Florida's Latest News

Hispanic Police Officers back Byron Donalds for Governor

Law enforcement continues to back likely Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds ahead of the Aug. 18 Primary.

Miami-Dade’s Hispanic Police Officers Association is the latest group to endorse the Naples Congressman, joining the Florida Police Chiefs Association and 41 Florida Sheriffs in supporting him.

President Carlos Arguelles lauded Donalds for having “stood up” for police consistently, including resisting calls to “defund the police.”

“We only pick winners. That’s the way we roll. We also watch out for folks that watch out for the police,” Arguelles said.

Accepting the endorsement in Miami-Dade, Donalds said he was “very grateful” for the “monumental” endorsement.

“You will always have my support,” Donalds vowed.

Amendment 3 rewrite is already underway, Gov. Ron DeSantis says

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that the state will not challenge a Leon County Circuit judge’s finding that the ballot title and summary for Amendment 3 defective and that the Attorney General James Uthmeier is rewriting the language.

Appearing during a press conference in Lehigh Acres, DeSantis said he didn’t “necessarily agree” with Judge David Frank’s ruling on the property tax constitutional amendment but said the decision had been made to go ahead and rewrite the summaries.

“I’ve actually seen some of the drafts,” DeSantis said. “It’s going to be very clear for voters what’s on there. It addresses what the judge said even though we don’t necessarily agree with the legal analysis.”

DeSantis added that it will be “straight forward. … People are going to know you are getting tax relief. You’re going to get increased homestead exemptions.”

DeSantis Highlights Florida's Top Position in Education Ahead of School Year

Gov. Ron DeSantis highlighted Florida's top spot in several education accomplishments and initiatives ahead of the 2026-27 state school year while speaking at a press conference in Leigh Acres this week.

Gov. Ron DeSantis touted the workforce education rank happened five years ahead of schedule earlier this year.

Moreover, DeSantis emphasized Florida's No. 1 ranking for charter school education by the Center for Education Reform, rounding out a slew of high marks for the state ahead of the new school year which begins next week. 

"We, of course, have pioneered parent-focused decisions when it comes to education. We do have universal school choice," DeSantis said, noting Florida has 408,000 students in charter schools and 150,000 students in home schools.

Water lettuce has taken over St. Petersburg’s Crescent Lake. What is it?

These days, Crescent Lake looks more like a football field than a body of water.

Thanks to prolonged drought followed by heavy rains, water lettuce has engulfed one of the city’s most popular lakes.

The aquatic plant, known for its breakneck growth and dense, floating mats, thrives in open sun and runoff-rich water.

“For many people living around the lake, this is probably the first time they’ve seen it so pervasive,” said Jim Bays, president of Stewards of Our Urban Lakes, a St. Petersburg nonprofit that aims to protect and improve the city’s lakes.

An explosion of this much water lettuce is unusual for Crescent Lake, but not unheard of, Bays said. City officials said work is underway to curb some of the plant’s growth on the lake, with a chemical herbicide treatment planned Friday.