Florida election officials grapple with misinformation, myths

First came a contagion of disbelief in election results. Then, a surge of public-records requests seeking details such as voting-system security processes. Now, fears of being arrested for voting. Elections supervisors in Florida have grappled with these and misinformation issues as they oversaw the state’s August primary elections and prepared for the Nov. 8 general […]

Protest ban at University of Florida after anti-Sasse rally

The University of Florida is going to start enforcing a decades-old prohibition against indoor protests following a raucous demonstration earlier this month against the selection of U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse as a finalist for the school president’s job. Sasse, a Republican in his second Senate term, has drawn criticism from some at the school for […]

Florida high school quarterback killed in crash trying to help another driver

A Florida high school quarterback was killed in a crash early Sunday while helping a driver stuck on the side of the road. Nick Miner, 18, was in a pickup truck when officials say he stopped on the side of the road to help another driver who was stuck on Dallas Boulevard in Orlando. According […]

Florida judge blocks subpoenas in migrant records fight

A Leon County circuit judge has rejected subpoenas that sought to force two top aides to Gov. Ron DeSantis to testify in a public-records lawsuit stemming from controversial flights of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. Judge J. Lee Marsh issued a two-page decision Sunday that quashed subpoenas the Florida Center for Government Accountability had […]

Gov. DeSantis refuses to commit to serving full term

A defiant Gov. Ron DeSantis refused to commit to serving a full four-year term if reelected when pressed by his Democratic rival, Charlie Crist, at their only gubernatorial debate on Monday. Crist, a former congressman and one-term governor, accused DeSantis, a rising Republican star considered a likely 2024 presidential contender, of being too distracted by […]

Crash

Police: Florida girl breaks into safe, gives $10K to students

A 14-year-old girl caused a stir at a North Florida middle school when she handed out more than $10,000 that officials say she stole from her grandmother’s safe. Marion County deputies responded to Lake Weir Middle School in Summerfield on Thursday after reports that a student was giving classmates hundreds of dollars each, according to […]

Judge tosses challenge to Florida’s so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill

For the second time in about a month, a lawsuit challenging Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation restricting teaching on gender identity and sexual orientation in schools has been dismissed by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger in Orlando on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit brought by LGBTQ students, parents and their families — […]

Election fraud case against Florida defendant dismissed

One of the 20 people arrested with fanfare under an election fraud program launched by Gov. Ron DeSantis had his case dismissed Friday by a Miami judge, but the governor plans to appeal the ruling. Those arrested had voted in 2020, the first major elections since a state constitutional amendment allowed many felons to have […]

A swing state no more? GOP confidence grows in Florida

Democrats are increasingly concerned that Florida, once the nation’s premier swing state, may slip away this fall and beyond as emboldened Republicans capitalize on divisive cultural issues and demographic shifts in crucial contests for governor and the U.S. Senate. The anxiety was apparent last week during a golf cart parade of Democrats featuring Senate candidate […]

Trump company set for criminal trial in off-books pay scheme

More than three years after Manhattan prosecutors started investigating Donald Trump — after going to the Supreme Court twice to gain access to his tax records — the only criminal trial to arise from their efforts is about to begin. No, the former president isn’t going on trial. His company is. The Trump Organization, the […]