By Jim Turner, © 2021 The News Service of Florida. All rights reserved; see terms. Weekly political notes from The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Nearly three months after signing a…
Author: News Service of Florida
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 Gulf Power, to recoup up to $13.2…
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 this week, ranging from a record $100…
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 County scores dropped by 3 points from…
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: — Endless Summer: 93,986 — University of Florida:…
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 that something the tribe would then fund…
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 Wednesday passed a bill that would make…
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 now that state government is reopening offices,…
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 passed a controversial plan that would ban…
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 adults will be eligible on April 5….
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 FLOODING By Jim Saunders TALLAHASSEE — Despite…
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, Florida has topped 2 million cases of…
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 homes and other health-care providers and that…
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 the ballot began moving forward Wednesday in…
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 Florida from a federal stimulus package to…
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 due to a storm that has battered…
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 the coming years to see extra charges…
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 people who can dine in restaurants, while…
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 in their life†by soon lifting on-site…
‘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 more important to them than actually doing…
