Florida's Latest News

Ron DeSantis campaign ‘pedal to the metal’ in Iowa, spokesperson says

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Iowa or bust strategy continues, with his spokesperson telling an in-state radio audience they would go “pedal to the metal” through January’s caucuses.

Carly Atchison said the campaign had “shattered expectations raising $15 million in the third quarter,” bringing in a “huge haul” that “gives us the resources to turn up the heat and get ready for Iowa caucus … just 100 days away.

“This big number has allowed us to take some of our top staff, about a third of our staff, to Iowa. So we’ll have a presence across the state. We’ll host events and we will be just pedal to the metal,” she added during an interview on WHO radio.

Atchisonsaid that while some staffers will be in Des Moines, others will be deployed around the Hawkeye State. All of them will have a front row seat to what she calls “political history.”

The DeSantis operation raised approximately $15 million between the campaign itself, his political action committee and a fundraising committee between July 1 and Sept. 30. Of the money, just $5 million can be spent during the Primary period.

Florida lawmakers to consider weakening century-old child labor laws

A proposed Republican bill to loosen child labor laws in Florida is part of a national trend aimed at repealing or weakening workplace protections for young people that have been in place for more than 100 years.

The bill could worsen graduation rates and hurt lower-income families, experts said, and could also be a way to replace some immigrant labor as Florida and other GOP-led states continue to crack down on undocumented workers.

“Are we willing to return to a world where we accept that children of the poorest families are working more than full-time jobs under hazardous conditions?” said Jennifer Sherer, director of the Economic Analysis and Research Network at the nonprofit Economic Policy Institute.

State Rep. Linda Chaney, though, said in a statement that her bill “intends to provide teenagers with the flexibility to work whatever hours they deem fits best with their schedule and financial goals.”

Florida wants to speed up the removal of abandoned, derelict boats

Wildlife officials want to speed up the process of removing abandoned and storm-damaged boats from state waters, while complimenting residents for efforts to secure vessels ahead of Hurricane Idalia.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials on Wednesday outlined plans to ask for $7 million from the Legislature for a derelict-vessel removal program. Also, the commission will ask lawmakers to approve speeding a notice period for owners to take care of damaged and abandoned boats.

Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto said during a recent fishing trip on the St. Johns River he came across five derelict craft, which were an “eyesore” and an environmental problem.

“I just think that this problem is only going to get bigger, as more people move to Florida, as more boats are registered in Florida, as boats get older, they just naturally get abandoned, because people are going, ‘I’m not going to pay the insurance,’” Barreto said during a commission meeting in Jensen Beach.

Vouchers benefit existing private school students most

Proponents of expanding school voucher programs argued that children struggling in public education would benefit with greater opportunities afforded to them.

The reality in Florida and other states that grew their state-funded education options this year is the majority of students taking advantage of the offer were already in private or home schools. And Florida led the way.

Almost 70% of Florida children awarded new vouchers this academic year did not attend public schools last year, according to the state’s main scholarship funding organization. Iowa’s newly expanded program saw about 60% of students come from private education programs.