Florida's Latest News

Joe Biden is leaving the race. What does it mean for Florida?

President Joe Biden announced Sunday he would exit the presidential race, ending weeks of speculation and throwing the 2024 election into a state of uncertainty. Much is unknown at this point. But in Florida, we can answer a few key questions at this early stage.

The Florida Democratic Party had been one of the most pro-Biden state parties in the country. The party canceled the presidential primary earlier this year, allowing Biden to take every delegate.

In an interview on July 17, state party Chairperson Nikki Fried said her party was unified around Biden. “The people on the ground here are more energized on the ground today for Joe Biden than they were a month ago,” she said.

As calls grew for the president to step down, few Florida Democrats were among the chorus. To the contrary, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Frederica Wilson were among the president’s most vocal defenders in the wake of Biden’s widely panned June 27 debate performance. Wasserman Schultz, a former Democratic National Committee chairperson, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be Biden’s replacement Sunday.

Florida driver license, ID card numbers to add random figures

Driver license and identification card numbers will be changing for Floridians as the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) will incorporate random numbers into those identifying sequences.

The process for applying for driver licenses and getting renewals of licenses and state-approved ID cards will remain the same but the corresponding numbers will see revisions. Even existing driver license numbers and ID cards will undergo the changes upon renewal.

The FLHSMV will now introduce four randomly-generated numbers into each identification numbers for driver licenses and ID cards.

“While the license or identification card format will remain the same, a different formula utilizing randomization will now be used to determine the driver license numbers assigned to a customer. Customers renewing or replacing their license or identification cards in person or online will be issued a new number. Those applying for a first-time license or identification card will be issued a card that meets the new statutory requirements,” beginning July 31, a FLHSMV news release said.

DeSantis endorses 6 Tampa Bay school board candidates

Three school board candidates in Pinellas County, two in Hillsborough County and one in Pasco County can now count Gov. Ron DeSantis among their supporters in the Aug. 20 primary.

In the first of what could be several rounds of endorsements, DeSantis announced his backing of Danielle Marolf, Erika Picard and Stacy Geier in Pinellas, and Layla Collins and Myosha Powell in Hillsborough. With the exception of Geier, who is seeking an open seat, the candidates are challenging incumbents whom the governor targeted for removal more than a year ago.

DeSantis also endorsed Pasco incumbent board member Alison Crumbley, who first won election in 2010 and faces a challenge from teacher Jessica Wright.

Overall, DeSantis issued standard statements supporting 23 candidates across the state in the nonpartisan races, spokesperson Taryn Fenske said. In them, he said he wants the best for Florida’s children, and he had confidence that the candidates would build upon the successes the state has seen in areas such as student performance, parental rights and curriculum transparency.

Seminole looks to get rid of state tax exemptions for affordable housing

Seminole County is poised to become the latest local government to deny large tax cuts to apartment owners who designate a certain number of units as affordable housing to lessen their tax burden under a new Florida housing law.

“It’s helping developers and apartment owners make more money. But it’s not doing anything for the renters and those struggling to pay their rent,” Commissioner Lee Constantine said regarding the property tax exemptions — as high as 75% — under the state’s so-called Live Local Act.

“When they [apartment owners] don’t pay 75% of their taxes, then who ends up paying for those? We do,” Constantine said.

Commissioners on Tuesday will consider a resolution to opt out of granting the exemptions offered under the law. If approved, it will save the county an estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue for the next fiscal year’s budget. The fiscal year starts Oct. 1.