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Federal appeals court blocks lawsuit over ‘misleading’ debt collection efforts
Two debtors are barred from suing a collection agency over allegedly “misleading” dunning letters because they were never actually deceived, a federal appeals court that covers three Southeastern states including Florida ruled in a split decision this week. Monday’s majority opinion by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit concludes that the debtors […]
Gov. DeSantis argues COVID picture in Florida isn’t as bleak as it seems
Gov. Ron DeSantis urged Floridians not to be alarmed at the persistent spikes in positive tests for COVID-19, and suggested they’re not as bad as they seem given the true extent of the disease’s spread among non-symptomatic people including young adults. As of 11 a.m. Monday, the Florida Department of Health had reported an additional […]
Florida COVID-19 infections hit a new record at more than 11,000 on a single day
Update: Florida now has surpassed 200,000 COVID-19 infections. On Saturday, testing revealed 10,059 positive results for the new coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 200,111. Deaths reported Saturday numbered 29, bringing the total to 3,721. The positive rate for test results received Saturday was a bit above 15 percent. — Florida has set a new […]
Federal appeals court intervenes in Amendment 4 fight, casting doubt on felon re-enfranchisement
A federal appeals court threw a bomb into preparations for Florida’s August primary and November general election this week when it blocked a lower court order that would have allowed thousands of former felons to participate in the voting. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, by a vote of 10 of its […]
Dem lawmakers increasingly frustrated with Gov. DeSantis’ timing on foreclosure/eviction moratorium
This time, Gov. Ron DeSantis waited until four hours before the deadline to extend his COVID-19 moratorium on mortgage foreclosures and rental evictions — and one Democratic state House member called it “torture” to keep desperate Floridians in suspense. DeSantis signed an executive order extending the moratorium until Aug.1 at 8:10 p.m. Tuesday, according to […]
Gov. DeSantis on COVID-19 reopening: ‘We’re not going back’
Gov. Ron DeSantis reiterated Tuesday that he’s not turning back his plans to reopen the state’s economy as the daily number of positive test results from COVID-19 edged up again above 6,000. “We’re not going back, closing things,” the governor said. The Florida Department of Health reported 6,093 infections coming in overnight, pushing the total […]
FL Supreme Court won’t hear appeal over alleged diversion of environmental land-buying money
The Florida Supreme Court has decided to let stand a lower court ruling that allows the Legislature to divert money that 2014’s Amendment 1 ostensibly assigned only for purchasing sensitive land and maintaining it. The justices declined this week to accept jurisdiction in the case, leaving the organizations plotting their next legal move. “It looks […]
Gov. DeSantis trims new state budget by $1 billion, including some of his own programs
Note: This story has been updated to add details, comments from the governor’s press office, and reaction. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that he’s used his line-item veto authority to carve out more than $1.3 billion from the $93.2 billion state budget the Legislature approved in March to account for state revenues lost to the […]
State orders bars closed amid rampant COVID spread among young people; nearly 9,000 new cases seen
Update: Adding language from the governor’s press conference. State business regulators cut off service in bars across Florida Friday amid reports of rampant coronavirus transmission among young adults and as the Florida Department of Health reported that the COVID-19 caseload had spiked by nearly 9,000 overnight. The actual number of newly reported infections was 8,942 […]
With COVID-19 infections still spiking, Gov. DeSantis shows no signs of retreat on statewide masks, FL reopening
Note: This story has been updated to reflect the governor’s statements in Tampa. Florida’s rate of new COVID-19 infections has surpassed 5,000 for the second day running. The governor of Texas has paused the opening of his state’s economy amid a similar spike in cases. Yet Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has shown no sign of […]
Florida’s COVID caseload continues its relentless surge, adding 5,500+ cases overnight
Note: This story has been updated to include comments from the governor’s news conference today. Florida gained a whopping 5,508 new COVID-19 infections in the latest report from the state Department of Health, bringing the total caseload to 109,014 amid Gov. Ron DeSantis’ program of reopening the state’s economy. The data, gathered on Tuesday, represent […]
‘Donna’s Law’ could open door to prosecution of sex crimes against kids
A new Florida law removes the statute of limitations for sexual battery of children below the age of 18 but applies only to offenses committed after its effective date, July 1. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 199, “Donna’s Law,” on Tuesday. House Democrat Tracie Davis of Jacksonville, one of the measure’s cosponsors, issued a written […]