Statewide News

Gov. Ron DeSantis, shown in Osceola County last year at a function at NeoCity Academy, was back in the area Monday to sign a bill at a Reedy Creek fire station. The district will now be called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. FILE PHOTO

Gov. Ron DeSantis, shown in Osceola County last year at a function at NeoCity Academy, was back in the area Monday to sign a bill at a Reedy Creek fire station. The district will now be called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. FILE PHOTO

DeSantis signs Reedy Creek revamp

Jim Turner
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
News Service of Florida About a year after the Walt Disney Co. angered him by opposing a controversial education law, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill that shifts control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District from Disney to the governor’s office.
State Democrats argue easing gun restrictions would increase violence, while some gun-rights groups — which want people to be able to openly carry firearms in most public places — call the proposal “too weak.” PHOTO/METRO

State Democrats argue easing gun restrictions would increase violence, while some gun-rights groups — which want people to be able to openly carry firearms in most public places — call the proposal “too weak.” PHOTO/METRO

Legislature tees up ‘constitutional’ carry

Jim Turner
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
News Service of Florida The Florida House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee has backed a proposal that combines allowing people to carry concealed firearms without licenses and efforts to improve school safety, despite Democratic arguments that easing gun restrictions would increase violence.
This logo will be going away. The new bill would give authority to Gov. Ron DeSantis to appoint the district’s five-member Board of Supervisors and would change the name to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. LOGO/RCID

This logo will be going away. The new bill would give authority to Gov. Ron DeSantis to appoint the district’s five-member Board of Supervisors and would change the name to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. LOGO/RCID

DeSantis gets Reedy Creek control

Jim Turner
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
News Service of Florida Florida lawmakers have given final approval to changes that would shift control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District from the Walt Disney Co. to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed a nearly $114.8 billion budget for next year that includes a variety of tax cuts and more money for such things as teacher pay.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed a nearly $114.8 billion budget for next year that includes a variety of tax cuts and more money for such things as teacher pay.

DeSantis pitches $114.8B budget

Jim Saunders
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
News Service of Florida Dubbing it the “framework for freedom,” Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed a nearly $114.8 billion budget for next year that includes a variety of tax cuts and more money for such things as teacher pay.
Florida’s unemployment rate dipped to 2.5 percent in December as businesses continue to struggle to fill positions. METRO

Florida’s unemployment rate dipped to 2.5 percent in December as businesses continue to struggle to fill positions. METRO

Florida jobless rate down to 2.5 percent

Jim Turner
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
News Service of Florida Florida’s unemployment rate dipped to 2.5 percent in December as businesses continue to struggle to fill positions. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity released a report that showed the December rate down from 2.6 percent in November and from 3.
PHOTO/WILDPATH Collins Ranch in eastern Osceola County is now part of an essential conservation habitat.

PHOTO/WILDPATH Collins Ranch in eastern Osceola County is now part of an essential conservation habitat.

Osceola’s Collins Ranch now part of statewide wildlife corridor

Staff Report
Friday, January 20, 2023
Tuesday, the Florida Cabinet approved five parcels of land, totaling more than 3,500 acres statewide, to connect, protect, and restore essential conservation habitat statewide. Among the five approved parcels is Collins Ranch, located in east of St. Cloud near Holopaw.
The roofing change dealt with part of the Florida Building Code known as the “25 percent rule.” That rule in the past required entire roofs to be replaced to meet code requirements if more than 25 percent of the roofs were damaged. The state is taking up the cause.

The roofing change dealt with part of the Florida Building Code known as the “25 percent rule.” That rule in the past required entire roofs to be replaced to meet code requirements if more than 25 percent of the roofs were damaged. The state is taking up the cause.

Statewide roof damage fight heads to appeals court

Jim Saunders
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
By Jim Saunders News Service of Florida With the troubled property-insurance industry blaming roof-damage claims for driving up costs, Florida lawmakers in May approved scaling back a requirement to replace roofs.
Gov. Ron DeSantis gave his inauguration speech Tuesday on the steps of the Old Capitol. PHOTO/NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Gov. Ron DeSantis gave his inauguration speech Tuesday on the steps of the Old Capitol. PHOTO/NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

DeSantis focuses on ‘Freedom’ to start second term

Jim Turner
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
By Jim Turner and Ryan Dailey News Service of Florida   Gov. Ron DeSantis was sworn in Tuesday for a second term, offering a theme of “freedom” in Florida to counter “faddish ideology” nationally.
Florida lawmakers during the Dec. 12-14 special session made changes that will provide “much needed relief” in the troubled property insurance system.

Florida lawmakers during the Dec. 12-14 special session made changes that will provide “much needed relief” in the troubled property insurance system.

Special session report: insurance changes will help, but take time

Jim Saunders
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
News Service of Florida  Florida lawmakers during the Dec. 12-14 special session made changes that will provide “much needed relief” in the troubled property insurance system, but effects of the legislation won’t be immediate, the AM Best financial-rating agency said in a new report.
As part of an announcement about BlackRock, Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis noted in a prepared statement that, “Major banking institutions and economists predict a recession in the coming year.”

As part of an announcement about BlackRock, Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis noted in a prepared statement that, “Major banking institutions and economists predict a recession in the coming year.”

Florida CFO Patronis: ‘Economists predicting a recession in the coming year’

Ken Jackson
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Last week, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced that the Florida Treasury will begin divesting $2 billion worth of assets currently under management by BlackRock, a global asset manager — one of the world’s largest.
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