025

News & Views

Florida’s COVID hospitalizations fall below 1,400

The data showed 1,395 inpatients with COVID-19, down from 1,561 a week earlier.

by News Service of Florida March 22, 2022August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida Gov. DeSantis leaves any special session on property insurance, condos up to lawmakers

“If they can get an agreement, they should do it,” said DeSantis.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida March 22, 2022August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida’s average gas prices dropped by more than 20 cents a gallon

Florida’s most expensive gas is in the West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami areas.

by News Service of Florida March 21, 2022August 15, 2024

News & Views

Florida now has over 1 million recreational boats

As the state passed the 1 million benchmark, the commission tried to highlight the importance of safety.

by News Service of Florida March 21, 2022March 4, 2024

News & Views

Florida’s record $112 billion budget covers everything from zoos, snake hunting, oysters, and more

Gov. Ron DeSantis has line-item veto power, so it’s too early to know everything that will be in the budget when the fiscal year starts July 1.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida March 21, 2022August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida wildlife officials ask residents to be on the lookout for sick freshwater turtles

Also, don’t eat ’em.

by News Service of Florida March 18, 2022May 12, 2024

News & Views

Tampa Bay voters among group hoping to join fight against Florida’s redistricting maps

Both cases were filed after Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed to veto a congressional redistricting plan passed by the Legislature.

by News Service of Florida March 18, 2022September 4, 2023

News & Views

Appeals court questions Desantis’ attorney over ‘ambiguities’ in Florida’s anti-protest law

The case focuses in large part on a section of the law that creates a new definition of “riot.”

by Dara Kam and News Service of Florida March 18, 2022August 3, 2023

News & Views

Judge sides with Florida doctor in undercover medical marijuana probe

Health officials accused Dorn of failing to “appropriately vet his patients.”

by Dara Kam and News Service of Florida March 17, 2022August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida police should not be protected by ‘Marsy’s Law,’ says oversight board

The Miami police-oversight panel wrote that the appeals court “failed to interpret key provisions of Marsy’s Law in context.”

by News Service of Florida March 17, 2022January 6, 2024

News & Views

Florida records 400 manatee deaths so far in 2022, but officials are still optimistic

The pace of deaths has slowed slightly.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida March 16, 2022August 3, 2023

News & Views

Under new law, Florida universities could lose funding if caught teaching CRT

Under the conforming bill, which passed Monday, universities would be ineligible for what is known as performance funding

by Ryan Dailey and News Service of Florida March 16, 2022August 3, 2023

News & Views

DeSantis signs law eliminating Florida’s year-end school testing

The law will formally take effect in July.

by Ryan Dailey and News Service of Florida March 15, 2022May 24, 2025

News & Views

The 10 biggest issues from Florida’s 2022 legislative session

Florida lawmakers finished the regular legislative session Monday by passing a $112.1 billion budget for the fiscal year that will start July 1.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 15, 2022December 23, 2024