Tag Archives: Florida

NBC News reports: DeSantis has steadfastly refused to cross Trump in public or suggest he would challenge him in a primary, but in a new interview on the conservative podcast “The Truth with Lisa Boothe” that aired Monday morning, DeSantis made it clear he’s eying his re-election bid as a springboard for something bigger. “My goal would be, if we …

The Washington Post reports: After Florida education officials rejected a number of math textbooks over alleged “woke content,” some of the books have been reinstated. The Florida Department of Education announced Thursday that nine books were added back to an adoption list of instructional materials for math after publishers removed prohibited topics from the text. “Publishers are aligning their instructional …

Orlando’s NBC News affiliate reports: The Walt Disney Co. has remained publicly silent since Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law last week dissolving the Reedy Creek Improvement District, but a letter to investors shows they’re not going down without a fight. The law, which DeSantis signed in a special legislative session, would end any independent special district the Legislature …

The Miami Herald reports: One of the nation’s leading bond rating agencies warned Thursday that if the state of Florida doesn’t resolve a conflict over its decision to repeal Walt Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District and its obligation to investors, the move could harm the financial standing of other Florida governments. Fitch Ratings posted the alert late Thursday on …

DeSantis is really starting to feel the heat: The spokeswoman for Florida Gov. Ron Desantis (R) on Thursday said residents will not be affected by the stripping of Disney’s self-governing special district. The Reedy Creek Improvement District [RCID], where Disney is located, has said ending its special status is illegal unless the state pays off the district’s extensive debt. DeSantis …

Florida Politics reports: “DeSanTAX.” Oops. Spoiler alert. That’s the punchline of a new TV commercial that Democratic gubernatorial candidate and current Rep. Charlie Crist is launching in the Orlando market. It attacks Gov. Ron DeSantis’ legislative culture war battle with the Walt Disney Company. The ad charges that Governor’s Disney ire could result in tax increases in Orange and Osceola …

Jacksonville’s NBC News affiliate reports: A judge on Wednesday denied a request for bond for a Jacksonville pastor accused of abusing children for decades. Paul Dyal, 78, pastor of the Jacksonville Assembly of the Body of Christ on Old Kings Road, is charged with two counts of capital sexual battery on a child. The defense wanted him released on his …

Florida Politics reports: Getting rid of Disney World’s government isn’t likely going to hurt the Mouse, Deutsche Bank analysts wrote in a new research note published Tuesday. “We don’t see a material negative outcome from this situation for Disney; and financially speaking, we think it could end up being a positive development,” analysts Bryan Kraft, Benjamin Soff and Connor Murphy …

The Associated Press reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday to create a police force dedicated to pursuing voter fraud and other election crimes, embracing a top priority of Republicans after former President Donald Trump’s false claims that his reelection was stolen. The new law comes after the Republican governor made voting legislation a focus this year, pushing …

Florida Politics reports: Sen. Rick Scott said Monday that he has no plans to go back to Disney World and that he’s canceled his subscription to the Disney+ streaming service in the wake of the company’s opposition to the state’s Parental Rights in Education law. The Senator, during an appearance on the Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria,” contended that …

Orlando’s ABC News affiliate reports: The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office has released body cam video showing the questioning of two newlyweds after their wedding guests fell ill from cannabis-laced food last February. The sheriff’s office said that it was called to the The Springs Clubhouse in Longwood on Feb. 19 after several guests fell ill from the food. In total, …

The Tampa Bay Times reports: As House Democrats shouted them down and held an unprecedented hourlong sit-in in protest of the congressional redistricting map Thursday in the Florida Capitol, House Republicans turned to social media to express their displeasure. “House Democrats are staging an insurrection on the House floor to obstruct the democratic process. Shameful,” said Rep. Spencer Roach, a …

Florida Today reports: Florida Rep. Randy Fine threatened to interfere with state funding for the Special Olympics and the city of West Melbourne last week over a personal feud with Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins, according to a series of text messages obtained by FLORIDA TODAY. The reason: city police officials had invited Jenkins to participate in a …

The Miami New Times reports: Since July of 2021, more than 200 books have been banned in various school districts across Florida, the state with the third-highest number of school book banning incidents in the U.S. With that in mind, local political stunt activist Chaz Stevens of Deerfield Beach has taken it upon himself to add another book to the …

Orlando’s ABC News affiliate reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill to dissolve Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District on Friday afternoon. The state House passed the measure on Thursday. Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph said dissolving the district could be a massive financial burden for taxpayers. “The moment that Reedy Creek doesn’t exist is the moment that that those …

The Palm Beach Post reports: When a Palm Beach County judge stepped into the courtroom on Thursday to sentence Alexander Jerich for using his truck to burn a 15-foot-long skid mark into a gay pride memorial painted on Delray Beach street, he said he was pretty sure what kind of character he would meet. “I was expecting someone who displays …

Politico reports: Several voting rights and civil rights organizations as well as a Democratic-aligned redistricting group on Friday sued over Florida’s new congressional map that hands significant gains to Republicans and dismantles the North Florida seat now held by a Black Democrat. The League of Women Voters of Florida, which successfully challenged Florida’s last round of maps passed a decade …

Panama City’s NBC News affiliate reports: Dozens of books were recently taken off Walton County schools library shelves, leading to concern on social media and during the school board meeting Tuesday. District officials confirmed 58 were removed from libraries throughout all schools. “I did it for just a welfare of all involved, including our constituents, our teachers, and our students. …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Dissolving Walt Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District could saddle local taxpayers with about $1 billion in debt and leave local governments scrambling with how to take over vital services for Florida’s top tourist attraction. What happens next is unclear, but Orange County’s tax collector and other opponents of the bill say ending Reedy Creek could …

Florida Politics reports: The Legislature has approved a controversial congressional map from Gov. Ron DeSantis, set to take effect ahead of the 2022 midterms unless a court quickly decides otherwise. The House on Thursday picked up the reapportionment bill passed the prior day by the Senate. The lower chamber of the Legislature passed the bill through a party-line vote of …