Dara Kam

1 week ago | news4jax.com | Dara Kam |Marcela Camargo

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Hope Florida Board of Directors meeting ended abruptly on Thursday after the stream was hijacked with pornographic and racist images during public comment. Despite board members’ efforts to fix the issue, they ended up calling for a recess after several participants in the Zoom meeting began sharing their screens and graphic videos and photos, including a swastika, and used racial slurs. It appears a new meeting was started after the 10-minute recess.

1 week ago | ocalagazette.com | Dara Kam |Caroline Brauchler

TALLAHASSEE — The chairman of a foundation tied to Hope Florida — First Lady Casey DeSantis’ signature welfare-assistance program — said under oath Tuesday that “mistakes were made” with the foundation’s record-keeping, as a skirmish over the group’s finances continued to escalate. Joshua Hay, chairman of the Hope Florida Foundation Inc., appeared before the House […] To access this entire article, you must Become an Ocala Gazette Member or . Already a member?

3 weeks ago | ocalagazette.com | Dara Kam |Caroline Brauchler

TALLAHASSEE — Citing “deep frustration” and a lack of cooperation by officials in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, House budget leaders are issuing demand letters to some state agencies amid a probe into possibly wasteful government spending. The House’s inquiry into agencies’ finances, ordered by Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, is part of a broader effort to slash spending as lawmakers craft a budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

3 weeks ago | newsserviceflorida.com | Jim Saunders |Dara Kam

TALLAHASSEE — As the Florida House and Senate prepare to start negotiating a new state budget, their proposals are about $4.4 billion apart. But that’s just the big number. As House and Senate committees approved the proposals Wednesday, lawmakers also face myriad other differences, including issues related to state employees, tax cuts and whether to back away from spending decisions made in recent years. kAmw@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 =6256CD D2J E96J 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 4FC3 DA6?5:?8 :?

4 weeks ago | wlrn.org | Dara Kam

TALLAHASSEE — A key Senate committee on Tuesday gave initial approval to a measure that would build on laws requiring safety inspections of older condominium buildings and adequate financial reserves for repairs. The bill (SB 1742) is aimed at “providing condo owners a smoother, more flexible financial path forward without compromising safety,” Senate Regulated Industries Chairwoman Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said before her committee unanimously approved the measure.