Florida Supreme Court to rule on legality of online sports betting in the state

West Flagler Associates has filed a brief with the Supreme Court, arguing the gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe and Florida, violates Amendment 3 of the state's constitution. Currently, people in Florida may place real bets on live sports through the Hard Rock Bet app; however Amendment 3 requires voter approval to expand casino gambling in the state. While the battle continues at the state level, those for and against the Florida gaming pact still await a U.S. Supreme Court on whether the compact violates the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. [Source: WTVT]

Disney files public records suit against Florida

Disney says Central Florida Tourism Oversight District — which was filled by appointees of Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year — has been so slow in fulfilling its public records duties that it has failed to respond completely to a request the company made seven months ago when it paid more than $2,400 to get emails and text messages belonging to the five district. Disney, DeSantis and the DeSantis appointees already are battling for control of the government in two pending lawsuits in federal and state court. [Source: Key Biscayne Independent]

More resignations follow in ongoing rejection of local financial disclosure law

Some officials in Jacksonville are stepping down due to recent changes in financial disclosure requirements for local elected leaders. Jacksonville Beach councilman Cory Nichols referred to regulation requiring elected officials' to provide a list of assets, net worth, liablities, business and incomes as a "major overreach and a direct attack on ‘Home Rule’ for local communities." Elsewhere, the rule has been called an "invasion of privacy." [Source: WJXT]

Florida's 'Move Over' law expands next week

Beginning Jan. 1, Florida's "Move Over" law will expand, requiring drivers to move over or slow down for ANY cars stalled with their flashers on (the current version of the law only requires drivers to slow down or merge for law enforcement, wreckers, or other essential personnel stopped with their hazards). [Source: Spectrum News]

For DeSantis, 2023 didn’t go as planned. He still left his mark on Florida.

Ron DeSantis went to bed last New Year’s Eve looking at a favorable path to the presidency. At least 10 national and key-state polls in December 2022 showed Florida’s governor leading former President Donald Trump in the race for the White House. Then 2023 happened. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Amid statewide education issues, South Florida superintendents reflect on 2023 challenges [WTVJ]
Education was a focal point in many political battles in Florida, but our local superintendents say their focus will continue to be student achievement

› Biggest Florida scandals in 2023 [Tallahassee Democrat]
In 2023, Florida was something of an epicenter for scandals and controversies that shook the nation. The Sunshine State got a lot of attention this year, and most of it wasn’t good: Zieglers, New College Disney, Nazis, migrant flights, FSU football's snub, a Florida republican at the center of a historic moment in Congress and more...

› Car insurance in Florida is costliest in country [WSVN]
The high price of things like rent and home insurance are making things tough for people here in South Florida. And now, many are taking another financial hit. The cost of car insurance in our state is sky high. But what’s “driving” the rise in rates?

› Florida’s extreme summer heat didn’t trigger a major state response [WUSF]
While heat seems top of mind, state leaders did not respond to it with the same intensity of a tropical storm or hurricane

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Decline in Florida Panther car deaths may show troubling population trend [WTVT]
The leading cause of Florida Panther death is car collisions. New data released shows a sharp decline in car collisions this year, and although that sounds like a good thing, researchers and advocates are concerned.

› Florida Activists Withdraw Medical Cannabis Home Grow Initiative [High Times]
A drive to put an initiative that would allow medical marijuana patients to grow cannabis at home has ended after failing to collect enough signatures.

› Florida bill aims to close squatting loophole [FOX News]
Florida GOP State Rep. Kevin Steele has sponsored a bill to close a squatting loophole after homeowner was terrorized for 34 days and suffered $40,000 in property damages