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The Buzz on Florida Politics

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Then-Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, applauds Gov. Ron DeSantis as he waves at lawmakers and guests in the House chamber at the Capitol in Tallahassee following his State of the State address in March 2021.
DeSantis’ sway over Florida Legislature unprecedented ahead of 2024 bid
DeSantis has thrown his weight around with the Legislature over the last four years.
DeSantis says he supports open carry in audio recorded from gun rights group
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' office declined to comment on whether the recording, in which he says he supports allowing Floridians to openly carry guns in public, was authentic.
Bills moving through Florida’s Legislature have been criticized for excluding open carry.
Florida cities and towns are worried about the legislative session. Here’s why.
FILE - Members of the Florida House of Representatives work during a legislative session at the Florida State Capitol on March 8, 2022. This year, state Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, has caught the attention of local mayors by sponsoring legislation that further limits local governments when it comes to building permits, construction projects and vacation rentals.
A series of bills eroding their autonomy have been filed, including three sponsored by Sen. Nick DiCeglie of Indian Rocks Beach.
DeSantis blames Orlando prosecutor after shootings. But it’s not simple.
State Attorney Monique H. Worrell holds a news conference on Jan. 28, 2022. Worrell and her office have come under fire from Gov. Ron DeSantis for not doing more in previous cases involving the suspect in the Orlando shootings last week that killed a child, a journalist and a woman.
Orange County Sheriff’s deputies failed to pursue DNA testing on a gun found at the scene of Keith Moses’ only previous adult arrest.

Latest

  1. Florida among trio of GOP states pulling out of effort to thwart voter fraud
    5 hours ago• Elections
    A poll worker prepares to give a ballot to a voter at the Blue Ash, Ohio Municipal building for the primary, Aug. 2, 2022. A bipartisan effort among states to combat voter fraud has found itself in the crosshairs of conspiracy theories fueled by Donald Trump’s false claims about the 2020 presidential election and now faces an uncertain future.
  2. DeSantis, others targeted by thousands of pro-Trump Twitter bots
    Yesterday• Politics
    The Twitter splash page is seen on a digital device on April 25, 2022, in San Diego. Researchers have uncovered a network of tens of thousands of fake Twitter accounts created to support ex-President Donald Trump and attack his critics and potential rivals.
  3. ‘Teachers’ Bill of Rights’ sails through Florida Senate committee
    Yesterday• Education
    Sen. Alexis Calatayud, R-Miami, introduces her "Teachers' Bill of Rights" legislation, saying during an Education PreK-12 Committee meeting that it would help solve the teacher shortage crisis that schools face.
  5. Florida ban on gender-affirming care for minors to start next week
    Yesterday• Health
    People held signs during a joint meeting of the Florida Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine on Nov. 4, 2022. Pending rules from the boards will bar doctors from prescribing puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries to treat new patients younger than 18 for gender dysphoria.
  6. DeSantis criticizes traditional media. Fox News doesn’t count. (From 2021)
    Yesterday• Politics
    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, as seen on the FOX News program of Sean Hannity during a GOP town hall on Cuba broadcast live from Versailles Restaurant on Wednesday, July 21, 2021.
  7. Florida lawmakers want to regulate kratom. Here’s what you need to know.
    Yesterday• Politics
    Chelsea “Zeana” Jackson drinks a Walter White at Mad Hatters Ethnobotanical Tea Bar in St. Petersburg. The drink contains kratom, a substance that Florida legislators have taken steps toward regulating.
  8. Florida cities and towns are worried about the legislative session. Here’s why.
    Yesterday• Pinellas
    FILE - Members of the Florida House of Representatives work during a legislative session at the Florida State Capitol on March 8, 2022. This year, state Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, has caught the attention of local mayors by sponsoring legislation that further limits local governments when it comes to building permits, construction projects and vacation rentals.
  9. Pinellas lawmaker proposes more limits on vacation rental regulations
    Yesterday• Pinellas
    Florida Sen. Nick DiCeglie, then a state representative, is pictured in January 2022. DiCeglie, an Indian Rocks Beach Republican whose district includes many of Pinellas County's small beach communities, is leading the latest charge in Florida's battle over short-term rental regulations — a hot topic for many of his constituents.
  10. DeSantis’ sway over Florida Legislature unprecedented ahead of 2024 bid
    Yesterday• Politics
    Then-Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, applauds Gov. Ron DeSantis as he waves at lawmakers and guests in the House chamber at the Capitol in Tallahassee following his State of the State address in March 2021.
  11. Daytona Beach woman accused of killing ill husband released from jail
    Mar. 4• Politics
    Ellen Gilland, 76, was charged with killing her husband. She said he begged her to do so after he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. A judge called the case "extremely sympathetic."
  12. 48 Cuban migrants arrive at Florida Keys in 2 boats
    Mar. 4• Politics
    A boat with lettering reading “Solo Dios Sabe” (Only God Knows) was one of two boats that may have carried a group of 48 Cuban migrants to shore at the Dry Tortugas National Park Saturday morning.
  13. Democrats hit Casper, he hits Carlson, in Tampa City Council race
    Mar. 4• Tampa
    Tampa City Council incumbent Bill Carlson, left, and challenger Blake Casper.
  14. Florida’s $4 billion bet on the Everglades: Is it enough?
    Mar. 4• Politics
    An egret hunts for food in the Florida Everglades on Feb. 24, 2023.
  15. DeSantis says he supports open carry in audio recorded from gun rights group
    Mar. 3• Politics
    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' office declined to comment on whether the recording, in which he says he supports allowing Floridians to openly carry guns in public, was authentic.
  16. Florida bill targeting unions emerges in House
    Mar. 3• Politics
    In this March 8, 2022, photo, members of the Florida House of Representatives work during a legislative session at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee.
  17. Florida bill would outlaw treatments for transgender youth, prevent insurance coverage
    Mar. 3• Politics
    Florida Rep. Randy Fine, center, views maps on a video monitor during a Florida House of Representatives Redistricting Committee hearing in a legislative session, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Tallahassee.
  18. Lawmakers want state to study merging Pinellas, Hillsborough bus agencies
    Mar. 3• Transportation
    New bills filed in the Florida Legislature would require the Florida Department of Transportation, or its consultant, to study whether combining the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority would boost efficiency, reduce administrative costs and enhance “regional transit service and connectivity" in the Tampa Bay area.
  19. DeSantis takes his culture war to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s turf
    Mar. 3• Politics
    Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivers remarks at the 2022 CPAC conference last year. He'll be in Texas this weekend.
  20. Want to get paid to blog about DeSantis? Report earnings to the state, bill says.
    Mar. 3• Politics
    When asked whether his bill would apply to journalists that write for online-only publications, Sen. Jason Brodeur wrote, “If they’re paid to advocate a position on behalf of a special interest, yes.”
  21. Tampa neighborhood groups threaten lawsuit over campaign mailer
    Mar. 3• Tampa
    Two neighborhood groups have taken initial steps that could precede a lawsuit alleging a mailer distributed on behalf of Tampa City Council candidate and former state Sen. Janet Cruz defamed them.
  22. Tampa will notify City Council of fed and state investigations. Secretly.
    Mar. 3• Tampa
    Tampa City Council members will be notified within 10 days of investigations such as the now-discontinued Police Department's "Crime free multi housing" program, which encouraged landlords to evict tenants who were arrested.
  23. Florida’s edicts on classrooms are wearing thin with some school board members
    Mar. 3• Education
    Florida education commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. has told school districts to "immediately cease using any materials that conflict with Florida law."
  24. What does Tuesday’s Tampa election mean for Mayor Jane Castor?
    Mar. 3• Tampa
    Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has clashed with several council members during her first term. With six council seats up for grabs, will the mayor's second term be more of the same or will her clout increase?
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