—Nothing to protect homeowners like those in our area who were victimized by predatory contractors. The bill, under the guise of dealing with the lack of affordable housing, would reduce the time…
Author: News Service of Florida
House proposes major voucher expansion
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Calling it a move toward “universal choice,” House Speaker Paul Renner on Thursday announced a proposal that would make every student in…
DeSantis targets prescription drug ‘middlemen’
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Calling for “long overdue reforms,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday outlined proposed legislation that would target pharmacy benefit managers to try to…
By the Numbers: Concealed Weapons Licenses
More than 2.62 million people had Florida concealed-weapons licenses at the end of 2022. Here are the 20 counties with the most license-holders: — Miami-Dade County: 203,993 — Broward County: 183,491 —…
New Year Brings Lobbying Restrictions, Toll Breaks
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Beefed up lobbying restrictions and breaks for motorists who frequently use toll roads are among state laws and other changes that will…
Cities, Counties File Suits Over Opioid Epidemic
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Local governments in Northwest Florida and Miami-Dade County have filed lawsuits seeking damages from the global consulting firm McKinsey & Company over…
Higher electric set to come in January
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — State regulators Tuesday approved utility costs that will translate to higher electric bills in January for homeowners and businesses — and the…
Partisan School Board Races Proposed
From The News Service of Florida: A House Republican on Tuesday filed a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to make school-board races partisan. Rep. Spencer Roach, R-North Fort Myers, filed the proposal…
School immunization slide
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Last school year marked a more than 10-year low for Florida’s kindergarten and seventh-grade students completing all doses of required immunizations, according…
Senate President makes housing a priority
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida Armed with a large majority, Naples Republican Kathleen Passidomo outlined what she described as a voter-supported “conservative agenda” as she became Florida Senate president…
Scott loses leadership bid
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., was rebuffed Wednesday in his bid to become the Senate Republican leader. The Senate Republican Conference re-elected Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell as leader, a position he has…
Broxson named Appropriations chair
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida Incoming Senate President Kathleen Passidomo rolled out her leadership team Monday, as the Senate prepares for an expanded Republican majority next week. Passidomo, R-Naples,…
Voters give thumbs down to Constitutional Amendments
By Jim Saunders and Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida voters late Tuesday appeared to have rejected three proposed constitutional amendments that would have provided property-tax breaks and…
DeSantis, Crist battle as election nears
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida. FORT PIERCE — With Florida’s gubernatorial race entering its final two weeks, education, immigration, property insurance, abortion and the economy took center stage Monday…
Here’s what three amendments on Florida ballot would do
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida Florida voters on Nov. 8. will decide whether to approve two property-tax cuts and the fate of the state’s Constitution Revision Commission. Lawmakers placed…
Ayala challenges Moody in ‘Longshot’ bid
By Jim Turner The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Former Orlando-area State Attorney Aramis Ayala is making a “longshot” bid to unseat Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody, saying a key issue…
Group sues DeSantis over migrant flight records
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — An open-government group Monday filed a lawsuit seeking to force Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration to release additional records about a controversial decision…
Disaster aid to expand in Ian’s aftermath
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A major-disaster declaration that President Joe Biden issued early Thursday will be expanded to more areas as Florida tries to recover from…
Podcast: Fort Myers/Port Charlotte prepares for ‘Real Deal’ Ian
Ian is projected to hit Englewood between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. today. Expect to see Hurricane Michael-type damage. ABC meteorologist Melissa Griffin gives the 7 a.m. report on Hurricane Ian. From…
Appeals court weighs COVID-19 data fight
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — More than a year after the lawsuit was filed, an appeals court Tuesday waded into a fight about whether the Florida Department…
