The DeSantis administration spent nearly two-thirds of Florida’s emergency fund last fiscal year on fighting illegal immigration, dwarfing spending for severe weather, international rescues, and other emergency missions for which the fund was created.
Florida
The Wild West of Unregulated Private Schools in Florida and Elsewhere That Collect Taxpayer Dollars
An average of 100 new private schools have launched in Florida each of the last five school years. Florida and other states are taking a hands-off approach to regulating private schools that receive public money. School founders — in one case, a Florida woman prosecuted for sexual abuse who lost her license — often aren’t screened. Some states can’t even say how many of these schools exist.
Month-Long Sales Tax ‘Holiday’ On School Supplies, Including Computers, Begins Monday
The discount holiday, first offered as a seven-day period in 1998 when sales taxes were lifted on only certain clothing valued $50 or less, was firmly put into state statutes last year as a recurring event to run throughout August.
DeSantis’ Latest Death Warrants Slate Two Executions on the Same Day, a First For Florida in 62 Years
James Aren Duckett, 68, and Dominick Anthony Occhicone, 80, are scheduled to be executed on June 28. Occhicone will be the oldest inmate killed by the state since modern records of executions have been kept starting in 1924. The last time Florida executed two inmates on the same day was on May 12, 1964.
Florida Kills Dennis Sochor, 74, for 1981 Murder of Patty Gifford, 29th Execution in Two Years
Dennis Michael Sochor was executed Tuesday evening for the death of 18-year-old Patricia “Patty” Gifford in Broward County 44 years ago, becoming the oldest person put to death by the state since executions were revived in 1977, and the 29th person the state has killed in two years. DeSantis has signed the warrant for the 30th.
DeSantis’s Terrorist Designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Is On Hold
Nearly two weeks after Gov. DeSantis announced a recommendation from the state’s chief’s chief of domestic security to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Muslim Brotherhood, and Antifa domestic terrorist organizations, that recommendation has yet to go into effect, and there is no clear timetable when it will be, according to a filing in federal court on Monday.
Gas Prices Rise Again as Peace Deal Collapses
Gas prices in Florida inched up over the past week after President Donald Trump declared a tentative peace deal with Iran as “over.” In Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, prices for unleaded regular are ranging between $3.77 and $3.89 at most stations.
3 Groups Formed to Oppose Homestead Amendment So Far. None Formed to Support It.
Less than four months before Floridians vote on a proposal to phase out property taxes for homeowners, there’s no organized campaign seeking to move the measure past the 60% vote required for passage. Not even the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which has long opposed placing issues on Florida’s Constitution that could be solved through the legislative process.
A Rare Bipartisan Housing Bill Will Help But Won’t Solve Affordability Crisis
The Road to Housing Act recently became official law. The legislation focuses heavily on regulatory changes to address the national housing crisis. Reforms restrict institutional investors from purchasing standalone properties and reduce construction costs for builders. Housing policy experts warn these modest adjustments fail to resolve the fundamental affordability crisis because millions of Americans still lack sufficient income to secure housing in the current market.
Failing Seawall at Castillo de San Marcos Gets 18-Month Reconstruction
On July 27, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument will begin mobilizing for construction to replace, raise and rehabilitate the park’s failing seawalls and protect the historic fort and the broader St. Augustine community. Visitor access to the historic fort will be maintained throughout this project, which is expected to take approximately 18 months.
DeSantis Blames Court for Calling Out His Overreach on Woke Act
Gov. Ron DeSantis called the 11th Circuit’s blocking of the “Stop WOKE Act” a “clear and unfortunate example of judicial overreach,” reacting to the second ruling this week against his anti “woke” agenda.
29th Inmate to Be Executed in 19 Months in Florida Wants DeSantis to Attend His Killing
Dennis Michael Sochor, convicted of strangling an 18-year-old woman he met at a New Year’s celebration in a Broward County bar 44 years ago, is scheduled to die by lethal injection Tuesday at Florida State Prison. His last wish? To have Gov. Ron DeSantis personally observe his execution up close and personal.
Florida Intentionally Keeping SNAP Error Rate High to Slash Eligibility and Reduce Beneficiaries, Democrats Say
If Florida doesn’t lower its SNAP error rates, the state could have to pay as much as $1 billion to continue to participate in the federal food security program. Florida Democratic Party Chair Chair Nikki Fried says the high error rate might not be due to mundane mistakes but rather a tactic to limit participation in the federal benefit, formally called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Florida Pastors Call on Elected Officials Reinstate Temporary Protected Status For Haitian Immigrants After Ruling
Florida pastors are urging elected officials to reinstate Temporary Protected Status for Haitians following a Supreme Court ruling allowing the federal government to end the program. Led by the Reverend Doctor RB Holmes_Jr., the faith leaders called on state and federal lawmakers to protect the 93,000 Haitian TPS holders currently working across Florida and establish a clear pathway toward permanent American citizenship.
Florida’s ‘Stop WOKE Act’ at Universities Ruled Unconstitutional in Blunt Decision by Trump Appointee
A federal appeals court decisively ruled Florida’s Stop WOKE Act unconstitutional in public university classrooms. The Eleventh Circuit panel affirmed that the First Amendment protects academic freedom, preventing viewpoint discrimination by the state government. The ruling blocks Florida from restricting diverse classroom discussions regarding Critical Race Theory and marks a major constitutional legal defeat for the DeSantis administration’s efforts to control higher education classroom speech.
DCF Reports 3 Verified Flagler Cases of Child Commercial Sexual Exploitation in 2025, and 434 in the State
A new state legislative report reveals Florida verified a record 434 child sexual exploitation victims in 2025, three of them in Flagler County and 14 in Volusia. Oppaga attributes the increase to improved agency identification methods rather than increased incidence. Serious infrastructure gaps remain. Florida lacks sufficient safe foster homes and data-sharing systems, leaving vulnerable juvenile victims without critical placements, survivor mentors, or specialized therapeutic treatments.
Teacher’s Career Hinges On First Amendment Battle After Her Firing Over Charlie Kirk Comments
Kelly Brock-Sanchez, a former Clay County public school teacher fired for making controversial Facebook comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is fighting to save her career after her private posts went viral. She filed a federal lawsuit claiming the punishment violates her First Amendment rights. An administrative hearing will determine whether she permanently loses her Florida teaching certificate.
Poll Shows Property Tax Amendment with 64% Support
Florida’s proposed property tax amendment would likely pass if the November election were held today, with nearly two-thirds of voters in the state supporting it. But support fractures dramatically along party lines, with Republicans backing the change at nearly three times the rate of Democrats, new Sachs Media polling shows.
Homestead Tax Cut Could Cost You More, 3 Degrees Florida Says
3 Degrees Florida says it is not against property tax relief. Instead, the group is sounding the alarm that the amendment could make it harder for local governments to pay for essential services if it passes. The group’s branding draws heavily on the Titanic disaster.
‘Harmful’ and ‘Likely Illegal’: Immigration Groups Decry Florida Ban of Undocumented Students at Colleges
Florida’s pro-immigration groups blasted a new rule banning undocumented students from state colleges as “cruel” and potentially illegal. On a Zoom meeting, the coalition of legal entities and advocacy organizations called on the DeSantis administration to reconsider this week’s education change, which outright outlawed state colleges from enrolling undocumented students.
CAIR Florida, the Muslim Advocacy Organization, Sues State Over ‘Unprecedented’ Terrorist Designation ‘Regime’
Immediately after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the state would soon designate the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) a domestic terrorist organization, the Muslim civil rights advocacy group filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging that designation as unconstitutional and are calling for an injunction to halt its enforcement.
Paul Burns Appointed Interim Education Commissioner
The Florida Board of Education appointed Paul Burns as interim education commissioner on Tuesday. Burns, a Department of Education senior chancellor, was unanimously approved to step into the role of commissioner as Anastasios Kamoutsas exits to become president of Polk State College.
Florida Right-Wingers Blast Birthright Decision. The Rest Welcome It.
Although it wasn’t considered a surprise, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking down President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship provoked strong reactions from Florida lawmakers on Tuesday–negative ones from right-wing Republicans, welcoming ones from elsewhere.
Birthright Citizenship Survives, Trans Athletes and Campaign Finance Limits Lose in Trio of Landmark Decisions
The U.S. Supreme Court issued three landmark rulings today: A 6-3 decision protects birthright citizenship, striking down a Trump administration executive order. The court ruled 6-3 that schools may ban transgender athletes from female sports under Title IX. And the justices invalidated limits on coordinated political party expenditures, a move deregulating campaign finance and benefiting major donors over grassroots contributors.
Miffed That He Didn’t Get His Way, DeSantis Won’t Campaign for Tax Amendment
Gov. Ron DeSantis has spent more than a year boosting a proposal to eliminate or substantially reduce property taxes for Floridians, but because the Legislature’s version doesn’t reach as far as his own plan, he now says he doesn’t intend to campaign for the proposal that will go before the voters in November.
DeSantis Vetoes More Than $800 Million from $114.5 Billion Budget, a 26% Increase Since 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his eighth and final budget (HB 5001E) of his tenure Monday, vetoing more than $800 million from a $114.5 billion spending plan. The move came two days before the fiscal year was set to begin, after lawmakers’ battle over the amount of spending led to a stalemate that required a special session in May to settle.
Modern Politicians Attempt To Sanitize The Complex And Morally Messy Realities Of Florida History
Florida celebrates America’s 250th anniversary by erecting statues of founders, yet the state was actually a loyal British colony in 1776. The territory resisted the American revolution, repelled continental forces, and later became a Spanish headache before its eventual transfer to the United States. Modern political myths obscure this complicated, messy history that citizens should contemplate during patriotic holidays.
1.5 Million Voter Advantage in 1-Party State and Still Scared: Florida GOP Ghost-Hunts Progressives at ‘Showdown’
Florida Republicans used the Sunshine State Showdown to energize their base by framing progressive Democratic victories in New York as a radical threat. Appointed statewide officials face their first major electoral tests this November. Concurrently, the gubernatorial primary features tension as leadership restricted debate access, positioning Byron Donalds as the frontrunner against Democrat David Jolly in a state where Republicans hold a highly significant voter registration advantage today.
Alligator Alcatraz Is Shutting Down
One year after it opened, Alligator Alcatraz, the detention center used by Florida and the federal government to house undocumented immigrants, is shutting down.
Florida Property Tax Amendment Faces Growing Pushback From Local Government Advocacy Groups Campaign
A new political committee, Stop Unfair Tax Shifts PC, is raising funds to defeat Florida’s proposed Amendment 3 this November. The constitutional amendment would raise the primary homestead exemption to $250,000 by 2028, a change that would drain $11.86 billion annually from local municipal budgets, forcing huge cuts.
DeSantis Vetoes Bill Regulating Ebike Speeds, Calling It ‘Overreach’
Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed a speed limit for electric bicycles, a measure that passed the House and Senate unanimously, calling it an “overreach.” The bill would have capped e-bikes’ speed at 10 miles per hour within 50 feet of a pedestrian on ways shared with pedestrians.
Florida Kills Dusty Ray Spencer, 74, For Wife’s Murder in 1992; He Is Oldest Inmate to Be Executed in Modern Era
Dusty Ray Spencer was put to death by lethal injection Thursday at Florida State Prison in Starke for his wife’s murder more than three decades ago in Orange County. Spencer, 74, became the oldest person put to death by the state in the modern era. Spencer had a violent history with his wife, Karen, before stabbing her to death in the backyard of their home on Jan. 18, 1992 in Orange County.
Trump Spikes Bipartisan Housing Bill Unless Congress Approves New Voting Restrictions
President Donald Trump derailed a housing overhaul which passed the Senate Monday and House Tuesday with wide margins. Trump was set to sign into law Wednesday. He cancelled a signing ceremony for the broadly popular bipartisan bill until Congress passes the controversial SAVE America Act, which addresses the extremely rare phenomenon of noncitizen voting. Republican senators have told Trump there are not enough votes in the chamber for it to pass.
DeSantis Says His Homestead Tax Proposal Would Have Been Better
DeSantis sent his original proposal to the Legislature just five days before it was scheduled to meet in a special session to take it up. The final product omits DeSantis’ proposal to include a trust fund from which the state would provide grants to local governments that lack funding in certain essential services. The governor said that with the state’s existing “massive surplus,” it was something it could afford to do.
Five Democrats Running for Governor Are Challenging David Jolly for Nomination
With Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings dropping out of the race due to health problems, former Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly would appear the clear frontrunner in the Democratic primary for governor taking place on Aug. 18. Democratic voters looking for an alternative will have five other choices. Here are their profiles.
Flagler County Unemployment Steadies at 5.4% as Employment Grows, Florida’s at 4.8%
In Flagler County, the unemployment rate steadied at 5.4 percent, almost unchanged from April’s 5.5 percent. It was 4.2 percent a year ago. Some 250 more Flagler County residents got jobs in May and the labor force grew by 163 people, about 500 more than a year ago. The number of unemployed remained above 3,000, however.
Skepticism About Florida’s Homestead Tax Amendment Is Growing
Several municipal leaders, including some county tax collectors and property appraisers, are concerned that if the referendum is approved the reduction in revenues could complicate the repayment of municipal bonds. The concerns about the future of the stability of municipal bonds in Florida are getting so intense, daily trade newspaper The Bond Buyer has increased coverage the Sunshine State situation.
Flagler County Commissioners Want Public to Learn How Homestead Tax Amendment Would Gut Quality of Life
If voters in November approve the proposed amendment to raise the homestead exemption to $150,000 next year and $250,000 the following year, Flagler County government would have a $28 million deficit out of its $140 million general fund next year, and a $46 million deficit in 2028, if it were to maintain current services, including fire, policing, judicial and all other government responsibilities. The county is not allowed by law to run deficits. It would have to cut services. County commissioners want the public to know what that would mean.
In Free State of Florida, DeSantis Moves To Target Muslim Groups and Critics Under Vaguely Defined Law
Florida is preparing to implement legislation granting top state officials broad authority to designate specific organizations and their supporters as domestic terrorists. Gov. DeSantis indicated law enforcement will target groups including CAIR, the Muslim civil rights organization, and antifa. Critics argue the vague statutes lack requirements for individual criminal convictions. The overreach threatens first amendment rights, inviting widespread state abuse to suppress political dissent and campus activism.
New Florida Laws Mandate Driver’s License Tracking Marks For Convicted Habitual Career Offenders
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a series of law enforcement-related measures Tuesday, with many of them designed to increase penalties for criminals and give police and prosecutors more options to pursue them. The bills range from making it easier for police to identify an individual as a gang member to requiring criminals deemed “career offenders” have the designation on their driver’s license.
Efforts to Cancel Kanye West’s Tampa Concert Ramp Up
A bipartisan group of political leaders and Jewish residents are trying to block Kanye West from performing in Tampa. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Naples, labeled the hip-hop artist an “antisemite” and called for the Tampa Sports Authority to cancel his concerts at an event Monday at The Florida Holocaust Museum.
New College Takeover of USF Sarasota-Manatee: The Legislature at Its Worst
Florida legislators used private budget conference negotiations to strip the University of South Florida of its Sarasota-Manatee campus, transferring the property to New College, bypassing public debate through the state’s 72-hour budget review rule. Originally intended to promote legislative transparency, the rule now effectively prevents lawmakers from proposing spending amendments during the final days of the session.
Renner Bemoans Lack of Debates and State of Florida GOP
Former House Speaker Paul Renner says the Republican Party of Florida is cheating voters out of its opportunity to weigh the merits of candidate for Governor by refusing to stage a debate at the impending Sunshine Showdown event. He argues that the party is “tipping the scales” in favor of U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, the Donald Trump-endorsed front-runner in the race, after its assertion that only Donalds would have met criteria to qualify for a debate. The criteria: 10% support in the RPOF’s own poll; more than $10 million raised; and more than 10,000 donors
Two Former Florida Mayors File Lawsuit Challenging Misleading Ballot Language On Property Tax Amendment
Two former Florida mayors and a nonprofit organization filed a lawsuit challenging a November property tax amendment that would sharply reduce homesteaded property taxes. The plaintiffs allege the ballot summary illegally advocates for the measure rather than explaining its actual impact. A House staff analysis indicates the proposed homestead exemptions could reduce local government revenues by $8.4 billion annually.
Florida Property Tax Reform Is a State Power Grab at Your Local Government’s Expense
Florida proposals to eliminate property taxes threaten to dismantle decades of local home rule as state control of funding would strip decision-making authority from counties and cities, making both dependent on Tallahassee. This fiscal structural change shifts tens of billions of dollars onto a state facing its own future deficits. Ultimately, the cost burden moves to consumers and renters through alternative fees.
David Jolly Announces Gwen Graham as Gubernatorial Running Mate
David Jolly, the Democratic frontrunner in the Florida gubernatorial race, named former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham as his running mate during a Tallahassee press conference Wednesday, feet from the Old Capitol. He emphasized their bipartisan relationship during their time in Congress, highlighting joint work on preventing offshore oil drilling, gun reform, and veterans’ rights. Jolly served in Congress from 2014 to 2017 as a Republican, became an independent for six years, and then switched to the Democratic Party in April 2025.
This School District Has Received Death Threats for Standing Up for Immigrants. It’s Not Backing Down.
The Winooski School District in Vermont passed a pioneering sanctuary policy to protect its highly diverse immigrant student population from federal immigration enforcement. Led by Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria, the small district maintains its stance despite facing intense backlash, federal funding threats, and community trauma from local detentions. This controversial local policy successfully inspired a new state law mandating immigration enforcement protocols for all Vermont schools.
Inflation and ICE Fears Threaten Miami’s Economic Benefits from World Cup
Miami, one of the venues for the World Cup, may be hit hard as recent tourism reports indicate there will be fewer hotel reservations than anticipated due to reduced international travel confidence and a growing uncertainty related to U.S. immigration policies, geopolitical instability, tariffs and inflation.
Byron Donalds Insists Iran War Matches Donald Trump’s Anti-War Platform
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds says President Donald Trump is “right” when he argues that ongoing actions against Iran do not mean Trump is contradicting a campaign message that he would avoid starting foreign wars.
Florida’s Budget Fails Citizens But Delivers Overdue Justice For Groveland Four
Florida lawmakers approved a $115 billion budget packed with corporate handouts, political propaganda, costly special sessions and fiscal waste on private legal fights and environmental liabilities, but at least the Legislature agreed to allocate $4 million to compensate families of the Groveland Boys. The gesture provides financial restitution to the descendants of four Black men subjected to a notorious 1949 racial injustice.