TALLAHASSEE — A Senate panel on Thursday, March 10 moved Florida one step closer to allowing people to carry concealed firearms without licenses, as critics on opposite sides took aim at the proposal.

When the historic Plaza Live theater in Orlando hosted an event last December called “A Drag Queen Christmas,” the show drew a full house, noisy street demonstrators — and a small squad of undercover state agents there to document whether children were being exposed to sights that ran afoul …

ORLANDO — It was supposed to be a peaceful Florida vacation for a couple and their five children at a lake house in Wellington, but it ended in a nightmare, a lawsuit says.

At least 60 flights departing from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International  and  Miami International  airports were delayed as of Monday afternoon after technical difficulties at the Federal Aviation Administration Miami Center.

TALLAHASSEE — After Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz was sentenced to life in prison, the Florida Senate on Monday, March 6 began moving forward with a proposal that would eliminate a requirement for unanimous jury recommendations before death sentences can be imposed.

TALLAHASSEE – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis positioned himself as the architect of a new conservative vision for the nation during a State of the State address on Tuesday, March 7 that championed his aggressive stances through the pandemic and culture wars as a blueprint for Republican leadership.

FORT LAUDERDALE — A 19-yearold Florida man is now facing three first-degree-murder charges related to a shooting last week that killed a television news reporter, a 9-year-old girl and a 38-year-old woman, sheriff’s officials said Tuesday.

TALLAHASSEE — For the second time in less than five months, a federal judge has rejected a lawsuit seeking to block a controversial Florida law that restricts classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation.

FORT LAUDERDALE — Outside the grocery store, farmer’s market and outdoor festivals, solicitors carry clipboards and urge Floridians to sign their petitions.

FORT LAUDERDALE — “I can’t imagine what you are going through,” people often say to Jennifer Montalto.

TALLAHASSEE — The feud between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the College Board over Florida rejecting the AP African American studies course escalated Monday with DeSantis threatening to drop the organization’s Advanced Placement classes from Florida high schools.

TAMPA — Florida’s COVID-19 uptick this winter  may have peaked without a crushing wave of hospitalizations.

TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has authorized more than $1.3 million for legal and expert-witness fees in the state’s effort to ban Medicaid coverage of treatments for transgender people, a review of state records by The News Service of Florida shows.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration has blocked a new Advanced Placement course on African American studies from being taught in high schools, saying it violates state law and is historically inaccurate.

Former students and state and local officials took part in a ceremony on Jan 13 to dedicate a memorial and honor victims who were abused and, in some cases, died at the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Jackson County.

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida have launched the 2023 Black History Month student art and essay contests with the theme of “Celebrating the Achievements of African American Floridians.” 

The Florida Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine have scheduled a public hearing on their plans to restrict gender-affirming care for minors. The joint hearing will take place in Tallahassee on Feb. 10.

TAMPA — Following months of pressure and a catastrophic 2022 election cycle for Democrats, the chair of the Florida Democratic Party, Manny Diaz, announced Monday that he is retiring, “effective immediately.”

‘I hope Rosewood is the catalyst. I’m going to make sure it’s the big part of changing the narrative or changing the attitudes of hate and disrespect.’

TALLAHASSEE – Saying the case is “moot,” University of Florida professors are asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit that challenged a controversial conflict-of-interest policy that gave school administrators discretion over allowing faculty members to serve as expert witnesses in litigation.

MIAMI — A Tampa attorney who was sentenced to eight years of sex offender probation and no prison time after pleading guilty to 34 counts of child pornography charges still will not “acknowledge the wrongful nature of his conduct,” a Florida judge said.

TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge has refused to dismiss charges of lying to the FBI and wire fraud against former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, while also short-circuiting a Gillum contention that he is a victim of selective prosecution.

KISSIMMEE — Don’t Be a Sitting Duck is in the business of teaching Floridians how to safely carry a concealed handgun.

TALLAHASSEE – State health regulators on Monday, Dec. 19, set in motion a process to issue up to 22 more medical-marijuana licenses, in a highly anticipated move that could double the size of Florida’s medical-cannabis industry.

For starters, it’s probably more affordable than you think

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees (BOT) has voted to give President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., a 3.5% raise, a 17.5% bonus, and to extend his contract for another year.

The Tampa Organization of Black Affairs (TOBA) will host its 2023 43rd Annual TOBA Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Leadership Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 16, 6:45 a.m., at the J.W. Marriott, 510 Water Street, Tampa.

The Tampa Organization of Black Affairs (TOBA) recently held its graduation ceremony for the third and largest cohort class of its leadership institute.

Florida Dems will fight for affordable health care, affordable housing and lower property insurance rates, says state Rep. Fentrice Driskell.

TALLAHASSEE – Legal challenges to six candidates seeking to be appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to two appellate courts took another twist Friday, Dec. 2, after plaintiffs filed requests to disqualify Florida Supreme Court Justice Renatha Francis from the cases.

TAMPA — Tampa police Chief Mary O’Connor resigned on Dec. 5 after an investigation into a Pinellas County traffic stop where she flashed a badge and asked a deputy to “just let us go.”

TALLAHASSEE — As Florida lawmakers try to stabilize the troubled property-insurance system next month, they could face worsening problems with reinsurance, a critical part of the system.

TALLAHASSEE — One of the 20 people arrested by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new election security force accepted a plea deal on Nov. 28 that allows her to avoid any punishment.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday announced Shevaun Harris will continue as secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) reported that none of its students were hurt in a shooting incident at an outdoor basketball court on Nov. 27. 

TAMPA – Safe & Sound Hillsborough’s Executive Director Freddy Barton was recently honored by the Juvenile Justice Board in Circuit Thirteen with the distinguished Julianne M. Holt Service Excellence Award.

MIAMI — In September, a debate over whether the Miami-Dade School Board should recognize October as LGBTQ history month again left board members facing a divided roomful of constituents.

Many people find health insurance confusing, expensive and out of their reach. For those reasons, and others, they may not have any kind of health insurance to help keep them and their families healthy and protected from expensive medical bills.

Homeowners with Federal Housing Administration-backed loans will be able to buy flood insurance from private companies, rather than having to get coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Nov. 21.

People whose homes, businesses and lives have been disrupted by Hurricane Ian now have until mid-January to seek help from FEMA.