Fried focuses on abortion rights in bid for governor

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried over the past five years has gone from being a medical-marijuana lobbyist to the Florida Democratic Party standard-bearer to an underdog in Tuesday’s gubernatorial primary election. Selling herself to voters as “something new” as she battles U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist in the primary, Fried has sparred with Republicans during her single […]

Grand jury wants school board members removed over massacre

A Florida grand jury empaneled after a 2018 school massacre has recommended that Gov. Ron DeSantis remove from office four members of the Broward County school board, saying they and district administrators displayed “deceit, malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty and incompetence” in their handling of a campus safety program. In the 122-page report released Friday, […]

Rental community Villas of Gulf Coast breaks ground off Alico Road

In this Gulfshore Business report, one developer is thinking outside the box, creating a new concept when it comes to housing. There’s a new type of living on the horizon, and like the horizon, you should be thinking horizontally. The Villas of Gulf Coast is planned to be built off Alico Road in central Lee […]

Judge appears willing to unveil some of Mar-a-Lago affidavit

A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Justice Department to put forward proposed redactions as he committed to making public at least part of the affidavit supporting the search warrant for former President Donald Trump’s estate in Florida. U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart said that under the law, it is the government’s burden to show […]

Florida law lets veterans teach without degrees, not their spouses

CLAIM: A Florida law allowing military veterans without a bachelor’s degree to teach in Florida also extends to their spouses. AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a bill making veterans without a bachelor’s degree eligible to receive a temporary five-year teaching certificate. However, that privilege does not extend to family members or spouses, […]

Gov. DeSantis’ election police force announces arrests of 20 for voter fraud

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that 20 people who voted in the 2020 election would be arrested and charged Thursday for breaking the state’s election laws on felon voting rights. The move was described as the “opening salvo” for the Office of Election Crimes and Security, created by DeSantis and approved by the Florida Legislature. Some […]

Judge blocks Florida ‘woke’ law pushed by Gov. DeSantis

A Florida judge on Thursday declared a Florida law championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that restricts race-based conversation and analysis in business and education unconstitutional. Tallahassee U.S. District Judge Mark Walker said in a 44-page ruling that the “Stop WOKE” act violates the First Amendment and is impermissibly vague. Walker also refused to issue […]

Mother dies after being struck by lightning in Winter Springs

A mother was killed on Thursday after she was struck by lightning near a Winter Springs park, according to local officials. Her child was also hospitalized because of the strike, but the child’s current condition is not clear. Police in Winter Springs, which is just north of Orlando, said they responded Thursday afternoon to reports […]

Darden plans 4 new restaurants in Collier, Lee counties

In this Gulfshore Business report, foodies listen up, a popular restaurant company is expanding its footprint in Southwest Florida. You may or may not know the name Darden, but chances are you’ve eaten at one of the company’s restaurants. A Longhorn Steakhouse, still under construction in Cape Coral, is just one of four restaurants in […]

A prosecutor in a murder case complained about a judge’s ruling in a group text message that included the judge, resulting in a second mistrial for a man charged with killing his girlfriend’s young son.

Group text leads to 2nd mistrial for Florida man charged with killing 3-year-old

A prosecutor in a murder case complained about a judge’s ruling in a group text message that included the judge, resulting in a second mistrial for a man charged with killing his girlfriend’s young son. Now the defense wants the case dismissed altogether. Broward County Judge Peter Holden refused to allow a 911 call as […]