Jun 11, 2021
Appeals court targets mask requirement
Pointing to privacy rights, a divided state appeals court Friday overturned a circuit judge’s decision last year that allowed Alachua County to keep in place a mask requirement to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Jun 11, 2021
Fisheries license plate gets go-ahead
A group backing a specialty license plate to promote conservation of fisheries is the first to meet sales and design requirements under a 2020 state law.
Jun 11, 2021
Education board backs controversial history guidelines
Backing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign against critical race theory, the State Board of Education on Thursday approved a rule that places controversial guidelines on the way U.S. history is taught in public schools.
Jun 9, 2021
DeSantis to sign property insurance change
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday he will sign a property-insurance package that could lead to larger rate increases for customers of the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. while seeking to curb roof-damage claims and lawsuits.
Jun 8, 2021
Medical board agrees to revamp weight-loss rule
Acknowledging that the regulation is inconsistent with Florida law and is out-of-step with current practice standards, members of the Florida Board of Medicine agreed to revamp a rule for medication-assisted weight loss that has been in effect for more than two decades.
Jun 8, 2021
Judge tries to untangle ‘Grim Reaper’ lawyer case
A Northwest Florida judge is weighing how to handle an appellate court-fueled case against a lawyer who drew national headlines by donning a Grim Reaper costume to criticize Gov. Ron DeSantis’ handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Jun 7, 2021
By the numbers: COVID-19 deaths by state
As of Friday, the United States had nearly 597,000 reported COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic started. Here are numbers for Florida and other states that have had the most deaths:
— California: 63,376 deaths
— New York: 53,377 deaths
Jun 5, 2021
Courts to drop mask, social distancing requirements
Florida courts are set to resume some jury trials and drop mask and social-distancing requirements, while most court proceedings will continue to take place remotely, under an order issued Friday by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady.
Jun 4, 2021
Governor signs record $100 billion budget
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a record $100 billion state budget for the upcoming fiscal year this week, but not before slashing about $1.5 billion from the spending plan using his line-item veto power.
Jun 4, 2021
Off and running: Nikki Fried enters gubernatorial race
State Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried entered the 2022 gubernatorial race this week, marking the second major Democratic challenger to DeSantis as he seeks re-election.