News & Views

Without fanfare, DeSantis quietly signs proposal barring golf courses, hotels in state parks

While state officials dropped the plan to build in state parks, DeSantis tried to distance himself from it.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 27, 2025June 4, 2025

News & Views

Visit Florida data shows a first quarter dip in international visitors

Visit Florida showed 1.227 million Canadians traveled to Florida during the first quarter, down about 3.4% from 1.269 million in the same period a year earlier.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida May 22, 2025July 9, 2025

News & Views

‘This is a trophy hunt’: Despite pushback, FWC moves closer to allowing Florida’s first bear hunt since 2015

Commissioners will return for a final vote in August.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 22, 2025June 10, 2025

News & Views

DeSantis signs law letting child care employees train to carry guns at work

The law, SB 1470, also revises school door locking requirements.

by Jackie Llanos and Florida Phoenix May 22, 2025July 3, 2025

News & Views

League of Cities briefs Tampa Bay officials on new hurricane-response legislation

Pinellas County Republican Sen. Nick DiCeglie sponsored SB 180.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 22, 2025July 17, 2025

News & Views

In Winter Haven, DeSantis lashes out against Hope Florida investigation launched by ‘jackass’ Republican legislator

‘He took documents and he dropped them in a prosecutor’s office…’

by Jackie Llanos and Florida Phoenix May 22, 2025June 14, 2025

News & Views

Tampa Bay legislators call on Congress not to defund Planned Parenthood

Sen. Darryl Rouson (D-St. Petersburg) and Rep. Dianne Hart (D-Tampa) joined the effort.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix May 21, 2025June 10, 2025

News & Views

NRA asks Supreme Court to repeal Florida’s age limit on long gun purchases

The group is once again trying to lower the age limit from 21

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 20, 2025June 25, 2025

News & Views

FAMU, Florida’s sole public historic Black university, taps GOP ally as president

The board of trustees also voted to increase the salary at $750,000.

by Christine Sexton, Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix May 20, 2025June 6, 2025

News & Views

Federal judge orders Florida DEP take steps to protect manatees after violating Endangered Species Act

The order came after his ruling that the state violated the Endangered Species Act in the northern Indian River Lagoon

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida May 20, 2025June 18, 2025

News & Views

Pope Leo’s brother is a Florida man and self-described MAGA type—and believes his sibling is best man for job

A social media post criticizing former Nancy Pelosi with a slur and insinuating that Pelosi’s husband is gay, was dredged up for the world to see.

by Kairi Lowery and Fresh Take Florida May 15, 2025July 2, 2025

News & Views

Federal court upholds block on Florida law aimed at preventing children from attending drag shows

The latest ruling stems from Hamburger Mary’s in a First Amendment challenge to the law.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida May 15, 2025May 22, 2025

News & Views

Florida court says law allowing minors to have abortions without parents’ consent is unconstitutional

Waiver cases reaching appeals courts are relatively rare.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida May 15, 2025July 6, 2025

News & Views

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis set to sign law banning psychedelic mushroom spores

A violation of the new ban would be a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of $1,000.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 15, 2025June 20, 2025

News & Views

Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, a reinsurance program, will have $6.72 billion for 2025 storm season

The fund essentially provides backup coverage to insurers to help pay claims.

by News Service of Florida May 13, 2025June 13, 2025

News & Views

Marijuana legalization group joins the fight against Florida’s crackdown on ballot initiatives

Smart & Safe Florida called new restrictions signed into law by Gov. DeSantis ‘legislative gaslighting.’

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix May 13, 2025July 31, 2025

News & Views

Ron DeSantis says he’s not interested in a ‘summit’ to solve Florida legislature’s budget breakdown

The governor has been relentless in blasting the Florida House over the past month, initially over a committee’s investigation into the Hope Florida Foundation.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 13, 2025June 26, 2025

News & Views

Survey: More Floridians support property tax cuts over sales tax cut

House Speaker Daniel Perez said the Florida Constitution prohibits the Legislature from exercising direct control over property taxes.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 12, 2025June 19, 2025

News & Views

The Florida Legislature’s $2.8 billion tax cut deal is off the table

The breakdown means legislators are nowhere near coming up with a new budget, which needs to be in place by July 1 or the state risks a government shutdown.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix May 12, 2025May 16, 2025

News & Views

Filibuster record holder, Sen. Cory Booker, co-headlines Florida Democrats’ summer gathering

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will be there, too.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 9, 2025May 24, 2025

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Florida News

Without fanfare, DeSantis quietly signs proposal barring golf courses, hotels in state parks

Visit Florida data shows a first quarter dip in international visitors

‘This is a trophy hunt’: Despite pushback, FWC moves closer to allowing Florida’s first bear hunt since 2015

DeSantis signs law letting child care employees train to carry guns at work

League of Cities briefs Tampa Bay officials on new hurricane-response legislation

In Winter Haven, DeSantis lashes out against Hope Florida investigation launched by ‘jackass’ Republican legislator

Tampa Bay legislators call on Congress not to defund Planned Parenthood

NRA asks Supreme Court to repeal Florida’s age limit on long gun purchases

FAMU, Florida’s sole public historic Black university, taps GOP ally as president

Federal judge orders Florida DEP take steps to protect manatees after violating Endangered Species Act

Pope Leo’s brother is a Florida man and self-described MAGA type—and believes his sibling is best man for job

Federal court upholds block on Florida law aimed at preventing children from attending drag shows

Florida court says law allowing minors to have abortions without parents’ consent is unconstitutional

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis set to sign law banning psychedelic mushroom spores

Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, a reinsurance program, will have $6.72 billion for 2025 storm season

Marijuana legalization group joins the fight against Florida’s crackdown on ballot initiatives

Ron DeSantis says he’s not interested in a ‘summit’ to solve Florida legislature’s budget breakdown

Survey: More Floridians support property tax cuts over sales tax cut

The Florida Legislature’s $2.8 billion tax cut deal is off the table

Filibuster record holder, Sen. Cory Booker, co-headlines Florida Democrats’ summer gathering

Florida’s historic Burgess Island, a massive private estate developed by a 1920s inventor, hits the market for $89 million

Photos: In front of Tampa Tiger Bay Club, Uthmeier draws mix of boos and cheers for comments about LGBTQ community

Bucs Super Bowl champ Devin White is selling his massive Tampa area compound

Everything we saw at the 2026 Tampa Pro [Photos]