Liv Caputo, Florida Phoenix
Posted inFlorida News
In Orlando, DeSantis proposes $117B budget that bans ‘social justice’ efforts
“Today I announced the ‘Floridians First’ Budget, which will keep Florida on the course of fiscal responsibility and delivers on the priorities that have made Florida the greatest state in America.”
Posted inNews
‘He does not deserve this honor:’ Tensions erupt over proposed Charlie Kirk Day
The bill would make Charlie Kirk only the second person — after Ronald Reagan — to be commemorated in Florida statute
Posted inNews
DeSantis and Trump’s beef overshadows ‘AI Week’
A fight between the two has dominated Florida House Speaker Danny Perez’s planned “artificial intelligence week” in the Legislature
Posted inFlorida News
‘Age of darkness and deceit’: DeSantis proposes ‘AI bill of rights’ in crackdown
The legislative proposals come in sharp contrast to pro-tech push marking President Donald Trump’s second term in office.
Posted inNews
‘Copy of Guantánamo’: Human rights group alleges torture at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
Two migrant detention centers may have violated international standards by imposing conditions that could amount to torture, the group claims
Posted inFlorida News, News
Floridians who harm, sexually abuse animals near children could face 5 years in prison
DeSantis first hinted at these proposed additions to Florida’s animal cruelty statute last week
Posted inNews
DeSantis asks Legislature to punish inhumane dog breeders
He wants to impose a dog breeder license, target unethical breeding, and tighten penalties for abusing animals in front of children
Posted inNews
DeSantis says Trump’s oil drilling could ‘weaken’ environment, military training
This is one of the rarer instances of DeSantis breaking with Trump since the 2024 elections
Posted inNews
Florida advances marijuana amendment toward 2026 ballot
A pro-marijuana group sued the DeSantis administration for allegedly slow-walking the process to put an amendment on the ballot
Posted inNews
Florida Republican tries again to ban removal of Confederate monuments
The push to remove Confederate images emerged in 2015, after white supremacist Dylann Roof killed nine Black people in a Charleston church
Posted inFlorida News
Florida Republicans try again to ban Pride flags on government buildings
Republicans are trying for the fourth year to ban political flags including Pride, MAGA, or Black Lives Matter banners
Posted inNews
Florida AG says judges can’t stop state attorneys, staff from bringing guns into court
Florida statute says judges can limit ‘any person’ from bringing guns into court — Uthmeier says state attorneys don’t count as ‘any person’
Posted inNews
Murder charge dropped in road rage case eyed by Uthmeier, but Orlando woman is still going to prison
The local case took on a statewide angle when Uthmeier in September publicly bashed Orlando Democratic State Attorney Monique Worrell
Posted inCannabis
‘Nonsensical’: Pro-marijuana group sues DeSantis administration, again
The lawsuit accuses the DeSantis administration of slow-walking the process to put its proposed amendment on the Florida ballot.
Posted inNews
DeSantis orders Board of Governors to ‘pull the plug’ on H1-B visas in universities
‘[There’s] a clinical assistant professor from supposed Palestine. Why are they—is that just social justice that they’re doing?’
Posted inNews
‘Dragging its feet’: ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ appeal paused due to government shutdown
The court agreed with the Department of Homeland Security that the case should be paused until government attorneys can work again.
Posted inNews
Florida lawmaker moves to replace ‘child pornography’ mentions in state statute
‘We must call it what it truly is: the documentation of the sexual abuse of children’
Posted inNews
Florida bill would let families sue for killings by undocumented immigrants, fine police not working with ICE
It’s the largest proposed change so far to Florida immigration laws ahead of the 2026 session