April 26, 2024
News Service of Florida
Voters could decide constitutional right to hunt and fish on Florida 2024 ballot
TALLAHASSEE — Florida voters next year could decide whether to enshrine a right to hunt and fish in the state Constitution.
House and Senate panels Monday began moving forward with...
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Published on 3/28/2023
Florida's education fight heads to federal appeals court
TALLAHASSEE — A challenge to a 2022 law restricting classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation has gone to a federal appeals court, as state lawmakers and education officials...
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Published on 3/27/2023
State jobless rate stays at 2.6 percent
TALLAHASSEE --- Florida’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 2.6 percent in February, with job growth expected to continue in parts of the economy such as leisure and hospitality.
The state...
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Published on 3/26/2023
Florida jobless claims drop
Florida last week had the lowest number of first-time unemployment claims since the start of the year, as the state prepares to update jobless numbers on Friday.
The U.S. Department...
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Published on 3/24/2023
Appeals court allows lawsuit to go ahead over FPL outages during Hurricane Irma
TALLAHASSEE — An appeals court said Wednesday that Florida Power & Light can face a class-action lawsuit stemming from power outages in Hurricane Irma, which barreled up the state in...
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Published on 3/24/2023
Year-Round Schools Get Look in House
TALLAHASSEE — A House panel on Tuesday supported launching a pilot program of year-round schools, with the plan’s sponsor suggesting it could help students recover from learning losses during the...
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Published on 3/22/2023
Lawmakers Look to Help Military Members in Higher Ed
A House panel Tuesday gave initial backing to a measure that seeks to ease the transition into higher education for students in the military and dependents of military members, as...
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Published on 3/22/2023
Affordable housing package heads to Florida House floor
TALLAHASSEE — A priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo to try to boost affordable housing is headed to the House floor.
The House Ways & Means Committee on Monday voted...
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Published on 3/21/2023
Polston Stepping Down from Supreme Court
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston announced Monday he will step down March 31, giving Gov. Ron DeSantis another opportunity to place his imprint on the state’s highest...
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Published on 3/21/2023
Florida National Guard members would be paid for recruiting to build up military in the state
TALLAHASSEE --- Most members of the Florida National Guard could be paid to bring in new recruits, as lawmakers expand efforts to bulk up the military in the state.
The...
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Published on 3/20/2023
The fate of Florida's film and entertainment office is debated
TALLAHASSEE --- Lawmakers questioned the fate of an office that seeks to bolster the entertainment industry in Florida, as the House moves to eliminate the state’s business-recruitment agency and a...
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Published on 3/20/2023
Florida Board of Medicine's ban on transgender treatments for minors takes effect
Florida doctors could lose their medical licenses if they order puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgery for minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria, under a Florida Board of Medicine rule that took effect Thursday.
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Published on 3/16/2023
Tax Breaks Get Green Light
The Senate Finance and Tax Committee on Tuesday approved more than $70 million in proposed tax breaks that could become part of a package lawmakers will negotiate later in the...
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Published on 3/15/2023
Lawmakers Seek to Curb China Land Purchases
TALLAHASSEE --- The Florida Senate has started fast-tracking a proposal that would bar the sale of agricultural land and property within 20 miles of military bases to interests tied to...
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Published on 3/15/2023
State Gets $7 Billion Revenue Bump
TALLAHASSEE --- Economists added more than $7 billion to the state’s general-revenue forecast for the current fiscal year and next fiscal year, despite concerns about housing struggles, lingering inflation and...
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Published on 3/14/2023
Gas Prices, Travel Increase
With two of every five Floridians planning to hit the road for a spring vacation, gasoline prices have started to increase.
The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded...
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Published on 3/13/2023
Trulieve Tops $30M in Pot Initiative
The medical-cannabis company Trulieve contributed another $5 million last month to a ballot initiative aimed at legalizing recreational use of marijuana, bringing its total contributions to $30.5 million, according to...
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Published on 3/13/2023
Florida January Jobless Rate at 2.6 Percent
TALLAHASSEE --- With service-related jobs topping employment gains, Florida’s unemployment rate dipped slightly as 2023 began.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity on Monday released a report showing the January...
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Published on 3/13/2023
Florida January Jobless Rate at 2.6 Percent
TALLAHASSEE --- With service-related jobs topping employment gains, Florida’s unemployment rate dipped slightly as 2023 began.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity on Monday released a report showing the January...
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Published on 3/13/2023
Tax Collections Beat Forecast in January
Recovery efforts from Hurricane Ian helped Florida tax collections as 2023 got underway.
But state economists continue to express concerns about inflation and Floridians people spending personal savings.
The Legislature’s...
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Published on 3/10/2023
Jobless Claims Continue to Drop
First-time unemployment claims in Florida continued declining last week and hit a low for the year.
The U.S. Department of Labor issued a report Thursday that estimated 4,660 claims were...
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Published on 3/10/2023
House Takes Aim at Enterprise Florida
TALLAHASSEE --- Enterprise Florida, the state’s business-recruitment agency, is again in the crosshairs of the Florida House as the 2023 legislative session opened Tuesday.
House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast,...
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Published on 3/9/2023
Florida's citrus forecast inches up
Florida’s citrus industry received a little good news Wednesday as a new production forecast for the current growing season increased 1 percent for oranges and 5 percent for grapefruit.
The...
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Published on 3/8/2023
House Panel Backs School Board Changes
A House panel Wednesday moved forward with two proposals that would revamp county school-board elections.
The House Ethics, Elections & Open Government Subcommittee approved a proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 31),...
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Published on 3/8/2023
Ban on 'political loyalty' tests in Florida schools, universities moves in the House
A proposal that seeks to prevent Florida colleges and universities from requiring people to complete “political loyalty” tests began moving in the state House, as the bill’s sponsor pointed to...
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Published on 3/8/2023
