Jim Saunders - News Service of Florida Reporter, News Service of Florida email
Jim has been executive editor of the News Service of Florida since 2013 and has covered state government and politics in Florida since 1998. Jim came to the News Service in 2011 after stints as Tallahassee bureau chief for The Florida Times-Union, The Daytona Beach News-Journal and Health News Florida.
Featured image for “‘Stop WOKE’ lawsuit could cost Florida $750,000”
Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses the crowd before publicly signing HB7, dubbed the "Stop WOKE" bill, during a news conference at Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School in Hialeah Gardens on April 22, 2022. | Daaniel A. Varela, Miami Herald
October 2, 2024

‘Stop WOKE’ lawsuit could cost Florida $750,000

Businesses that successfully challenged the Stop WOKE Act want the state to reimburse their legal bills.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville congressional district debated in Florida Supreme Court”
The Florida Supreme Court.
September 12, 2024

Jacksonville congressional district debated in Florida Supreme Court

The Florida Supreme Court heard arguments about the constitutionality of a congressional redistricting plan that Gov. Ron DeSantis championed in…

Featured image for “Judge to weigh putting Florida meat law on ice”
September 11, 2024

Judge to weigh putting Florida meat law on ice

A federal judge will hear arguments next month about whether he should block a new Florida law that bars the…

Featured image for “DeSantis defends abortion information posted by state agency: ‘not electioneering’”
A 30-second PSA posted by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration was posted to X Monday | AHCA via X, screenshot
September 9, 2024

DeSantis defends abortion information posted by state agency: ‘not electioneering’

With Democrats accusing the state Agency for Health Care Administration of improper politicking, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday described as…

Featured image for “Florida looks to add more nuclear power”
Nuclear power could include large nuclear plants, it also could involve small reactors that might be used by the military or industries. | vencav, stock.adobe.com
September 6, 2024

Florida looks to add more nuclear power

While utilities continue to build solar facilities, nuclear power could be important in meeting future needs.…

Featured image for “Appeals court allows ban on transgender care for minors”
August 27, 2024

Appeals court allows ban on transgender care for minors

The law prohibits transgender minors from being prescribed puberty blockers and hormonal treatments, even with their parents’ permission.…

Featured image for “Teachers unions target Florida’s pronoun law”
August 6, 2024

Teachers unions target Florida’s pronoun law

The unions are fighting a law that requires educators to use pronouns that align with their sex assigned at birth.…

Featured image for “Florida Supreme Court asked to reject abortion statement”
The Florida Supreme Court.
July 26, 2024

Florida Supreme Court asked to reject abortion statement

Floridians Protecting Freedom contends a statement that will appear on the ballot with Amendment 4 is inaccurate and political.…

Featured image for “Here are the new rules on kids and social media”
Lawmakers did not identify which social media companies are affected by a ban for young children.
July 23, 2024

Here are the new rules on kids and social media

The state has published details about how it will carry out a new law aimed at keeping young children off…

Featured image for “Abortion rights supporters allege ‘dirty trick’ on ballot”
Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research, says it’s tough to speculate about potential litigation costs related to the passage of the abortion rights constitutional proposal. | The Florida Channel
July 17, 2024

Abortion rights supporters allege ‘dirty trick’ on ballot

Supporters of Amendment 4 say a statement on the ballot will mislead voters about the proposed constitutional amendment.…

Featured image for “FAMU President Larry Robinson is stepping down”
Larry Robinson has served as president of Florida A&M University in Tallahassee for seven years. He announced Friday, July 13, 2024, that he will be stepping down. | Florida A&^M University
July 15, 2024

FAMU President Larry Robinson is stepping down

After taking a yearlong sabbatical, Robinson plans to return to serving as a professor in FAMU’s School of the Environment…

Featured image for “Florida regulators look to add nuclear power”
The Turkey Point nuclear plant is south of Miami. | Lynne Sladky, AP
July 9, 2024

Florida regulators look to add nuclear power

Nuclear plants generate about 13% of Florida’s electricity, but the state hasn’t had new plants since the 1970s and 1980s.…

Featured image for “Justices say peaceful protests are OK under riot law”
A protester confronts police in Miami. | Al Diaz, Miami Herald
June 21, 2024

Justices say peaceful protests are OK under riot law

Siding with the state and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Supreme Court rejected arguments that the law is ambiguous.…

Featured image for “Citizens Insurance seeks 14% rate hike in 2025”
June 20, 2024

Citizens Insurance seeks 14% rate hike in 2025

Although Florida’s property insurance market is improving, Citizens still hopes to reduce its number of policies.…

Featured image for “Florida justices consider UF’s COVID shutdown”
A statue of a gator appears outside Heavener Hall at the University of Florida in Gainesville. | Brooke Johnson, Fresh Take Florida
June 6, 2024

Florida justices consider UF’s COVID shutdown

A University of Florida graduate student wants a refund for services that were not provided during a COVID-19 campus shutdown…

Featured image for “Nemours lawsuit continues in fight over duPont money”
A Florida appeals court has ruled that the Delaware attorney general can pursue a lawsuit about whether Delaware is being shortchanged due to Nemours children's hospitals in Florida and other states. | Nemours Children's Health
June 4, 2024

Nemours lawsuit continues in fight over duPont money

An appeals court cleared the way for a lawsuit from Alfred I. duPont’s native state, Delaware.…

Featured image for “Florida’s property insurance market seems to be improving”
Rescue personnel search for people who may need help in Mexico Beach, one day after Hurricane Michael made landfall near the area in 2018. | Gerald Herbert, AP
May 31, 2024

Florida’s property insurance market seems to be improving

The AM Best financial-rating agency says Florida’s property insurance market is showing signs of improvement — but that time will…

Featured image for “Florida begins to repeal renewable energy goals”
Tampa Electric's Big Bend power plant. | Luis Santana, Tampa Bay Times
May 24, 2024

Florida begins to repeal renewable energy goals

A proposal from the state says the goals are “no longer necessary” as Florida deemphasizes greenhouse gas emissions in state…

Featured image for “Florida utilities grapple with unpredictable storms”
Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane in October 2018 near Mexico Beach. | Mike Braun, WGCU Public Media
May 22, 2024

Florida utilities grapple with unpredictable storms

The increased intensity and unpredictability of hurricanes is making storm preparation more difficult — and expensive.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s strip club law set for court hearing”
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. | News Service of Florida
May 20, 2024

Jacksonville’s strip club law set for court hearing

A federal appeals court will consider whether it’s constitutional to bar dancers under age 21 in adult establishments.…

Featured image for “Federal judge tosses part of Florida’s elections law”
Daryl Jones, board chairman of the Transformative Justice Coalition, advocates for voter rights in June 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 17, 2024

Federal judge tosses part of Florida’s elections law

Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker blocked part of a 2023 law that restricts voter registration groups.…

Featured image for “Heat risks increase for workers in the South, study says”
Gilberto Lujano, 49, wipes sweat from his face after while working on a roof on May 2, 2023, in Homestead. | Matias J. Ocner, Miami Herald
May 14, 2024

Heat risks increase for workers in the South, study says

After Florida lawmakers this year barred local heat protections for workers, a new study concludes that excessive heat puts their…

Featured image for “Florida challenges feds on gender-affirming care”
Members of the LGBTQ community protested the gender-affirming care ban at a medical board meeting. | Daylina Miller, WUSF Pubic Media
May 8, 2024

Florida challenges feds on gender-affirming care

Florida says a federal health care rule clashes with the state’s efforts to restrict treatments for transgender people.…

Featured image for “State defends North Florida congressional map”
May 2, 2024

State defends North Florida congressional map

Attorneys say a previous plan, creating a majority Black district, was illegally based on race.…