Florida's Latest News

Who is Bryan Avila, Byron Donalds' running mate in Florida?

Republican Rep. Byron Donalds won Florida’s Republican primary for governor and, days later, announced his running mate: state Sen. Bryan Avila of Hialeah.

Avila represents District 39 in the Florida Senate, which covers parts of western and northwestern Miami-Dade, including Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens and Miami Lakes.

Before his election to the Senate in 2022, Avila served eight years in the Florida House of Representatives, where he rose to Speaker Pro Tempore, a leadership role that allowed him to preside over House sessions in the speaker’s absence.

In the Senate, Avila has chaired the Finance and Tax Committee and served as vice chair of the Transportation Committee.

In 2026, Avila sponsored bills dealing with property insurance (SB 832), data centers (SB 484), and technology education and artificial intelligence (SB 1694), among other issues.

Inside DeSantis’ $2 million quest to put up bronze American statues

First came the bronze-cast statue of George Washington.

Then came Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and 11 other American icons, their homes ranging from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle.

Coming soon? A joint sculpture of baseball icons Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth.

All told, Florida has so far approved spending nearly $2 million for 18 statues in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the Times/Herald found in an analysis of state records.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, a history and baseball buff, has crisscrossed the state to publicize the unveilings. In his final year as governor, he’s also posted repeatedly on social media about the statues, baseball and the country’s founding fathers.

Gov. DeSantis, following Donald Trump proclamation, orders flags half-staff for Dolly Parton

Hours after news broke that country music icon Dolly Parton had died at 80, Gov. Ron DeSantis moved to honor her by lowering flags across Florida, in accordance with a directive from President Donald Trump.

DeSantis ordered the flags of the United States and the state of Florida to be flown at half-staff at all local and state buildings, installations and grounds until sunset on Sept. 1.

That’s the same timeframe Trump designated in a proclamation he issued Tuesday, directing flags to be flown at half-staff at the White House and all public buildings and grounds, military posts, naval stations and naval vessels.

Trump ordered the same for facilities abroad, including U.S. territories, embassies, legations, consular offices and other sites.

Parton died peacefully Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee, her publicist said in a statement. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Miami-Dade County School Board to review future of 27 schools amid sharp enrollment decline

The Miami-Dade County school district is eyeing more than two dozen schools to examine for potential closure.

A document released Tuesday by the Attendance Boundary Committee named 12 schools that are being “reassessed” and 15 that are “under review.”

According to the committee, schools labeled “reassessed” means “a decision has been made to align with the district’s long-term strategic goals and capital plan.”

Schools “under review” are planned to be examined to decide if “continuing operations best serve the educational, operational, and financial interests of the district and its students.”

Neither of the definitions posed by the committee for the labels mention closures, but with the Miami-Dade School Board recently voting to close or consolidate nine schools, it seems the list could foreshadow such a move.