DeSantis announces $150 million for infrastructure improvements

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Urban Search and Rescue Bill advances to Florida Senate floor

by Karen Murphy | Apr 16, 2021

Each time a tragedy strikes which involves the collapse of buildings teams of professionals, known as Structures Specialists (StS), are needed to volunteer their expertise to assist first responders by identifying safe points of entry and safe navigation of those...

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Federal money to be key issue in state budget talks

by Jim Turner - News Service of Florida | Apr 9, 2021

TALLAHASSEE --- Anticipating that federal cash will bolster projects and eyeing more state revenue than previously expected, the Florida House and Senate are ready to move forward with negotiating a budget for the upcoming year. The House on Thursday voted 104-14 to...

State task force sounds alarm bell on police radio network

by Brian Burgess | Apr 9, 2021

The law enforcement task force responsible for oversight of Florida’s Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) is sounding alarm bells with state lawmakers as the legislature works toward the first pass at a state budget for 2021. In identical letters sent to...

Florida sues Biden Administration and CDC over continuing cruise industry lockdown

by Karen Murphy | Apr 8, 2021

Attorney General Ashley Moody today filed legal action against the Biden administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over what she calls “the outdated federal shutdown order of the nation’s cruise industry.” A release from the AG’s...

Bill passed by Florida Senate brings big changes to property insurance

by Karen Murphy | Apr 8, 2021

A bill which passed the Florida Senate yesterday, Senate Bill 76, Property Insurance, by Senator Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), could drastically reduce property insurance policyowners' ability to recover roof damages and reduces the window for filing a property insurance...

Duke Energy invests $653,000 in educational grants in Florida

by Jordan Kirkland | Apr 8, 2021

Duke Energy is making a $653,000 investment in Florida educators and students. Twenty-three grants, awarded from the Duke Energy Foundation, will enhance educational programs focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as well as diversity, equity and...

“Budget full of tough decisions” passes Florida Senate

by Karen Murphy | Apr 8, 2021

The Senate unanimously passed its budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year yesterday, but not before lengthy discussion of one area that is seeing significant cuts --- healthcare, primarily in cuts to hospital funding and the Healthy Start program. The Senate budget totals...

Wilton Simpson sends outline to state senators of proposed changes to Florida’s gaming scene

by Jordan Kirkland | Apr 8, 2021

Senate President Wilton Simpson is teeing up a late gaming push, releasing a memo on Wednesday that details how he wants to alter gaming regulations in the state. In the memo sent out to his colleagues, Simpson outlined blueprints for how they will attempt to breathe...

The fight to save Florida’s medical marijuana program

by State Representative Spencer Roach | Apr 7, 2021

In 2016, Florida voters overwhelmingly expressed their desire for a safe and accessible medical marijuana program, and I am fighting to preserve the medical nature of the program that voters demanded. What we have now is a recreational drug program masquerading as a...

DeSantis comes out swinging against 60 Minutes “malicious smears” and “lies”

by Karen Murphy | Apr 7, 2021

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came out swinging today at a press conference where he countered the “malicious smears” and “lies” in a recent 60 Minutes segment. His rebuttal was enough to make similar squabbles between former President Donald Trump and the media look...

Trump says Gaetz ‘never asked me for a pardon’

by Jordan Kirkland | Apr 7, 2021

Former President Donald Trump is denying reports that U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz sought a preemptive pardon for himself. In a brief statement from his 45 Office, Trump denied allegations that Gaetz requested a pardon near the end of his presidential term....

Realtors ask lawmakers to use public housing trust fund for … wait for it … public housing

by Brian Burgess | Apr 7, 2021

With the Florida House and Senate both scheduled to debate the future of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund on Wednesday, Florida Realtors are urging lawmakers not to divert hundreds of millions of dollars from the trust, and the Realtors say, lawmakers should not make...

Big Tech bill squeaks through Senate committee

by Karen Murphy | Apr 6, 2021

Legislation purporting to crack down on social media censorship narrowly cleared the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee today by a three to two vote. Senate Proposed Bill 7072, which opponents say will restrict the the constitutional rights of...

Florida Privacy Protection Act moves out of committee to full Senate

by Karen Murphy | Apr 6, 2021

Yesterday, Senate Bill 1734, the "Florida Privacy Protection Act" passed out of the Senate Rules Committee, its last stop before a full vote of the Florida Senate. The bill requires certain businesses that collect consumer personal information to provide information...

Prediction markets have Ron DeSantis as huge favorite over Nikki Fried

by Jordan Kirkland | Apr 6, 2021

Ron DeSantis comfortably sits first in the 2022 Florida gubernatorial election, according to a new market by PredictIt. The market, which launched on Tuesday, sees DeSantis overwhelmingly dominating the field leading up to the 2022 race for governor. At the time of...

Survey: Florida has second fewest COVID-19 restrictions

by Jordan Kirkland | Apr 6, 2021

Florida now boasts the 2nd fewest coronavirus restrictions in the U.S., according to an analysis by WalletHub. With much of the country starting to reopen thanks to nearly 19 percent of the U.S. population receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, the personal-finance website...

60 Minutes segment on DeSantis sparks outrage in unlikely defenders

by Karen Murphy | Apr 6, 2021

The nationally broadcast CBS news show 60 Minutes is under fire from some unlikely corners after the show accused Governor Ron DeSantis of “vaccine favoritisms,” specifically for allegedly giving vaccines to political supporters in wealthy neighborhoods and allowing...

Masks not in the cards for UFC 261 in Jacksonville

by Jordan Kirkland | Apr 6, 2021

UFC 261, which will feature a full capacity crowd later this month, may not require those attending to wear a mask. In a video posted on Twitter last month, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White dropped a huge bombshell on the mixed martial arts...

Senate to consider money for Piney Point cleanup

by Brian Burgess | Apr 6, 2021

TALLAHASSEE --- With work continuing to prevent a potentially catastrophic collapse of a reservoir wall, the Florida Senate will consider a budget amendment Wednesday to spend as much as $200 million to clean up the site of a former phosphate plant in Manatee County....

Social media crackdown, online sales tax on this week’s legislative agenda

by Brian Burgess | Apr 5, 2021

Two controversial issues, both having to do with internet governance, are scheduled for consideration by Florida lawmakers this week, one that would enforce a $1 billion sales tax on Florida consumers, and one that would impose significant restrictions on how social...

The Wrap: Will Gaetz walk the plank? Plus: a seven billion dollar question for the business community

by Brian Burgess | Apr 4, 2021

Every weekend, we take a look at the news stories shaping the conversations in Florida’s business, policy and political worlds. Here’s this weekend’s Capitolist wrap-up, which we call “The Wrap.” Pressure grows on U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz to walk the plank With questions...

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