Florida

Florida’s legislative session begins today. Are education fixes coming?

Published

1 year ago

March 4, 2025

Florida’s legislative session begins today. Are education fixes coming?

The big story: Florida lawmakers officially kick off their 2025 legislative session today with chamber leaders and the governor making speeches about their priorities over the next two months.

While education remains important to officials in both parties, the topic isn’t expected to be the hot-button issue that it has been in many past years. Gov. Ron DeSantis’s agenda faces headwinds that it hasn’t experienced previously, as the political dynamic in Tallahassee shifts.

Still, some school-related priorities have begun to bubble to the top. Those seen as most likely to move are efforts to roll back or refine measures that lawmakers approved in the past, only to hear from school officials that implementation wasn’t working as hoped.

The Senate Education PreK-12 Committee highlighted two such bills on Monday. Read more here.

Today in Tallahassee … The House Education Administration subcommittee will take up three bills when it meets at 1:30 p.m. • The House PreK-12 Budget subcommittee continues to discuss student funding formulas when it meets at 4 p.m. • The House Higher Education Budget subcommittee will hear audit reports on four state universities when it meets at 4 p.m.

Hot topics

Block scheduling: Pinellas County high school students voiced displeasure with plans to dump their eight-period rotating block schedule. School board members say they’re seeking solutions.

Book challenges: A federal judge has refused to dismiss a case against the Florida State Board of Education regarding its library book challenge rules, News Service of Florida reports. • A state lawmaker has filed legislation that would end protection of school books that include sexual content but are deemed to have artistic or literary merit, Florida’s Voice reports.

Cellphones: The Lee County school board is poised to implement a ban on student cellphone use during the school day, WGCU reports.

Crowding: The Duval County school board is contemplating new attendance zones for three middle schools to balance enrollment among them, the Florida Times-Union reports. • Manatee County school district officials plan to redraw school boundaries amid rising enrollment, campus crowding and booming growth, the Bradenton Herald reports.

Homelessness: Unaccompanied homeless students and youth in Sarasota County have a new source of housing assistance in a one-year pilot program funded by local philanthropists, the Herald-Tribune reports.

Immigration enforcement: Escambia County teachers are pressing the school district for written guidelines on how to deal with federal agents who come to schools seeking undocumented students, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.

School leadership: A Leon County middle school principal accused of financial misconduct resigned to avoid termination, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Volunteers: All Florida school volunteers now must undergo a Level 2 background check with fingerprinting, at an increased cost that some districts are passing on to the volunteers, Bay News 9 reports.

Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.

Before you go … Who knew the bagpipes could sound like this?

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Florida

Intense heat wave grips South Florida: Storms and “feels like” temps near 105°F this week

Published

8 hours ago

June 15, 2026

Press Room

Intense heat wave grips South Florida: Storms and “feels like” temps near 105°F this week

Get ready for the hottest week of the season in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Scattered showers and storms will kick off the week, but the real story is the soaring heat—expect highs in the lower 90s and “feels like” temperatures peaking around 105°F, especially midweek. Overnight lows will stay warm, barely dipping below 80°F. Find out when to expect the next round of storms, how to stay safe in the heat, and what’s brewing in the tropics.

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Florida

Florida State recruiting: Georgia edge rusher Jaxon Holly commits to FSU over Auburn, Virginia Tech, Georgia

Published

18 hours ago

June 14, 2026

Press Room

Florida State recruiting: Georgia edge rusher Jaxon Holly commits to FSU over Auburn, Virginia Tech, Georgia

The Florida State Seminoles landed a verbal commitment from a defensive lineman today, as Jaxon Holly has decided to join #Tribe27.

Holly is a 6’3, 235 pound edge rusher who plays for Roswell High School in Georgia. 247Sports Composite currently has him as a three-star, ranked as the 611th best player nationally (52nd best Edge, 76th best player in GA). He holds three dozen offers and chose the Seminoles over fellow finalists Auburn and Virginia Tech, along with Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Michigan, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M, among many others. He obviously wasn’t a priority for some of those programs but certainly was for the Tigers and Hokies. The Bulldogs were also in contention at one point.

Holly was limited to five games last season but still managed 32 tackles (seven for loss), 12 QB hits, two sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. FSU’s edge rusher board has thinned considerably over the past month, and Holly represents a nice win for Nick Williams on the trail. He’s likely going to need at least one season in the weight room before meaningfully contributing, but the tools are there for Holly to be a solid rotational player.

2027 Florida State recruiting: Current commitments

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Florida

Florida romance author’s 5 favorite restaurants that inspired new book

Published

1 day ago

June 14, 2026

Press Room

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Grace Reilly recommends several restaurants in the Stuart and Port Salerno area.

USA TODAY bestselling author Grace Reilly next month will release her new book “Yes, Chef,” which was inspired by several Treasure Coast cities and restaurants.

The story is set in Diamond Bay, a fictional town meant to be a mashup of different cities from Fort Pierce to Hobe Sound.

A disgraced chef, Jack, returns to his hometown to take over the restaurant his late mentor left him. To revive the restaurant, he teams up with a social media influencer, Poppy, the daughter of his ex-boss.

Since the story was inspired by local restaurants, TCPalm asked Reilly about her favorite restaurants, and here are her recommendations.

Grace Reilly’s Treasure Coast restaurant recommendations

District Table and Bar, Port Salerno: “With a menu that changes regularly, going to District is always an adventure,” Reilly said. “It’s my absolute favorite restaurant and the first place I think of when I need somewhere to celebrate a birthday or milestone. I imagine Fable, Jack and Poppy’s restaurant, as having that same spirit and flair for experimentation.”
Hudson’s on the River, Stuart: “When I think of a classic coastal Florida restaurant, this comes to mind immediately,” she said. “Delicious seafood, a fun, bright atmosphere and excellent drinks. No meal there is complete without their deconstructed coconut cream pie.”
Sailor’s Return, Stuart: “The restaurant that provided so much inspiration for ‘Yes, Chef,’ ” she said. “The location in Sunset Bay Marina in downtown Stuart is beautiful and the food is classic. It’s right by Gilbert’s Coffee Bar, my favorite coffee shop.”
Fantini’s Italian Restaurant, Stuart: “As a former New Yorker, I have lots of opinions about pizza. Fantini’s is actually New Haven-style, but hands down the best slice I’ve gotten so far on the Treasure Coast,” she said. “Pizza Fridays are an institution for my family. I adore their A La Vodka pizza, as well as a classic sausage and black olive combo.”
The Gafford, Stuart: “An absolute gem in downtown Stuart,” she said. “It brings classic Southern vibes with South Floridian flair. Their specials are always unique and delicious and the atmosphere is lovely.”

Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.

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