Florida's Latest News

Ron DeSantis will get an RNC speaking slot after a ‘change in schedule'

After initially being given no role at next week’s Republican National Convention, Ron DeSantis — the Florida governor and past rival of former President Donald Trump — has now been added to the speaking schedule.

“I will confirm a change in schedule that means he will now be speaking,” a source familiar with the decision who is helping plan convention activities told NBC News. The source would not confirm which night of the convention DeSantis would speak. CNN first reported Tuesday that DeSantis would not have a speaking role.

A source close to DeSantis said they had never been told they would not be speaking at the convention.

"We have been told for a while we had a speaking slot and have never been told we do not," the source said. Trump — who can control RNC programing as much as he likes — and DeSantis have had an up-and-down relationship over the past few years.

Ashley Moody supports legal challenge to pause Trump’s prosecution until post-2024 election

Attorney General Ashley Moody filed an amicus brief on Wednesday in support of Missouri’s legal challenge against New York’s prosecution of former President Donald Trump.

Joined by Iowa, Alaska, and Montana, the brief argues that New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution is politically motivated and should be paused until after the 2024 presidential election.

The brief points to several actions by Bragg that suggest political motivations, including his campaign promises to investigate Trump, hosting a fundraiser with a lawyer involved in Trump’s impeachment, and facing backlash after initially expressing doubts about the case, which the document notes led to the resignation of two senior attorneys in Bragg’s office.

The brief seeks to halt the prosecution and ensure that the legal process is not used to influence electoral outcomes.

Florida’s Citizens Insurance Secures $3.6 Billion In Reinsurance For Hurricane Season

Florida’s insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., has secured $3.564 billion in reinsurance coverage to mitigate potential losses from hurricanes during the 2024 season. This move will help protect the insurer and its policyholders from financial strain in the event of significant storm damage.

The reinsurance purchase, costing $482 million, is designed to act as a backstop for claims payments, supplementing Citizens’ own funds. While the initial budget allowed for up to $5.5 billion in coverage, negotiations resulted in a more “cost-efficient” program.

Reinsurance is vital in Florida’s insurance market, providing insurers with additional resources to cover claims after major hurricanes. In the case of 2022’s Hurricane Ian, Citizens recovered over $1 billion through its reinsurance contracts.

In addition to private reinsurance, Citizens also benefit from lower-cost coverage through the state-run Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.

Florida’s economy is resilient, but growing pains persist

More than halfway through 2024, Florida’s economy remains strong, according to the Spring quarterly forecast report on Florida’s economy authored by Sean Snaith, director of the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Forecasting.

“The data that came in in the first quarter suggested things were even a little bit stronger than what we were originally forecasting for the year,” he said.

Snaith forecasts that compared to the national economy, the state’s real gross domestic product (GDP) will grow 1% faster, unemployment will remain one-tenth of a percentage point lower, and payroll job growth will be faster by 0.6%.

“Florida is continuing to outperform the national economy. We do believe the U.S. economy is slowing, and Florida's economy will slow as well,” said Snaith. “We're not immune from a national slowdown, but I think we're more resistant to the effects right now than perhaps we have been in previous slowdowns and recessions.”