Backroom Briefing: Getting hot over protests

By Jim Turner, © 2021 The News Service of Florida. All rights reserved; see terms. Weekly political notes from The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE…

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Nothing free with Gulf Power

Gulf Power customers will pay for the utility’s COVID-19 measures, thanks to the Public Service Commission’s approval a settlement on Thursday, July 8 that allows…

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New Florida laws ready to take effect July 1

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — More than 100 new laws passed during the 2021 legislative session will hit the books…

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By the numbers: Third-grade scores by county

Note: Santa Rosa (tied for fifth) and Okaloosa (tied for sixth) are in the top 10 counties.Escambia tied for 36th out of 67 counties. Escambia…

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By the numbers: Top 10 specialty plates

More than 1.68 million specialty license plates were on Florida roads in 2020. Here are the top 10 specialty plates last year by sales: —…

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Let the gambling begin

By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida “Does that mean if somebody wanted to establish, let’s say, a casino in the Panhandle – is…

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We spoke too soon, harness racing gone

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Harness racing, quarter-horse racing and jai alai could become part of Florida history, after lawmakers…

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State government reopens for business gradually

By Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis has touted for months that Florida’s “open for business,” but it’s just…

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Lawmakers revive, pass transgender athlete ban

By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With Democrats decrying the “eleventh-hour” move, the Florida House and Senate on Wednesday revived and…

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DeSantis announces new age limit for vax

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced that all Floridians ages 40 and older will be able to receive COVID-19 vaccinations starting Monday and that all…

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Bed tax money pitched to combat flooding

RO note: This bill won’t go over well for an industry that has taken a hit due to COVID-19. ‘BED’ TAX MONEY PITCHED TO COMBAT…

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Florida tops 2 million COVID-19 cases

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A little more than a year after the novel coronavirus showed up in the state,…

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Deal reached on COVID-19 liability protections

By Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Legislative leaders announced Thursday they have an agreement on COVID-19 liability protections for businesses, nursing…

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Lawmakers move to abolish Constitution Revision Commission

With the full Senate poised to take up the issue, a plan that would abolish an influential panel that can place proposed constitutional amendments on…

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DeSantis offers blueprint for stimulus spending

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis pitched plans Tuesday to use nearly half of the money coming to…

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Storm delays COVID-19 vaccine delivery

By Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A shipment to Florida of more than 200,000 doses of Moderna vaccine has been delayed…

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Hurricane to cost Gulf Power customers, snuff out coal

By Jim Saunders TALLAHASSEE — First there was Michael. Then came Sally. And that means hundreds of thousands of Northwest Florida residents will continue in…

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More on DeSantis order lifting restrictions for restaurants and bars

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted state COVID-19 business restrictions Friday, including limits on the numbers of…

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DeSantis want to get to ‘yes’ on bars

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis said he hopes to give Floridians the “ability to have some enjoyment…

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‘Hot Dog Licenses’ for bars may continue until year-end

“It’s simply a way for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the governor to look like they’re doing something, which seems to be…

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