Florida News Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

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

Attorney General James Uthmeier raised $1.91 million in the first quarter of 2026, surpassing the $336,000 raised by Democratic challenger José Javier Rodríguez, according to numbers posted by the Division of Elections website. The quarterly total, generated through his personal account and a political committee, increased Uthmeier’s overall effort to $8.26 million as he seeks […]

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

State of Florida launches investigation into ChatGPT for role in FSU school shooting

According to the report, ChatGPT told Ikner how to take the safety off of his shotgun just three minutes before the shooting.

by Liv Caputo and Florida Phoenix April 10, 2026April 10, 2026

Wide-angle view of the Florida House of Representatives chamber in Tallahassee, featuring the iconic white geodesic domed ceiling, a large central chandelier, and rows of dark wooden desks arranged in a semi-circle. The front of the chamber displays digital voting boards, the American and Florida state flags, and portraits of past speakers along the walls.

‘This is illegal’: Florida Democrats blast coming congressional redistricting session

“It is against the Constitution to redraw maps in favor of a party.”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 10, 2026April 10, 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

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

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

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

President Donald Trump stands at the White House briefing room podium, gesturing toward Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Both Bondi and Blanche are smiling as they stand behind the blue-and-gold Presidential lectern. The room is brightly lit by overhead studio lights with the White House press briefing backdrop behind them.

Florida Republicans line up to praise fired Attorney General Pam Bondi

Democrats were less impressed.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix April 2, 2026April 2, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium during a bill-signing ceremony in an aviation hangar on March 31, 2026. He is wearing a navy suit and red tie, gesturing with his hand. Behind him is a green and gold law enforcement helicopter.

DeSantis says birthright citizenship ‘kind of cheapens the process when you make it a tourist thing’

The Florida governor’s comments come as SCOTUS weighs whether to greenlight Trump’s citizenship ban for certain U.S.-born babies.

by Liv Caputo and Florida Phoenix April 1, 2026April 1, 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

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

Protesters gather outside the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Florida, holding signs including one that reads "Taco 'Bout Lies" next to a large American flag draped between courthouse columns.

Florida’s reddest counties saw massive crowds at last weekend’s ‘No Kings’ protests

Even deep-red Polk County, where Trump won by 21 points in the 2024 presidential election, saw an enthusiastic crowd of at least 2,000 people.

by Florida Phoenix March 30, 2026March 30, 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

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

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

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