News from around the state of Florida
Featured image for “Florida bear hunt planned in December, the first in a decade”
Opponents of a bear hunt protest outside a meeting of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. | Jim Turner, News Service of Florida
May 22, 2025

Florida bear hunt planned in December, the first in a decade

The controversial hunt could lead to 187 bears being killed. Wildlife officials could give final approval in August.…

Featured image for “Prosecutors open investigation related to Hope Florida”
Casey DeSantis speaks during a campaign event for Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 2, 2023, in Lexington, South Carolina. |
May 21, 2025

Prosecutors open investigation related to Hope Florida

The program, led by Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis, has been under scrutiny in connection with a Medicaid settlement.…

Featured image for “Florida remains hot. When will rain and storms return?”
May 21, 2025

Florida remains hot. When will rain and storms return?

The forecast shows some breaks, but more heat will return for Memorial Day.…

Featured image for “Judge orders more help for Florida’s ailing manatees”
A federal judge ordered the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to take steps to protect manatees.
May 20, 2025

Judge orders more help for Florida’s ailing manatees

A federal judge required the state to go through a permitting process and to block new septic tanks.…

Featured image for “No more random boat inspections in Florida”
Oyster boats float on Apalachicola Bay. | Rob Diaz de Villegas, WFSU
May 20, 2025

No more random boat inspections in Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation Monday that requires probable cause for law enforcement to stop and search boats.…

Featured image for “Florida’s drought improves with recent rains”
The drought monitor released on May 15,
May 19, 2025

Florida’s drought improves with recent rains

About 87% of Florida is now experiencing drought, down from 93% before rainfall last week.…

Featured image for “FAMU chooses president despite community concerns”
Increasingly, Florida universities are choosing politicians as presidents. | Shock, stock.adobe.com
May 19, 2025

FAMU chooses president despite community concerns

Community members expressed concern about Marva Johnson’s politics and her lack of education experience.…

Featured image for “Florida will review security on campuses after FSU shooting”
People sit in front of a makeshift memorial outside the student union at Florida State University in Tallahassee on April 17, 2025, after a campus shooting. | Kate Payne, AP
May 16, 2025

Florida will review security on campuses after FSU shooting

The state university system hopes to recommend any improvements by the end of summer.…

Featured image for “Florida Humanities raises money after DOGE cuts”
Florida Humanities launched a fundraising campaign to keep local art programs afloat.
May 14, 2025

Florida Humanities raises money after DOGE cuts

The nonprofit’s Save Florida’s Stories campaign hopes to raise $300,000 by September.…

Featured image for “Appellate court blocks Florida’s drag show law”
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. | News Service of Florida
May 14, 2025

Appellate court blocks Florida’s drag show law

The court upheld an injunction against the law, which was sponsored by Sen. Clay Yarborough of Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “DeSantis rejects suggestion of budget ‘summit’”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference in Orlando. | John Raoux, AP
May 13, 2025

DeSantis rejects suggestion of budget ‘summit’

The governor called a summit a “dog-and-pony show” and said legislators should just “do their jobs.”…

Featured image for “Accused FSU shooter jailed after hospital release”
An impromptu memorial of flowers and other items is laid near the center of the Florida State campus on April 17, 2025. |
May 13, 2025

Accused FSU shooter jailed after hospital release

Phoenix Ikner is charged with killing two people and wounding six others during a shooting on campus last month.…

Featured image for “Heavy rain could bring flash flooding in North Florida”
May 12, 2025

Heavy rain could bring flash flooding in North Florida

Some areas could receive 2 to 4 inches of rain on ground that is already saturated from recent days.…

Featured image for “Search for president divides FAMU community”
Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor and Bethel AME Pastor Michael Price
May 9, 2025

Search for president divides FAMU community

Candidate interviews are scheduled next week, and the board of trustees will choose the new president May 16.…

Featured image for “Channel of moisture streams over North Florida”
May 8, 2025

Channel of moisture streams over North Florida

There’s a marginal risk for severe storms Thursday and Friday across the northern half of Florida.…

Featured image for “10 takeaways from Florida’s legislative session”
May 5, 2025

10 takeaways from Florida’s legislative session

Here are issues that passed, failed or remain up in the air after the 2025 session.…

Featured image for “Lawmakers add restrictions to ballot initiative process”
May 5, 2025

Lawmakers add restrictions to ballot initiative process

It could become harder to get issues on the ballot, but proponents say the reforms will reduce fraud.…

Featured image for “Lawmakers put reins on boating inspections”
Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to stop the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission from making "intrusive" checks on boaters. | WFSU
May 2, 2025

Lawmakers put reins on boating inspections

A bill sent to the governor would block law enforcement from boarding vessels without probable cause.…

Featured image for “See how Trump’s funding cuts could affect your school district”
With the future of the Department of Education in limbo, it's uncertain how school districts will continue to receive federal funding. Florida receives around 17% of its education dollars from the federal government. | Dusanka Visnjican/Cherries/stock.adobe.com
May 2, 2025

See how Trump’s funding cuts could affect your school district

Data from the Economic Policy Institute shows how cuts could affect every district in Florida.…

Featured image for “Lawmakers vote to block development at state parks”
Opponents protest a plan to develop Florida state parks last summer. | Daylina Miller, WUSF
May 1, 2025

Lawmakers vote to block development at state parks

A bill intended to keep golf courses and lodges from being built in state parks is headed to Gov. Ron…

Featured image for “Legislature eases financial burden on condo owners”
Workers make repairs to the facade of the Parker Tower Condo in Hallandale Beach on Dec. 5, 2024. | Marta Lavandier, AP
May 1, 2025

Legislature eases financial burden on condo owners

Sen. Jennifer Bradley of Fleming Island shepherded a revamp of condo laws in the Senate.…

Featured image for “Florida wrestles with banning phones in more schools”
High school junior Jack Hayes with his mother, Judi Hayes, outside William R. Boone High School in Orlando on April 3, 2025. | Kade Sowers, Fresh Take Florida
April 30, 2025

Florida wrestles with banning phones in more schools

Many parents object to the possibility that phones could be banned for the entire school day.…

Featured image for “Police must stop enforcing immigration law, judge says”
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier speaks during a meeting between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee on March 5, 2025. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP
April 30, 2025

Police must stop enforcing immigration law, judge says

A federal judge says Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier wrongly told local police to ignore a freeze on the law.…

Featured image for “Mockingbird keeps its perch as Florida’s state bird”
A northern mockingbird, Florida's state bird, overlooks sand pine scrubs in Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound on Feb. 5, 2025. | Kat Tran, Fresh Take Florida
April 30, 2025

Mockingbird keeps its perch as Florida’s state bird

The mockingbird held off challenges in the Capitol for a fourth consecutive year to unseat it as Florida’s state bird.…