GOP Ignored Danger To Minorities In Rushing Election Restrictions, Democrats Testify

Republicans ignored the state's history of Jim Crow laws, blocked a key amendment, and provided no evidence it would not harm minorities.

Black Legislators Push Key Initiatives, But Face Hurdles In GOP-Controlled Legislature

Black lawmakers pushed key legislative initiatives aimed at improving health and safety for communities of color; the GOP has stalled them.

12-Year-Old Fights For Decency Before House Committee, But, Siding With DeSantis, It Rebuffs Him

“Why are you attacking kids that look like me?” pleaded Zachary Olivos, 12, who has roots in Honduras and Mexico, the report states.

Fried Seeks Probe Into Republicans' Reported Switching Of Party Affiliations Of Democrats

The report states Republicans are going after those who are likely elderly, with a low or fixed income, and who speak little English.

Fla., Senate Pushes Boost In Minimum Wage For State Workers As Advocates Want More

The Florida Senate announced a plan to raise minimum wage for state employees to $15 an hour, an initiative led by Senate President Simpson.

Fla., Senators Applaud Local School Board Members Even As Lawmakers Consider Cutting Their Salaries

Republican members of the Florida House and Senate have been pushing legislation to limit school board pay, the report states.

Rooftop Solar Fans Cry Foul When Testimony Is Cut Short; 54 Of 66 Attendees Not Allowed To Speak

N. Florida Republican Brad Drake truncated the public input, the report states. The Capitol committee room was packed.

Senate Votes To Send New FL Legislative Districts To State Supreme Court For Review

New maps defining Florida's House and Senate legislative voting districts are approved and heading to the Florida Supreme Court for review.

Florida Senate Panel Approves 15-Week Abortion Ban; No Exceptions For Rape, Incest, Human Trafficking

Democratic state Sen. Book addressed concerns as a rape victim, the report states, as well as for incest; Republicans did not support these.

FBI Probes Bomb Threats Against HBCUs; Campuses Reopen After No Explosives Are Found

More than 20 FBI offices around the nation are investigating; Bethune-Cookman and Edward Waters universities from Florida are targeted.

Fla., House Completes Work On Its Reapportionment Plan; Litigation Now Looms

With only 30 minority-dominated districts, Democrat G. Thompson said she believes this redistricting is reflective "of a ghetto mentality."

Black Fla., Lawmakers Navigate A Largely White Legislature; Tensions Erupt In Committee Meetings

The Black lawmakers continue to grapple, unsettling; attacks on voting rights, concerns about blocking students from learning, bomb threats.

‘Recipe For Disaster': Dems Say New Voting Restrictions Would Make It Harder For Floridians To Vote By Mail

"Are we afraid of people voting?" Sen. Polsky asked. "Are we afraid of voting by mail?" Other Democrats were also opposed, the report says.

Florida Senate To Hear Rewrite Of Voting Laws Amid Challenge To Existing Restrictions

“Limitations are being placed on people for imaginary problems that have never been demonstrated, fears that have not happened" - Scoon

Voting Law Represents ‘Tactic Used To Suppress Votes In The Black Community'

A community organizer from Central Florida said the law DeSantis pushed debilitates the opportunities for Black residents to vote.

Republicans Called "Misguided In their Perspectives," "Crazy" On Proposed Abortion Bill

"Putting it in the hands of politicians (DeSantis and the Florida Legislature) is simply wrong," said a Planned Parenthood officer.

“Quite The Introduction”: Florida's Newest, Rep. Campbell, Weighs In On Republican's Bill Limiting How Teachers Would Talk About Race

If teachers are restricted to a certain paragraph or script, Democrat Campbell said, "they can't invoke passion into our students."

Is It A "DeSantis Power Grab Bill," Fried Asks? The AC Says The Governor Seeks More Unilateral Control

DeSantis proposes this "in a dictatorial fashion that only serves his ambitions – not the people of Florida," Fried went on to say.

Anti-Abortion Activists Arrested After Blocking Entrances, Disrupting Planned Parenthood Center

“An anti-abortion group tried to invade our health center in Fort Myers and blockaded the entrance (interfering with patients)" -- official

DeSantis Opines On Impending U.S. Supreme Court Vacancy, Offering Oblique Reference To Lincoln

DeSantis was asked about the impending nomination of a Black woman to serve on the court, not explaining his President Lincoln comments.

A Top Candidate For The U.S. Supreme Court Has Roots In Miami

With retirement of Supreme Court Justice Breyer by summer, President Biden has said he will fulfill his promise to appoint a Black woman.

Hard Freeze Hits Florida; Farmers And Homeless People Brace For Rough Weekend

Homeowners, farmers, and homeless shelters were bracing Friday for a weekend of freezing cold, with dangers to landscapes and crops.

State House Committee Debated Religion — And Kept The Discussion Civil

A Tampa Bay area pastor's arrest for holding services in defiance of local anti-COVID restrictions on gatherings has inspired legislation.

13-Second Bill That Explained Nothing – But All Committee Members Approved It

The public "has no idea" about the details of the bill, the report states.

Democrats Furious Over State Surgeon General's Responses: ‘A Waste Of Floridians' Time'

Because of Ladapo's indirect answers and mentions of politics, Democratic members walked out of the room.

Critics Say Minority Voters Get Slighted In Legislative Districts Map

Florida's population is significantly more diverse than a decade ago.

Are Lawmakers Pushing To Censor Discussions Of Race And Gender In Classrooms And The Workplace?

The report says DeSantis seeks to dictate how race, other topics are discussed; Hart said "it cripples the ability to teach effectively."

Is Cannabis Equity In Florida A Pipe Dream?

A Florida-based company is now the nation's largest weed corporation, leaving Black growers behind.

He Won A Trip To Space. Then He Gave It Away To A Friend.

Meet Kyle Hippchen, the real winner of a first-of-its-kind sweepstakes, who gave his seat to his college roommate.

Land Acquisition: Fla., Senator Tries Again To Secure Funds For Conservation Program Mandated By 2014 Voters

It occurs despite a constitutional amendment in 2014, mandating a vigorous program to buy and preserve sensitive land in Florida.

Senate Panel Backs DeSantis, OKs What Is Called By An Immigrant As His "Xenophobic Agenda"

The report indicates in the hearing, Republicans were "more focused on" alleged crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.

HB 5 Abortion Ban Is Making Headway Through The State House

A National Organization for Women (NOW) lobbyist said, "This bill won't stop abortion."

Suicide Prevention For Veterans: Lawmakers Pursue A Training Program

In 2019, 6,261 veterans died from suicides and 553 of those veterans died in Florida. Now, lawmakers are pursuing a way to prevent it.

‘Sham' Or ‘Opportunity': What's The State Of State Exams In Florida, And What Will Lawmakers Do?

Education official says DeSantis "misled the public" with a "sham of rhetoric" and "no reform," and would make classroom testing "worse."

FDA Halts Use Of Monoclonal Therapy Widely Pitched By DeSantis

Regeneron monoclonal antibody therapy is not an effective treatment for COVID-19 Omicron infections, and can no longer be used.

DeSantis's Pick For Surgeon General Likely To Face Heat; "Common Sense" Is Needed, Democrat Says

The hearing likely to vent all the fury of COVID politics in Florida is set; Democrat Cruz described Ladapo as "destructive" and divisive."

Salaries Of Women-Dominated School Boards Could Be On The Chopping Block — Again

Florida lawmakers are in a battle over the monetary worth of local school board members.

Tampa, FL received ‘B’ grade for fiscal health

New report released by Truth in Accounting

U.S. Judge Raps U.F.'S Knuckles; Blocks Policy Silencing Testimony By Professors

A judge compared U. of Fla. to the Chinese Communist Party in its attempted silencing of professors, also noting First Amendment violations.

Civil-Rights Groups Accuse S. Florida Detention Center Of Deleting Video Amid Allegations Of ‘Inhumane' Treatment

The complaint filed notes the jail is illegally destroying video footage that could substantiate reports of abuse of migrants there.