Jim Turner

1 week ago | orlandoweekly.com | Jim Turner |McKenna Schueler

As the Florida House and Senate prepare to formally negotiate a budget, their proposals are sprinkled with spending on local projects and programs — and potential line-item veto targets for Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Senate’s $117.36 billion budget plan (SB 2500) includes nearly $1.27 billion tied to about 1,140 projects that individual senators proposed for such things as local parks, schools, emergency management, roads, museums and cultural groups.

Oct 31, 2024 | orlandoweekly.com | Jim Turner |Jim Turner

State university-system leaders on Wednesday approved a bond refinancing plan tied to Miami rapper Pitbull’s name going on a football stadium. The approval came several years after a contract Pitbull had with the state helped cost the job of a state tourism-marketing official. The university system’s Board of Governors agreed to a Florida International University refinancing plan that is part of a $6 million deal to rename the school’s 20,000-seat football stadium as Pitbull Stadium.

Oct 22, 2024 | orlandoweekly.com | Jim Turner

After fielding candidates in all 120 House races, Florida Democrats have narrowed their focus in an effort to cut into Republicans’ supermajority in the chamber. Democrats' targets include more than a dozen incumbent Republicans as well as a handful of open House seats on the Nov. 5 ballot. “It's going to be competitive this cycle because of the high turnout of Democrats because independents are breaking for us in significant margins.

Oct 15, 2024 | orlandoweekly.com | Jim Turner

Average gasoline prices in Florida remained stable during the past week despite increased demand in the run-up to Hurricane Milton and as hundreds of stations are still without electricity after the storm. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday his office will look at a “loophole” in a state law about ​electric generators at gas stations, though he stopped short of saying the law would be changed.

Oct 10, 2024 | observerlocalnews.com | Jim Turner

TALLAHASSEE — Hurricane Milton swept through Florida, slightly less catastrophic than forecast. But as work began Thursday morning to restore services, clear debris, reopen bridges and undertake search-and-rescue operations, state officials were concerned about flash flooding after the hurricane brought heavy rain. Milton left widespread destruction as it caused storm surge, damaging winds and tornadoes.