Florida's Jobless Still Waiting For New $300 Federal Supplement; Work-Search Waiver Extended

Florida signed up for a short-term $300 weekly federal supplement retroactive to Aug. 1, but so far, jobless workers haven’t seen the money.

Controversial Vaping Regulation Bill Lands On DeSantis’s Desk, Creating A Political Conundrum For The Governor

Advocates of the Florida vaping industry and its opponents are waiting for a decision on a controversial vaping regulation bill.

Senate GOP Emergency Relief Plan Leaves Out Direct Aid To States

The lack of aid to cities and states drew swift criticism from Democrats.

On Campaign Trail In Florida, Trump Reverses Course, Extends Ban On Offshore Oil Drilling; Critics Call It A “Desperate Political Stunt”

An official called it "a cheap, last-minute maneuver" by Trump, adding that she did not want voters "duped" by this move.

Cops On Campuses Are Supposed To Keep Kids Safe, But May Do More Harm Than Good, Study Finds

Report indicates many more behavioral incidents, arrests since the increased police presence on school campuses.

Health Professionals, National Economists Urge DeSantis To ‘Start Over’ To Control COVID-19

As the coronavirus death toll in Florida approaches 12,000, and the national death toll climbs above 186,000, the restart is justified.

DeSantis Demands Counties Provide Granular Details Of Their Responses To COVID-19

DeSantis has written to officials in Florida’s 67 counties requesting details of all actions they’ve taken in response to COVID-19.

Gov. DeSantis Asks Fla. Supreme Court To Stand Pat In Allowing Renatha Francis To Take The Bench

The controversial appointee has not belonged to the Florida Bar for 10 years.

Trump To Make Florida Campaign Stop On Tuesday

During the visit, Trump plans to highlight his conservation and environmental protection efforts in the Everglades region.

U.S. Senate Republicans Trying To Insert Private School Tuition Into The Next COVID-19 Aid Package

Civil rights groups and teachers' unions are strongly opposed, feeling it would divert much-needed money from public schools' coffers.

Amid Bar Exam Glitches, FL Supreme Court Says Young Lawyers Must Pass Bar Exam

The Florida Supreme Court has rejected a petition to let law school graduates enter practice based on their educational credentials alone.

Trump, Joe Biden Ramp Up Campaign Advertising As November General Election Draws Closer

As the 2020 presidential election draws near, in campaign advertising, Biden and Trump attack each other on the issues.

CDC Bans Evictions Through End Of 2020 To Curb Spread Of COVID, But ‘It Could Fall Apart’

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has banned evictions and foreclosures for the rest of the year, in an order issued.

Why D.C. Lawmakers Are Voting Remotely During The Pandemic

U.S. House Republicans have a new line of attack against some Democrats — they charge they are failing to show up for work.

Cyber Attacks Give Miami-Dade Public Schools A Rough Start To The New Academic Year

Miami-Dade County Public Schools — the largest district in Florida — is struggling with cyber attacks on its online learning platform.

DeSantis Appoints Top GOP Lawmaker To Oversee The Agency In Charge Of Florida's Broken Unemployment System

Republican Dane Eagle, the Florida House Majority Leader who just lost his primary for a congressional seat, will oversee the agency.

DeSantis Lifts Ban On Visitation In Florida Nursing Homes And Elder Facilities

Visitation in Florida’s long-term care facilities — which was banned for 175 days to shield elderly residents from coronavirus — resumed.

One Of The Hardest Jobs In Government — Even One Misstep Can Be Costly To The Governor

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ daily administrative schedule popped into reporters’ email inboxes at 10:21 a.m., Tuesday.

Voting In FL: 59% Plan To Vote By Mail, Not Worried About Fraud

Nearly two-thirds of Florida survey respondents plan to vote by mail this fall, and 59% disagree with the president's fraud accusations.

Gov. DeSantis Abused Authority On Appointing A Justice: FL Supreme Court

The Florida Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Ron DeSantis abused his authority in naming Renatha Francis to a vacancy on the high court.

Fox News Pulls Teacher Union Ad Criticizing Trump, McConnell On Reopening Schools

A 30-second political ad criticizing Trump and McConnell on the reopening of schools was rejected by Fox News, which stated no reason why.

FL Patch Local Business Information Center: A Community Resource

Florida Patch has partnered with scores of local businesses to keep you informed about their services during the pandemic and beyond.

Voting By Mail In Florida: Take The Patch Survey

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a surge in mail-in ballots is expected for the November election. Take the Florida Patch survey.

Democrats Demand Special Legislative Session As Florida Jobless Rate Rises, And Unemployed Workers Suffer

A dire portrait of joblessness emerges in the state; Democrats in the Senate are demanding, again, that DeSantis convene a special session.

Groups Fear Voter Suppression Efforts Could Intensify For Florida's General Election

A coalition of civil rights groups has alleged a pattern of voter suppression in South Florida.

Covid-19 Infections Surpass 600,000; Death Toll At 10,525 Resident Deaths

The Florida Department of Health on Sunday reported 600,571 COVID-19 infections, up from 597,597 the day before.

A Judge Faces A Crucial Decision Amid COVID, A Constitutional Clash, And Power Over Public Schools

In Florida’s state capital, Leon Circuit Judge Charles Dodson faces a daunting task.

Taxwatch’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan: Tax Relief, Incentives And Grants

A fiscal watchdog organization for state government has proposed a pathway for Florida out of the COVID-19 economic mire.

Conservation Groups Call For Removal Of Top Federal Land Management Official Pendley, Saying He’s ‘Unfit’

Trump’s pick to lead the Bureau of Land Management will continue leading the agency even after his nomination is withdrawn.

Eleven States Approved For $300 Federal Unemployment Supplements; Florida Still Evaluating

A federal unemployment supplement of $300 weekly has been granted for jobless people in 11 states so far, but Florida is not among them.

Florida's Shevrin Jones Praises Biden-Harris Ticket During Virtual LGBTQ Conclave

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has a robust plan to help the LGBTQ community, and a proven record of supporting its causes.

Two Florida Men Arrested, Along With Steve Bannon And Another, On Charges They Ripped Off Their Border-Wall Charity

Of course there’s a Florida angle to the federal indictment of Trump’s former adviser Steve Bannon, and Trump's many other indicted cronies.

Florida Heroes: Help Patch Recognize Those Making A Difference

The helpers are the people who make life better. Nominate your Local Heroes to give them the recognition they deserve, presented by Ring.

‘Let’s Just Feed Our Kids’: Advocates Press To Extend Federal Aid For School Meals

A school nutrition leader and other advocates are calling on the federal government to extend a summer meals program.

Democrat Nikki Fried Attacks Trump, DeSantis On COVID-19; Urges Support For Joe Biden

Nikki Fried, the only Democrat on Florida’s statewide-elected Cabinet, said Wednesday that Florida had surpassed 10,000 COVID-19 deaths.

Musings On Florida And The Politics Of Pythons

A year ago, I tagged along with a couple of professional python hunters searching the Everglades for the big snakes.

FL In-Person Voting On Primary Day: ‘People Are In Fear That Something Will Happen'

"It’s the pandemic, and that people are in fear that something will happen, so they don’t want to come out," according to a poll worker.

After All This Time, Could Florida's Amendment 4 Fall Apart?

A Florida lawyer argued that the felon voting-rights amendment might die if the court decides making felons pay a fee is unconstitutional.

NAACP Groups Join FL Lawsuit Over Opening Brick-And-Mortar Schools

Two civil rights organizations joined the Florida Education Association and other plaintiffs in a lawsuit against reopening schools.

Fl Primaries Elevate LGBTQ Candidates In The Legislature

The Florida House and Senate will get a little gayer as a result of Democratic primary races on Tuesday.