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
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioners voted 5-0 this week to reinstate a regulated black bear hunting season, ending a 10-year halt on the practice in the state. Black bear hunting was stopped in 2015 after hunters exceeded their quota by killing more than 300 bears in just two days, resulting in backlash from critics. […]
A Florida man captured 87 Burmese pythons to take home a top prize of $1,000 for the most captures last month, according to a post by South Florida Water Management District officials. Somewhat apropos, Aaron Mann emerged as the top hunter in July during the South Florida Water Management District's (SFWMD) Python Elimination Program contest […]
Florida Lawmakers have successfully pushed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise the Brix threshold, relieving pressure on Florida citrus growers amidst rising crop challenges. The Brix threshold is the measurement of the dissolved solids in a liquid, in this case, sugar. Florida citrus growers were required to meet a Brix threshold of 10.5% […]
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has signed six food choice state waivers for Florida, West Virginia, Louisiana, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas to remove unhealthy food products from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) benefits. The initiative is part of the federal government's push under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA […]
Florida Representative Darren Soto (D) released a statement blasting the Trump administration over withholding over $2.4 million in funds designated for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida. Rep. Soto claimed that withholding the funds “is nonsensical and cruel” and only serves to “hurt our local community.” Soto continues by arguing that these clubs […]
President Donald Trump’s signing of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” last month cuts clean energy incentives for corporations and boosts demand for local fossil fuel production. In response, a group of Florida lawmakers, including Rep. Kathy Castor (D), Rep. Vern Buchanan (R), and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R), have introduced the Florida Coastal Protection Act, a […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis recently announced the return of Florida’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, which will run from Friday, August 1 through Sunday, August 31. The period allows Floridians to enjoy savings on school supplies and other items tax-free as kids head back to school across the state. “Proud to deliver additional sales tax holidays, including […]
Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) released a press conference following the approval of the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill (FY 2026). “I was proud to support the FY 2026 Interior funding bill, for which I obtained critical funding for Everglades preservation and restoration efforts, Big Cypress National Preserve, […]
Florida Democrats have successfully pushed the Trump administration to release $30M to aid the Broward County Public School System. The federal government initially held onto funds designated for the U.S. education system placing nearly $7 billion in funding under review on June 30, leaving school leaders with uncertainties, forcing them to freeze jeopardized programs and […]
The US is executing an interagency effort aimed at countering North Korean actors' crimes and destabilizing behavior. The US Treasury recently announced sanctions on fraudulent North Korean businesses clandestinely funneling funds and intelligence to the communist North Korean regime. According to the US Treasury, the sanctions were preceded and justified by joint investigations from the […]
Controversy is festering over a US District Court's recent attempted replacement of Interim US Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba. US Attorney Habba, who is awaiting official confirmation from the US Senate, had reportedly foreshadowed that the progressive District Judges for New Jersey would not retain her. US Attorney appointees can be […]
Florida Senators and Representative Rick Scott (R), Ashley Moody (R), and Bryon Donalds (R) have introduced bills H.R. 4494 and S 2313 in both the House and Senate. The bill, also known as the “Flood Insurance Relief Act,” provides a much-needed tax relief for NFIP & private insurance policyholders across Florida and specifically, creates a […]
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado recently condemned Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro for manipulating prisoner exchanges to support his regime’s goals. Leader Machado’s comments follow Dictator Maduro’s recent release of ten American hostages in exchange for the repatriation of hundreds of Venezuelans detained in El Salvador. Maduro also agreed to release several Venezuelan political prisoners […]
MIAMI LAKES – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released a statement announcing Bill H.R. 672 has successfully passed through the House and is being brought to the Senate for further deliberation. The bill aims to give Miami Lakes a postal code, as it currently shares one with nearby Hialeah, causing issues regarding insurance rates, mail and […]
In a major win for democracy, a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge has ruled in favor of mayoral candidate Emilio Gonzalez and the voters of the City of Miami, restoring the 2025 election for Mayor and City Commissioner. The court struck down the controversial ordinance that sought to delay the election to 2026 — a move […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis defended Friday the state agency that constructed the Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention center without fully notifying local officials. He lauded the Florida Division of Emergency Management for not "twiddling their thumbs" and building the Everglades center in just eight days—even though local officials in Collier and Miami-Dade counties were still chasing down […]
The US Treasury has announced new sanctions against the Venezuelan ‘Tren de Aragua’ gang. Tren de Aragua began its criminal operations inside Venezuela’s porous jail system and eventually grew its operations across Latin America and the whole globe. Today, Tren de Aragua is Venezuela’s largest gang with an estimated 5,000 members and has recently been […]
MIAMI—In a high-stakes virtual courtroom showdown, City of Miami mayoral candidate Emilio Gonzalez took on City Hall yesterday in a legal fight over whether voters will have the right to elect a new Mayor and Commissioner this November, as originally scheduled. The hearing, conducted via Zoom, was overseen by Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Valerie Manno […]
