Nikki Fried

Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted Attorney General Merrick Garland is "weaponizing" the Department of Justice and said he will defend Floridians' rights to free speech over his decision to prevent mask mandates in schools.

Nikki Fried says she will seek to phase out the use of a commonly used product that is blamed for one of the worst causes of ocean pollution.

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried asked for planned changes to the national distribution of antibody drugs to be delayed until the COVID-19 caseload is “further reduced” in Florida.

Gov. DeSantis has been criticized for not re-applying for the program, which was extended under the Biden administration.

A federal judge said that the law, championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, amounted to an assault on First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly as well as the Constitution's due process protections.

“All the speculation about me is purely manufactured,” DeSantis said of talk that he is running for president in 2024.

The Pasco County Republican is the most prominent candidate to enter the race that will be vacated with Democrat Nikki Fried running for governor.

Fried's comments came at her daily coronavirus press briefing. She says she requested daily COVID numbers from the state more than two weeks ago to no avail.

A recent survey of voters indicates this strategy isn't hurting at a time when DeSantis is also at odds with many parents, doctors and several local school districts over student mask policies.

She cites the state's rise in coronavirus cases.

Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran will “report his findings related to Alachua and Broward” during the emergency meeting and “sanctions would follow if they’re found to be in violation of the mask mandate ban.”

Lila Hartley wrote the school board in Duval County last week expressing concern over her 10-year-old brother, who's too young to get a vaccine.