Florida Politics

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Florida suit against college accreditation process dismissed again

A federal appeals court affirmed Monday dismissal of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2023 challenge to the college accrediting process, which he believes enforces diversity and related interests he considers “woke.”

https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/07/06/florida-suit-against-college-accreditation-process-dismissed-again/?

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11th Circuit crushes Florida’s ‘Stop WOKE Act’ at state universities

Instead of the state determining what will be taught in university classrooms, students must be free to hear and consider even officially disfavored ideas presented to them by professors, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/07/07/eleventh-circuit-crushes-floridas-stop-woke-act-at-state-universities/?

Another Amendment 3 challenge filed by bipartisan pair of former legislators

Florida’s bid to dramatically change its property tax system is being hit with another legal challenge, this one from a bipartisan duo of former elected officials who maintain a proposed constitutional amendment is full of “political platitudes” and not factual statements informing the public what it would do.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/07/07/another-amendment-3-challenge-filed-by-bipartisan-pair-of-former-legislators/?

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Make them hear you: Faith leaders say now is the time to talk about a pathway to citizenship

Tallahassee faith leaders are pressing Florida politicians to assist Haitian families under temporary protected status facing deportation and laid out a five-part plan encouraging voters to speak up and make immigration a campaign issue.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/07/08/make-them-hear-you-faith-leaders-say-now-is-the-time-to-talk-about-a-pathway-to-citizenship/?

Lawsuit alleges Byron Donalds threatened Collier County school board member in 2022

The Byron Donalds campaign is playing down a lawsuit filed by a Collier County school board member accusing the front-runner for the Republican nomination for governor of Florida of threatening and intimidating her during a confrontation at a Naples grocery store in 2022.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/07/08/lawsuit-alleges-byron-donalds-threatened-collier-county-school-board-member-in-2022/?

Acclaimed Florida developer gets down and dirty fighting over canal

In 1985, a book appeared called “Finest Kind: A Celebration of a Florida Fishing Village” by Ben Green. It depicted life in a Manatee County waterfront town named Cortez. Green, a native, bemoaned the forces pushing to change little Cortez to be like everywhere else in Florida.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/07/09/acclaimed-florida-developer-gets-down-and-dirty-fighting-over-canal/?

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Is Florida’s high SNAP error rate by design? State’s top Democrat says yes

If Florida doesn’t lower its SNAP error rates, the state could have to pay as much as $1 billion to continue to participate in the federal food security program.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/07/09/is-floridas-high-snap-error-rate-by-design-states-top-democrat-says-yes/?