News from around the state of Florida
Featured image for “Mandatory school recess won’t be scrubbed after all”
December 20, 2023

Mandatory school recess won’t be scrubbed after all

Florida legislators nixed part of a larger education bill that would have taken away the mandatory recess period.…

Featured image for “New panther license plate available for Florida motorists”
December 14, 2023

New panther license plate available for Florida motorists

Fees from the Protect the Panther license plate go directly into the Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund.…

Featured image for “School Board asks Bridget Ziegler to resign. She refuses.”
Bridget Ziegler looks on as public comment begins during the Sarasota School Board meeting Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. | Andrea Melendez, WGCU
December 13, 2023

School Board asks Bridget Ziegler to resign. She refuses.

The Sarasota School Board voted 4-1 after allegations that Ziegler was involved in a sexual tryst with her husband and…

Featured image for “Attorney general files demand on FSU playoff exclusion”
Florida State coach Mike Norvell lifts the trophy after the team's win over Louisville in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Dec. 2, 2023. | Erik Verduzco, AP
December 13, 2023

Attorney general files demand on FSU playoff exclusion

Attorney General Ashley Moody on Tuesday demanded wide-ranging information from the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.…

Featured image for “Warmer winter may help citrus industry recover”
Florida’s struggling citrus industry could be showing signs of recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Ian and the decades-long fight against citrus greening disease. | PepsiCo aia AP Images
December 11, 2023

Warmer winter may help citrus industry recover

Projections for the new crop are nearly 30% ahead of last season’s production, which was hammered by Hurricane Ian and…

Featured image for “What to expect with home insurance in 2024”
December 11, 2023

What to expect with home insurance in 2024

Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky provides tips to Floridians who face challenges with homeowners insurance.…

Featured image for “DeSantis seeks $1 million to sue over FSU football snub”
December 6, 2023

DeSantis seeks $1 million to sue over FSU football snub

DeSantis said the money would allow FSU to sue the college playoff committee, even though the championship will be decided…

Featured image for “Here are the governor’s priorities in 2024-25 budget”
December 6, 2023

Here are the governor’s priorities in 2024-25 budget

Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed a variety of tax cuts and spending on such things as teacher salary increases and police…

Featured image for “North Florida redistricting fight heads to Supreme Court”
December 4, 2023

North Florida redistricting fight heads to Supreme Court

Voting rights groups will appeal the elimination of Congressional District 5, a Black-majority district that included parts of Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Court backs DeSantis on North Florida redistricting”
December 1, 2023

Court backs DeSantis on North Florida redistricting

The 1st District Court of Appeal upheld the elimination of a majority-Black district stretching from Jacksonville to Tallahassee.…

Featured image for “Alachua school district returns LGBTQ book to shelves”
Eastside High School is in the Alachua County School District in Gainesville. | Fresh Take Florida
December 1, 2023

Alachua school district returns LGBTQ book to shelves

The school district determined that a complaint about the book came from a woman who did not live in the…

Featured image for “Marsy’s Law doesn’t shield names, Supreme Court rules”
The Florida Supreme Court building in Tallahassee. | Katalina Enriquez, Fresh Take Florida
December 1, 2023

Marsy’s Law doesn’t shield names, Supreme Court rules

The court said police involved in fatal shootings cannot not withhold their names — nor can crime victims.…

Featured image for “Gator hunts could be expanded to add ‘flexibility’”
Alligators begin to get more active in April. | Gerald Herbert, AP
November 20, 2023

Gator hunts could be expanded to add ‘flexibility’

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will consider special permits that would expand where alligator hunters can hunt.…

Featured image for “Florida Supreme Court won’t suspend online sports betting”
November 20, 2023

Florida Supreme Court won’t suspend online sports betting

The court denied a motion by two partimutuel companies to halt spots betting while a broader legal battle plays out.…

Featured image for “Local senator proposes flood disclosures on home sales”
San Marco stands flooded after Hurricane Irma in 2017. | Jessica Palombo, WJCT News 89.9
November 16, 2023

Local senator proposes flood disclosures on home sales

Sen. Jennifer Bradley of Fleming Island filed a bill that would require property owners to tell buyers whether flooding has…

Featured image for “Lawmakers may allow spouses to live in veterans facilities”
Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, is sponsoring a bill that could expand eligibility for veterans' long-term care facilities. | Colin Hackley
November 15, 2023

Lawmakers may allow spouses to live in veterans facilities

A Florida Senate panel backed the proposal, which also would apply to parents of military members who died in service.…

Featured image for “Heavy rain and strong winds due in Florida this week”
November 15, 2023

Heavy rain and strong winds due in Florida this week

Two developing storm systems — one over the Gulf of Mexico, the other over the southwestern Caribbean — are to…

Featured image for “Universities defy order to shut down pro-Palestinian groups”
An unidentified University of Florida student wraps himself in an Israeli flag during a campus vigil Oct. 9, 2023, for victims of Hamas attacks. | Augustus Hoff, WUFT News
November 13, 2023

Universities defy order to shut down pro-Palestinian groups

Two of Florida’s biggest universities fear legal liability if they follow a DeSantis order to shut down pro-Palestinian organizations on…

Featured image for “John Rutherford discusses his support of Donald Trump”
U.S. Rep John Rutherford, a Republican from Jacksonville. | Office of U.S. Rep. John Rutherford
November 13, 2023

John Rutherford discusses his support of Donald Trump

The congressman discussed Trump, oil drilling, the House speaker and more in a wide-ranging interview with The Florida Roundup.…

Featured image for “Seminole Tribe plans major gambling expansion in Florida”
The Seminole Tribe will add craps, roulette and sports betting at its casinos. | Wayne Parry, AP
November 1, 2023

Seminole Tribe plans major gambling expansion in Florida

The tribe will add roulette, craps and sports betting at its casinos in Florida in December.…

Featured image for “Gun safety classes plummet after concealed carry changes”
Jeff Meling shoots a 9mm Sig Sauer handgun at Shoot GTR in Gainesville on Sept. 20, 2023. | Augustus Hoff, Fresh Take Florida
November 1, 2023

Gun safety classes plummet after concealed carry changes

Applications for concealed carry permits have dropped by about 64% since Florida eliminated the need for training and a permit…

Featured image for “Appellate court considers North Florida redistricting”
November 1, 2023

Appellate court considers North Florida redistricting

The court is expected to rule by Nov. 22 the elimination of a Black-majority district stretching from Jacksonville to Gadsden…

Featured image for “Attorney general urges court to reject abortion initiative”
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. | Steve Cannon, AP
November 1, 2023

Attorney general urges court to reject abortion initiative

Attorney General Ashley Moody filed a brief contending the proposal should be kept off the 2024 ballot because the wording…

Featured image for “Proposed law would force drivers out of the left lane”
Traffic flows toward Downtown Jacksonville just after rush hour.
October 24, 2023

Proposed law would force drivers out of the left lane

The bill would make it illegal to use the left lane unless attempting to pass other motorists.…