AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaApr 06, 2021 at 8:48 amTALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court has agreed to hear a constitutional challenge to a 2016 state law that put new requirements on life-insurance companies to determine whether policyholders have died and to contact beneficiaries.Four insurers went to the Supreme Court last year after a divided 1st District Court of Appeal upheld the law. The Supreme Court issued an order Monday saying it would take up the dispute, though it did not set a date for oral arguments.AdvertisementThe case centers on a law that requires insurers to...…AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaApr 06, 2021 at 8:48 amTALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court has agreed to hear a constitutional challenge to a 2016 state law that put new requirements on life-insurance companies to determine whether policyholders have died and to contact beneficiaries.Four insurers went to the Supreme Court last year after a divided 1st District Court of Appeal upheld the law. The Supreme Court issued an order Monday saying it would take up the dispute, though it did not set a date for oral arguments.AdvertisementThe case centers on a law that requires insurers to...WW…

AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaFeb 17, 2021 at 11:00 amTALLAHASSEE — After Florida has received widespread praise for its handling of the 2020 election, Republicans and Democrats clashed Tuesday as a Senate committee approved a bill that would require voters to more frequently request vote-by-mail ballots.Senate Ethics and Elections Chairman Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican who is sponsoring the measure (), said it would help improve the security of the vote-by-mail process, citing concerns about issues such as people moving frequently and ballots going to their old...…AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaFeb 17, 2021 at 11:00 amTALLAHASSEE — After Florida has received widespread praise for its handling of the 2020 election, Republicans and Democrats clashed Tuesday as a Senate committee approved a bill that would require voters to more frequently request vote-by-mail ballots.Senate Ethics and Elections Chairman Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican who is sponsoring the measure (), said it would help improve the security of the vote-by-mail process, citing concerns about issues such as people moving frequently and ballots going to their old...WW…

AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaFeb 17, 2021 at 9:53 amTALLAHASSEE — After Florida has received widespread praise for its handling of the 2020 election, Republicans and Democrats clashed Tuesday as a Senate committee approved a bill that would require voters to more frequently request vote-by-mail ballots.Senate Ethics and Elections Chairman Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican who is sponsoring the measure (SB 90), said it would help improve the security of the vote-by-mail process, citing concerns about issues such as people moving frequently and ballots going to their old...…AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaFeb 17, 2021 at 9:53 amTALLAHASSEE — After Florida has received widespread praise for its handling of the 2020 election, Republicans and Democrats clashed Tuesday as a Senate committee approved a bill that would require voters to more frequently request vote-by-mail ballots.Senate Ethics and Elections Chairman Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican who is sponsoring the measure (SB 90), said it would help improve the security of the vote-by-mail process, citing concerns about issues such as people moving frequently and ballots going to their old...WW…

AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaFeb 16, 2021 at 7:00 amTALLAHASSEE — Florida senators are moving forward with a proposal to do away with the state’s longstanding no-fault auto insurance system, with trial attorneys and insurers closely watching the debate.The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill (SB 54) that would eliminate no-fault, and its requirement that motorists carry personal-injury protection coverage, and instead mandate bodily injury coverage.AdvertisementSponsor Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, said the bill would make Florida like 48 other states that have bodily...…AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaFeb 16, 2021 at 7:00 amTALLAHASSEE — Florida senators are moving forward with a proposal to do away with the state’s longstanding no-fault auto insurance system, with trial attorneys and insurers closely watching the debate.The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill (SB 54) that would eliminate no-fault, and its requirement that motorists carry personal-injury protection coverage, and instead mandate bodily injury coverage.AdvertisementSponsor Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, said the bill would make Florida like 48 other states that have bodily...WW…

AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaJan 11, 2021 at 12:05 pmTALLAHASSEE — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal by a prominent Florida environmentalist who was hit with a $4.4 million verdict in a lawsuit stemming from her opposition to a project in Martin County.The Supreme Court, as is common, did not explain its reasons for turning down the appeal by Maggy Hurchalla, sister of the late U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.AdvertisementThe decision effectively let stand a ruling by Florida’s 4th District Court of Appeal that upheld the jury verdict in favor of...…AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaJan 11, 2021 at 12:05 pmTALLAHASSEE — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal by a prominent Florida environmentalist who was hit with a $4.4 million verdict in a lawsuit stemming from her opposition to a project in Martin County.The Supreme Court, as is common, did not explain its reasons for turning down the appeal by Maggy Hurchalla, sister of the late U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.AdvertisementThe decision effectively let stand a ruling by Florida’s 4th District Court of Appeal that upheld the jury verdict in favor of...WW…

/A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, sided with marriage and family therapists Robert Otto and Julie Hamilton.A divided federal appeals court Friday struck down measures passed in Palm Beach County and the city of Boca Raton that blocked the controversial practice known as “conversion therapy,” saying the prohibitions violated the First Amendment.A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, sided with marriage and family therapists Robert Otto and Julie Hamilton, who challenged the constitutionality of the county and city...…/A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, sided with marriage and family therapists Robert Otto and Julie Hamilton.A divided federal appeals court Friday struck down measures passed in Palm Beach County and the city of Boca Raton that blocked the controversial practice known as “conversion therapy,” saying the prohibitions violated the First Amendment.A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, sided with marriage and family therapists Robert Otto and Julie Hamilton, who challenged the constitutionality of the county and city...WW…

/The 1st District Court of Appeal dismissed a suit filed by attorney Daniel Uhlfelder that sought to force Gov. Ron DeSantis into closing state beaches because of the pandemic. The three-judge panel rejected it in a one-page order.TALLAHASSEE — Raising questions about whether the case was “frivolous” or filed in “bad faith,” an appeals court Friday rejected a Northwest Florida attorney’s lawsuit that sought to force Gov. Ron DeSantis to close beaches statewide to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.Santa Rosa Beach attorney Daniel Uhlfelder, who has drawn national media attention during...…/The 1st District Court of Appeal dismissed a suit filed by attorney Daniel Uhlfelder that sought to force Gov. Ron DeSantis into closing state beaches because of the pandemic. The three-judge panel rejected it in a one-page order.TALLAHASSEE — Raising questions about whether the case was “frivolous” or filed in “bad faith,” an appeals court Friday rejected a Northwest Florida attorney’s lawsuit that sought to force Gov. Ron DeSantis to close beaches statewide to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.Santa Rosa Beach attorney Daniel Uhlfelder, who has drawn national media attention during...WW…

TALLAHASSEE — As Florida voters weigh a list of proposed constitutional amendments, backers and opponents have poured money in recent weeks into battles over raising Florida’s minimum wage and revamping the primary-election system. A political committee of the SEIU Florida labor union has spent at least $1.05 million since late September to support Florida For A Fair Wage PAC, which is spearheading a proposal that would gradually raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, according to a state campaign-finance database. Advertisement The union’s contributions are described as “in-kind”...…TALLAHASSEE — As Florida voters weigh a list of proposed constitutional amendments, backers and opponents have poured money in recent weeks into battles over raising Florida’s minimum wage and revamping the primary-election system. A political committee of the SEIU Florida labor union has spent at least $1.05 million since late September to support Florida For A Fair Wage PAC, which is spearheading a proposal that would gradually raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, according to a state campaign-finance database. Advertisement The union’s contributions are described as “in-kind”...WW…

AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaJun 30, 2020 at 9:07 amTALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis late Monday signed 28 bills into law, including a controversial measure that will prevent local governments from imposing bans on certain types of sunscreen.The sunscreen bill (), spearheaded by Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, that contain the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. Key West pointed to concerns that the chemicals could damage coral reefs.AdvertisementBut Bradley, R-Fleming Island, and other critics of the plan said sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer and disputed that the...…AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaJun 30, 2020 at 9:07 amTALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis late Monday signed 28 bills into law, including a controversial measure that will prevent local governments from imposing bans on certain types of sunscreen.The sunscreen bill (), spearheaded by Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, that contain the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. Key West pointed to concerns that the chemicals could damage coral reefs.AdvertisementBut Bradley, R-Fleming Island, and other critics of the plan said sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer and disputed that the...WW…

AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaJun 30, 2020 at 6:44 pmTALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed a bill that will require parental consent before minors can have abortions, a long-sought goal of abortion opponents in Florida.DeSantis did not make a public statement about the bill signing, but , R-Bradenton, and other supporters praised and said parents need to be involved when their underage daughters consider having abortions.Advertisement“The serious and irrevocable decision to end a pregnancy involves undergoing a significant medical procedure that results, in many cases,...…AdvertisementBy News Service of FloridaJun 30, 2020 at 6:44 pmTALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed a bill that will require parental consent before minors can have abortions, a long-sought goal of abortion opponents in Florida.DeSantis did not make a public statement about the bill signing, but , R-Bradenton, and other supporters praised and said parents need to be involved when their underage daughters consider having abortions.Advertisement“The serious and irrevocable decision to end a pregnancy involves undergoing a significant medical procedure that results, in many cases,...WW…