Lynn Hatter

Florida State University’s Panama City Campus is closed indefinitely. The school sustained heavy water and infrastructure damage due to Hurricane Michael. The university announced the closure Friday after school officials took a helicopter over Thursday to get their first look at the site following the storm.

Of the nine oil and gas exploration permits pending with the state, six are in North Florida. And even though they’ve not been approved yet, environmentalists are wary.

The League of Women Voters of Florida is suing Governor Rick Scott over the appointment of new state supreme court justices. 

Denise Williams will not be getting out of jail any time soon. Florida’s First District Court of Appeal has upheld a lower court’s decision to not grant Williams bail as she awaits trial over the death of her ex-husband Mike Williams. 

Governor Rick Scott’s decision to start the process of appointing new Florida Supreme Court justices has ignited a looming constitutional crisis.  At the center of the issue: who—the outgoing or incoming governor—has the ability to make those appointments.

The Centre of Tallahassee is transitioning from a mall to a business complex. The building is starting to empty out to make room for new state offices. Several small stores are closing, have closed or are in the process of relocating.

Orlando businessman Chris King is joining Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum on the campaign trail. Gillum announced King as his Lieutenant Governor pick Thursday on Facebook live. 

A little-known polling firm based in California accurately called Florida’s democratic gubernatorial primary for Andrew Gillum. And it’s the firm the Gillum campaign relied on for its internal tracking. 

The fate of a former Tallahassee police officer accused of sexual battery is now in the hands of jurors.  Vincent Crump is accused of raping a woman during a February traffic stop.

Gubernatorial candidates are making their final pitches to voters ahead of Tuesday’s primary. Democrat Gwen Graham returned to Tallahassee Thursday to vote and rally her supporters amid polls showing Graham and Phil Levine tied as front-runners to win the Democratic Gubernatorial primary.

A long-running lawsuit over whether the state is properly funding its public schools is now before the Florida Supreme Court.  Oral arguments have been scheduled for November 8th.

Florida is among a minority of states that only allow school districts to approve new charter schools. A proposal once slated on the November ballot seeks to change that. But the fate of amendment eight is unclear after a Leon County Circuit judge ruled its ballot summary is vague and misleading. Now the crafter of the plan is pushing back, arguing her referendum has been mischaracterized by opponents of school choice.