TALLAHASSEE — A full federal appeals court said Friday it will take up a legal battle over a 2018 Florida law that bars sales of rifles and other long guns to people under 21. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a March decision by a three-judge panel that …
Read More »‘Completely perverted the intent’: Sponsor of Florida’s presidential search shield law critiques universities’ approach
TALLAHASSEE — Amid a pause in Florida Atlantic University’s search for a new president, leaders of a First Amendment group and a national higher-education association are pointing to a controversial new law shielding presidential candidates’ identities as harmful to public trust and academic freedom. Meanwhile, a former state senator who …
Read More »Disney is asking a judge to toss a lawsuit from DeSantis appointees
ORLANDO, Fla. — Disney is asking a Florida judge on Friday to toss out a lawsuit against the company’s efforts to neutralize a takeover of Disney World’s governing district by Gov. Ron DeSantis and his appointees. The hearing scheduled for an hour in state court in Orlando involves one of …
Read More »‘Preposterous’: Disney CEO disputes DeSantis’ assertions
TALLAHASSEE — Disney CEO Bob Iger dismissed as “preposterous” arguments by Gov. Ron DeSantis that the company is “sexualizing children” or experiencing a drop in attendance at its Florida resorts because of a long-running fight with the governor. Appearing Thursday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Iger also defended the company’s right …
Read More »Reinsurance: A key piece of Florida’s insurance market is improving — but at a price
TALLAHASSEE — The market for reinsurance — a critical piece of Florida’s property-insurance system — is improving. But it comes at a price. Those are takeaways from new reports as Florida insurers try to bounce back after two years of homeowners losing policies and facing major rate increases because of …
Read More »Florida has 20 circuit courts. Could some of them be consolidated?
TALLAHASSEE — After Florida lawmakers in 2022 reorganized the state’s appeals courts, House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, is pushing to consolidate circuit courts. A committee appointed by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz will hold its first meeting Friday to begin looking at consolidation in the 20-circuit system. …
Read More »Supreme Court to hear abortion case in September
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court on Friday said it will hear arguments Sept. 8 in a case that could play a major role in the future of abortion rights in the state. The court issued an order scheduling a hearing in a challenge to a 2022 law that prevented …
Read More »DeSantis defends anti-LGBTQ video shared by his campaign and calls it a ‘fair game’ attack on Trump
NEW YORK — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is defending an anti-LGBTQ video his campaign shared online that attacks rival Donald Trump for his past support of gay and transgender people, despite some of his fellow Republicans calling it homophobic. DeSantis, in an interview Wednesday on the podcast of conservative commentator Tomi Lahren, did not …
Read More »Group files legal challenge against revamp of Gainesville Regional Utilities
TALLAHASSEE — Arguing that a new Florida law violates First Amendment and other constitutional rights, a non-profit group and Alachua County residents have filed a federal-court challenge to an overhaul of the electric utility in the Gainesville area. The group Gainesville Residents United and six individual plaintiffs filed an 88-page …
Read More »Million-dollar book deal boosts DeSantis’ net worth
A $1.25 million book deal helped drive up Gov. Ron DeSantis’ net worth in 2022, according to an annual financial-disclosure report posted Friday on the Florida Commission on Ethics website. DeSantis listed a net worth of $1,174,331 as of Dec. 31, up from $318,986 a year earlier. DeSantis, who is …
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