Florida’s Old Capitol is going blue to support the Pensacola community after the fatal shooting last week at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday he has ordered the historic…
Author: News Service of Florida
NRA, Local Governments square off on gun law
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The National Rifle Association and local-government groups are trying to help sway an appeals court in a battle about a controversial state…
Proposed budget plan could mean $14.1 million for Escambia teachers
Gov. Ron DeSantis wants Florida lawmakers to approve a $602 million plan that would set a minimum salary of $47,500 for public-school teachers. A budget document released last month gives a breakdown…
Weekly Roundup: What is the meaning?
By Dara Kam Recap and analysis of the week in state government TALLAHASSEE — Floridians a year ago overwhelmingly approved a change to the state Constitution that advocates declared was “the greatest…
Questions remain after felons’ rights ruling
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee has sent a memo to county elections supervisors with direction about complying with a federal judge’s…
DeSantis Teacher Pay Plan faces questions
By Jim Saunders TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday continued his full-throated support of a plan to increase minimum teacher salaries in Florida to $47,500, but Senate President Bill Galvano cautioned…
Former U.S. attorney for our area to head First Amendment group
Former U.S. Attorney Pamela Marsh will become president of the First Amendment Foundation on Dec. 1, the open-government advocacy group announced Friday. Marsh, who served as U.S. attorney from 2010 to 2015…
Charter school blasted for ‘gross financial mismanagement’
TALLAHASSEE — In a 95-page ruling, an administrative law judge Friday backed a decision by the Manatee County School Board to terminate a contract with a charter school that he said showed…
Corcoran pushes changes in state college system
TALLAHASSEE — Florida education czar Richard Corcoran bristles at being called a disrupter. He prefers the gentler label of “transformer,” a brand Corcoran burnished during his two-year tenure as speaker of the…
Next Florida House Speakers ready to tackle spending, climate change
TALLAHASSEE — Moments after he was formally elected Tuesday to serve as Florida’s next House speaker, Palm Harbor Republican Chris Sprowls waded into issues such as bolstering the state’s finances and addressing…
‘It’s No Joke’ combats rise in school threats
The number of Florida children charged with making school-related threats has steadily increased during the past three years, the state Department of Juvenile Justice said Tuesday as it announced a new awareness…
Background checks seen as possible answer to mass shootings
TALLAHASSEE — After three hours of testimony from experts on Monday, the Republican head of a Florida Senate panel looking into mass violence and white nationalism suggested that increased background checks on…