Florida moves forward on proposal to deny Medicaid coverage for transgender treatments
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is moving forward with a proposal that would deny Medicaid coverage for treatments such as puberty-blocking medication and hormone therapy for transgender people.
Does Elon Musk have his sights set on Florida?
Elon Musk has been engaged in a public flirtation with Florida as of late, but his connections to the Sunshine State actually go back more than a decade.
Registration opens for Florida Python Challenge, effort to protect Everglades: The cash prize you could win
Ever wanted to capture a snake for a good cause? Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that registration has opened for the 2022 Florida Python Challenge.
Florida surgeon general disagrees with FDA on COVID vaccines for kids under 5; state does not pre-order doses
Parents are in the home stretch with COVID-19 vaccines for babies and their youngest children after Wednesday’s FDA advisory panel meeting. But once those vaccines are approved, parents in Florida who want their kids to get inoculated may face a longer wait. That's because Florida's surgeon general Dr. Joseph Ladapo says he does not support giving the COVID vaccine to babies and children under the age of 5 – so Florida is the only state that did not pre-order any doses.
DeSantis announces director of newly reactivated Florida State Guard
The Florida State Guard was disbanded after World War II, but it's now being reactivated after 75 years. Gov. Ron DeSantis says more than 1,200 people have already applied for the guard's 400 positions, and the state's new trained civilian defense force will focus on responding to disasters such as hurricanes.
Elon Musk suggests he would vote for Ron DeSantis for president in 2024 election
Elon Musk says he is predicting a red wave in 2022, and suggested he is leaning toward voting for Gov. Ron DeSantis for president, should he decide to run in 2024.
Synagogue challenges new Florida abortion law, claiming it violates religious rights of Jewish people
A synagogue has filed a lawsuit claiming Florida's new law that prohibits abortions after 15 weeks violates the religious freedom rights of Jewish people. It's the second challenge to the state's abortion ban recently signed into law by Gov. DeSantis, which is set to take effect next month.
DeSantis signs new Florida law to cover medical costs for retired police dogs
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a new law to cover medical costs of retired police dogs, allowing their handlers to get reimbursed for up to $1,500 in annual veterinary costs. The retired K9s often have costly expenses from law enforcement injuries or other job-related problems.
Gov. DeSantis vetoes controversial Everglades bill
Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed a controversial bill that he said could hinder Everglades restoration work. Environmental groups had urged the governor to veto the measure, arguing it could lead to destruction of the wetlands.
Fight looms over transgender treatments in Medicaid
National and state legal and LGBTQ-advocacy groups are preparing to fight a move by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration to deny Medicaid coverage for treatments such as hormone therapy and puberty-blocking medication for transgender people.
DeSantis cuts $75 million from USF environmental research facility
A science research facility for USF St. Pete is up in the air after Gov. Ron DeSantis cut $3.1 billion out of the state’s budget.
DeSantis Signs Budget, Vetoes $3.13 Billion
Pointing to a need to further brace the state against a potential recession, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued $3.13 billion in vetoes Thursday as he signed a record $109.9 billion budget for the fiscal year that will begin July 1.
Governor DeSantis nixes mask punishment for Florida school districts
Breaking from the Legislature’s efforts to punish school districts that imposed mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday directed Florida’s new education commissioner to ignore a plan that would have made the districts ineligible for $200 million.
Florida Supreme Court will not block DeSantis-backed congressional map
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday declined to jump into a congressional redistricting fight, leaving in place a lower-court decision that would clear the way for using a controversial plan that Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed through the Legislature.
Gov. DeSantis signs property insurance package after Florida lawmakers pass bills in special session
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed sweeping property insurance legislation into law after Florida lawmakers overwhelmingly gave final approval to a measure that seeks to stem problems that have led to policyholders across the state losing coverage and seeing soaring premiums.
Appeals court: Florida law targeting 'social media censorship' is unconstitutional
A Florida law intended to punish social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter is an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment, a federal appeals court ruled, dealing a victory to companies who had been accused by Gov. Ron DeSantis of discriminating against conservative thought.
'They are going to go to prison': DeSantis signs bill cracking down on dangerous drug dealers
The new law increases sentences for drug dealers caught selling fentanyl or methamphetamine. It gives prosecutors the ability to charge dealers with first-degree murder if methamphetamine leads to an overdose death. As a capital crime, dealers could face life in prison or even the death penalty.
Gov. DeSantis signs bill banning protests in front of homes
Anyone who protests in front of a private residence in Florida can face jail time and fines under a bill signed Monday.
Two congressional candidates in Pinellas County stop campaigns due to Florida's new redistricting map
Two Democratic candidates for Congress in Pinellas County have now stopped their campaigns and dropped out of races because of Florida’s new redistricting map.
Gov. DeSantis expects reforms as insurers set to cancel policies
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday expressed confidence that a special legislative session will help stabilize Florida’s property-insurance system, but the troubled market is taking another blow as a group of companies is poised to cancel more than 68,000 policies.