Latest Tallahassee News
Florida surpasses 50K COVID deaths after battling delta wave
MIAMI (AP) — Florida surpassed 50,000 coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began, health officials reported Thursday, with more than one fourth of those succumbing this summer as the state battled a fierce surge in infections fueled by the delta variant. The U.S....
Federal judge declines to block Florida ban on mask mandates
MIAMI (AP) — A federal judge declined Wednesday to block a ban imposed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to prevent mandating masks for Florida school students amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Judge K. Michael Moore in Miami denied a request by parents of disabled...
Jacksonville State stuns Florida State on final play
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville State earned $400,000 for a trip to Tallahassee. It was a night and victory the Gamecocks will savor for a lifetime. Zerrick Cooper connected with Damond Philyaw-Johnson on a 59-yard touchdown as time expired and Jacksonville State...
Court: DeSantis ban on school mask mandates back in force
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The on-again, off-again ban imposed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to prevent mandating masks for Florida school students amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak is back in force. The 1st District Court of Appeal ruled Friday that a...
Former Florida high court Chief Justice Grimes dies at 97
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Stephen Grimes died Friday in Tallahassee, the court said in a news release. He was 97. Republican Gov. Bob Martinez appointed Grimes to the Supreme Court in 1987, and he served until 1997. He was chief...
Florida official sentence to 5 years in corruption case
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A former city commissioner who once ran the Florida Democratic Party was sentenced to five years in federal prison for taking money from Uber and undercover FBI agents in exchange for his influence. Former Tallahassee Commissioner Scott Maddox...
Prominent Florida lobbyist pleads to reckless driving
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A prominent Florida lobbyist who had been charged with driving under the influence after crashing his Lamborghini into another vehicle has pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of reckless driving. Ron Book, 67, entered his plea this week...
Florida's GOP-backed 'anti-riot' law blocked by judge
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida's new “anti-riot” law championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis as a way to quell violent protests is unconstitutional and cannot be enforced, a federal judge ruled Thursday. The 90-page decision by U.S. District Judge Mark...
Florida woman given 30 years in husband's homicide
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida woman convicted of helping mastermind the killing of her husband more than two decades ago was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison after a previous life sentence was tossed on appeal. A Leon County circuit judge handed down the...
Judge: Florida can't enforce ban on school mask mandates
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A Florida judge ruled Wednesday that the state cannot enforce a ban on public schools mandating the use of masks to guard against the coronavirus, while an appeals court sorts out whether the ban is ultimately legal. Leon County Circuit Judge...
