Florida

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Florida has seen an increase in cases of flesh-eating bacteria this year driven largely by a surge in the county hit hardest by Hurricane Ian. The state Department of Health reports that as of Friday there... Read More

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on Thursday waiving portions of Florida’s election law in response to the devastation wrought in some parts of the state by Hurricane Ian. The order comes two weeks after the... Read More

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — With the clock ticking ever closer to Election Day, Florida election officials are continuing to tally damage and disruption assessments due to Hurricane Ian and charting a course to a fair and secure election. In an email... Read More

TALLAHASSEE — Hurricane Ian’s march through Florida and the Caribbean left at least 35 people dead in the Sunshine State, along with another three in Cuba, and caused anywhere from $66 billion to $75 billion in damage, depending on the... Read More

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Ian left a path of destruction in southwest Florida, trapping people in flooded homes, cutting off the only bridge to a barrier island, damaging the roof of a hospital intensive care unit and knocking out power to 2.5... Read More

HAVANA (AP) — Hurricane Ian tore into western Cuba on Tuesday as a major hurricane, with nothing to stop it from intensifying into a catastrophic Category 4 storm before it hits Florida on Wednesday. Ian made landfall at 4:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday... Read More

HAVANA (AP) — Hurricane Ian moved near the Cayman Islands and closer to western Cuba early Monday on a track to hit Florida as a major hurricane this week. Ian was forecast to intensify rapidly and become a major hurricane... Read More

MIAMI (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is poised to learn the identity of his general election opponent on Tuesday as Democrats choose between a man who spent a lifetime in politics — much of it as a Republican — and a... Read More

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suffered setbacks Thursday when a federal judge blocked part of a controversial state law that bans employers from promoting some sex- and race-based concepts during training sessions. The same day, the American Civil... Read More

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — When former President Donald Trump took the stage before a crowd of more than 5,000 young conservative activists in Tampa this weekend, he received the rock star's welcome he’s grown accustomed to over the seven years in which... Read More

BISCAYNE BAY, Fla.  — Before you shuck open those succulent oysters this summer, you may be interested in findings from Florida International University which show that many contain toxic “forever chemicals.” When FIU Institute of Environment scientists sampled 156 oysters... Read More

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 on Monday in favor of Florida's Medicaid program in a dispute over how much money the state can take from an accident victim's private settlement to recover the costs of their care.... Read More

ATLANTA, Ga. —  A Florida law intended to punish social media companies from allegedly barring conservative politicians from their platforms is unconstitutional, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday. “Put simply, with minor exceptions, the government can’t tell... Read More

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Florida judge declared a congressional district map approved by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis unconstitutional Wednesday because it intentionally “Diminishes African Americans’ ability to elect the representative of their choice.” Leon County Circuit Court Judge Layne Smith... Read More

ATLANTA — The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday reinstated parts of a revised Florida election law that a lower court found intentionally discriminated against Black voters. In its per curiam opinion, the three-judge panel said Chief U.S.... Read More

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida House of Representatives on Thursday voted to advance a redistricting plan proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that will likely place the state’s representation on Capitol Hill further into the Republican column while eliminating a district... Read More

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday asked the Legislature to repeal a law allowing Walt Disney World to operate a private government over its properties in the state, the latest volley in a feud between the... Read More

WASHINGTON — Activists from across the state were expected to rally outside the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee Tuesday as legislators convened for a special session at which they’re expected to approve a controversial redistricting plan proposed by Republican Gov. Ron... Read More

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Legislature was supposed to take up congressional redistricting during a special session that begins Tuesday, but the Republican leaders of both chambers have already punted the process back to the governor’s office. The back and... Read More

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a 15-week abortion ban into law Thursday as the state joined a growing conservative push to restrict access to the procedure ahead of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could roll... Read More

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, a policy that has drawn intense national scrutiny from critics who argue it... Read More

WASHINGTON — Rep. W. Gregory Steube, R-Fla., has asked the Federal Election Commission for an advisory opinion on whether members of Congress can use campaign funds to protect their homes, up to and including paying for a locking security gate,... Read More

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Republicans responding to the myth of widespread voter fraud are turning to a new tactic to appease voters who believe the claims: election police. The efforts to establish law enforcement units dedicated to investigating election crimes... Read More

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida tourism is rebounding exceptionally well and even surpassing pre-pandemic levels according to a recent announcement from Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Sunshine State welcomed 30.9 million visitors between October and December 2021, and nearly a full 118... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four years after 17 people were gunned down at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, President Joe Biden says his administration stands with the advocates working to end gun violence and is urging the nation to uphold the... Read More

FORT LAUDERDALE — Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has won the election to represent Florida's 20th Congressional District, replacing the late long-time Rep. Alcee Hastings. As of 7:22 p.m. Tuesday night, Cherfilus-McCormick had garned 78% of the total 45,471 votes reported cast.... Read More

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The race to replace the late Rep. Alcee Hastings in Florida’s 20th Congressional District — a contest considered all but signed, sealed and delivered to three-time candidate Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick in the heavily Democratic district — has... Read More

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.— Eleven candidates will appear on the ballot in Florida's 20th Congressional District on Tuesday, Nov. 2, facing off in a primary allegedly delayed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to help stymie policy gains by Democrats in the U.S.... Read More

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The state of Florida on Thursday sued President Joe Biden's administration over its coronavirus vaccine mandate for federal contractors, opening yet another battleground between Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the White House. The lawsuit, announced by... Read More

Many states are turning to monoclonal antibody treatments to curb the rise in hospitalizations and emergency room visits as COVID-19 cases rise. The demand on orders for the drugs has increased twenty-fold since mid-July, according to a spokesperson from the... Read More