State & Local
Along with up-to-date political coverage, The Floridian takes the opportunity to post about issues, legislation, and lawmakers in local municipalities and at the state level
Gov. Ron DeSantis is pumping the brakes on the use of Artificial Intelligence, saying the growing technology could pose a threat to jobs across the country, including right here in the Sunshine State, while speaking at the Florida Rural Economic Summit in Ocala this week. "A lot of people are saying that, as AI advances, […]
Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) is introducing a bipartisan bill protecting seniors from rising Medicare costs. Specifically, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act ensures that Medicare payments accurately reflect current healthcare costs, especially in rural, underserved, and low-income areas. In practice, this prevents doctors from limiting the number of Medicare patients they can see, […]
Nearly one in five young adults believes it is acceptable to use physical violence as a reason to stop someone from engaging in "harmful" public speech, according to a survey revealed this week by Florida State University's Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC). The startling findings, via a report presented in Americans' Troubling Views on […]
Crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stone offloaded approximately 49,010 pounds of illicit narcotics worth more than $362 million at Port Everglades this week. The massive seizure, a result of 15 interdictions from the Eastern Pacific Ocean, also marks the largest capture of cocaine by a single cutter during one patrol in Coast Guard […]
In a news release, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) has been indicted on charges accusing her of stealing $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds as well as making illegal campaign contributions. The DOJ stated that Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother Edwin Cherfilus worked through Trinity Healthcare […]
Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) continues press for relocating generic drug production from foreign countries, such as India and China, to the U.S. during a hearing with the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. Scott, who is the chairman of the special committee, highlighted various U.S. companies that are successfully producing generic medications domestically, and […]
Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) is cosponsoring Representative Jen Kiggans' (R-VA) bill improving disabled veterans' Thrift Savings Plans (TSPs). A Thrift Savings Plan is effectively a retirement fund for veterans. However, once members leave the service and/or are rated as 100% disabled, they are not allowed to continue contributing funds to the system, even if it […]
Representative John Rutherford (R-FL) has introduced bipartisan legislation codifying President Donald Trump's moratorium on drilling for oil off the Florida coast into law. During his first term, President Trump issued a moratorium on drilling, leasing, seismic testing, and exploration on Florida's Gulf and Atlantic coasts (along with the Straits) until 2032, a move that has […]
Florida House Speaker Danny "Daniel" Perez (R-Miami) recently sent out a memorandum designating the final interim committee week for the chamber as “Artificial Intelligence Week" to look over the growing effects of AI on the state. "We all recognize that AI may open new economic vistas," Perez wrote. "At the same time, we see stories […]
Commissioner Eileen Higgins’ record on crime and public safety is drawing increased scrutiny as Miami’s mayoral race intensifies. Throughout the campaign, Higgins has kept an unusually low profile on her voting history and ideological leanings, even as concerns mount about her long-standing alignment with far-left criminal justice policies. Higgins has often presented herself as a […]
The Republican Party of Florida congratulated Samantha Scott on winning the Special Election for House District 52 after her opponent, Democrat Pamala Kaye Bivins, withdrew from the race this week. “The people of Sumter and Hernando counties are very fortunate to have a leader like Samantha Scott who will fight for their best interests in Tallahassee,” […]
Congressman and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds (R-FL) announced endorsements from 12 additional sheriffs this week, bringing his total to 27, in his run for governor. “Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds is a leader who understands what it takes to keep Florida safe," Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson wrote. "He’s unapologetically pro-law enforcement and has the backbone […]
Florida-based financial services firm Amscot announced a new partnership deal with Green Dot Corporation, bringing simpler and modern banking services to underserved communities. The new partnership will bring with it full-service demand deposit accounts, an in-network secured credit card, access to over 25,000 free ATMs, and technology infrastructure to modernize banking with Amscot, which is […]
Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Blaise Ingoglia has picked up a pair of endorsements from Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of Palm Beach County and the Hernando County Professional Firefighters in his election for a full term as CFO in 2026. "Your advocacy for and understanding of public safety issues is commendable. You have demonstrated strong leadership qualities […]
A groundbreaking research project by Demotech has uncovered a covert, tech-enabled litigation machine that is destabilizing U.S. insurance markets and worsening the financial fallout for storm-stuck homeowners. The “tech-enabled litigation instigation” model has allegedly been operating since 2017, redirecting property owners away from legitimate claims handling and into costly and unnecessary litigation. According to Demotech […]
March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization supporting the health of moms and babies, recently hosted a special Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Care Kit Distribution Event in partnership with Aetna Better Health of Florida as part of World Prematurity Day at HCA Brandon. According to March of Dimes, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Distribution Kits provide […]
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the rescue of 122 children in what is being called the largest child-recovery operation in American history during a press conference in Tampa this week. The initiative, dubbed “Operation Home for the Holidays," spanned across Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, and several other states over two weeks. "Protecting […]
Over the weekend, President Donald Trump made the biggest announcement of the Miami mayoral race by endorsing Emilio Gonzalez for Miami Mayor. While Gonzalez has picked up several other endorsements, the president's nod is the most significant boost to his campaign in the closing weeks of the race. "It is my great honor to endorse […]
