In a victory for Gov. Ron DeSantis, a sharply divided federal appeals court Thursday rejected arguments by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings that Florida’s ban on so-called “vaccine passports” is unconstitutional. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, overturned…
Read More Florida Appeals Court Backs ‘Vaccine Passport’ Ban
More than a year after a federal judge backed Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in a constitutional challenge to Florida’s ban on so-called “vaccine passports,” the legal battle could be poised to end. The Miami-based Norwegian said in filings this week in federal district court and…
Read More Florida Cruise Ship ‘Vaccine Passport’ Fight Could End
Less than a week after Hurricane Ian knocked out power to large swaths of Florida, state regulators Tuesday approved utilities’ long-term plans to try to bolster the electric system. The state Public Service Commission approved, with some changes, plans submitted by Florida Power & Light,…
Read More Plans To Strengthen Florida Electric System Get Go-Ahead
In a case involving tens of millions of dollars a year, a judge has sided with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and ruled that another cigarette maker is responsible for paying Florida under a landmark legal settlement about health-related costs of smoking. The ruling Friday by…
Read More Judge Says Cigarette Maker Should Pay Florida
A federal judge has rejected — at least for now — a lawsuit challenging a controversial new law that restricts instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor on Thursday issued a 25-page order dismissing the case, finding…
Read More Judge Rejects Challenge To Florida ‘Parental Rights In Education Law’
In 2018, after Hurricane Irma left a massive swath of damage and shortly before Hurricane Michael pounded the Panhandle, state officials launched a program called “Rebuild Florida” to help repair homes and bolster communities. But four years later, a Central Florida contractor, Rebuild Florida LLC,…
Read More Fight Swirls Over ‘Rebuild Florida’ Name
State regulators Friday asked a judge to place a property-insurance company in receivership, making it the sixth Florida property insurer declared insolvent this year amid widespread financial problems in the industry. The Florida Department of Financial Services sought to be appointed receiver for FedNat Insurance…
Read More Sixth Florida Property Insurer Declared Insolvent
A South Florida state senator late Thursday filed a lawsuit challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis’ controversial decision last week to fly migrants from Texas to Massachusetts and seeking to block similar flights in the future. Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-North Miami Beach, filed the lawsuit in Leon…
Read More Florida Lawmaker Challenges DeSantis on Migrant Flights
Florida and major social-media companies could be poised for a showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court. Lawyers for the state Wednesday filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to take up a First Amendment battle about a 2021 Florida law that placed restrictions on industry…
Read More Florida Asks Supreme Court To Decide ‘Big Tech’ Law Fight
Barry Gilway, president and CEO of Citizens Property Insurance Corp., said Wednesday the state-backed insurer has been a “roller coaster ride” for the past two decades. Right now, it is continuing to pick up speed. Citizens last week reached 1.055 million policies — more than…
Read More ‘Roller Coaster Ride’ Continues For Florida Citizens Insurance