September 22, 2023
News Service of Florida
Idalia Ag Losses Estimated Up to $370M
TALLAHASSEE --- A preliminary report released Thursday by the University of Florida estimated up to $370.9 million in agricultural losses from Hurricane Idalia, which barreled through rural areas of North...
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Published on 9/22/2023
Minimum Wage Set to Go to $12
Florida’s minimum wage will increase to $12 an hour on Sept. 30, as the state continues carrying out a constitutional amendment that eventually will lead to a $15 minimum wage....
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Published on 9/22/2023
Health Care on the Agenda for Legislature
TALLAHASSEE --- As Gov. Ron DeSantis prepares to roll out priorities for the 2024 legislative session, he signaled support for joining legislative leaders in addressing health-care issues.
Senate President Kathleen...
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Published on 9/21/2023
Florida jobless claims tick up
First-time unemployment claims in Florida increased for a second consecutive week, but the pace remained close to the average this year.
The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 5,702...
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Published on 9/21/2023
Feds Push Back in Higher-Ed Fight
TALLAHASSEE — The Biden administration is asking a federal judge to toss out a lawsuit filed by Florida that challenges the constitutionality of accreditation requirements for colleges and universities.
Attorneys...
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Published on 9/20/2023
State to Step Up Testing for Deer Disease
TALLAHASSEE --- Some deer killed during two popular hunting days in December must be tested for a contagious disease fatal to the animals as the state expands efforts to limit...
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Published on 9/20/2023
Florida sports gambling fight heads to U.S. Supreme Court
TALLAHASSEE — Arguing that the outcome of the case could represent a “blueprint for expanding gaming outside of Indian lands,” a Florida pari-mutuel owner plans to ask the U.S. Supreme...
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Published on 9/19/2023
DeSantis, Cabinet Back Conservation Deals
TALLAHASSEE --- Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet on Monday quickly approved $141 million in deals that will help preserve land from the Panhandle to Southwest Florida.
During a...
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Published on 9/18/2023
Florida Health Coverage Rate Better, But Still Lags
TALLAHASSEE — With top Florida lawmakers signaling that health-care issues could be a priority during next year’s legislative session, a report released Thursday showed that Florida saw improvement in 2022...
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Published on 9/15/2023
Florida Jobless Claims Remain Steady
First-time unemployment claims in Florida went up after the Labor Day weekend, but the number was similar to the weekly average since the start of the year.
The U.S. Department...
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Published on 9/14/2023
Electric vehicles could be getting more expensive in Florida
Florida electric vehicle owners would pay a registration fee aimed at helping make up for lost gas-tax dollars, under a bill proposed Tuesday by Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development...
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Published on 9/13/2023
Settlement talks afoot in Florida lawsuit over gender discussions in schools
TALLAHASSEE — A federal appeals court has put on hold a battle about a 2022 Florida law that restricts instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation in schools, after attorneys...
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Published on 9/12/2023
Quick Resolution Sought in Redistricting Fight
TALLAHASSEE — Seeking a final ruling before the legislative session starts in January, both sides in a battle over a congressional redistricting plan asked an appeals court Friday to fast-track...
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Published on 9/11/2023
Florida budget in ‘good shape,' but surpluses will dip
TALLAHASSEE --- State budget leaders expressed some caution Friday that general-revenue surpluses are projected to decline over the next three years, and that’s without factoring in the impact of Hurricane...
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Published on 9/10/2023
Real estate group concerned about Florida land law
A national group of real estate executives this week expressed concern about a new law that restricts people from China from owning property in Florida, urging steps to make sure...
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Published on 9/8/2023
Florida's weekly jobless claims are the lowest of year
First-time unemployment claims in Florida last week hit a low for the year as Hurricane Idalia swept through parts of the state ahead of the Labor Day holiday.
The U.S....
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Published on 9/8/2023
Florida, other states say flood insurance fight against feds should continue
TALLAHASSEE — Florida and other states are trying to fend off an attempt by the Biden administration to end a lawsuit challenging changes to the National Flood Insurance Program that...
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Published on 9/6/2023
July Tax Collections Top Expectations
Florida collected about $3.311 billion in general-revenue taxes in July, $225.9 million more than had been forecast in March, according to a report posted online Tuesday by the Legislature’s Office...
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Published on 9/6/2023
Private property insurers get OK to take up to 130K Citizens policies
TALLAHASSEE — As efforts continued to sort out damage from Hurricane Idalia, regulators on Friday approved proposals by four private insurers to pull as many as 130,000 policies from the...
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Published on 9/5/2023
Judge Won't Block Trans Treatment Law
TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge on Friday refused to block a new Florida law making it more difficult for transgender adults to access hormone therapy and surgeries.
But U.S. District...
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Published on 9/4/2023
Another twist in Florida's quest for Canada drug imports: FDA's port demand
TALLAHASSEE — With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expected to decide this fall whether Florida can import prescription drugs from Canada, the state this week lashed out after federal...
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Published on 9/4/2023
Jobless Claims Continue Falling
Initial unemployment claims continued dropping last week in Florida.
The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday said an estimated 5,149 first-time jobless claims were filed in Florida during the week...
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Published on 8/31/2023
Idalia Makes Landfall as Cat 3
TALLAHASSEE — Hurricane Idalia made landfall about 7:45 a.m. near Taylor County's Keaton Beach as an "extremely dangerous" Category 3 storm, the National Hurricane Center said.
“This thing’s powerful,” Gov....
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Published on 8/30/2023
Citizens Policy Count Dips Slightly
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. saw a slight decrease in its number of policies last week, at least temporarily stemming massive growth at the state’s insurer of last resort.
Citizens had...
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Published on 8/29/2023
Appeals court rejects lawsuits over UCF COVID shutdown
Adding to a series of similar rulings across the state, an appeals court Friday rejected two lawsuits alleging the University of Central Florida should be required to refund money to...
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Published on 8/28/2023
