(The Center Square) – Making it more difficult for Floridians to file ethics complaints against elected officials is getting backlash from a nonprofit group. Citizens would only be able to file an ethics complaint with the state or local ethics boards if they had personal knowledge of the alleged violation,Continue Reading
(The Center Square) – Another retail theft group has been charged by Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, this time for allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from Home Depot stores. Criminal charges and investigations continue as the OSP has been prioritizing retail theft in Florida. Last fall, criminalContinue Reading
On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, Patrol Officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 4300 block of Post Street in the Murray Hill area following reports of a shooting. Upon reaching the scene, Officers found Blaise Conner, a 17-year-old white male, with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite efforts fromContinue Reading
(The Center Square) – A report on the financial statuses of U.S. cities gave Florida’s largest mixed grades. The 2024 Financial State of the Cities report by Truth in Accounting gave Jacksonville and Miami poor marks and Orlando and Tampa passing grades. The methodology is to examine the cities’ bills,Continue Reading
(The Center Square) — Florida lawmakers have advanced a bill this week that would allow young students and those who teach them the tools to be successful. State Rep. John Snyder, R-Palm City, sponsors House Bill 1353. It would revise Florida’s laws on the state’s pre-kindergarten programs known as earlyContinue Reading
(The Center Square) – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody again sounded the alarm Thursday over illicit fentanyl flooding into the state from Mexico. She was joined by Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass and Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods to discuss Florida’s efforts to combat it. Moody saidContinue Reading
(The Center Square) – More than 4,000 police officers have moved to Florida or become new recruits through Florida’s law enforcement recruitment bonus program. The program was first launched in April 2022 after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law allocating $125 million for bonuses to benefit local policeContinue Reading
(The Center Square) — A Florida bill has been advanced this week that would add extra guidelines and safety measures for hemp products sold in the Sunshine State to ensure consumer safety. House Bill 1613 is sponsored by state Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Lakewood Ranch, and would provide conditions for possession,Continue Reading
(The Center Square) – Increases greater than 50% on homeowner policies by two insurance companies will be considered in hearings by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation later this month. The requested rate hikes come as state legislative leaders grapple with proposed solutions to rising insurance rates in the state.Continue Reading
(The Center Square) — Florida lawmakers have advanced new legislation that would safeguard Floridians from being shut out from the property insurance market by raising the cap on the state’s last-resort insurer. Senate Bill 1106 is sponsored by state Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Palm Harbor, and would revise certain minimum replacementContinue Reading