April 20, 2024
News Service of Florida
Florida jobless claims remain low
First-time unemployment claims in Florida continued a downward trend, with fewer claims recorded last week than during any non-holiday shortened week since Hurricane Ian hit the state in September.
The...
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Published on 3/3/2023
Pot Initiative Tops 420,000 Signatures
Backers of a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow recreational use of marijuana have submitted more than 420,000 valid petition signatures to the state, nearly half the total needed to...
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Published on 3/2/2023
Controversial Education Law Could Expand
A House Republican on Tuesday filed a proposal that would bar instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity through eighth grade, expanding a controversial 2022 law that prohibited such instruction...
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Published on 3/1/2023
New College Board Takes Aim at 'DEI'
TALLAHASSEE — A revamped New College of Florida Board of Trustees, dominated by conservative allies of Gov. Ron DeSantis, took aim Tuesday at issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion...
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Published on 3/1/2023
10 Big Issues in 2023 Session
TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers next week will start the annual 60-day legislative session. Here are 10 big issues to watch:
— AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, has made...
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Published on 3/1/2023
Proposal Floats Idea of Full-Time Lawmakers
State analysts would be asked to study whether the role of state lawmakers should become more of a full-time occupation with higher pay, under a proposal filed Monday.
Rep. Bruce...
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Published on 2/28/2023
Duke Trims Proposed Bill Increases
With projected prices of natural gas dropping, Duke Energy Florida on Monday trimmed proposed bill increases that likely will hit customers in April.
Duke made filings in January at the...
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Published on 2/28/2023
Senate plan seeks to aid storm recovery
TALLAHASSEE --- After Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole devastated parts of the state last year, the Florida Senate is pursuing a series of proposals aimed at helping communities recover from...
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Published on 2/27/2023
Florida lawmakers take up plan to shield businesses from lawsuits
In a high-stakes debate, the Florida House on Friday began moving forward with a controversial plan designed to shield businesses and insurance companies from costly lawsuits.
The plan (HB 837)...
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Published on 2/27/2023
DeSantis puts immigration into play for 2023 legislative session
TALLAHASSEE --- Continuing to criticize federal border and immigration policies, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday called for state lawmakers to pass a series of proposals that include stiffer penalties for...
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Published on 2/24/2023
Florida jobless claims continue to decrease
Slightly more than 5,000 Floridians filed unemployment claims last week, as claims numbers continue to slow, according to a U.S. Department of Labor report released Thursday.
The department estimated that...
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Published on 2/24/2023
Florida's ports get cargo boost, see cruise rebound
TALLAHASSEE --- Global supply-chain issues last year helped push cargo traffic at Florida’s 16 seaports slightly ahead of pre-pandemic numbers, while the cruise industry is expected to return to pre-pandemic...
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Published on 2/22/2023
State of Florida creates office of opioid recovery to combat growing crisis
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday announced an expansion of opioid treatment and recovery services, using more than $205 million coming to the state from legal settlements with opioid manufacturers and...
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Published on 2/20/2023
Florida's population is estimated at 22.6 million
Florida is projected to have a population of 22.6 million on April 1 and could top 25 million in 2032, a report released Thursday shows.
The population is projected to...
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Published on 2/17/2023
Judge Tosses Challenge to Education Law
TALLAHASSEE — For the second time in less than five months, a federal judge has rejected a lawsuit seeking to block a controversial Florida law that restricts classroom instruction on...
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Published on 2/16/2023
Space Launches, Cruise Ships Face Conflicts
TALLAHASSEE --- Ramping up launches at the nation’s busiest spaceport has increased conflicts with cruise ships at Port Canaveral, a space-industry official told lawmakers this week.
With launches from Kennedy...
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Published on 2/16/2023
Judge Sides with State on Marijuana License
TALLAHASSEE --- Florida health regulators were correct to deny a medical-marijuana license to partners and heirs of an 84-year-old man who died before the state made a final decision about...
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Published on 2/16/2023
Tourism Hits Record Number in 2022
Bolstered by travelers from other states, Florida had a record 137.6 million visitors in 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office said Wednesday.
People from other states accounted for just under 93...
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Published on 2/16/2023
DeSantis suggests he will seek alternatives to the College Board
TALLAHASSEE — As a feud over an African American studies course continues between Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and the College Board, the governor said Monday that Florida will "look to...
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Published on 2/16/2023
Partisan School Board Races Backed
TALLAHASSEE — A Florida House panel on Tuesday took a first step toward shifting to partisan school-board elections and backed a proposal that would limit school-board members to eight years...
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Published on 2/15/2023
DeSantis Ratchets Up Fight with College Board
TALLAHASSEE — As a feud over an African American studies course continues between Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and the College Board, the governor said Monday that Florida will "look to...
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Published on 2/15/2023
Nicole Insured Losses Top $500M
Estimated insured losses from Hurricane Nicole have topped $500 million, with the largest numbers of claims in Orange and Volusia counties, according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.
Data...
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Published on 2/14/2023
Business Groups Gear Up On Legal Issues
TALLAHASSEE — After property insurers got long-sought legal changes in a December special legislative session, business groups see an opportunity to curb litigation in other areas such as auto insurance....
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Published on 2/14/2023
Trulieve Adds $5.5M to Pot Initiative
As it tries to get the measure on the 2024 ballot, the medical-cannabis company Trulieve contributed another $5.5 million to a ballot initiative aimed at legalizing recreational use of marijuana,...
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Published on 2/13/2023
Florida jobless claims up slightly
Unemployment claims inched up for the second consecutive week in Florida, but the pace remains little changed over the past few months.
The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday released...
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Published on 2/10/2023
