Mar 31, 2021
Transgender athlete restrictions move forward
A Florida Senate panel Wednesday signed off on a proposal aimed at keeping most transgender females from participating in high-school and college sports, but the measure stops short of an all-out ban being considered by the House.
Mar 31, 2021
House, Senate eye records exemptions for lawmakers
The House and Senate are advancing proposals that would create a public-records exemption for information about lawmakers, including their home addresses and phone numbers, but opponents question how the measures would interact with a requirement that lawmakers live in their districts.
Mar 31, 2021
Discipline pursued against ‘Grim Reaper’ lawyer
A Northwest Florida attorney who drew national headlines by dressing as the Grim Reaper to criticize Gov. Ron DeSantis’ response to the coronavirus pandemic faces possible discipline after prosecutors filed a motion last week.
Mar 30, 2021
Local emergency powers targeted
Lawmakers continued to move forward Tuesday with efforts to limit local-government emergency orders, despite arguments by Democrats that the proposals are a state overreach.
Mar 30, 2021
Jury duty postponement backed in emergencies
Proposals are moving through the Legislature that would allow Floridians to postpone jury duty for a year during public-health emergencies and states of emergency.
Mar 29, 2021
GOP lawmakers take aim at ballot initiatives
Over the past decade, Florida voters approved changes to the state Constitution that legalized medical marijuana, restored felons’ voting rights and directed more money to land and water conservation.
Mar 29, 2021
Spending plans point to ‘lean year’ in higher education
House and Senate budget leaders are eyeing cuts to higher education spending, but early recommendations would go about it in different ways.
Mar 26, 2021
DeSantis, Moody push to lift cruise restrictions
Florida is considering legal avenues to challenge federal guidelines that keep passenger cruise ships from sailing because of the COVID-19 pandemic, as efforts continue to convince the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to lift restrictions.
Mar 26, 2021
House passes bill on guns at churches
With supporters saying the issue is about property rights, the Florida House on Friday overwhelmingly passed a bill that would allow people to carry guns at churches that share locations with schools. House members voted 76-37 to approve the measure (HB 259), sponsored by Rep. Jayer Williamson, R-Pace, and Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach.
Mar 26, 2021
By the numbers: COVID-19 vaccinations by age
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that all Floridians ages 40 and older will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations starting Monday. DeSantis focused initially on vaccinating seniors and health-care workers but has gradually loosened eligibility requirements. Here is a breakdown of the ages of people who had been vaccinated as of a Wednesday count:
— Ages 16 to 24: 99,482 people
— Ages 25 to 34: 241,935 people