Statewide News

Florida State University's football team plays at Doak Campbell Stadium. (News Service of Florida File Photo/Tom Urban)

Florida State University's football team plays at Doak Campbell Stadium. (News Service of Florida File Photo/Tom Urban)

State university leaders seek rule changes on paid athletics

Jim Turner
Friday, September 4, 2026
News Service of Florida -- Legislators could be asked to impose a “commercially reasonable” registration fee on athletic agents as state university leaders seek changes to address the rapidly evolving landscape of college sports.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue repeatedly referenced “the Jetsons” to highlight that testing on electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft will be underway by the end of the year at the SunTrax test facility in Polk County. (Photo/Governor's Office Twitter)

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue repeatedly referenced “the Jetsons” to highlight that testing on electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft will be underway by the end of the year at the SunTrax test facility in Polk County. (Photo/Governor's Office Twitter)

Where Florida’s going, ‘We Don’t Need Roads’

Jim Turner
Thursday, September 3, 2026
News Service of Florida — As schools open across Florida, state officials envision the opening to the 1960s animated series ‘The Jetsons,’ where Elroy Jetson is ejected outside Little Dipper School in a small bubble-top pod from the family’s flying car.Gov.
Shoppers will be able to avoid paying sales taxes on gun purchases from Monday through the end of the year. (News Service of Florida Photo Mike Exline)

Shoppers will be able to avoid paying sales taxes on gun purchases from Monday through the end of the year. (News Service of Florida Photo Mike Exline)

Guns, Outdoor Goods Tax Holiday starts Sept. 1 — find out more

Jim Turner
Sunday, August 30, 2026
News Service of Florida — An upcoming four-month sales tax “holiday” on certain camping and hunting gear, including guns and ammunition, is back to round out the year.The retail industry is hoping people are becoming more conscious of the discount period that begins Sept 1 and ends Dec. 31.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has lashed back against questions about Hope Florida. (News Service of Florida file photo)

Gov. Ron DeSantis has lashed back against questions about Hope Florida. (News Service of Florida file photo)

Grand Jury findings called ‘Politically Motivated,' spurs call for resignations

Jim Turner
Friday, August 28, 2026
News Service of Florida — Democrats on Thursday called for more investigations and resignations of top state officials after a leaked state grand jury report found Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration “misappropriated” Medicaid money in 2024 that ended up in political committees.
Charlie Kirk, the ultra-conservative political activist and media personality credited by the Donald Trump administration for bringing in young voters and political enthusiasts to the Republican Party, was shot and killed at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025. Numerous educators in the state, including those in Osceola County, were under investigation for posts about Kirk’s death on social media and were threatened with disciplinary actions by education leaders. (File Photo)

Charlie Kirk, the ultra-conservative political activist and media personality credited by the Donald Trump administration for bringing in young voters and political enthusiasts to the Republican Party, was shot and killed at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025. Numerous educators in the state, including those in Osceola County, were under investigation for posts about Kirk’s death on social media and were threatened with disciplinary actions by education leaders. (File Photo)

Florida court says teacher who made Kirk comments should be reinstated

Ana Goñi-lessan
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
News Service of Florida — A Lee County public school teacher’s suspension for a comment about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk should be ended and she should receive back pay, an administrative court judge has recommended.
Gubernatorial Republican candidate Bryan Donalds spoke to approximately 100 supporters Friday in Lakeland urging them to help get out the vote in Tuesday's primary. (Photo/Robert Pincus)

Gubernatorial Republican candidate Bryan Donalds spoke to approximately 100 supporters Friday in Lakeland urging them to help get out the vote in Tuesday's primary. (Photo/Robert Pincus)

Donalds heralds his Florida affordability plan at Lakeland stop

Robert Pincus
Monday, August 17, 2026
Gubernatorial Republican candidate Byron Donalds spoke to approximately 100 supporters Friday in Lakeland urging them to help get out the vote in Tuesday's primary. Donalds, a three-term Congressman who is endorsed by President Trump, is leading in most of the polls against Lt. Gov.
Attorney General James Uthmeier on Thursday released a redraft of the ballot summary of Amendment 3, the large property tax cut measure pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Attorney General James Uthmeier on Thursday released a redraft of the ballot summary of Amendment 3, the large property tax cut measure pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

State leadership rewrites property tax cut ballot summary

Gray Rohrer
Friday, August 14, 2026
News Service of Florida -- Attorney General James Uthmeier on Thursday released a re-draft of the ballot summary of Amendment 3, the large property tax cut measure pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The state’s leading pediatric medical association, the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said they’re not on board with the edict from the White House.

The state’s leading pediatric medical association, the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said they’re not on board with the edict from the White House.

Florida pediatricians rebuke Trump vaccine order

News Service Of Florida
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
By Ana Goñi-Lessan —Pediatricians in Florida are pushing back on President Donald Trump’s executive order calling for changes to the childhood vaccination schedule.
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