News
Pay attention retirees: Unrealistic decisions by the state could hurt Florida pensioners
The Florida Retirement System Actuarial Assumption Conference will meet this month. The room will not be crowded. But the decisions the financial analysts on the committee make will be critical to the more than 1 million public workers in Florida who rely – or will rely – on the state pension system for their retirement […]
Matt Gaetz to Charlie Crist: Stop impeachment ‘madness’
Panhandle Congressman Matt Gaetz wants Florida Democrats to drop their impeachment inquiry against President Trump – and plans to appear at one particular lawmaker’s home district next week to tell him so. Gaetz, one of the president’s most vociferous backers on cable news, will appear at a press conference on Monday in front of St. […]
Senate Democrat refiles bill to ban solitary confinement for incarcerated youth
Seven states have banned solitary confinement for juveniles in state prison systems, and a North Florida Democrat would like the Sunshine State to become the eighth. State Sen. Bill Montford this week reintroduced a proposal that says prisoners younger than 19 may be held in solitary confinement only in an emergency or if they need to be […]
U.S. Supreme Court takes on high-stakes abortion case
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a high-profile case that could have major implications for reproductive rights in states across the country. The justices announced that they will hear an appeal involving a Louisiana law that requires any physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a local hospital, […]
Public television to live stream funeral rites for former House Speaker Don Tucker
Funeral services for former House Speaker Donald L. Tucker will be live streamed on WFSU Public Television at 3 p.m. Friday. Services for Tucker will be at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee. The building was named for him after he helped secure funds for its construction. Tucker, 84, died Sept. 24 after […]
The word from the Panhandle: ‘We don’t have time’ for delay with hurricane recovery
Time is running out for hurricane victims in Northwest Florida, a group of state and local leaders warned Thursday, citing continuing suffering since Category 5 Hurricane Michael bludgeoned the region on Oct. 10 last year. Some post-storm assistance has arrived, but the hardest-hit counties were already impoverished when Michael hit and may never recover unless […]
Watered-down plan advances to filter algae from Lake Okeechobee overflow
Plans to build a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee – which environmentalists say won’t be large enough to filter toxic algae that can flow into waterways leading to Florida’s coasts – took a step forward on Thursday. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida Crystals Corp. has agreed to an early termination of its lease on […]
FL lawmakers to play key roles in impeachment inquiry, and it’s not the first time
WASHINGTON – Florida lawmakers are poised to play an outsized role in the U.S. House’s impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. Thirteen Florida lawmakers – about half of the state’s delegation – sit on the six House committees that are investigating allegations of abuse of power and other misdeeds by the president. Of those, Democrat […]
Bid to put recreational weed on 2020 ballot off to blazing start
A group organized around putting a constitutional amendment on Florida’s 2020 ballot that would legalize recreational marijuana for adults is off to an impressive start. After just 20 days of collecting ballot signatures, officials with the political committee Make it Legal Florida say they have gathered more than 100,000 petition signatures from Florida voters. They […]
Republican lawmaker wants to ditch background checks for concealed-gun owners
Lake County Republican state Rep. Anthony Sabatini wants to let Floridians carry concealed guns without undergoing a background check or having any training in handling firearms. This week, Sabatini filed a bill (HB 273) that would let Floridians carry guns without applying for a concealed-weapons permit from the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. […]
First Lady attacks opioid addiction; focuses on babies born with addictions
First Lady Casey DeSantis announced new initiatives Wednesday targeting opioid addiction, including plans to hire a statewide coordinator of services for pregnant women and mothers and their children. Opioid abuse claims 17 lives each day in Florida – more than 6,000 per year, Ms. DeSantis said. Moreover, nationwide the number of children born with drug […]
Fl Democrats, Republicans unite against amendment allowing independents to vote in primary elections
Representatives from both the Florida Republican and Democratic parties filed legal briefs this week with the Florida Supreme Court registering opposition to the proposed “All Voters Vote” constitutional amendment. Florida is a “closed primary” state, meaning only voters registered with the Democratic or Republican parties can vote in party primary elections for the Legislature, governor and […]