Florida's Latest News

DeSantis lets eviction moratorium expire, saying it’s no longer needed after CDC issued freeze

Ignoring calls from renter advocates, Gov. Ron DeSantis decided Wednesday not to extend the state’s eviction moratorium, arguing it was no longer needed because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a federal eviction ban earlier this month.

The CDC order, which went into effect on Sept. 4, was intended to stop evictions nationwide for virtually all renters. All they have to do is sign a document provided by the CDC and give it to their landlords. It attests they have been financially affected by the pandemic and cannot pay rent, have tried to get government assistance to cover their bills and will become homeless or have to move in with friends or family if they are evicted.

The order also carries consequences, including fines and jail time, for landlords who ignore it.

Audit finds flaws with Florida’s safe schools office

Florida’s Office of Safe Schools, which was created after a mass shooting at a Parkland high school, hasn’t been carrying out all of its statutory responsibilities, according to a report by the state’s auditor general.

The report examined the office’s operations during 2019 and determined it was understaffed and not fully carrying out responsibilities lawmakers assigned it when they passed a bill to address school safety after 17 people were fatally shot at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February 2018. The office is part of the Department of Education.

“Due to limited Office staff resources, some statutory duties assigned to the Office were either not performed or were administered in whole or in part by other Department organizational units and vendors,” the report said.

Galvano defends controversial toll-road plans

Senate President Bill Galvano defended controversial toll-road plans he’s pushed for nearly two years, after task forces released draft reports Tuesday indicating they were unable to determine if there is a need for the projects.

Critics hope the draft reports are a sign the brakes will be put on the three projects, which would stretch from Collier County in Southwest Florida to Jefferson County near the Georgia border.

The task forces said – in somewhat similar language – they couldn’t reach conclusions on specific needs for the projects because of the information available and displayed a preference for first improving or expanding existing highways and utility corridors.

Brad Parscale says he’s ‘stepping away’ from Trump campaign as judge orders that his guns be kept from him

Former Trump campaign manager Bradley Parscale says he’s ending his involvement with President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, days after police detained him for a mental health evaluation over his wife’s concerns he could harm himself.

“I am stepping away from my company and any role in the campaign for the immediate future to focus on my family and get help dealing with the overwhelming stress,” Parscale said in a statement to the news outlet Politico Wednesday.

The couple’s statement also Parscale’s wife denying she was physically abused, even though a report from Fort Lauderdale police indicated she had said that.