News & Views

Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ doesn’t have to comply with federal environmental law, appeals court says

“Until Homeland Security officials decide to fund the facility, no final agency action occurs,” Pryor added.

by Liv Caputo and Florida Phoenix April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

News & Views

Jay Collins insists he isn’t dropping out of Florida governor race, accuses Byron Donalds of selling ‘drugs’ to kids

The Donalds campaign brushed off Collins’ comments Monday.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 21, 2026April 21, 2026

UrbanLink branded Lilium Jet eVTOL aircraft flying over the Miami coastline, featuring its signature distributed electric propulsion system and sleek white fuselage

News & Views

Florida Gov. DeSantis signs law allowing tax dollars to fund flying car infrastructure

“You could essentially be looking at something that was envisioned in ‘The Jetsons,’ or maybe ‘The Fifth Element.”

by News Service of Florida April 21, 2026April 21, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis (left) stands in a dark suit and red tie, looking on as Ken Babby (right) speaks from a wooden podium bearing the Great Seal of the State of Florida. The background consists of a blue step-and-repeat backdrop with "Orlando Health" and "Rays" logos, flanked by a large American flag.

News & Views

Ron Desantis ‘flip-flop’ on pro sports tax subsidies divides Republicans

by William March and The Florida Trident April 17, 2026April 17, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis signing legislation to rename Tallahassee International Airport to Bobby Bowden Field at Tallahassee International Airport, joined by Ginger Bowden Madden and FSU representatives.

News & Views

Florida Gov. DeSantis signs bill naming highway after Donald Trump

The bill also designates the Tallahassee airport as Bobby Bowden-Tallahassee International Airport.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix April 15, 2026April 15, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis standing at a podium with a sign that reads "School Choice Success: Florida is Leading the Nation." He is gesturing with his hands during a press conference, flanked by the United States flag and the Florida state flag.

News & Views

Florida seeks alternative to high school AP courses with own version of college-level history classes

U.S. history is the second subject in the FACT program. Last year, the DOE initiated a statewide pilot for college algebra.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida April 14, 2026April 14, 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.

News & Views

‘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

A diverse group of religious and community leaders speaking at a CAIR-Florida press conference in Tampa. A woman in an orange dress and hijab speaks at a podium while others hold signs reading "Faith is a Right, Not a Threat" and "Hate Stops Here" against a backdrop of CAIR logos

News & Views

Advocates fear Florida’s domestic terrorist law could reach beyond Muslim groups

‘Today, bills like this target them. Tomorrow it could be me. But history tells us these measures never stop with just one people.’

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 8, 2026April 8, 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.

News & Views

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.

News & Views

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

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium during a press conference at the Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center.

News & Views

‘I was not involved at all in that race’: DeSantis distances himself from GOP’s Hillsborough special election loss

“I was very clear from the beginning that I was not going to be involved in that, and that’s just kind of the way that the cookie crumbles.”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 31, 2026March 31, 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.

News & Views

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.

News & Views

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

Brian Nathan, a U.S. Navy veteran from Tampa, walks in a parade.

News & Views

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

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd speaking at a wooden lectern during a press conference in Winter Haven. The Sheriff is in a green uniform, gesturing while speaking. Professional news cameras and monitors frame the foreground, set against a backdrop of a blue curtain and various law enforcement flags.

News & Views

‘Incoherent’: DeSantis slams Florida sheriffs’ demand for citizenship path for illegal migrants

by Liv Caputo and Florida Phoenix March 20, 2026March 20, 2026

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor speaking at a podium during a Hillsborough County, Florida press conference, flanked by local officials and first responders.

News & Views

Tampa Police Dept. revises its immigration policies following Florida AG’s warning

James Uthmeier had accused officials last week of implementing ‘sanctuary policies.’

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 17, 2026March 17, 2026

News & Views

Florida sheriffs, including Grady Judd, criticize Trump’s mass deportation efforts

“There are those here that are working hard, they have kids in college, are in school, they’re going to church on Sunday, they’re not violating the law, and they’re living the American dream,” he told council members.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida March 16, 2026March 16, 2026

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor speaking at a podium during the State of the City address, featuring the City of Tampa official seal and Florida flag.

News & Views

Immigration attorneys say Tampa mayor should ‘stand up’ for residents in wake of removal threat

If Castor challenges the removal, argues one attorney, she could help set precedent for the entire state and force courts to define ambiguous language in statute.

by Valerie Smith March 16, 2026March 16, 2026