Florida's Latest News

Traffic was slow at precincts as Republicans in many counties really only had one choice

Fowler Avenue Baptist Church in Tampa had just one voter cast a ballot in the presidential preference primary by around noon on Tuesday. Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex in Wesley Chapel only saw about 10 people earlier in the day.

Other polling locations in Lutz and Land O'Lakes saw very little traffic in the early hours. While some counties — like Pinellas — held municipal elections, there wasn't much on the ballot to bring voters out in others. Democrats cancelled their state presidential primaries leaving only Republicans eligible to place a vote.

And though several Republican presidential candidates are still on the ballot in Florida, only one is still in the race — former President Donald Trump.

"You've got to remember that a lot of the candidates that are on there suspended their campaign, even though they're still on the ballot," Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer said.

State business leaders target semiconductor sector as area of manufacturing growth

Florida’s business leadership has set its sights on the state’s semiconductor industry as a key driver of growth and economic development, as outlined in Florida Commerce’s 2023 manufacturing report.

Home to several semiconductor manufacturing and research facilities, including Renesas Electronics in Palm Bay, the state currently produces components used in the construction of a wide range of applications, from defense to consumer electronics.

Existing infrastructure positions Florida as a burgeoning hub for the industry, compounded by an economic ripple effect culminating in each direct job in semiconductor manufacturing creating 5.7 additional jobs in related fields, according to the report.

“Computer and Electronics Product Manufacturing is an enormous area of opportunity for the state of Florida,” the report reads. “It encompasses semiconductor and related microelectronics product manufacturing as well as broader electronics and communications equipment manufacturing.”

DeSantis: Flying Haitian migrants to Martha’s Vineyard is on the table

Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested Tuesday that Florida could sponsor a new wave of migrant flights, this time using the controversial state-funded program to transport Haitians who enter the U.S. after fleeing the chaos unfolding in the island nation.

The comments, made during an appearance on a podcast hosted by conservative radio host Dana Loesch, come as Florida braces for a potential influx of Haitian migrants entering the state, which has one of the largest populations of Haitians and Haitian-Americans in the U.S.

“We do have our transport program also that’s going to be operational,” the Republican governor said. “Haitians land in the Florida Keys, their next stop very well may be Martha’s Vineyard.”

DeSantis, alongside Florida’s GOP senators, have been pressing the Biden administration to enact stricter immigration policies amid the political upheaval in Haiti and reports of gangs committing jailbreaks, releasing possibly scores of criminals onto the streets. So far, Florida has not seen a huge influx of migrants from Haiti even as the country descends into violence and citizens face homelessness and hunger.

Ashley Moody says many vacationers equate Spring Break with ‘drug use’

Florida’s Attorney General continues to warn about fentanyl weaving its way into the state, noting that Spring Break represents a singular threat. “We lead the nation for those who overdose while on vacation. And that is a stat that we want to change,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody in Volusia County.

“This is something that sometimes gets lost in the discussion when we’re talking about how to secure our beaches and how to make sure we’re reducing crime. But somewhere in all of these discussions, we lose sight of the fact that many equate Spring Break with drug use.”

Moody said the lesson to be learned goes beyond “one pill can kill” to today’s “one pill will kill,” given how fentanyl is found in many substances, including “fake pills” sourced off the internet.

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood explained further how unwary visitors can get more than they bargained for from drug dealers selling counterfeits of products they think they’re buying.