Florida Politics

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Florida approves first bear hunt in a decade, defying a surge of opponents

Florida’s wildlife commissioners set aside pleas and arguments from black bear advocates today and approved a December hunt of the state’s shy but increasingly troublesome species.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/13/florida-approves-first-bear-hunt-in-a-decade-defying-a-surge-of-opponents/?

Judge strikes down parts of a Florida law used to ban school library books

A federal judge on Wednesday struck down key provisions of a Florida law that’s been used to remove hundreds of books from public school libraries since it was enacted in 2023.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/13/judge-strikes-down-parts-of-a-florida-law-used-to-ban-school-library-books/?

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DeSantis announces plans for second immigration detention facility in north Florida

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is preparing to open a second immigration detention facility dubbed “Deportation Depot” at a state prison in north Florida, as a federal judge decides the fate of the state’s holding center for immigrants at an isolated airstrip in the Florida Everglades dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” Read More.   In juvenile detention, these students say they're not learning — and it's keeping them incarcerated Florida shifted to virtual learning for youth in juvenile detention — and parents and students say it's been a disaster. The state adopted this approach for incarcerated youth, despite evidence that online learners struggled during the pandemic. Read More.   Prosecutors clear Florida deputy in arrest of a Black man punched and dragged from his car Prosecutors will take “no further action” against a Florida sheriff’s deputy in the arrest of a Black college student pulled from his car and beaten by officers during a February traffic stop. A video showing officers punching and dragging William McNeil from his car sparked nationwide outrage, though Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters has said there’s more to the story than the cellphone video that went viral online. Read More.

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Orange school district to review library book by transgender man after state criticism

The Orange County school district is reviewing a memoir by a transgender YouTuber after state leaders threatened the Hillsborough County school district for having the same book on some of its campuses.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/12/orange-lake-schools-to-review-library-book-by-transgender-man-after-state-criticism/?

‘Egregious’ waste in government: Three things to know about Florida DOGE’s latest efforts

Florida DOGE is aiming to find what it deems as wasteful, unnecessary spending by counties and cities across the state. And new details are surfacing about the scrutiny ahead.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/14/egregious-waste-in-government-three-things-to-know-about-florida-doges-latest-efforts/?

DeSantis’ office was scheduled to discuss a legal deal. The first lady’s Hope Florida got millions afterward, records show

On September 10, 2024, state health officials planned to brief Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office on a lucrative deal that had been three years in the making. The topic: a $67 million Medicaid settlement that could soon come Florida’s way, newly released records show.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/15/lawyers-set-a-meeting-with-desantis-office-then-the-first-ladys-hope-florida-got-millions-records-show/?

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FHP: 5 arrested, turned over to Border Patrol after traffic stop near Apopka High

Five people were turned over Friday morning to the U.S. Border Patrol after several fled during a traffic stop in Apopka, briefly placing nearby Apopka High School on a “secure hold.”

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/15/apopka-high-school-briefly-placed-on-secure-hold-during-nearby-activity-tied-to-border-patrol/?

Maxwell: What makes ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ un-American

A few weeks ago, my car battery gave up the ghost while running errands on a blistering Florida day, and a nice man from the roadside-assistance service rushed in with a replacement.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/15/maxwell-what-makes-alligator-alcatraz-un-american/?

Editorial: Floridians hate the idea of a bear hunt. The FWC doesn’t care

Even those who were watching online could smell it: The stench of people doing something they knew was wrong, sweating through an attempt to pretend they were right.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/13/editorial-floridians-hate-the-idea-of-a-bear-hunt-the-fwc-doesnt-care/?

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Law banning school library books ruled ‘overbroad and unconstitutional’

A federal trial judge in Florida has ruled that the state’s law banning books deemed “pornographic” from school libraries is, in part, “overbroad and unconstitutional.”

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/08/15/law-banning-school-library-books-ruled-overbroad-and-unconstitutional/?

Free State of Florida applies eccentric definition of ‘free’ in schools

We’re saving kids from woke indoctrination through right-wing indoctrination.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/08/18/free-state-of-florida-applies-eccentric-definition-of-free-in-schools/?

Economists: Medicaid spending higher than budgeted but enrollment lower than anticipated

Legislators may have shortchanged the state Medicaid program in the just-passed budget, projections from the state’s top economists show.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/08/15/economists-medicaid-spending-higher-than-budgeted-but-enrollment-lower-than-anticipated/?

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Redistricting could cost blue Central Florida a Democratic Congressional seat

A state and national GOP effort pushing a rare mid-decade redistricting could put one of Central Florida’s two Democratic Congressional seats at risk, and local Democratic leaders gathered Monday to denounce the strategy.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/18/redistricting-could-cost-blue-central-florida-a-democratic-congressional-seat/?

ps:Sadly this happens all the time for both sides, but much more from maga republicans than republicans vs democrats!!

Despite federal shift, state health officials encourage COVID vaccines for pregnant women

Heading into the respiratory illness season, states and clinicians are working to encourage pregnant patients to get COVID-19 vaccinations, even though the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services no longer recommends that they should.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/08/19/despite-federal-shift-state-health-officials-encourage-covid-vaccines-for-pregnant-women/?

Undocumented truck driver arrested for vehicular homicide in St. Lucie County

In a case officials are using as a cudgel against undocumented immigrants, Florida state troopers have charged a truck driver with three counts of vehicular manslaughter following a crash in St. Lucie County last week.

https://floridaphoenix.com/briefs/undocumented-truck-driver-arrested-for-vehicular-homicide-in-st-lucie-county/?

Judge dismisses part of lawsuit over Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention center

MIAMI (AP) — A federal judge in Miami has dismissed part of a lawsuit over the legal rights of detainees at the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades known as “Alligator Alcatraz” and transferred the remaining case to a different jurisdiction.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/19/judge-dismisses-part-of-lawsuit-over-alligator-alcatraz-immigration-detention-center/?

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Bear advocates file legal challenge to Florida’s bear hunt

Florida bear hunt opponents, unable to dissuade state wildlife commissioners last week from authorizing a sanctioned killing of the once imperiled species, are now trying their luck in court.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/19/bear-advocates-file-legal-challenge-to-floridas-bear-hunt/?

Florida sues textbook companies, claiming they overcharged some schools

Florida officials are accusing two publishers of systematically overcharging some school districts for textbooks, including more than $279,000 billed to Osceola County schools.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/19/florida-sues-textbook-companies-claiming-they-overcharged-some-schools/?

Man put to death for a 1982 killing in record 10th execution this year in Florida

STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A man convicted of abducting a woman from a Florida Panhandle insurance office and killing her received a lethal injection Tuesday evening in the state’s record 10th execution this year.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/18/man-put-to-death-for-a-1982-killing-in-record-10th-execution-this-year-in-florida/

Maxwell: Orlando Marine leads veteran push to get active military off ICE duty

If you’ve ever watched disaster movies or dystopian science fiction, you’re probably familiar with a plot device screenwriters use to let audiences know things have reached the point of disaster — namely for the fictional president to order U.S. troops to take control of a city on American soil.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/16/veterans-oppose-immigration-patrols-maxwell/?

‘Best model for the country’? Ron DeSantis touts Florida’s election laws

Other states should emulate Florida’s election laws, which have been changed twice following the 2020 election but still allow people to vote by mail, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/08/19/best-model-for-the-country-ron-desantis-touts-floridas-election-laws/?

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Florida wildlife commissioners ignore science, law in saying yes to bear hunt

Dear Bears of Florida:

I’m really sorry. In case you haven’t heard, last week the cabal of developers that Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed to “protect” you and Florida’s other wildlife voted to allow people to hunt you with guns, bows and arrows, and even, a year from now, dogs.

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/florida-wildlife-commissioners-ignore-science-law-saying-yes-bear-hunt?

Childhood vaccination rates drop sharply in Central Florida

The vaccination rate for Orange County kindergarteners hit a 20-year low this year, and experts fear that with fewer children immunized, outbreaks of infectious diseases are likely.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/21/childhood-vaccination-rates-drop-sharply-in-central-florida/?

Florida AG wants Supreme Court to strike down Florida gun law

TALLAHASSEE — In a highly unusual move, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Wednesday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down a 2018 state law that prevents people under age 21 from buying rifles and other long guns.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/21/florida-ag-wants-supreme-court-to-strike-down-florida-gun-law/?

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Florida must stop expanding Alligator Alcatraz, shut down in 60 days, judge rules

MIAMI (AP) — A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Thursday halting further expansion and ordering the winding down of an immigration detention center built in the middle of the Florida Everglades and dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” that advocates said violated environmental laws.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/21/florida-must-stop-expanding-alligator-alcatraz-immigration-center-judge-says/?

Florida quickly appeals federal judge’s order that would shut down Alligator Alcatraz

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration quickly appealed a federal judge’s ruling Thursday that sided with environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe and required winding down operations at a controversial immigrant-detention facility in the Everglades.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/22/florida-quickly-appeals-federal-judges-order-that-would-shut-down-alligator-alcatraz/?

Another Osceola deputy arrested for misusing databases, sheriff says

A Osceola County deputy has been arrested for misusing agency systems, three weeks after two other employees, including another deputy, were arrested for a similar crime, the Sheriff’s Office announced.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/22/another-osceola-deputy-arrested-for-misusing-databases-sheriff-says/?

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DeSantis’ attack on this Florida congressional district could have sweeping implications

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has highlighted the gang-fueled violence plaguing Haiti, and condemned efforts to expel Haitian refugees living in the U.S.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/23/desantis-attack-on-this-florida-congressional-district-could-have-sweeping-implications/?

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With storms getting stronger, only 6 percent of Central Floridians have flood insurance

Only 6% of Central Florida homes now carry flood insurance, a worrisomely low figure, experts say, as storms become increasingly powerful and deliver greater amounts of rain, sometimes to neighborhoods once seldom impacted by deluges.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/24/with-storms-getting-stronger-only-6-percent-of-central-floridians-have-flood-insurance/?

New lawsuit says Florida lacks authority to operate Everglades detention center

TALLAHASSEE — Calling it “exactly the kind of disaster that Congress took pains to avoid,” attorneys for immigrants held at a detention center in the Everglades filed a lawsuit alleging Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration lacks the authority to run the facility.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/24/new-lawsuit-says-florida-lacks-authority-to-operate-everglades-detention-center/?

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Immigration efforts continue in Florida despite judge’s ruling

Undeterred by the ordered shutdown of the Everglades immigrant detention facility, Gov. Ron DeSantis and state law enforcement officials Friday touted a recent immigration crackdown in the Panhandle. 

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/08/22/immigration-efforts-continue-in-florida-despite-judges-ruling/?

Feds fight to keep ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ open amid legal battle as 3rd challenge is filed

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The federal government over the weekend asked a judge in Miami to put on hold her ruling ordering the winding down of an immigration detention center built by the state of Florida in the Everglades wilderness and nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” pending an appeal of her decision.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/25/feds-fight-to-keep-alligator-alcatraz-open-amid-legal-battle-as-3rd-challenge-is-filed/?

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Top Florida official says ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ will likely be empty within days, email shows

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A top Florida official says the controversial state-run immigration detention facility in the Everglades will likely be empty in a matter of days, even as Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and the federal government fight a judge’s order to shutter the facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by late October. That’s according to an email exchange shared with The Associated Press.

https://apnews.com/article/florida-immigration-detention-center-desantis-alligator-alcatraz-f36fd04c18635eb7938a9ec26a31e92e?

‘Don’t lie to us’: Florida CFO subpoenas Orange County workers over DOGE audit

Florida’s chief financial officer said Wednesday he is issuing subpoenas to Orange County employees and may bring in digital forensic investigators as the state’s DOGE team seeks documents related to the county’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/27/dont-lie-to-us-florida-cfo-subpoenas-orange-county-workers-over-doge-audit/?

Commentary: Jeb reminds us what real leadership is | Steve Bousquet

Jeb Bush could do it all.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/27/jeb-reminds-us-what-real-leadership-is-steve-bousquet/?

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Tobacco use in Florida schools spiked this decade. The culprit? Vaping

For most of the last decade, Florida schools have struggled to head off a growing challenge: more and more students are vaping.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/28/tobacco-use-in-florida-schools-spiked-this-decade-the-culprit-vaping/?

Florida may lose $218M on empty ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as judge orders shutdown

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Florida could be on the hook for $218 million the state spent to convert a remote training airport in the Everglades into an immigration detention center dubbed “ Alligator Alcatraz.”

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/28/florida-may-lose-218m-on-empty-alligator-alcatraz-as-judge-orders-shutdown/

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Feds stop sending detainees to Alligator Alcatraz to comply with order

TALLAHASSEE — Federal officials are complying with a judge’s order and have stopped sending immigrants to a detention center in the Everglades, less than two months after Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration launched the facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” in support of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/29/feds-stop-sending-detainees-to-alligator-alcatraz-to-comply-with-order/?

ps:Just simply amazing, they have no money for people in need, but have money for everything else!!!!!

Federal judge says the closure of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ must continue

A federal judge in Miami is refusing to pause her order winding down the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades known as “Alligator Alcatraz” while the federal government appeals her ruling.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/08/28/federal-judge-says-the-closure-of-alligator-alcatraz-must-continue/?

DOGE audit makes GOP-controlled Florida county a test case for defying DeSantis and developers

Manatee County voters snubbed Tallahassee last fall when they rejected Gov. Ron DeSantis’ hand-picked, pro-development commission candidates and instead elected a slate of grassroots Republicans who promised to rein in runaway growth.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/30/doge-audit-makes-gop-controlled-florida-county-a-test-case-for-defying-desantis-and-developers/?

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Orlando’s artistic crosswalks boosted safety. Florida ordered them painted over

Under state orders, Orlando’s painted crosswalks are going away, but the eye-catching swans, citrus wedges and rainbows made the city a safer place to walk, reducing incidents where drivers slammed on the brakes, swerved or crashed as pedestrians crossed, city traffic data shows.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/31/orlandos-artistic-crosswalks-boosted-safety-florida-ordered-them-painted-over/?

ps:So is the actual rainbow next??

Property insurance companies are thriving now. Are Floridians owed a refund?

In a recent report to stockholders, insurance giant Progressive used a word that every company would prefer to avoid: Refund.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/31/property-insurance-companies-are-thriving-now-are-floridians-owed-a-refund/?

Editorial: The state uses lies and aggression to erase Florida’s rainbows

In downtown Orlando — and across the state — brightly colored pavement art is disappearing, painted over or blasted away in obedience to a pointless, dishonest dictate from Tallahassee. If you’re outraged, now is the time to speak up — because it’s clear that Gov. Ron DeSantis and his minion-infested state government won’t stop until they’re forced to do so.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/31/editorial-the-state-uses-lies-and-aggression-to-erase-floridas-rainbows/?

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Endorsement: In special elections, LaVon Bracy Davis for Senate, RaShon Young for House

With everything that’s happened in the past few weeks, Central Floridians may have forgotten that two legislative seats will be decided next week in a special election.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/29/endorsement-in-special-elections-lavon-bracy-davis-for-senate-rashon-young-for-house/?

Winter Park D-Day veteran, 103, to get Gold Medal for Army Ranger service

“Never occurred to me,” said Raaen, now 103, a Winter Park resident and the only surviving Army Ranger who stormed Omaha Beach in France on June, 6, 1944, in a pivotal battle often regarded as the beginning of the end of World War II. “As a matter of fact, medals didn’t mean a lot to any of us.”

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/02/winter-park-d-day-veteran-103-to-get-gold-medal-for-army-ranger-service/?

Delray Beach argues to keep its rainbow intersection at hearing in Orlando

Delray Beach’s rainbow street art will remain in place for now, despite the state’s threats to imminently paint it over.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/02/delray-beach-argues-to-keep-its-rainbow-intersection-at-hearing-in-orlando/?

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State researching a third immigrant detention facility

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that his administration is researching a third immigrant detention facility, this one in West Florida. 

https://floridaphoenix.com/briefs/state-researching-a-third-immigrant-detention-facility/?

Florida plans to resume sending detainees to Alligator Alcatraz

TALLAHASSEE — Florida plans to resume taking in immigrants at a controversial detention center in the Everglades if an appeals court pauses a judge’s order that required winding down operations at the facility, a new court filing says.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/03/florida-plans-to-resume-sending-detainees-to-alligator-alcatraz/?

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Florida’s DOGE should investigate the money wasted on ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

Hello, is this the Florida Department of Governmental Efficiency, aka FLO-DOGE? I’ve got a hot tip for you on an incredibly wasteful government project. It’s called “Alligator Alcatraz.”

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/09/04/floridas-doge-should-investigate-the-money-wasted-on-alligator-alcatraz/?

ps:Well that will never happen!!!!!

Editorial: DeSantis tramples good government in his rush to dominate cities, counties

Across the state, employees of Florida’s new Department of Government Efficiency are dive-bombing local governments, demanding to inspect their fiscal affairs — with a host of implied threats if county and city officials don’t comply. But this latest aggression from Gov. Ron DeSantis is illegitimate to its core: It has nothing to do with fiscal integrity, and everything to do with ideological witch hunts.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/04/editorial-desantis-tramples-good-government-in-his-rush-to-dominate-cities-counties/?

ps:The wannabe is at it again, or should I say still!!!!!!!!!!

Florida’s citrus grove land continues to dwindle

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s once-dominant citrus industry is being squeezed for land at an accelerating rate.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/04/floridas-citrus-grove-land-continues-to-dwindle/?

ps:So prices on oranges will now go up!! So will the geniuses, trump and desantis have more trees  planted so the prices will come down??

Appeals court panel stops order to wind down operations at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in Everglades

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A federal appeals court panel on Thursday put on hold a lower court judge’s order to end operations indefinitely at the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”

https://apnews.com/article/florida-immigration-alligator-alcatraz-1a7138a46272a8c9a2fb59ddc5eed4f6?

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Facing DeSantis, Ladapo vaccine proposal, Florida lawmakers are lukewarm

TALLAHASSEE – When Florida’s surgeon general got on stage Wednesday and boasted that Florida would push to end “every last one” of its vaccine mandates, he had spoken about the idea with the governor just the night before.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/05/facing-desantis-ladapo-vaccine-proposal-florida-lawmakers-are-lukewarm/?

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Maxwell: Take a look at the diseases Florida wants to bring back

Some issues have been long and fairly debated:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/05/maxwell-take-a-look-at-the-diseases-florida-wants-to-bring-back/?

Spiteful DeSantis forces erasure of rainbow sidewalks

One has to wonder what drives people like Ron DeSantis and so-called conservatives who take every opportunity to disparage Florida’s diverse and vibrant LGBTQ community.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/09/06/spiteful-desantis-forces-erasure-of-rainbow-sidewalks/?

DeSantis administration pushes to eliminate all vaccine mandates in Florida

School children, college students, and even nursing home residents would no longer have to be vaccinated against infectious diseases and viruses if Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and his boss, Gov. Ron DeSantis, have their way.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/09/03/desantis-administration-pushes-to-eliminate-all-vaccine-mandates-in-florida/?

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Orlando anticipates all-renewable energy buildings by 2027 — as DOGE probes ‘green’ spending

Orlando is on the verge of powering its municipal buildings entirely by renewable energy, and is on pace to reach that goal three years ahead of schedule.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/07/orlando-anticipates-all-renewable-energy-buildings-by-2027-as-doge-probes-green-spending/?

Editorial: State action against insurance company misconduct is a good start – but not enough

Last week Florida insurance regulators triumphantly announced a barrage of fines, totaling $2.1 million, against eight property-insurance carriers for violating multiple consumer-protection laws and their own policy language in the wake of Hurricanes Ian and Idalia.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/07/editorial-state-action-against-insurance-company-misconduct-is-a-good-start-but-not-enough/?

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Note to the governor: You can’t outlaw rainbows

No doubt Gov. Ron DeSantis expects Floridians to be grateful for saving us from yet another woke attack on decency, probity, and speeding motorists.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/09/08/note-to-the-governor-you-cant-outlaw-rainbows/?

Activists want Tampa Bay police departments to void ICE agreements

ST PETERSBURG — A crowd of around 75 people gathered here on Saturday to strategize ways to persuade the police chiefs of Tampa and St. Petersburg to void partnership agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that they entered into earlier this year.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/09/07/activists-want-tampa-bay-police-departments-to-void-ice-agreements/?

Questions grow about Florida labor supply as Trump chips away at immigrant protection programs

Along a narrow lane in front of a Home Depot in central Broward County, Jorge Villa waited with a group of day laborers, hoping contractors exiting the store might offer them some work.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/08/questions-grow-about-florida-labor-supply-as-trump-chips-away-at-immigrant-protection-programs/?

Florida’s plan to drop school vaccine rule won’t start for 90 days, won’t cover all diseases

Florida’s plan to drop school vaccine mandates likely won’t take effect for 90 days and would include only chickenpox and a few other illnesses unless lawmakers decide to extend it to other diseases, like polio and measles, the health department said Sunday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/07/floridas-plan-to-drop-school-vaccine-rule-wont-start-for-90-days-wont-cover-all-diseases/?

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Florida school gender case may go to US Supreme Court

TALLAHASSEE — Arguing that “parental-exclusion policies present one of the most important constitutional controversies in the nation,” a couple has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a battle with the Leon County school system about a child who wanted to express a gender identity and use pronouns the parents didn’t support.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/08/florida-school-gender-case-goes-to-us-supreme-court/?

Trumpworld wooing candidate to run against DeSantis’ handpicked attorney general

People around President Donald Trump have been courting Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez to run for attorney general, according to three sources familiar with the discussions.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/08/trumpworld-wooing-candidate-to-run-against-desantis-handpicked-attorney-general/?

Florida AG demands Worrell drop Orange murder case amid ‘Stand Your Ground’ defense

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Monday once again set his sights on Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell, this time to demand she drop the case against a woman charged with killing a man in a road rage shooting or face possible “further intervention” from the state.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/08/florida-ag-demands-worrell-drop-orange-murder-case-amid-stand-your-ground-defense/?

Uthmeier wants Orlando Democrat investigated for reporting ICE’s location

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier called Monday for an investigation into a Central Florida Democrat’s social media post reporting that immigration agents were at a bus station in Orlando, a request that drew swift condemnation from the American Civil Liberties Union and other free-speech advocates.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/08/florida-ag-wants-orlando-democrat-investigated-for-reporting-ices-location/?

Vaccines and guns: DeSantis gives a sneak peek at 2026 legislative agenda

PLANT CITY — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday offered a sneak peek at two priorities for the 2026 legislative session — both of which revamp proposals he unsuccessfully pushed this year: eliminating vaccine mandates and allowing open-carry of firearms.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/09/08/vaccines-and-guns-desantis-gives-a-sneak-peek-at-2026-legislative-agenda/?

[phkrause]

Lack of access to vaccines frustrates Floridians seeking COVID, flu, RSV shots

In Florida, many pharmacists, doctors, and patients find themselves confused about who has access to COVID-19, flu, RSV and other vaccines, as well as the cost of those shots.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/09/covid-flu-rsv-vaccine-confusion-and-frustration-overwhelm-florida/?

ps:The governor claims everyone has a choice, but if you make sure that there's no access to the vaccines it doesn't matter if you say everyone can get a shot if they want one!!!!!