News
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- In the quest to restore voting rights to the nearly 1.4 million Floridians with prior felony convictions, there is new hope that a class action designation will make that possible. Last week, a federal appeals court rejected a request by Gov. Ron DeSantis to review a prior decision which blocked a state law requiring former felons to pay back all legal financial obligations before they vote.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida's prison system has confirmed 12 workers testing positive for COVID-19, and some prison-rights groups say that alone should prompt testing of the prison population.The Florida Department of Corrections provides daily testing updates, and as of Tuesday, no one serving a prison sentence had tested positive, although a department spokesperson confirmed that they only test those experiencing symptoms, per county health department guidelines.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The news was spreading with excitement after a Florida appeals court affirmed the state can't stop some people released from prison from registering to vote just because they haven't paid all their court fees - but there's a caveat.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - With Florida's online voter registration deadline quickly approaching, voting rights groups want state officials to ensure they'll be transparent about their plans to troubleshoot any potential problems. The groups - which include the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the Florida League of Women Voters - sent a letter to Secretary of State Laura Lee raising concerns about the state's readiness to handle issues if people rush to the website 'registertovoteflorida.gov.'
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Civil-rights advocates and families of people serving time in Florida prisons are rallying support for a package of prison-reform bills, including some that could help trim their loved ones' time behind bars.Kim Lawrence says her daughter was 15 when she was sentenced to prison for a home invasion in which no one was injured - but another teen had a gun. She's currently serving 10 years, with 10 years probation.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - This week, Florida's Capitol was jam-packed with the sticky hands of children to force policymakers to take note of their needs. The annual "Children's Week" kicked off last Sunday, with an event known as the "hanging of the hands" in the Capitol Rotunda. Tens of thousands of pieces of colorful "hand art" decorated by children and their teachers became the center of attention.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida Legislature could end the state's practice of suspending the licenses of people driving with unpaid fines and fees. About two million people in the state have had their drivers licenses suspended for nonpayment of traffic tickets or toll violations, criminal citations and other court fees.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Roughly 100 people with colorful signs rallied on the steps of Florida's historic Capitol on Saturday to celebrate the anniversary of the first Women's March on D.C. The march debuted in January 2017 across the nation, the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration. On its fourth anniversary, the crowds were smaller, but the issues remained the same.
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.
