The Florida Roundup

Charlie Crist wants to move back to his old address — the Florida governor's mansion. The one-time Republican governor is the first Democrat to declare his candidacy for the 2022 race. And local mayors react to canceling local pandemic restrictions.

Florida keeps growing and Florida's influence on national politics keeps growing, but could it have grown more? And as state lawmakers finish up their regular law-writing session — the politics of policies.

One of Gov. Ron DeSantis' highest priorities is now law. And it already faces a challenge in federal court. Supporters call it anti-rioting legislation. Opponents call it an unconstitutional restriction on protests and free speech.

YouTube takes down a video of Gov. DeSantis and controversial health policy experts, saying it spread misinformation about kids and masks to stop COVID-19. The governor says it's another example of what he calls Big Tech stifling free speech. Plus, lawmakers advance a ban on transgender student athletes.

CBS' ‘60 Minutes' reported Gov. Ron DeSantis gave vaccine access to favored groups and Publix. DeSantis called the TV report a smear campaign. Allegations around Rep. Matt Gaetz grow more intense as the Panhandle Republican says he won't step down. And Florida scrambles to avert an environmental disaster.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order prohibiting the use of COVID-19 vaccine "passports" and preventing Florida businesses from requiring patrons to provide documentation that they have been vaccinated.

A year after the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. DeSantis is touting his response to the pandemic by comparing Florida to other states. But one expert says it's not a fair comparison.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that Florida would expand its vaccine eligibility to everyone 50 and older. State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith is among those saying the move is not enough.

There's confusion and new frustration for Floridians as they try to get vaccinated for COVID-19, because the rules, critieria, and eligibility seem to change daily.

Florida's Republican-controlled Legislature is back in session and eyeing new laws aimed at slowing climate change and sea level rise.

Some of the nation's first federally-run mass vaccination sites are set to open throughout Florida next week. Publix is opening its online reservation system for COVID-19 vaccination appointments at all 730 of its in-store Florida pharmacies. It's not yet known if more available vaccines will help with health inequities.

State Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz explains how vaccines are distributed in pods and his reasons for stepping down — effective this April.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez met with other U.S. mayors Friday at the White House to discuss President Biden's proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan.

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to fine social media companies if they kicked candidates off their platforms during an election. Plus – more Publix stores are getting COVID-19 vaccines, but are they accessible to everyone?

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said by the end of the month, residents in all of the state's long-term care facilities will be vaccinated for Covid-19. With just a few days left, that goal has not been reached.

Some Florida hospitals are running out of COVID-19 vaccines, as many seniors continue to grow frustrated waiting for their shot.

Florida lawmakers blame chaotic vaccine rollout on limited supply of Pfizer and Moderna doses from the federal government.

Demand for the COVID-19 vaccine has far exceeded supply in Florida with its population of more than 4.4 million people 65 and above. Florida's emergency management director Jared Moskowitz blames the federal government.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is a close ally of President Trump. What will a Biden administration mean for the DeSantis administration and Florida?

Florida's tourism industry is showing signs of recovery. But it's not expected to reach pre-pandemic levels for another year.

Florida continues to see increasing infections and deaths as the second COVID-19 vaccine heads to the state.

Five Florida hospitals are in line to get the initial distribution of 100,000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in the coming days. The remainder of that first allotment — 70,000 doses — goes to nursing home residents and staff.

The first COVID-19 vaccine could arrive in Florida later this month. Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to give priority to people living and working in long-term care facilities.

Florida retailers hope local holiday shoppers can help offset some of the losses caused by the coronavirus.

Coronavirus vaccines could arrive in Florida within weeks. Two people with ties to the state talk about what it's like to participate in the clinical trials to develop the vaccines.

As the number of coronavirus cases in Florida increase, critics worry Gov. Ron DeSantis may be employing a "herd immunity" strategy.

Historically, Florida is a pivotal swing state that helps determine the outcome of the presidential election. This year, the state swung much more red than blue thanks to President Trump's popularity.

Both candidates vying for the White House are making a final push to win voters in Florida. The Sunshine State is critical to winning the White House.

Floridians are early voting in record numbers but the state remains deeply divided between presidential candidates.

Florida's state leaders are at odds over how cases and deaths from the pandemic are being tracked. It comes as medical experts predict a fall surge of COVID-19 cases.

The president of Florida's supervisors of elections says the state's election system is secure and that the president of the United States, and voters, should have no doubts about the voting results.

Charles Wells, a retired chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, recently sent an email to friends warning them about what he called President Trump's threat to democracy. He is also urging courts to prepare for a court fight that may decide the election.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has support from Florida's Republicans, but Democrats and others blast his proposal as racist and unconstitutional.

A recent statewide poll by the AARP highlights the significance of voters aged 50+ in the upcoming presidential election.

The Trump and Biden campaigns are taking their messages to Florida Latinos — a widespread group living throughout the state.

August's primary election represented an enormous jump in vote by mail thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provided voting experts with important information that can help in November.

Teachers throughout Florida are juggling in-person instruction, e-learning, and safety concerns.

A Leon County judge says he will decide next week on a lawsuit brought on by the Florida Education Association that aims to stop school districts from opening brick and mortar schools.

It's not exactly a Dickens novel, but the tale of two Floridas represents a stark contrast on how people in the Sunshine State view the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Ron DeSantis Friday announced the formation of a new task force focused on the safe and limited reopening of long-term care facilities in Florida.

If you're having trouble paying rent or your mortgage, you won't be evicted or foreclosed on in August. This week, Gov. Ron DeSantis extended his executive order pausing evictions and foreclosure, but with changes to the previous extension. Evictions have been on hold since April as the state shut down to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

It's been a tough week for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

With the start of the school year looming next month, parents, teachers, and students wonder what to expect in a pandemic. School boards across the state are drawing up plans to welcome back students, but some educators and parents say it's too soon.

Florida reported an additional 11,433 cases of COVID-19 Friday, bringing the total number of cases to 244,151 across the state. It's the second time the state's single-day tally exceeded 11,000. The health department reported 435 more hospitalizations on Friday, the largest single-day increase the state has seen thus far.

This weekend, Americans celebrate the country's birthday—and the rights and freedoms many of us often take for granted—including the right to vote. As of this week, the future of Amendment 4 in Florida is uncertain.

Florida is slamming the brakes on plans to move forward with reopening. The move comes as a record high of nearly nine thousand people tested positive for Covid-19 today. The state also announced it was immediately suspending drinking alcohol at bars, as it tries to limit the spread of the virus.

As COVID-19 continues to spread in Florida—with a record number of Floridians diagnosed with the virus on Friday. Florida's health department announced more than 3,800 cases. While more people are getting tested, the percentage of people testing positive is going up — above 10 percent for two out of the past three days.

Protests continue across Florida this weekend, calling for justice and an end to police brutality against people of color. Over the last week, many of the protests have been mostly peaceful.

Students at Florida's 12 public universities could be returning to campus this fall, according to a new plan approved by the Florida Board of Governors. The universities will use the blueprint to develop individual reopening plans following shutdowns due to the coronavirus.

One out of every three applications for unemployment in Florida has been deemed ineligible to get relief. Are the people applying for the support to blame, or is the trouble with the state's unemployment system?

On Monday, all of Florida will be in phase one of the state's reopening plan. As the Sunshine State inches back from pandemic shutdowns, a vital part of that plan is isolating people who have the coronavirus and keeping it from spreading.