Vote Here sign on a sidewalk walkway leading to a polling place on Election Day.

‘This is such a terrible opinion’: Florida GOP not happy about Supreme Court’s ruling on late-arriving mail-in ballots

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried cheered the Supreme Court’s ruling, calling it a “huge win for the freedom to vote and to have your vote counted.”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 30, 2026June 30, 2026

News & Views

‘Wasn’t my proposal’: DeSantis distances himself from property tax cut amendment

“I think it’ll likely pass,” DeSantis continued. “I mean, because if you read it, I think most people are going to be supportive of it. But I don’t know that.”

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida June 30, 2026June 30, 2026

News & Views

Complaint filed against James Fishback says he’s not eligible to run for governor in Florida

The complaint says Fishback has not resided in Florida for seven years, one of the legal criteria in the Florida Constitution to run for governor.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 29, 2026June 29, 2026

An American alligator swimming in the water.

News & Views

Florida woman killed, child injured in separate alligator incidents this weekend

Serious injuries, or even death, caused by alligator bites are extremely rare, says the FWC.

by Colin Wolf June 29, 2026June 29, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis smiling at a bill signing ceremony, surrounded by community members, a law enforcement officer, and youth.

News & Views

DeSantis signs Florida budget, touts more than $800 million in cuts

“The footprint of government is not growing in Florida. If anything it’s shrinking.”

by Gray Rohrer and News Service of Florida June 29, 2026June 29, 2026

A political or business speaker with short, dark hair, wearing a suit jacket with an American flag pin on the lapel. The background is composed of dark red and blue draping, illuminated by bright stage lights.

News & Views

DeSantis says he vetoed bi-partisan bill allowing kids to earn scholarships for volunteering at polls because SPLC supported it

Governor cites civil rights organization as his reason to reject a bill unanimously approved by the Legislature.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 29, 2026June 29, 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.

News & Views

DeSantis says he will veto Florida bill allowing larger lawsuit payouts against local governments

Governor says the bill would have increased the number of ‘unmeritorious’ lawsuits being filed.

by Colin Wolf, Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix June 29, 2026June 29, 2026

Representative Byron Donalds smiling while speaking at a microphone, wearing a blue suit and red tie with an American flag screen behind him.

News & Views

‘Anarchist psychos’: Florida GOP is fixated on rising popularity of Democratic Socialists

That was a major theme of the Republican Party of Florida’s Sunshine State Showdown Saturday.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 29, 2026June 29, 2026

A row of white and green Lime shared e-bikes parked in a designated micromobility docking zone along a street in St. Petersburg, Florida

News & Views

‘Bit of an overreach’: Florida Gov. DeSantis vetoes bill limiting e-bike speeds

“Maybe there’s problems, but what it will lead to is more surveillance of people by law enforcement, and we don’t need that.”

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix June 26, 2026June 26, 2026

News & Views

Howell Key, an off-the-grid private island in Florida, is back on the market with a $5 million price cut

The nearly 10-acre private island is accessible only by boat or helicopter.

by Colin Wolf June 26, 2026June 26, 2026

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

DeSantis signs bill renaming Florida roads and airport after Trump, Charlie Kirk

The bill passed along largely partisan lines, with one Democrat, Sen. Darryl Rouson of Tampa, voting for it.

by Gray Rohrer and News Service of Florida June 26, 2026June 26, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a press conference podium in front of American and Florida state flags.

News & Views

New political committee ‘Stop Unfair Tax Shifts’ takes aim at Florida’s property tax cut amendment

The measure was pushed over the past year by Gov. Ron DeSantis and ultimately approved in a special session by the GOP-controlled Legislature earlier this month.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 26, 2026June 26, 2026

News & Views

The 5 best things to do in Tampa Bay if you’re a ‘former’ Nazi

Don’t confine yourself to a stuffy backroom of Raymond James Stadium, get out there!

by Colin Wolf June 25, 2026June 25, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis giving an outdoor press conference on immigration enforcement in Florida, flanked by two officials in suits.

News & Views

Despite being plagued with financial, humanitarian and legal issues, DeSantis hails Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as a success

“Alligator Alcatraz fulfilled the role it was designed to serve,” DeSantis said. “Today, it now has zero detainees.”

by Liv Caputo and Florida Phoenix June 25, 2026June 25, 2026

A crowded room of community members gathered during a Tampa City Council forum at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex in Tampa, Florida. In the foreground, attendees sit at round tables listening to a presentation, while in the background, a large banner features an illustration of a facility and the facility's name. A bright red Florida Rising banner stands on the right next to window blinds under bright indoor lighting.

News & Views

Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus holds ‘Meet The Candidates’ forum in July

Congressional, state house, plus county commission and school board races will be covered.

by Leif Helland June 25, 2026June 25, 2026

A hand with many silver rings holds The Emperor tarot card up to the camera with a gothic candle in the background

News & Views

Oracle of Ybor: Is moving back to the city I once loved a mistake?

If you want to move, there is a cost.

by Caroline DeBruhl June 25, 2026July 14, 2026

A hand pinches the corner of a Six of Swords tarot card on top of a deck on a pink background

News & Views

Oracle of Ybor: Why did my platonic lesbian soulmate ghost me?

‘It’s up to her and up to fate to rejoin you in life. What you do have control over are your actions, and those need to be addressed.’

by Caroline DeBruhl June 25, 2026June 25, 2026

News & Views

Undocumented students could be banned from state university enrollment under looming rule change

“I am fully supportive of it,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a press conference Wednesday.

by Liv Caputo and Florida Phoenix June 25, 2026June 25, 2026

A flooded street view of South Howard Avenue near West Bristol Avenue in Tampa, Florida, during September 2016. High, murky floodwaters cover the entire roadway and parts of the concrete sidewalk, reflecting the sky. In the center, a white Brookdale shuttle bus and a white pickup truck wade slowly through the deep water, while other vehicles are visible lined up further down the flooded street under an overcast sky.

News & Views

Tampa business coalition sues city over flood relief project records

The South Howard Flood Relief Project calls for the construction of a new major stormwater drainage system.

By Hannah Lau/ WMNF NewsJune 24, 2026June 24, 2026

Florida state Representative Dotie Joseph stands smiling indoors in front of an American flag and a wood-paneled wall. The public official, with long braided hair, is wearing a royal blue top paired with a patterned blue and grey blazer. An open dark doorway is visible to the right, showing a blurred view of a legislative chamber background.

News & Views

Here are the five Democrats lined up against David Jolly in the Florida governor’s race

Florida state Rep. Dotie Joseph and a graduate of Tampa’s Robinson High School are among those hoping to upset the former Republican in the August primary.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 24, 2026June 24, 2026

Do you have the best burger in Tampa Bay?