Tag Archives: Florida

Florida Politics reports: Ousted Republican Party of Florida Chair Christian Ziegler acknowledged in court that he kept numerous videos of sexual partners besides his wife. Sarasota Police have copies of much of that, and some 30,000 videos downloaded from Ziegler’s iPhone last year. Ziegler testified on the topic in a May 16 hearing in Sarasota as he and wife Bridget, …

The Washington Post reports: Florida will eliminate climate change as a priority in making energy policy decisions, despite the threats it faces from powerful hurricanes, extreme heat and worsening toxic algae blooms. On Wednesday, the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, signed the legislation, which is set to go into effect on July 1. The measure also removes most references to climate …

Florida Politics reports: The Florida Democratic Party (FDP) is urging members to confirm they are still election-ready after a U.S. House candidate revealed he was recently deactivated from the state’s voter rolls. Former Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey, a Democrat running for Florida’s 27th Congressional District in Miami-Dade, shared this past weekend that the state had removed him in October …

Florida Politics reports: Smart & Safe Florida is going statewide with four ads over TV, streaming, radio and digital sites, worth more than $5 million to support Amendment 3. “A smart and safe Florida means a regulated marijuana market where Floridians no longer need to turn to illicit cartel-trafficked products on the streets,” Smart & Safe Florida spokesperson Morgan Hill …

Florida Politics reports: Florida’s Governor is speaking out about the First Lady potentially running to succeed him, downplaying Casey DeSantis’ interest in the job. Ron DeSantis said that if he “had to characterize her interest in getting into the political thicket as a candidate,” he would “characterize it as zero.” “But, you know, I think it’s because she’s had a …

“For over a decade, Rick Scott has made it clear that there is no plan too extreme for him to support, or favor for the wealthy corporate elite too shameful for him to do, at the expense of Florida’s working families and seniors. Whether it is ending Social Security and Medicare as we know it, slashing funding for public education, …

CNN reports: Florida A&M University is putting a purported $237.75 million donation “on pause,” after media reports and college board leaders raised concerns about the actual value of the stock gift—and the details surrounding the donor’s previous donations. It’s a stunning reversal from the fanfare last Saturday at FAMU’s commencement ceremony, when the announcement of the gift made headlines as …

Pro-DeSantis outlet Florida’s Voice reports: A new poll conducted in Florida found that the abortion ballot initiative voters will decide on this November could have enough support to pass. Released by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the poll placed the abortion initiative’s support at 61%. It found that 29% oppose, and 10% remain unsure. Amendments need 60% of the vote …

Florida Politics reports: Support for legalizing recreation remains high, but is still shy of the threshold needed to amend Florida’s Constitution. That’s according to a poll released by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which found 58% of Floridians ready to support Amendment 3 on the November ballot. About 37% of those polled oppose the measure and only 5% remain undecided. …

The Orlando Weekly reports: In a case that could have far-reaching implications for the state’s public-records laws, an appeals court heard arguments Tuesday in a challenge to a judge’s ruling that “executive privilege” shields Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration from releasing records. The appeal stems from a public-records request, filed by someone identified in court documents as J. Doe, seeking information …

ABC News reports: Barron Trump, the youngest child of former President Donald Trump, was chosen as one of Florida’s at-large delegates for the Republican National Convention, according to a list of delegates obtained by ABC News. In response to the news of Barron Trump being selected as one of Florida’s at-large delegates to the Republican National Convention, a Trump campaign …

The Miami Herald reports: Javier Ortiz, the Miami police captain whose long history of citizen complaints alleging beatings, false arrests and harassment made him notorious in the city he swore to protect and serve, has joined Ron DeSantis’ Florida State Guard. Ortiz, 44, joined the paramilitary organization in February, about a year after the Miami Police Department rescinded his firing …

Florida Politics reports: During a live interview on Fox News Sunday, host Shannon Bream pressed Florida’s senior Senator on rumors he’s on the former President’s short list for Vice President. “There may be a technical glitch with having two people from the same state when it comes down to an electoral college vote,” Bream noted, referencing a long-debated constitutional concern. …

Miami’s NBC affiliate reports: Two teens are facing felony charges after a viral video showing boaters dumping trash in the ocean off Boca Raton sparked outrage, officials said Friday. The teens — 15 and 16 years old — turned themselves in to police Friday, FWC officials said. The viral video, which was posted on the Instagram account Wavy Boats, shows …

Florida Politics reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation giving bank customers who believe they’ve been discriminated against based on their political affiliations a way to file complaints against the financial institution. The measure (HB 989) also includes several provisions important to Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and his Department of Financial Services. But DeSantis said cracking down on discrimination …

Tampa’s NBC affiliate reports: A Florida judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Joseph Maldonado, also known as Joe Exotic, after Maldonado claimed copyright infringement over songs feature in the Netflix documentary Tiger King. Maldonado claimed many of the songs that became popular on the hit documentary were written and performed by himself, and sued Vince Johnson in efforts to …

Florida Politics reports: Florida will soon be the only state in America where cultivated meat cannot be sold. But only two restaurants in America sell the lab-grown product now, and neither operates in the state. At a press conference in Wauchula, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a legislative package (SB 1084) that includes a number of Florida Department of Agriculture and …

“Everybody knows you’re going to wipe things down with Clorox before mold takes over your home. As soon as a protester goes to being a perpetrator, that needs to be shut down, it is time to shut it down and when they go to court and when they see a judge, a judge needs to say you will not go …

Jacksonville’s NBC affiliate reports: The University of North Florida’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion shut down Wednesday, along with several campus programs, to comply with a new state law. The Florida law bans universities from spending money on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs. Four different centers on campus that were all under the umbrella of the Office of Diversity and …

NPR reports: Starting today, people can no longer access legal abortions in Florida beyond six weeks of pregnancy, except in rare circumstances. The restriction replaces a 15-week ban that’s been in effect since July 2022, shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Abortion rights supporters say it will dramatically curb access to the procedure for thousands of …