News
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Gov. Ron Desantis and Republican legislative leaders tout a booming economy, low unemployment and reduced taxes - while other observers say the true "State of the State" is bleak for working families. Desantis delivered a wide-ranging speech on accomplishments in education, healthcare and the environment. In response, Democrats say it focused mostly on the wealthy and politically well-connected.
TAMPA, Fla. - Conservation groups filed a lawsuit yesterday against state and federal agencies over road-widening projects in the middle of Florida's critical panther habitats. Widening projects along State Roads 29 and 82 in southwest Florida also include the first "continuous-flow intersection" in the state, designed to help traffic flow more smoothly while drivers are attempting left turns.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - After decades of speculation, rumors - and even some evidence that was initially ignored - an archaeological investigation confirms dozens of slaves were buried under what is now Tallahassee's semi-private Capital City Country Club. For years, golfers have unknowingly taken their shots atop sunken graves of cotton-plantation slaves near the Florida Capitol.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The gender pay gap in Florida shows women earn 85 cents for every dollar a man makes, and today, several women's groups are joining forces to help change Florida law - and even the U.S. Constitution.Florida was a battleground state in attempts to ratify the Constitution to enshrine equality under the law for both women and men. But efforts to pass an Equal Rights Amendment in the Florida Legislature have been on perpetual stall.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Conservation groups say Florida's newly updated energy-saving goals are still too low and should be raised. The Florida Public Service Commission recently voted to maintain the state's current energy conservation goals through 2025 instead of following power companies' requests to lower or even eliminate those goals.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Youth advocates are planning to hold a press conference and rally in Florida's capitol today to speak out against a parental-consent abortion bill that's on fast-track through the Republican-controlled Legislature. Currently Florida law requires parental notification if a minor is planning an abortion, but under House Bill 265, revived by Republican Rep. Erin Grall of Vero Beach, a parent must provide consent. The bill is scheduled for just one stop in the House Health and Human Services Committee before it gets a full floor vote.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - For the fifth time in 24 years, Florida is changing its education standards - this time away from Common Core. But some educators say a complete overhaul is unnecessary. In January, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order to ditch Common Core, a set of academic standards in mathematics, arts and literacy that outline what students should know at the end of each grade. Some parents argue the guidelines are too rigid and require too much testing for students.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Voting- and civil-rights groups held a rally outside a Tallahassee federal court Monday, calling for a temporary injunction to allow former felons to continue to register to vote. In 2018, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment allowing some 1.4 million felons to regain their voting privileges. But the state's Republican-controlled Legislature passed a bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis requiring all fines, restitution and other financial obligations to be settled in order for felons to complete their sentences.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A new study from the journal Science shows a steady decline of nearly three billion wild birds in North America since 1970. Nearly a half century ago, about 10.1 billion birds used to soar the skies across the United States and Canada. That has dropped by 29%.Scientists say while the cause varies, from development, agricultural conversion to even sea-level rise, they all stem from human activity.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Despite a White House threat to veto legislation that would permanently ban drilling off Florida's Gulf Coast, Gov. Ron DeSantis says he's confident President Donald Trump will still protect the Sunshine State. DeSantis and the president are close allies – however, while Trump is keen on increasing U.S. fossil fuel production with offshore drilling, DeSantis says he's been urging Trump to make sure Florida isn't included.
