News Service of Florida

Rep. Jim Mooney, R-Islamorada, filed a proposal that would lead to the flamingo replacing the mockingbird, which has been the state’s bird since 1927. The bill also would name the Florida scrub jay as the official state songbird.

The proposals would lead to customers seeing increases in their monthly bills starting in March and continuing for a year.

A record 7.1 million Floridians are expected to travel more than 50 miles during the end-of-year holiday period, and most of them will drive.

Disability Rights Florida claims in its lawsuit that the data would help in monitoring psychiatric hospitals. The organization says it did not receive the information after making a public records request.

An open carry billed filed for consideration during the 2025 Legislative Session would allow Floridians to openly carry firearms, and it would repeal a “red-flag” law passed after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that allows authorities to take guns from people found to pose a “significant danger” to themselves or others.

Gov. DeSantis vetoed a similar bill last session, saying it didn't include enough restrictions for people in the country illegally.

Florida's bear management plan was approved five years ago, and calls are increasing for the state to allow bear hunting for the first time in nearly a decade.

After the backlash over the plan to bring golf courses and pickleball courts to state parks, a Stuart Republican filed a bill that would ban those changes.

Polk County Judge John Flynn was accused of making statements that showed bias in favor of law-enforcement agencies.

Gaetz said he won't seek his seat after he stepped down when president-elect Donald Trump nominated him for attorney general. Gaetz later withdrew from consideration.