Governor DeSantis unveiled a bronze George Washington statue in Chipley as Florida launches a mobile museum and docuseries for the state's 250th events.

Will Weatherford is stepping down as chair of USF’s Board of Trustees and will remain a trustee while Mike Griffin prepares to take over amid major research gains and a $340M stadium project.

FEMA approved nearly $97M for Florida recovery work — utilities, beaches and cleanup — even as DHS funding disputes and court fights keep some payouts in limbo.

Florida lawmakers approved SB 1074/HB 951 to let retailers round cash totals to the nearest nickel, a move that would make pennies functionally obsolete in stores.

Gov. DeSantis signed SB 182 on April 20, 2026, restoring cursive instruction for grades 3–5 and requiring proficiency by the end of fifth grade. The law also mandates presidential portraits and a teacher-mentoring program.

Florida issued a 90-day emergency order allowing winter-grade gasoline starting May 1 to try to ease pump pain — but experts warn of environmental tradeoffs and uncertain savings.

Temple Terrace officials are advancing a plan to ask voters to approve up to $50 million in bonds for a new police HQ and fire station. The question would be on the Aug. 18 primary ballot.

Lt. Gov. Jay Collins is scheduled to speak at 9:30 a.m. at the Urban Stillhouse in St. Petersburg, an on-the-ground stop as he pursues the 2026 GOP nomination.

A bill introduced April 16 would let select special‑operations personnel carry concealed firearms nationwide and remove an annual requalification requirement.

At a Tiger Bay luncheon in Orlando, David Jolly pitched moving hurricane coverage into a state catastrophic fund and a decade-long plan to boost teacher pay and services.

Florida’s attorney general subpoenaed the Environmental Law Institute and its Climate Judiciary Project, seeking donor and judge‑training records amid a widening probe. The institute says it will cooperate.

A bipartisan bill would make state and local septic‑repair grants tax‑free, lawmakers say, removing a financial barrier to replacing failing systems.

Florida education officials have proposed a rule to block applicants who can’t prove citizenship or lawful presence from enrolling at the state’s 28 public colleges. A May 14 hearing at Miami Dade College will take public testimony.