Florida's Latest News

As Florida social media law sits in limbo, legal experts say it likely won’t survive

As Florida waits for a federal appeals court decision to see whether it will be allowed to enforce a new law that prevents social media companies from shutting down accounts of political candidates, some top legal experts predict the law is doomed over challenges that it is flatly unconstitutional.

The political fights are likely to continue.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta is considering whether to overturn a preliminary injunction a federal trial judge in Tallahassee approved in June that temporarily banned Florida from enforcing the new law. The appeals ruling could come at any time.

Eight Republican-led states, led by Texas, were trying to persuade the appeals court to rule in favor of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed the social media law. In court papers, they said small numbers of powerful social media companies have become “gatekeepers” of online content, threatening “the modern public square” of political discourse in America.

Jimmy Patronis joins 2021 Future of Florida Forum speaker list

Another top elected official is on the agenda for the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Annual Meeting & Future of Florida Forum.

The Chamber on Tuesday announced that Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis has joined the slate of 80-plus speakers on tap for the two-day event, scheduled for Oct. 27-28 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Orlando.

The Panama City Republican will lead a discussion titled “Florida is for Winners.” The substance will focus on growing Florida’s economy by protecting tax dollars, fighting fraud, and supporting small businesses and first responders.

Patronis is the fourth top-level elected official confirmed for the Forum.

Florida governor’s wife, Casey DeSantis, diagnosed with breast cancer

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that his wife, Casey, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I am saddened to report that Florida’s esteemed First Lady and my beloved wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer,” the governor said in a statement released by his office. “As the mother of three young children, Casey is the centerpiece of our family and has made an impact on the lives of countless Floridians through her initiatives as First Lady. As she faces the most difficult test of her life, she will have not only have my unwavering support but the support of our entire family, as well as the prayers and well wishes from Floridians across our state. Casey is a true fighter, and she will never, never, never give up.”

Casey DeSantis, 41, is originally from Ohio. In the early 2003s, she interned at WJXT, became a reporter in 2003 and later an anchor at WJXT. She left in 2010 to become a TV host at The Golf Channel.

Feds ramp up pressure on Florida about COVID relief funds for schools

The U.S. Department of Education is ratcheting up pressure on Florida to submit a plan for how it intends to use the latest round of federal COVID-19 relief funding for schools.

Florida is now the only state or U.S. territory that hasn’t submitted a plan for spending American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds.

Until the state Department of Education submits a plan, which was due on June 7, the federal government will continue to withhold one-third of the state’s allocation.

The federal agency said in a letter Monday to state Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran that a third of the state’s allocation amounts to about $2.3 billion.