Florida News Archive

A windfall of federal stimulus money won’t slow a deal between state House and Senate leaders that includes requiring out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases made by Floridians.

A 20-foot-long (6-meter-long) U.S. Air Force drone that had been shot down in target practice was found washed ashore Friday on a Florida beach, authorities said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has emphatically resisted placing restrictions on businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But DeSantis this week suggested he may go after companies if they require customers to show proof that they are vaccinated, saying “it’s more than just a private decision.”   

The outlook for the state’s Bright Futures program might not be so sunny for students, as Senate Republicans are putting a bullseye on the popular scholarships.

A House committee Monday will take up a wide-ranging bill about the state’s election laws, including maintaining the use of drop boxes for mail-in ballots and requiring Floridians to more frequently request such ballots.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that Florida will start offering COVID-19 vaccines to all people age 50 and older starting Monday. This week, Florida lowered the age threshold from 65 to 60, but the governor said softening demand convinced him the state could go to 50.

Gov. Ron DeSantis rolled out more fodder for conservatives on Wednesday, when he announced a $106 million “civics literacy” proposal to educate kids — and teachers — about the nation’s roots.

About 2.5 million people in Florida had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Tuesday.

As the “COVID slide” continues to affect learning gains and widen achievement gaps for students nationwide, the Florida Department of Education was moving Wednesday toward requesting a federal waiver for testing accountability measures. The federal government requires 95 percent of Florida students in grades 3 through 8 to sit for math and English-language arts exams.

A 2020 law that required doctors to obtain written consent before conducting pelvic exams caused confusion last summer among Florida physicians. The Senate Health Policy Committee on Wednesday took a step to clarify the law by unanimously passing a bill (SB 716) that says the requirement only applies to female patients and that pelvic exams include examinations of the internal reproductive system.