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
Floridians hitting the road can expect cheaper gas prices ahead of the Christmas holiday compared to the same time last year, according to AAA. As of Tuesday, December 23, the average price for a gallon of gas in the Sunshine State was $2.83, down 16 cents from 2024. Moreover, Florida's average was about 3 cents […]
Two South Florida lawmakers, Rep. Tom Fabricio (R-Miami Lakes) and Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-Doral), recently filed legislation to eliminate those pesky yellow vehicle registration decals that go on the upper-right-hand corner of your license plate. The bills, HB 841 and SB 982, would end the mundane practice while providing savings to counties and residents […]
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the successful location and rescue of 43 missing children aged 1-17 years old under Operation Northern Lights this week. “Our office was honored to partner with U.S. Marshal Greg Leljedal in the Northern District of Florida to rescue 43 missing children, some as young as 18 months old,” Uthmeier […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $311 million to 37 Florida communities for several infrastructure repairs while speaking in Sebring in Highlands County this week. The awards include $3 million to the Sebring airport authority to demolish and replace the existing stormwater system at Sebring Regional Airport, as well as $22 million to the City of Avon […]
Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer (R) announced his bid to run for Florida’s 23rd Congressional District against incumbent Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D), former state Rep. George Moraitis (R), and Joe Kaufman (R). “As Mayor, I fought to keep taxes and crime low and delivered results to provide a safe, vibrant, and more affordable place to […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet announced the approval of over 21,500 acres of conservation and agricultural lands across four areas of the state for a total investment of $27.4 million this week. Part of the acquisitions also includes the Florida Forever and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, the governor's office added. […]
Florida gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner (R) announced the launch of a statewide committee focusing on women voters as he looks to gain traction in the governor's race this week. According to the Renner campaign, the "Women for Renner Coalition" includes female community leaders, faith advocates, and business professionals in an effort to elevate women's voices […]
Democratic gubernatorial candidates David Jolly and Jerry Demings are in a dead heat in the primary for Florida governor, according to a recent Public Policy survey first shared through POLITICO. According to the poll's survey, both Jolly and Demings are tied at 22% for the Democratic nomination. However, a whopping 56% of primary voters remain […]
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of Brent Wells of Oxford on 14 counts for allegedly possessing child and animal sexual abuse materials on his Snapchat account this week. “Trading in this offensive and disgusting material revictimizes the children who were forced to participate in its production and exploits helpless animals who are […]
Congressman and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds (R-FL) criticized the Biden administration for its abuse and overreach of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) while calling for future reforms in an exclusive interview with The Floridian publisher Javier Manjarres. "What the Biden administration was doing is they were abusing the regulatory framework that the SEC […]
Florida TaxWatch, an independent government watchdog and taxpayer research institute, released its findings in a report on the fiscal and economic impact of Nova Southeastern University (NSU) on Florida's economy this week. The report showed that the university and its alumni generated $6.79 billion in economic impact and created 36,841 jobs for fiscal year 2024-25, […]
WASHINGTON—Florida Congressman Carlos Gimenez (R) expressed his support of President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that classifies illicitly made fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). “I think he is right to have proclaimed fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction,” Gimenez said in an exclusive interview with The Floridian. The order, “Designating Fentanyl […]
Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly called for several nationwide gun laws to be passed, including an assault weapons ban, tougher universal background checks, and an expansion of red flag laws, presumably following two mass shootings at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and Bondi Beach near Sydney, Australia over the weekend. "After the tragic events […]
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against the BBC on Monday. Trump accuses the British network of defamation alongside deceptive and unfair trade practices. The president filed the suit in a Miami federal court, seeking $10 billion in damages. The 33-page civil complaint accuses the BBC of broadcasting a “false, defamatory, deceptive, […]
The Figgers Foundation, a nonprofit aiming to improve education with effective technology and health-related access, announced it is rolling out a plan offering free devices, three years of internet service, and 4G LTE cell service to Floridians across 18 counties this week. The initiative, part of the foundation Florida Connect Program, aims to bring technology […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis indicated that the state is moving forward with its own Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bill of Rights legislation, despite a recent executive order by President Donald Trump establishing a universal AI policy for all 50 states. The governor committed to the plan during a roundtable discussion on AI at Florida Atlantic University's Wilkes Honors […]
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier recently announced the arrest of three Orlando-area individuals on a combined 81 felony charges for possession of child pornography. The three arrested were Jorge Armando Nieto, 39, Martin Theodore Cassady, 61, and Joel Orellana, 25. “The depraved individuals who choose to engage in and trade content showing the sexual abuse of children […]
Florida Senators Rick Scott (R) and Ashley Moody (R), alongside Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn (R), introduced the “HALO Act,” which establishes criminal penalties for anyone who obstructs, threatens, or harasses federal immigration enforcement officers while they are on duty. “No member of our law enforcement should fear harassment or intimidation while doing their job of […]
