Florida's Latest News

Jenna Persons-Mulicka appointed as Lee County Supervisor of Elections

As was forecast weeks ago, Gov. Ron DeSantis has tapped Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka to serve as Lee County Supervisor of Elections.

The Governor’s Office announced the appointment on Wednesday afternoon in a press note devoid of any direct comment from DeSantis himself.

It cited Persons-Mulicka’s background as a lawyer, her service on the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, Lee County Bar Association’s History Committee and involvement in the neurodivergent community that earned her an Autism Acceptance Awards “Champion of the Year” honor in 2022.

DeSantis hinted he was leaning her way on May 1, calling her the “leader in the clubhouse” among hopefuls for the job, while also making clear the appointment wouldn’t come immediately due to his expectation of a Special Session on property taxes.

Michael Thompson becomes latest GOP candidate in CD 22

Former Lee County Republican Executive Committee Chair Michael Thompson is running for Congress in Florida’s 22nd Congressional District.

The longtime ally of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn said he will move back to his hometown of Belle Glade to run.

“President Trump gave this country a roadmap back to greatness,” Thompson said. “I am running to make sure that roadmap is built right here in Florida’s 22nd District, for the farmers, the veterans, the families, the small business owners, and the hard-working blue-collar patriots who have been left behind for too long by democrat leaders.”

Thompson long worked with Flynn and efforts of The America Project, an effort financed largely by former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne, especially on scrutinizing Florida elections officials ahead of the 2022 Midterms.

Three new property insurers enter Florida market. Here's who they are

Three new property and casualty insurers have entered the Florida market, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation announced Wednesday.

The new companies—Builder Reciprocal Insurance Exchange, Frontline Insurance Reciprocal Exchange, and Wingsail Insurance Company—have increased the total number of new insurers now offering coverage of homes and condominiums in the Sunshine State to 20 since the state lawmakers passed legislative reforms aimed at reducing homeowners insurance rates a few years ago.

"Florida is becoming more and more of an attractive place to deploy capital," said Florida Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky, in a news release issued May 20. "I am proud to announce that since enacting our historic legislative reforms, we now have 20 new companies writing property coverage in our market.

"The competition is thriving, and the Office of Insurance Regulation encourages consumers to shop around and look into each of these new companies."

Private homeowners in Florida are working together to make their shared shorelines more resilient

Earlier this week, we learned how local municipalities have been taking the lead on making Florida's coast more resilient through living shorelines.

That means they're replacing aging, hard infrastructure, like concrete seawalls, with softer, more natural elements, such as plants, rocks, and oyster reefs.

Continuing our coverage during NPR's Climate Solutions Week, WUSF is exploring an important factor in this effort: private homeowners.

Because residents own a majority of Florida's coastal property, one expert is trying to make living shorelines more affordable for them.