A medium-shot photo of a man in a navy suit speaking into a red-tipped microphone, sitting next to another man in glasses and a tie, with a large American flag visible behind them.

News & Views

Florida’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates commit to appointing scientists or conservationists to wildlife commission

Five out of seven current commissioners have ties to the development industry.

by Noah Bookstein November 21, 2025November 21, 2025

Close-up of a white Official Election Mail envelope with a red stripe reading "OFFICIAL VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOTING MATERIAL" in English and Spanish across the center.

News & Views

Once again, Florida election supervisors are asking lawmakers to make it easier to vote by mail

The request was one of just seven that the organization representing Florida’s 67 supervisors of elections made Wednesday to the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix November 20, 2025November 20, 2025

Representative Kevin M. Steele speaks at a legislative committee hearing, wearing a blue suit and red tie, seated at a long, dark wood desk with other members;

News & Views

The wealthiest man in the state legislature enters race to become Florida’s CFO

Dade City Rep. Kevin Steele founded the Tampa software company DataLink Software in 2001 and retired from the company in 2022.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix November 19, 2025November 19, 2025

Official portrait of Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Canady, smiling and wearing glasses and judicial robes, against a backdrop of law books.

News & Views

With Canady resignation, DeSantis gets to pick his sixth Florida Supreme Court justice

Canady is considered conservative but in a 2024 opinion agreed to green-light proposed Constitutional Amendment 4 to enshrine abortion access in the state.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix November 19, 2025November 19, 2025

A smiling woman stands in front of a backdrop made of vertical rainbow-colored streamers or fabric. Large white letters spelling "GAY AF" are prominently displayed above her.

News & Views

After 28 years in charge, Nadine Smith is leaving Equality Florida

Smith will be succeeded by Stratton Pollitzer, the organization’s co-founder and deputy director.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix November 19, 2025November 19, 2025

Close-up of Charlie Kirk seated at a panel, speaking into a microphone and gesturing with his right hand, wearing a blue patterned suit. A coffee cup rests on the table in front of him, and his name is visible on the blue backdrop.

News & Views

Federal judge denies initial claim to reinstate Florida biologist fired over Charlie Kirk post

U.S. District Judge Mark Walker indicated that a decision about reinstating the fired employee could change if more information is provided.

by Dara Kam and News Service of Florida November 17, 2025November 17, 2025

Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a podium inside an outdoor supply store, with a large, taxidermied brown bear standing to his right. The podium sign announces a "2ND AMENDMENT SALES TAX HOLIDAY."

News & Views

Opponents ask DeSantis to stop the 2025 Florida bear hunt

The hunt is scheduled from Dec. 6-28.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida November 17, 2025November 19, 2025

Outdoor portrait of Mayor Jerry Demings, wearing a dark blue suit and a patterned blue tie, smiling slightly against a blurred green, leafy background.

News & Views

Orange County Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Jerry Demings says he’ll change Florida’s approach to home rule

Demings will make an appearance at the Florida Association of Counties in Tampa later this week.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix November 17, 2025November 17, 2025

Outdoor portrait of a smiling man, Stan McClain, wearing a white cowboy hat, a button-up shirt, and jeans, seated atop a brown horse on a fenced pasture.

News & Views

Ocala Republican re-files measure to ban removal of Confederate monuments

Local government officials who try to take down the monuments would be fined up to $1,000.

By Liv Caputo / Florida PhoenixNovember 14, 2025November 14, 2025

The exterior of a large, pale stone building with columns, featuring the name "THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION" carved in large capital letters above the main entrance and windows.

News & Views

Florida’s Board of Education just adopted The Heritage Foundation’s Phoenix Declaration

The Florida Education Association and some public commenters at the meeting were not supportive of the board’s action.

By Liv Caputo / Florida PhoenixNovember 14, 2025November 14, 2025

A group of nine drag queens pose for a festive photo on a stage. A queen dressed as Santa Claus, wearing a red sequined suit and white beard, is seated in the center. The other eight queens surround Santa in glamorous, elaborate outfits with dramatic makeup and large, styled wigs. Behind them, red banners read "MURRAY & PETER PRESENT A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS."

News & Views

‘Drag Race’ star claps back at Florida AG ‘Mister Urethra’ for targeting Christmas show

‘If you’re worried about children, worry about gun control and feeding them instead of worrying about drag queens.’

by Selene San Felice November 11, 2025November 18, 2025

Portrait of a smiling man with a beard, wearing a black suit and tie, clapping his hands together outdoors at a campaign event.

News & Views

Florida politicians react to New Yorkers picking democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani to be their mayor

Tampa Bay has just one democratic socialist currently in local elected office.

by McKenna Schueler November 7, 2025November 7, 2025

News & Views

Florida AG sues Planned Parenthood over abortion pill safety claim

Planned Parenthood’s website says the abortion pill is safer than medicines “like penicillin, Tylenol, and Viagra.”

by News Service of Florida November 6, 2025November 6, 2025

Two men on a small motorboat filled with freshly harvested oysters in Apalachicola Bay. One man stands and poles the boat while the other sits, with foggy, open water surrounding them.

News & Views

FWC ends five-year ban on oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay

Areas of the bay will be open to permitted commercial harvesting on weekdays, with permitted recreational harvesting on weekends.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida November 6, 2025November 6, 2025

A Tricolored Heron stands in shallow, watery terrain surrounded by green plants, showing its dark blue-gray feathers, white belly, and long yellow bill.

News & Views

Sarasota Audubon Society saves bird sanctuary from nearby development

Property next to Celery Fields was targeted for development by the nation’s largest homebuilder.

by Craig Pittman and Florida Phoenix November 6, 2025November 6, 2025

Underwater photo of bright yellow-orange elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata), extending upwards toward the blue water surface, with several small dark fish swimming above it.

News & Views

New research shows 2023 heatwave left two Florida coral species extinct

The staghorn and elkhorn corals look like the antlers of stags and elks.

by Chris Young and WMNF News November 3, 2025November 3, 2025

News & Views

Florida wildlife officials say they did not violate First Amendment rights in firing over Charlie Kirk post

Biologist Brittney Brown worked for the FWC studying shorebirds and seabirds in the area of Tyndall Air Force Base in the Panhandle.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida November 3, 2025November 3, 2025

News & Views

Woman sues SeaWorld Orlando after she says a duck hit her in the face on ride

The lawsuit claims the ride’s speed, location and design together created a ‘zone of danger for bird strikes’

by Emmy Bailey October 31, 2025October 31, 2025

News & Views

‘Nonsensical’: Pro-marijuana group sues DeSantis administration again

The lawsuit accuses the DeSantis administration of slow-walking the process to put its proposed amendment on the Florida ballot.

Liv Caputo/Florida PhoenixOctober 31, 2025October 31, 2025

A man and a woman stand side-by-side in a building hallway, smiling for the camera. The woman on the left has gray hair and wears an orange and white patterned shirt. The man on the right has a mustache and wears an orange polo shirt. In the background, a walk-through metal detector is to their left, and a sign on a door to their right reads, "ATTENTION All Persons are Subject to Search."

News & Views

Manatee couple pushes to allow ‘granny cams’ at Florida’s long-term care facilities

They want Florida to require nursing homes and assisted-living facilities to allow residents to install video monitoring devices in rooms.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix October 31, 2025October 31, 2025

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Florida News

Florida’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates commit to appointing scientists or conservationists to wildlife commission

Once again, Florida election supervisors are asking lawmakers to make it easier to vote by mail

The wealthiest man in the state legislature enters race to become Florida’s CFO

With Canady resignation, DeSantis gets to pick his sixth Florida Supreme Court justice

After 28 years in charge, Nadine Smith is leaving Equality Florida

Federal judge denies initial claim to reinstate Florida biologist fired over Charlie Kirk post

Opponents ask DeSantis to stop the 2025 Florida bear hunt

Orange County Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Jerry Demings says he’ll change Florida’s approach to home rule

Ocala Republican re-files measure to ban removal of Confederate monuments

Florida’s Board of Education just adopted The Heritage Foundation’s Phoenix Declaration

‘Drag Race’ star claps back at Florida AG ‘Mister Urethra’ for targeting Christmas show

Florida politicians react to New Yorkers picking democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani to be their mayor

Florida AG sues Planned Parenthood over abortion pill safety claim

FWC ends five-year ban on oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay

Sarasota Audubon Society saves bird sanctuary from nearby development

New research shows 2023 heatwave left two Florida coral species extinct

Florida wildlife officials say they did not violate First Amendment rights in firing over Charlie Kirk post

Woman sues SeaWorld Orlando after she says a duck hit her in the face on ride

‘Nonsensical’: Pro-marijuana group sues DeSantis administration again

Manatee couple pushes to allow ‘granny cams’ at Florida’s long-term care facilities

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

Everything we saw at the 2026 Tampa Pro [Photos]

Bob Buckhorn officially enters 2027 Tampa mayoral race, says he expects council members to ‘stay in their lanes’

Tennis legend Mike Bryan is selling his St. Pete Beach home for $2.5 million