Florida's Latest News

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody appeals immigration ruling

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody quickly launched an appeal Wednesday after a federal judge refused to block immigration-enforcement moves by President Joe Biden’s administration.

U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell issued a 23-page ruling Tuesday rejecting Florida’s request for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit that Moody filed in March against the Biden administration.

The lawsuit focuses on memos issued Jan. 20 and Feb. 18 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about immigration enforcement, with Moody contending that the directives violate federal immigration laws and what is known as the Administrative Procedure Act.

Florida Gov. DeSantis hints at future plans: 'I have only begun to fight'

The applause for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis from a ballroom full of Republican activists was loud and long -- and it happened before the Florida governor even took the stage.

With more than 40 months before November 2024 and in the key swing state of Pennsylvania, the race for the Republican nomination for president is already underway. And while the 42-year-old governor said nothing concrete about his future plans beyond winning reelection next fall, DeSantis hinted at his ambitions with his final line of the night:

"I can tell you this: in the state of Florida, with me as governor, I have only begun to fight."

DeSantis suspended mask mandates. But what about hurricane season?

Florida’s second hurricane season during the pandemic is nearly here, and the situation is less dire than last storm season.

Vaccines are available to every adult, teenager and certain children who want them. Restaurants and shops are returning to normal hours and operations. This month, Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended local COVID-19 restrictions, including mask mandates. And last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that inoculated Americans could go mask-free in most situations, indoors and outdoors.

But one thing hasn’t changed: Despite changing guidance from state and federal officials, face coverings will still be a key tool to prevent the coronavirus from spreading in hurricane shelters, health experts and Tampa Bay emergency officials said.

Florida lawmakers approved legalized sports betting. Now what?

Confused about the whirlwind of activity in Tallahassee this week?

State lawmakers spent just three days debating and voting on a number of bills to reshape Florida’s gambling landscape, and observers and advocates are still processing.

By far the biggest change is the expansion of sports betting in Florida — now the largest state in the nation to offer sports betting.

Here’s what we know — and some of what we don’t — about what sports betting will look like in the Sunshine State: Is sports betting in Florida really happening?

Yes — so far. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature this week approved a new deal with the Seminole Tribe that would give the Tribe exclusive rights to sports betting, including the ability to make bets from your phone anywhere within the state, for the next 30 years.