May 1, 2024
News Service of Florida
Seminole Tribe launches campaign to fend off challenges to Florida gambling pact
After nailing down a deal that gave it control over sports betting in the state, the Seminole Tribe is trying to clinch its status as Florida’s “800-pound” gambling gorilla by...
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Published on 11/2/2021
Health Care Groups Point to Workforce 'Crisis'
A broad coalition of health-care groups Monday tried to ratchet up attention on staffing and financial problems, saying the state needs to take steps to help address what industry officials...
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Published on 11/1/2021
Small Business Tax ‘Holiday' proposed
Discounts for shoppers would be offered through a sales-tax "holiday" at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, under a pair of bills filed Monday for the 2022 legislative session,...
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Published on 11/1/2021
Lawmakers Could Give Boost to Nursing Homes, Prison Workers
Amid fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and worker shortages, Florida lawmakers next week will consider proposals to inject nearly $100 million into nursing homes and boost pay of state correctional...
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Published on 10/30/2021
Special Session on Pandemic Mandates Set for Mid-November
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday directed lawmakers to return to Tallahassee on Nov. 15 for a special session to push back against White House attempts to require workers to be...
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Published on 10/30/2021
Florida jobless claims inch up, highest in a month
Unemployment claims in Florida last week were the highest since mid-September, but the number of applications remained similar to levels before the COVID-19 pandemic crashed the economy in 2020.
The...
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Published on 10/28/2021
Court Knocks Down Legal Fees in Irma Case
An appeals court Wednesday ordered a reduction in legal fees and costs in a case filed against the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. after Hurricane Irma damaged a Miami-Dade County...
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Published on 10/27/2021
State to face class action on juvenile solitary confinement
A federal judge has cleared the way for a class-action lawsuit against the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice about the use of solitary confinement for minors, including children with disabilities....
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Published on 10/27/2021
New area code sought for South Florida
With the state’s population continuing to grow and cell phones and other technology requiring new numbers, South Florida could get another area code.
State regulators next week will hold a...
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Published on 10/26/2021
Proposal seeks mentoring for teachers
Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, on Monday filed a bill for the 2022 legislative session that seeks to create a training and mentoring program for teachers.
The proposal (SB 618)...
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Published on 10/26/2021
Online ordering of medical marijuana is restored by Florida judge
Leafly and similar sites will be able to resume contracting with Florida medical-marijuana operators to allow patients to order products online, under a ruling issued Monday by an administrative law...
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Published on 10/26/2021
Florida gas prices at highest level since 2014
Florida gasoline prices went up 13 cents during the past week and are the highest they have been since October 2014, according to the AAA auto club.
AAA said the...
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Published on 10/25/2021
Exemption backed for names of lottery winners
A proposal to avoid the “nightmare” some people experience after winning big in the state lottery started to move forward Wednesday in the Florida House.
The Government Operations Subcommittee voted...
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Published on 10/21/2021
Jobless claims tick up in Florida
Unemployment claims in Florida increased slightly last week but remained similar to levels before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 6,671 first-time unemployment claims were...
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Published on 10/21/2021
Drug import plan could save $150 million
Florida could save up to $150 million in the first year that a prescription-drug importation program from Canada is fully in place, Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Simone Marstiller...
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Published on 10/21/2021
Rule change allows football at state colleges
Football programs could come to Florida’s state college system after top education officials Wednesday repealed a rule that has prohibited colleges from having teams --- but it’s likely schools will...
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Published on 10/21/2021
Citrus industry seeks to maintain funding, eyes research
Despite a predicted drop in citrus production across Florida, orange juice sales are tracking up and the industry wants lawmakers to maintain current amounts of state marketing and research funding...
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Published on 10/20/2021
Higher natural gas costs could hit electric bills
Florida utilities are warning that volatile natural-gas prices could translate to higher-than-expected electric bills in 2022.
Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Co. have notified state...
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Published on 10/20/2021
McRorie Stepping Down as FSU Provost
As another sign of changes after Richard McCullough took over as president, Florida State University Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Sally McRorie announced Tuesday she will step...
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Published on 10/20/2021
Judge refuses to toss out mask rule challenge
An administrative law judge Wednesday rejected a request by the Florida Department of Health to dismiss a challenge by six school boards to a rule that seeks to prevent student...
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Published on 10/20/2021
Investments give Florida's pension fund a boost
Florida’s pension system got a financial boost during the past fiscal year, as it had a 29.46 percent investment return, according to a report posted online Monday by state economists....
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Published on 10/19/2021
Fried Suspends More Licenses of Jan. 6 Participants
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced Tuesday that six additional people have had concealed-weapons licenses suspended because they were involved in the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol.
“The...
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Published on 10/19/2021
Judge tosses lawsuit challenging Seminole gambling deal
Dealing a win to Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe, a federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit challenging a gambling agreement that allows the tribe to have control...
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Published on 10/19/2021
New law boosts Florida's unemployment fund
Florida’s unemployment trust fund has gained back about a half-billion dollars since a new law began requiring out-of-state online retailers in July to collect sales taxes on purchases made by...
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Published on 10/18/2021
DeSantis awards more 'job growth' money
Gov. Ron DeSantis continued to dole out money from the state’s Job Growth Grant Fund on Monday. DeSantis awarded $6 million to Hernando County for manufacturing, education, health-care and aviation...
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Published on 10/18/2021
