Doug Wheeler: Time to trim the tax burden for Florida salons, barbershops

Florida has a sizable beauty services industry, which is fueled by our state’s sunny landscape and many picture-perfect settings.
0 5min

Last Call for 10.15.24 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics

A digest of the day’s politics and policy while the bartender refreshes your drink.
0 16min

‘Operation Blue Roof’ enacted for Florida to provide temporary shelter over damaged buildings

Thousands of roofs damaged during Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida can now get free blue tarps to cover damage.
0 5min

More than 99% of Duke Energy customers’ power has been restored in Pasco, about 97% systemwide

Most remaining outages are in hard-to-reach areas or are the result of extensive damage or flooding.
0 4min

Storm Coverage


‘Operation Blue Roof’ enacted for Florida to provide temporary shelter over damaged buildings

Thousands of roofs damaged during Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida can now get free blue tarps to cover damage.
0 5min

More than 99% of Duke Energy customers’ power has been restored in Pasco, about 97% systemwide

Most remaining outages are in hard-to-reach areas or are the result of extensive damage or flooding.
0 4min

Ron DeSantis boasts of ‘zero tolerance’ for storm looters, animal abusers

‘We said you’d be held accountable and you will be held accountable.’
9 4min

Seminole Tribe to donate $1M to Red Cross, World Central Kitchen hurricane relief efforts

The Tribe is also sheltering displaced people at its Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa.
3 5min

Fraud investigators comb Florida looking for contractors ready to rip off hurricane victims

Jimmy Patronis tries to help Hurricane Milton victims who might be exposed to fraud schemes in Florida.
2 4min

2024 – Initiatives


Group backing recreational pot measure raises $100M-plus, but an opposing campaign has more cash on hand

More marijuana companies have provided cash and in-kind support to the Amendment 3 effort.
5 4min

Committee backing Amendment 4 raises $12.7M in a single week for abortion rights initiative

The group behind Amendment 4 is raising big money, although it is in a fight with Gov. DeSantis and the state.
3 5min

Joe Gruters fact-checks recreational pot critics in new statewide ad

The Republican lawmaker says Florida will be able to legalize weed and regulate where it gets smoked.
12 4min

Secretary of State alleges fraud by group behind abortion rights ballot measure

Investigators zeroed in on three counties where a high number of signatures were accepted from ‘known fraudsters.’
21 7min

2024 – Down Ballot


Carolina Amesty holds cash edge on Leonard Spencer, but is support drying up after her arrest?

The Republican Party of Florida hasn’t provided in-kind support since the lawmaker’s arrest on 4 felony counts.
0 4min

Candidates for open House seat in Palm Beach County tied in fundraising — but for very different reasons

One candidate has received nearly 400 contributions since filing. The other, who has campaigned longer, just crossed 80 donations this month.
0 5min

DSCC teams up with Debbie Mucarsel-Powell on Rick Scott ‘snake’ hit

Do Floridians want a ‘Senator with a spine’? DMP and D.C. allies are betting big that they do.
3 5min

Nate Douglas holds 2-to-1 cash advantage over Susan Plasencia a month from HD 37 election

The Republican incumbent has trailed in support through her candidate account and political committee.
1 3min

Tom Keen outraises Erika Booth, but she holds cash advantage for last month of HD 35 campaigning

But the Democratic incumbent has also seen more state party support than his Republican challenger.
0 4min

Poll: Rick Scott leads Debbie Mucarsel-Powell by 7 points, winning with Hispanic voters

Pollsters found Scott is ahead by 6 percentage points with Hispanic voters in Florida.
1 5min

Rick Scott touts hurricane record in latest statewide ad

‘I can tell you he’s the first phone call we always get.’
2 4min

Did Hurricane Milton just turn FEMA funding into a deciding issue in Florida’s federal elections?

Many of Florida’s members of Congress want voting for funding now, even ones who voted against a larger budget deal last month.
5 13min

Florida Chamber launches new anti-Amendment 3 website

‘Only three states have legalized recreational marijuana by 60%, and we’re fighting to make sure Florida doesn’t become the 4th.’
10 3min

Poll: Debbie Mucarsel-Powell trails Rick Scott by just 2 points

But many voters still don’t know much about her, pollsters found.
4 6min

Vivek Ramaswamy to rally Republicans for Rick Scott

Starpower comes to the state Sunday for the Senator’s re-election bid.
8 2min

NYT poll shows Rick Scott comfortably leading Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in U.S. Senate race

Pollsters found Scott leading across all age groups, though voters differed along racial and educational lines.
3 5min

Legislative, Influence & Policy


PRNEWS recognizes Karen Moore as ‘Person of the Year’

“I’m truly honored to be recognized as a mentor …’
1 2min

Gov. DeSantis blames legal ‘loophole’ on gas station generator shortfall, but probably won’t fix it

‘I think that it was written in a way that if you want to conduct your operations to not be covered by that, you can.’
7 4min

Hurricane surge could blow away Florida homeowners insurance ‘fixes’

Floridians already pay nation’s highest homeowners insurance premiums
4 7min

The Fall 2024 edition of INFLUENCE Magazine is here, just in time to hunker down … again

This edition features the Great Communicators, a timely spotlight as they work tirelessly to spread critical hurricane-related info.
1 8min

Ron DeSantis reappoints Florida Public Service Commission member

Michael La Rosa was appointed to the Florida Public Service Commission where he has served since 2020.
1 3min

Culture Wars


Dockworkers’ union to suspend strike until Jan. 15 to allow time to negotiate new contract

The walkout raised the risk of shortages of goods on store shelves if it lasted more than a few weeks.
7 7min

Gov. DeSantis launches Florida workaround to Longshoremen strike

Hurricane Helene makes the ILA action ‘simply unacceptable.’
30 4min

Florida enacts tough law to get homeless off the streets, leaving cities and counties scrambling

‘We send our money up to Tallahassee, and they don’t send it back to help us.’
5 9min

Truth about cats and dogs isn’t the point for Marco Rubio amid migrant crisis

‘If you complain about it, somehow you’re a bigot, you’re a racist, you’re a hater.’
20 4min

South Florida


‘Integrity and accountability’: 14 more local leaders back James Reyes for Miami-Dade Sheriff

‘His dedication to reform and protecting residents in every corner of Miami-Dade is exactly what we need to build a safer community for all.’
1 7min

Former Miami Beach Mayor backs ‘true advocate for freedom’ J.C. Planas for Miami-Dade SOE

‘I trust him to protect our democracy and uphold the integrity of our elections.’
1 6min

Ron Book nabs Nobel Peace Prize nomination for nonprofit leadership, advocacy

‘I’ve always believed that we have an obligation to leave the world better than we found it.’
1 3min

Federal


Vern Buchanan, Kathy Castor lead request to Joe Biden for expedited Milton declaration

Every member of Florida’s congressional delegation joined in on the ask.
1 4min

Anna Paulina Luna calls on Mike Johnson to reconvene Congress for hurricane relief

The Republican said she spoke to Joe Biden and feels confident that resources would be well utilized.
4 5min

Maxwell Frost rides along with Hurricane Hunters into Milton

America’s youngest Congressman flew into the storm as it reached near-record strength.
2 4min

Gov. DeSantis says he wasn’t aware of Kamala Harris’ calls ahead of Milton

Confusion surrounds the Governor and his phone calls with the White House.
41 4min

Foreign Affairs


Florida political leaders reflect 1 year after Oct. 7 attack on Israel

Florida is home to America’s third-largest population of Jewish people.
1 51min

As major hurricane threatens Florida, Ron DeSantis weighs in on UK Tory leadership fight

Kemi Badenoch could be ‘inspiration for conservatives not just in the United Kingdom but around the world.’
4 3min

Florida Dems cry foul as Donald Trump threatens to revoke TPS for Haitians

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he will revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians if he wins in November. That’s a move that could affect tens of thousands of Haitians living legally in Florida. Trump made his comments to NewsNation at a Texas fundraiser while discussing a high concentration of Haitian immigrants in Ohio. […]
3 10min

Rick Scott invokes Israel-Hamas war, United Nations in latest Senate leadership pitch

The Senator is backing the Israeli government amid its conflict with the Secretary General.
3 4min

Ron DeSantis, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott back Israel amid Iranian attacks

Florida Republicans make it clear where they stand as war threatens to widen in the Middle East.
7 4min

Universities


The Gator Nation is everywhere: UF professor lands spot on National Science Board

Juan Gilbert is a past National Medal of Technology and Innovation honoree.
0 4min

After Milton, Florida universities split on whether to reopen

Here’s which schools are opening soon and which ones remain closed.
1 4min

First Coast colleges shutting down operations ahead of Milton

All major colleges in Northeast Florida announced shutdownd ahead of Hurricane Milton.
1 5min


#FlaPol

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