News from around the state of Florida
Featured image for “Florida leaders seek other options on social media ban”
The Florida Legislature passed a bill aimed at keeping children under age 16 off social media platforms. | JackF, Adobe Stock
February 29, 2024

Florida leaders seek other options on social media ban

Gov. Ron DeSantis has until Friday to sign, veto or allow a law to take effect banning children from social…

Featured image for “Lawmakers consider more job opportunities for veterans”
February 29, 2024

Lawmakers consider more job opportunities for veterans

House Bill 1329 helps out vets who are returning to civilian life and need a job or are looking to…

Featured image for “Major Florida health plan heads to governor”
February 23, 2024

Major Florida health plan heads to governor

The wide-ranging plan seeks to keep more doctors in Florida, promote innovation and shift patients away from emergency rooms.…

Featured image for “Legislature restricts driving in the left lane”
February 23, 2024

Legislature restricts driving in the left lane

A bill sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis would prohibit driving in the left lane on highways except under certain conditions,…

Featured image for “Legislature approves social media ban for kids”
The "Social Media Use for Minors" bill was passed by the Florida Senate on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. | Lauren Witte, Fresh Take Florida
February 22, 2024

Legislature approves social media ban for kids

HB 1 bans all kids under 16 from using social media and requires everyone else to prove they are adults…

Featured image for “First Coast kids join chorus against social media ban”
February 21, 2024

First Coast kids join chorus against social media ban

A young entrepreneur from Green Cove Springs says Instagram helped him start his business. He opposes a proposal to ban…

Featured image for “The sad death of a manatee nursed to health in Jacksonville”
A manatee comes to the surface for a breath at Three Sister Springs in Crystal River. | Lauren Whiddon, Fresh Take Florida
February 21, 2024

The sad death of a manatee nursed to health in Jacksonville

Asha was released into the wild after nearly two years at the Jacksonville Zoo. Then someone, for some reason, removed…

Featured image for “Athletics coaches may be required to take CPR training”
Students participate in NFL-sponsored activities at Rock Lake Neighborhood Center leading up to the Pro Bowl football game on Jan. 31, 2024, in Orlando. | Vera Nieuwenhuis, AP Images for NFL
February 20, 2024

Athletics coaches may be required to take CPR training

Pending legislation would require all coaches in Florida to be CPR certified and trained to use an automated external defibrillator.…

Featured image for “Florida gambling money may pay for environmental projects”
February 20, 2024

Florida gambling money may pay for environmental projects

Legislators have agreed to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in gambling money to expand a state wildlife corridor and…

Featured image for “Democrats believe DeSantis is losing grip on Legislature”
February 20, 2024

Democrats believe DeSantis is losing grip on Legislature

They point out that Republican leadership has refused to pursue certain culture war issues since Gov. Ron DeSantis failed in…

Featured image for “Florida House passes bill to allow bear killings”
Supporters of a bear hunt say the animals are becoming a nuisance.
February 19, 2024

Florida House passes bill to allow bear killings

Supporters say the bill is needed because more bears are venturing into residential areas in North Florida.…

Featured image for “Florida kids speak out against social media restrictions”
February 19, 2024

Florida kids speak out against social media restrictions

Facebook, Instagram and TikTok would likely become off-limits under a proposed ban on social media accounts for anyone under 16.…

Featured image for “Tens of thousands of workers in Florida have just lost their labor unions. More is coming.”
Members and staff of AFSCME Local 199 held a drive in June 2023 to get the amount of dues paying members past the 60% threshold created by a new Florida law. If unions fail to reach that threshold, they can be decertified and dissolved. | Daniel Rivero, WLRN
February 16, 2024

Tens of thousands of workers in Florida have just lost their labor unions. More is coming.

A sweeping anti-union bill signed last year has destroyed collective bargaining rights across the state — rights protected by the…

Featured image for “Why movies set in Florida aren’t filmed here anymore”
The pool house of the Casa de Muchas Flores is where scenes for the 1985 movie "Cocoon" was filmed. | Patrick Degnan, YourDigitalPro
February 15, 2024

Why movies set in Florida aren’t filmed here anymore

Jacksonville was once known as the “Winter Film Capital of the World.” Now movies set in Florida are actually filmed…

Featured image for “Should schools teach the history of communism?”
February 14, 2024

Should schools teach the history of communism?

Rep. Robert Charles Brannan III of Maccleny proposes that schools teach the history of communism in grades as low as…

Featured image for “UF Health included in plan to boost behavioral health care”
February 14, 2024

UF Health included in plan to boost behavioral health care

UF Health Jacksonville would become a teaching hospital in behavioral health under two bills in the Florida Legislature.…

Featured image for “The flamingo may finally take its place as Florida’s state bird”
National Park Service Data Manager and Ecologist Judd Patterson photographed this flock of flamingos in Lake Ingram in 2012, a sighting that helped launch a study that eventually concluded flamingos are native to Florida and should have protected status. | Judd Patterson, National Park Service
February 14, 2024

The flamingo may finally take its place as Florida’s state bird

Two bills in the Legislature would dethrone the noisy and occasionally combative mockingbird as the reigning state bird after nearly…

Featured image for “Law could make it easier to remove squatters from homes”
Patti Peeples tells her story to the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Feb 6, 2024, at the Florida Capitol. | The Florida Channel
February 12, 2024

Law could make it easier to remove squatters from homes

After hearing horror stories of property being taken over by squatters, the Florida Legislature is taking action.…

Featured image for “Advocates worry more public schools could become charters”
February 12, 2024

Advocates worry more public schools could become charters

A legislative bill would allow muncipalities to apply to convert public schools within city boundaries into charters.…

Featured image for “Opposition growing against ethics legislation”
February 12, 2024

Opposition growing against ethics legislation

Opponents say a bill moving through the Florida Legislature would make it easier for corrupt politicians to get away with…

Featured image for “Florida lawmakers seek stricter penalties for street racing”
Illegal street racers could face charges of up to $7,500 in fines and potentially lose their license for a year, under a new bill passed by a Florida Senate committee. | Abdel Meguid Al-Fergany, AP
February 9, 2024

Florida lawmakers seek stricter penalties for street racing

Laws enacted in 2022 have not eliminated “street takeovers.” A new bill aims to end the illegal activity once and…

Featured image for “10 big issues at mid-session mark for Florida Legislature”
February 8, 2024

10 big issues at mid-session mark for Florida Legislature

Florida’s annual 60-day legislative session reached its halfway point Wednesday. Here are updates on 10 big issues in the session.…

Featured image for “National Hurricane Center releases new forecast cone”
February 8, 2024

National Hurricane Center releases new forecast cone

The National Hurricane Center will implement a new experimental cone graphic to display critical watches and warnings for inland counties…

Featured image for “Justices weigh abortion rights amendment for ballot”
Demonstrators on both sides of the abortion issue turned out for a Florida Supreme Court hearing Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. | Tom Urban, News Service of Florida
February 7, 2024

Justices weigh abortion rights amendment for ballot

Florida Supreme Court justices on Wednesday heard arguments about a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at guaranteeing abortion rights in the…