Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed the first of five new board members to oversee the troubled Gainesville Regional Utilities being taken over by the state. DeSantis installed three Republicans in a part of Florida that has been one of the rare remaining political strongholds for Democrats. The three new …
Read More »Hurricane, shooting test DeSantis leadership as he trades the campaign trail for crisis management
First a shooting, then a storm. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is facing a one-two punch testing his leadership at a critical moment for his presidential campaign, with the Republican moving to cast aside his role as culture warrior and show the country that he can govern through crises. His first …
Read More »How to watch the first GOP presidential debate on Wednesday night
Republicans are looking at a crowded field to challenge President Biden for the 2024 presidential election and most will face off on a Milwaukee stage Wednesday night for the first GOP debate. Late Monday the Republican National Committee confirmed the names of eight presidential candidates who will participate. The location …
Read More »The Point, Aug. 16, 2023: Protection spending for governor, family nearly doubles
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • The Alligator: DeSantis appoints UF alum as chief of staff. “After graduating from UF with a master of arts in political science in 2000, (Alex) Kelly began his career as a campaign …
Read More »DeSantis is unhurt in a car accident in Tennessee while traveling to presidential campaign events
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was involved in a multi-car accident on Tuesday in Tennessee but was uninjured as he traveled in a motorcade to a campaign stop for his 2024 presidential bid. The chain reaction crash happened before 8:15 a.m. when traffic slowed on Interstate 75 in Chattanooga, …
Read More »The Point, July 18, 2023: State funding allocated to saving historic Priest Theatre
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: State funding renews effort to save historic Priest Theatre in High Springs. “The state budget includes $1,040,450 to purchase and renovate the building, but it requires the city to match …
Read More »DeSantis, appointees to Disney World governing board ask that Disney lawsuit be dismissed
ORLANDO, Fla. — Attorneys for Gov. Ron DeSantis, a state agency and his appointees to a revamped board that governs Disney World are asking a judge to dismiss a federal lawsuit in which Disney claims its free speech rights were violated by the takeover of its governing district. The lawsuit states …
Read More »The Point, June 7, 2023: Special Report: Water and Land
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News Special Report: Today WUFT News continues The Price of Plenty, a special report on the fertilizer industry by student journalists from the University of Florida and the University of Missouri. …
Read More »Disney lawsuit judge removes himself from case but not for reasons cited by DeSantis
ORLANDO, Fla. — A federal judge overseeing the First Amendment lawsuit that Walt Disney Parks filed against Gov. Ron DeSantis and others is disqualifying himself, but not because of bias claims made by the Florida governor. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker said in a court filing Thursday that it was …
Read More »The Point, June 2, 2023: Florida members of Congress split on debt ceiling compromise
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • Florida Storms: Tropical disturbance in Gulf will keep organizing and impacting Florida into this weekend. “The area of low pressure is becoming better organized and now has a 50% chance of tropical …
Read More »