House Panel Splits On First Redistricting Map; Critics Say Latinos And Blacks Are Underrepresented

Florida Democrats and voting-rights organizations mounted strong opposition recently to newly drafted legislative district boundaries.

Fla., Exceeds 5 Million Mark For COVID-19 Cases In U.S.; Numbers Still Growing

Florida's number is higher than only California and Texas, according to data from the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

House Democrats Call For More COVID Protections In Capitol; Members, Lobbyists, Others Test Positive

Florida House Democrats are pushing for stricter COVID-19 protocols to prevent outbreaks during the 2022 legislative session.

Florida Is Well Behind Other States When It Comes To Getting COVID Booster Shots

DeSantis hinted Friday he hasn't gotten a COVID booster shot. The report indicates Florida ranks 38th out of the 50 states.

Feds Approve Florida's Delayed COVID Plan For Schools; State Can Access All $15.7 Billion In Relief

The U.S. Department of Education approved Florida's plan outlining how the state will use COVID-19 relief funds to help schools recover.

DeSantis, Needled By Trump, Hints That He's Skipped Out On Taking His COVID Booster

DeSantis came as close as he has to date to acknowledging he has not taken a COVID booster shot, after Trump hinted DeSantis was "gutless."

Florida Senate Stiffs DeSantis On Congressional Reapportionment, Sets Vote On New Maps

The Florida Senate ignored DeSantis Wednesday in finalizing its proposed redistricting plan for congressional and state Senate districts.

$5K Bonuses For Police Recruits, Part Of Pro-Cop Agenda, Advance In Legislature

A key plank in Gov. Ron DeSantis pro-cop, election-year agenda sailed through its first committee test in the Florida House Tuesday.

House And Senate Officials Mum On Whether More Florida Lawmakers Have COVID

With the second week of the 2022 legislative session under way, state lawmakers have been meeting in person without any safety measures.

Candidate Crist Unites Parents Fed Up With ‘Toxic Politicization' At Schools, And DeSantis's Policies

DeSantis's actions "under-cut the legs of our local government," said Jabari Hosey, a Brevard parent who heads "Families for Safe Schools."

Florida Using Mostly Regeneron For Monoclonal Treatment, But It's Questionable When It Comes To Omicron

Florida health officials announced additional state-supported monoclonal antibody treatment centers opening to fight COVID-19 surges.

Voting-Rights Groups Sound Alarm On Latest Fla., Redistricting Maps, Citing Minority Concerns

Voting-rights organizations have been sounding alarms about redrawn legislative and Congressional district maps by the Florida Senate.

Florida's Growing Medical Marijuana Program Could Lead To Changes, From Better Access To Stricter Rules

Florida's medical marijuana program continues to grow as more patients seek approval for marijuana cards.

Environmentalists In 6-Year-Old Land-Acquisition Lawsuit Fight To Keep Case Alive

It centers on the Florida Wildlife Federation and its allies in a lawsuit to protect a constitutionally mandated land-acquisition program.

‘Whatever It Takes': Abortion Rights Activists Are Preparing For Battle

The Fla., National Organization for Women said they'll be pushing a “forceful statewide campaign to protect reproductive health and rights."

School Personnel Should Not Use Handcuffs On Students, Lawmaker Proposes

In Florida's public school system, school personnel can use handcuffs, zip-ties, straightjackets or other devices on students who act out.

Lawmakers Move To Extend Protections For Health Providers Against COVID Lawsuits

DeSantis and the state's Republican leaders play up their “freedom” agenda at the expense of COVID-19 mitigation, the report says.

Following Surfside Tragedy: ‘Why Are We Punishing Homeowners Who Are Completely Innocent?'

This question happens in the wake of the deadly collapse of a South Florida condominium in Surfside in June.

Unused COVID Tests Are Being Distributed At Last As FDA Extends Expiration Date

State officials will distribute nearly 1 million COVID tests that ostensibly expired late last month under the aegis of Ron DeSantis.

Lawmakers, Activists, Take To Capitol Steps To Vow Resistance To 15-Week Abortion Ban

Lawmakers and women's activists took a stand on the Capitol steps; "There's no such thing as a 'reasonable' abortion ban," said Eskamani.

FL House Redistricting Process Draws Fire From Voting-Rights Groups, Dems

Republicans in the House of Representatives who control the process of drawing district boundaries are drawing fire.

Fla., Democratic Agenda For 2022 Session And All Floridians: Healthy, Prosperous And Safe

With the 2022 legislative session underway, Florida Democrats have an agenda and they're not losing sight of their goals.

‘Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied': Sen. Rouson Pushes For Reform School Abuse Victims To Receive Restitution

Over the years, state lawmakers have pushed for restitution to victims of brutal crimes that took place at reform schools in Florida.

Florida Lawmakers Move Toward Secrecy When It Comes To Searches For University Presidents

On the first day of the 2022 session, the GOP-controlled Senate Education Committee voted to allow applicants to remain confidential.

DeSantis Calls For More Election ‘Guardrails'; Biden Says It Is Voting Rights That Need Protection

President Biden stresses the importance of voting rights, continually blocked by Republicans.

House Speaker, Senate President Launch The New 2022 Legislative Session

On opening day, Senate President Wilton Simpson said the Senate will be building off “investments" made last year by the Legislature.

Florida Democrats Cite Housing, Voting Rights, Fair Tax Policy Among 2022 Priorities

Protecting affordable housing, voting rights, and the elderly, while fighting corporate “handouts” funded by taxpayers, are top priorities.

Fla., Nears 9,000 Hospitalizations For COVID; CDC Notes Increase Among Children

The Omicron variant continues to sweep the nation as federal health authorities point to an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations.

DeSantis And His Surgeon General Focus On COVID Treatments, Mum On Vaccines

Ladapo, DeSantis's surgeon general, has pointed to "unproven drugs in clinical trials," the report indicates.

DeSantis Procures Doses Of Regeneron Therapy As The CDC Warns It Is Weak Against Omicron

Thousands of doses are headed to Florida for treating early cases of COVID-19, even though "national authorities don't recommend it."

“To Impose Any Type Of Mandate On People Is Crazy,” DeSantis States, Amid Historic Omicron Surge

DeSantis pushed back against potential mandates, school closures, or stay- at-home procedures, as thousands of teachers called out sick.

Next Week's 2-Month Legislative Session? An Omicron SuperSpreader Is the Likely Result, Democrats Say

Fla., lawmakers, state employees, lobbyists and visitors convene for the session, as DeSantis "essentially outlawed" COVID rules throughout.

DeSantis Admits, Up To 1 Million COVID Test Kits DID Expire In FL

DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, director of Florida's Division of Emergency Management, acknowledged Thursday that 800,000 to a million expired.

Florida To Unveil New COVID Testing Guidance: ‘And If You Have No Symptoms, Please Don't Get Tested'

COVID-19 testing in Florida should focus only on residents experiencing symptoms or those with risk factors, Florida's surgeon general said.

Gubernatorial Candidate Charlie Crist Wants To Tackle Medicaid Expansion In Florida To Help Seniors

Medicaid expansion is important for senior communities across the state and would help cover costs associated with senior services.

Private Colleges Pivot To Remote Learning, But Fla., Public Universities Won't Go Virtual Despite COVID

United Faculty's Gothard said officials "should listen to medical experts," and politics "should not be involved in safety decisions."

Battling A Record Surge In COVID Infections In Fla., DeSantis Keeps Schools Open And Districts Worry

Nearly three million Florida public school students returned to in-person classes this week amid the aforementioned record surge.

Late Prisons Chief Was Linked To Legal Precedents Boosting Defendants' Rights

Louie Wainwright is remembered as someone who "honestly believed in corrections instead of punishment," the report states.

Essential Workers In Florida Hope For Relief In New Year

While Americans grew more divided over politics in 2021, frontline essential workers toiled on to hold the nation together.

Nikki Fried Takes Her Pfizer Booster Before The Cameras As DeSantis Remains Mum

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried invited the press to observe as she took her COVID vaccine booster shot on Wednesday.