Democratic candidate for governor David Jolly has selected former Congresswoman Gwen Graham as his running mate, adding a familiar Florida political name to the 2026 race.

Graham, the daughter of the late Florida governor and U.S. senator Bob Graham, joined Jolly at the state Capitol on Wednesday for the announcement.

WATCH: David Jolly selects Gwen Graham as running mate in Florida governors race

It is with absolute joy, joy that I'm able to announce today that Congresswoman Gwen Graham has agreed to serve as our next lieutenant governor, Jolly said.

Jolly and Graham served together in Congress, though they were members of different political parties at the time. Jolly, a former Republican congressman, has framed his campaign as an effort to appeal not only to Democrats but also to independents and Republicans dissatisfied with the direction of state politics.

He said Grahams experience, rather than political calculation, drove the decision.

I had one goal in this process: to identify a governing partner capable of leading this state not just as lieutenant governor, but as governor, Jolly said.

Graham said the ticket would focus on affordability, education, health care, and insurance costs. She also criticized the direction of state government, saying she and Jolly want to move away from divisive political fights.

David and I are fed up with endless culture wars, an economy that does not work for everyone, and an education system in turmoil, Graham said.

The selection is likely to draw scrutiny from different corners of the Democratic coalition. Graham has long been viewed as an establishment Democrat, and the possibility of her joining the ticket had previously frustrated some progressives who wanted greater diversity among the partys statewide nominees.

Jolly defended the pick, saying the campaign remains focused on disparities affecting communities of color and arguing that Republican frontrunner Byron Donalds has not adequately addressed those issues.

Donalds campaign quickly responded to the announcement, calling Jolly and Graham the same old failed politicians with the same old failed liberal agenda.

The announcement comes as the Republican primary continues to generate its own friction. Former House Speaker Paul Renner, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and James Fishback have called for a debate before the August primary.

Donalds has recently suggested his Republican opponents are polling too low to justify a debate and has called for GOP unity ahead of the November general election.

The Florida Commissioner of Agriculture (FDACS) is expanding screwworm import restrictions following additional detections of New World Screwworms (NWS) in Texas and New Mexico.

The NWS is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue in warm-blooded animals. Recent detections in New Mexico and now Texas have prompted heightened vigilance in Florida.

FDACS said the rule expands restrictions on animal imports from affected areas and prohibits the importation of rescue and shelter dogs and cats with confirmed NWS detections. It also revised the definition of "infested zones" to any county with a confirmed NWS detection and its surrounding counties.

The temporary moratorium is in place until June 12.

"New World Screwworm remains an ever-changing situation, and Florida's response will continue to evolve as the facts on the ground evolve," said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson.

"We will respond based on facts, not fear. But we will also continue to be the most aggressive state in the nation when it comes to protecting our livestock, pets, wildlife, people, and agricultural economy from this threat. As additional detections have been confirmed in Texas and New Mexico, we are strengthening what are already some of the strongest protections in the country to keep Florida prepared and protected."

FDACS said there have been no NWS detected here in Florida, but they will continue to monitor any developments.

Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a multi-day enforcement operation in Lee and Collier counties that seized 479 illegal gaming machines, recovered $294,150 in illicit proceeds, and led to 11 arrests.

The effort was a joint operation involving the Florida Gaming Control Commission, the Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Collier County Sheriffs Office, and the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

"Illegal gambling operations pose a threat to public safety and undermine our compact with the Seminole Tribe, which provides billions of dollars to the state to protect our environmental resources," Attorney General James Uthmeier said. "These illegal casinos fuel larger criminal enterprises that contribute to drug and human trafficking. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to shut down all illegal gaming operations across the state."

Since early 2026, statewide enforcement has led to the seizure of 3,114 illegal machines, $1.7 million in proceeds, and 81 arrests tied to unlawful gambling.

Uthmeier also warned payment processors that facilitating illegal online gaming could violate Floridas RICO Act.

WalletHub released a study on the best "staycation" cities in the U.S., and Tampa ranks in the top ten!

According to WalletHub, Tampa ranks at #8 overall for the best places for a staycation. The study examined factors such as recreation, food and entertainment, and rest and relaxation.

The top three cities were Las Vegas, NV, at #3, Cincinnati, OH, at #2, and Orlando, FL, at #1.

The worst three cities for a staycation were Fremont, CA; Yonkers, NY; and Pearl City, HI.

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds may be the clear Republican front-runner in the race for Florida governor, but he says he is not treating the nomination as a foregone conclusion.

We take it day by day, Donalds said in an interview. I don't like to count chickens before they hatch. The motto internally is no stone left unturned.

WATCH: Donalds pledges another push for property-tax relief if November amendment falls short

The Naples Republican officially qualified for his gubernatorial bid, Tuesday. He now enters the next phase of the campaign with President Donald Trumps endorsement, U.S. Sen. Rick Scotts support and a growing list of backers across Florida. Recent polling has also shown Donalds with a sizable advantage over his Republican rivals.

Still, Donalds said voters are less interested in campaign standings than the cost of living.

What are we going to do about insurance? Donalds said. What are we going to do about housing costs? What are we going to do about taxes?

Property taxes are now a major issue in the governors race after Florida lawmakers placed a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

If approved by at least 60% of voters, the proposal would increase the homestead exemption on non-school property taxes from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. Lawmakers revised Gov. Ron DeSantis original plan during a special session amid concerns about the potential impact on cities, counties and public services.

Donalds said he supports the broader goal of reducing the burden on homeowners.

You shouldn't have to rent your house from the government every single year, Donalds said. It is your house in Florida.

He acknowledged, however, that lawmakers and the next governor would have to confront difficult questions about lost local revenue and the cost of essential services, including law enforcement, transportation and infrastructure.

If the ballot measure fails or does not deliver sufficient relief, Donalds said he would bring the issue back as governor.

Yes, but let's let them finish their work first, Donalds said. If nothing gets done, we do want to bring this back and really dig in using the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which is in our state's constitution.

The commission is scheduled to convene in 2027. Donalds said it could be used to explore a more sweeping repeal of homestead property taxes or targeted relief for seniors and working families.

Donalds also said Florida should move ahead with its own artificial-intelligence regulations rather than wait for Congress to act.

The position places him at odds with Trumps push for a more unified national framework and comes as states debate how aggressively to regulate a rapidly evolving industry.

I understand what President Trump's trying to accomplish, but I've always felt that state-level regulation is the way to go, Donalds said. In part, it's just so hard to move anything through Washington, D.C.

Donalds said Florida should establish protections for children, give parents more control over their childrens interactions with chatbots and guard against the misuse of a persons name, image or likeness.

I do think there are some common-sense guardrails around AI that Florida can lead on, Donalds said.

The issue has become increasingly prominent in Tallahassee. DeSantis pushed an AI Bill of Rights during the 2026 legislative session, although the proposal faced resistance in the House as some Republican leaders favored a federal approach.

Mission accomplished on immigration crackdown

Donalds also defended Floridas costly expansion of immigration enforcement, including the detention center in the Everglades known as Alligator Alcatraz.

The facility is being wound down as the federal government assumes a larger role in detention operations. Florida has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on immigration enforcement, including construction and operations at the Everglades site.

Asked whether the effort was a success or a waste of taxpayer money, Donalds was unequivocal.

No, it was definitely mission accomplished, he said.

Donalds argued that Florida stepped in when the federal government did not have sufficient resources and said the state should be reimbursed as the responsibility shifts back to Washington.

Florida did the right thing by being proactive and trying to stand those facilities up to help Homeland when they didn't have the resources, Donalds said. I think we're also going to work with the feds to get those reimbursements back to make Florida whole.

The federal government has already sent Florida an initial reimbursement of about $58 million. Asked whether he would push to recover the remaining costs, Donalds said: Of course. We're going to work very hard to make that happen.

Even with Donalds leading the Republican field, his primary challengers are pushing him to debate. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who is also seeking the Republican nomination, criticized Donalds in a recent Fox News interview for declining to commit to an early debate.

You can't pull a Biden and hide on your couch in the basement, Collins said. You gotta come out and debate.

Donalds has said he wants to see which candidates qualify for the ballot before agreeing to a debate. More recently, he has urged Republicans to unite, arguing that a prolonged intra-party fight would help Democrats.

The Republican nominee will likely face former U.S. Rep. David Jolly in the general election. Jollys path to the Democratic nomination became clearer after Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings suspended his campaign following a prostate cancer diagnosis.

Beyond the immediate political fights, Donalds said Florida must prepare for continued population growth.

His pitch is straightforward: Keep Florida moving forward, but move faster to address the strain on housing, roads, water and other infrastructure.

Donalds said Florida cannot simply close its doors to newcomers, even as some residents express frustration with the states rapid growth since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The question is: Do we have a strategy for what happens when they come? Donalds said. I prefer to be eyes wide open and understand that when you run a great government and you have a great environment, people are going to want to be a part of that.

Donalds said the next governor will need to balance growth with affordability and preserve what he calls the Florida dream.

A man wanted out of Polk County was arrested in Gainesville on Friday after attempting to drive away from law enforcement, according to the Alachua County Sheriffs Office (ACSO).

ACSO said on the afternoon of June 5, deputies received intel that 24-year-old Fredrick Perryman was near 3500 Southwest 34th Street in Alachua County.

WATCH: Man wanted in Polk Co. arrested in Gainesville after trying to drive away from deputies

Deputies said Perryman was wanted out of Volusia County on multiple charges, including narcotic violations, tampering with evidence, driving with a suspended or revoked license, fleeing and eluding at a high speed, and reckless disregard for public safety. Perryman was also wanted in Polk County for narcotic violations, per the report.

The report said ACSO responded to the area and saw Perryman driving a black Mercedes SUV and pulling into an apartment complex in the 700 block of Southwest 34th Street.

ACSO said deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Perryman, but he reversed and accelerated through the parking lot.

The report said two deputies positioned their vehicles to block the SUV, and Perryman rammed into both vehicles in an attempt to break free before additional deputies arrived on scene and immobilized the vehicle.

Deputies searched the SUV and found 67 grams of marijuana, a scale, and multiple baggies, per officials.

In addition to Perryman's warrant, ACSO said he was taken into custody and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, fleeing and eluding police, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of drug equipment and driving with a suspended license.

Former state Sen. Annette Taddeo is officially running for Florida chief financial officer, launching a campaign centered on government accountability, rising insurance costs and the use of taxpayer dollars.

The South Florida Democrat entered the race Monday, arguing the statewide office should serve as an independent watchdog for Floridians.

Watch report from Forrest Saunders

What I can tell you is that Im just as fed up as Floridians are, Taddeo said. We have had no checks and balances pretty much for almost 30 years or more.

Taddeo is challenging Republican CFO Blaise Ingoglia, a former state senator whom Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed to the position last summer. Ingoglia has spent months touring Florida and auditing local governments as part of an effort to identify what he describes as wasteful spending.

Those audits have also become part of the Republican case for a proposed property tax overhaul heading to voters in November. The measure would expand the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.

Ingoglia has argued local governments can absorb the revenue reductions by cutting unnecessary spending.

The numbers work, Ingoglia said in an interview last week. The only people who are complaining about it are the people who actually have to cut back. We are on the side of the taxpayers here, right? Were not on the side of a government who thinks that you are an endless ATM.

Taddeo said the state should also apply greater scrutiny to its own spending. She specifically criticized Ingoglia for not auditing the costs associated with the Everglades immigration detention facility known as Alligator Alcatraz.

What hes been doing is not doing his job, Taddeo said. Hes not looking out for us when he wont audit a million dollars a day that were spending on Alligator Alcatraz.

Taddeo also questioned whether lawmakers moved too quickly on the proposed property tax changes. She said homeowners need relief but warned the plan could shift costs rather than meaningfully reduce them.

For the homeowners who think all of a sudden, no, this is great, Im not going to have to pay real estate taxes well, if they take it out of one, theyre going to take it out of another one, Taddeo said. The fact is, we still need certain resources.

Ingoglias campaign defended his record and sought to frame the race around the differences between Republicans and Democrats on affordability.

CFO Blaise Ingoglia, endorsed by Governor Ron DeSantis, is fighting to make Florida affordable by delivering lower property taxes and holding insurance companies accountable, campaign manager John Wallace said in a statement. We look forward to a spirited Democrat primary to determine the nominee for the party of higher taxes and unaffordability.

Before facing Ingoglia in the general election, Taddeo must compete for the Democratic nomination against Earle Ford, an attorney and former IRS employee who is also emphasizing accountability and consumer protections.

Ford has argued the state should prioritize the rising cost of homeowners insurance over property tax cuts. He is calling for stronger enforcement, greater transparency surrounding rate increases and closer scrutiny of insurance-company affiliates.

The state needs to be the referee and needs to be the gatekeeper and make sure everything is on the up and up, Ford said.

Ford has described the property tax debate as a distraction from the insurance premiums squeezing homeowners. Taddeo has also questioned whether state leaders are doing enough to hold insurance companies accountable when policyholders struggle to collect after storms and other disasters.

Candidate qualifying is underway this week. Floridas primary election is scheduled for Aug. 18, with the general election set for Nov. 3.

USAA said it will distribute a dividend to 830,000 policyholders who have held auto policies between 2023 and 2025.

Beginning June 15, eligible current auto policyholders are expected to receive an average dividend payment of $760, and a quarter of policyholders will receive over $1,000, USAA said.

USAA said it has also reduced or eliminated banking fees to help members manage household expenses.

The Florida panther once roamed the entire southeastern United States. Today, a small pocket of South Florida is all that remains of its habitat east of the Mississippi River.

Now, a team of wildlife filmmakers is using photography to fight for the big cat's survival.

Watch full report from Tampa Bay 28 reporter Michael Paluska

Tampa Bay 28 reporter Michael Paluska trekked deep into panther territory with the team from the fStop Foundation. The non-profit is dedicated to tracking the panther and putting up trail cameras to give viewers a secret glimpse into their everyday lives.

On our first stop in the Greater Ok Slough Ecosystem, we saw footprints in the soft sugar sand of a massive male panther.

This is the first time Ive seen panther tracks in the wild, Paluska said with excitement.

Its a panther stronghold, wildlife biologist Sean McHugh said with a smile.

"The panther got shoved into South Florida because of the inaccessibility of it before roads were here. The Everglades, areas like this, and the Okeechobee Slough ecosystem were wild enough for it to escape that persecution from humans," McHugh said.

Nearly hunted to extinction, the Florida panther is critically endangered. At one point, only 10 to 20 remained in the wild. Today, an estimated 120 to 230 panthers roam South Florida.

The nonprofit is working to change the panther's fate deploying trail cameras across the state to document the animals and inspire public support for their protection. Father and son William and Max Freund, along with McHugh, make up the core of the team.

Their method is methodical: scout the terrain, find tracks, position cameras, and wait.

The payoff comes when the team retrieves the cameras. Scrolling through hundreds of images, William Freund spotted something remarkable.

"Got 269 with her kitten walking right by the camera nice," William Freund said while scrubbing through the SD card.

For Max Freund, those moments carry weight far beyond the excitement of a single capture.

"I think to be able to show people an animal that we've never seen. I've personally never seen a panther, and we see them in the cameras, and we know that they're around, and they're thriving, and they have their challenges, but to be able to show people and let them experience something they'll never see is really important," Max Freund said.

McHugh said protecting enough land is the key to the panther's future.

"These are the types of places that save the panther. If you have enough space, they will reproduce, and from there the population can continue to sustain itself."

But wild places are disappearing fast. A joint study by 1000 Friends of Florida and the University of Florida estimates 190 acres of land could be lost per day to development over the next 50 years.

"It goes from sort of virgin land to some kind of agricultural use, whether it's ranching or citrus or growing tomatoes, and then eventually that becomes the last, what we call the last crop in Florida, which is rooftops," William Freund said.

The panther is not the only species at stake. McHugh said the big cat serves as an umbrella for an entire ecosystem one that includes, bears, bobcats, alligators, snakes, and countless other species.

"People have a tendency to focus on the panther. It is an umbrella species. It's a flagship species of fStop. There are so many other important species too, and it's all part of the same ecosystem."

Even after years of work, the team said the thrill of finding a panther on camera never fades.

"No, no, no, you never know. And that video starts playing, you just get excited, and you can't wait to share it with everyone else," Max Freund said.

The hope is that 250 years from now, these photographs will not be the last witness of Florida panthers roaming the wild.

"The key for us at fStop is the storytelling part of it. The old saying of you're going to protect what you love, and you're going to love what you understand, and so if we can tell the stories of these absolutely incredible resilient animals, we have a chance to make it happen," William Freund said.

Florida attorneys and self-represented litigants will soon be required to certify that what they cite in court exists and is accurate.

The Florida Supreme Court recently adopted new rules addressing what many in the legal and AI field have described as a growing crisis: the misuse of artificial intelligence in courtrooms. The rules take effect June 15.

Watch report from Katie Lagrone

Fake evidence, fabricated facts, and bogus case law have become so much of a concern in Florida courtrooms that the state's highest court was compelled to act. Sanctions for violations could range from a public reprimand to fines and even suspension.

Federal Judge William Matthewman is the chief magistrate for the Southern District of Florida and has been involved in efforts to control how AI is used in courts after its misuse became rampant in his own courtroom.

"It's really a problem," Matthewman said.

He said the situation is unlikely to improve quickly.

"Unfortunately, I see it getting worse before it gets better. I think the Florida Supreme Court's order will help in Florida, but I unfortunately have seen over the last couple years it is growing and growing and growing," Matthewman said.

Paul Figueroa is a criminal defense attorney in Tampa who recently started using AI to help improve his workflow. He said the technology is not fail-proof.

"It can be something as simple as it gives a quote that's directly on point to my case, and you go, all right, this is brilliant, this is what I've been looking for, I could have searched 300 cases and not come up with anything better than this, and then you realize that's not in the case," Figueroa said.

When asked whether the new rules go far enough, Figueroa said he believes they do.

"I do. I think it goes far enough for what we know now," Figueroa said.

In Polk County, an attorney representing the Polk County School District in an ongoing lawsuit over school bus cameras was recently chastised after a judge discovered fabricated facts and cited cases that don't exist were filed as part of a motion to dismiss the case. In his apology to the court, the attorney said he used "ChatGPT as a drafting and research aid" but admitted "there was no excuse" for his "failure to verifybefore filing."

While the judge has yet to hand down punishment, a spokesperson for the school district said it "takes accuracy and integrity in legal proceedings seriously" and they are "reviewing this matter further to determine if this attorney will be eligible for contracted services again in the future."

Earlier this year, Investigative Reporter Katie LaGrone highlighted problems with AI-generated evidence in courts, using herself as an example, while sharing real stories like a Florida woman who said a fake AI-generated text was used to help land her in jail.

She was cleared of all charges.

A St. Petersburg woman, however, was not cleared after she used AI to create a photo of a man she claimed had burglarized and raped her. She later admitted it was fabricated.

"I lied about it," she told police.

Judge Matthewman has a warning to anyone filing court documents.

"I would caution lawyers and parties representing themselves to make sure everything you file in court is accurate, because if not, you could find yourself in hot water," he said.

Mayor of Orange County Jerry Demings announced Friday he is suspending his campaign for governor of Florida after being diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this week.

"Running for governor has been one of the biggest honors of my life," Mayor Jerry Demings said. "Up until my diagnosis, our campaign was continuing to add staff and grow our reach throughout the state. Our polling showed a strong chance of victory, and I had been looking forward to articulating my vision for our state on the trail through the primary and into November."

He said it is a treatable form of prostate cancer in his last State of the County address.

Former U.S. Rep. David Jolly, Demings' democratic primary rival in the gubernatorial race, posted to Facebook on June 5 that a message reads:

"Mayor Demings has dedicated his life to public service, fighting with passion, mettle, and faith. I know he'll bring that same spirit to this new chapter. Laura and I wish him a full recovery as we personally pray for Jerry and his family."

From a police officer to mayor, Demings has served Orlando and Orange County during its response to September 11 and the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

Demings said, "I came to this conclusion to suspend my candidacy in the interest of my family and my health. Continuing to run for governor would have likely led to injurious effects on my prognosis. I am a fighter through and through, and now is the time to fight cancer and be there for my loved ones."

He also thanked staff, the community and his family for their continued support.

Florida state leaders are touting human trafficking efforts, but urge residents and visitors to the area to remain vigilant ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier said over 1,600 child predators and human traffickers have been arrested since February of last year.

As the FIFA World Cup approaches, the U.S. Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Unit has issued a notice that major events can create a concentrated demand for licit and illicit services and human trafficking.

State leaders are urging residents and visitors to stay vigilant and report suspected human trafficking to the hotline at (855) FLA-Safe.

Uber said it will equip drivers with materials and signs to raise awareness of human trafficking.

AI data centers are spreading across the country, and Erin Brockovich is putting them on the map for public review.

The environmental activist, best known for her fight against Pacific Gas and Electric, has introduced an interactive mapping project identifying existing, proposed, and in-progress AI data centers, including several in Florida. The platform allows residents to flag concerns about energy usage, water demand, noise and transparency in operations.

Thousands of entries have already been collected nationwide, revealing trends in development and local disputes tied to AI infrastructure. In Florida, notable sites include a planned facility on former phosphate mine land and another on the grounds of a retired power plant.

Florida voters will decide the future of a major property-tax overhaul this November. Thats after lawmakers approved a proposed constitutional amendment expanding homestead exemptions and placing new limits on local property taxes.

The measure emerged from a two-day special session and now moves from the Capitol to the campaign trail, where supporters and opponents are preparing for a statewide fight over tax relief, affordability and the future of local government services.

WATCH: Florida voters to decide sweeping property-tax overhaul in November

The proposal would expand the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with inflation adjustments beginning the following year. School property taxes would not be affected.

The amendment would also direct the legislature to create a path toward fully eliminating non-school property taxes on primary homes. However, it would not erase those taxes immediately or set a fixed statewide deadline for doing so.

Counties and municipalities would face limits on how they could use the remaining property tax revenue. The measure identifies purposes including public safety, education, infrastructure, flood control, debt payments, retirement obligations and local government operations.

It would also lower the annual assessment cap for non-homestead properties, including businesses and rental properties, from 10% to 5% for non-school taxes.

The plan grew out of Gov. Ron DeSantis push to eliminate property taxes on homesteaded homes, an idea he has promoted for months as a response to Floridas affordability challenges.

The reality is, the property tax has become a big, big burden for millions of people in this state, DeSantis said at a press conference this week.

Republicans are framing the amendment as a major step toward lowering costs for homeowners.

Relief is coming, said Rep. Toby Overdorf, a Stuart Republican who helped carry the proposal in the House. We are putting money back in the pockets of Floridians.

Democrats and local-government advocates are preparing to campaign against the measure, warning that the revenue losses could force communities to reduce services or raise fees elsewhere.

What library do you want us to close? What park do you want us to close? House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said following debate on the resolution. What law enforcement officer do you want us to fire?

Rep. Kelly Skidmore, a Delray Beach Democrat, argued the amendment could mislead voters about its broader consequences. Her caucus has referred to the plan as a tax shift, not a tax cut.

This amendment that we are going to put on the ballot is a lie, Skidmore said. It is a fabrication. It is a false narrative that we are giving to our residents. We are going to charge them more money, and we are not telling them the truth with this amendment.

Supporters reject those warnings. Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia has argued local governments can absorb the reductions, pointing to audits of local spending his office has conducted over the year.

We are on the side of the taxpayers here, Ingoglia said. Were not on the side of a government who thinks that you are an endless ATM.

The next phase of the fight will play out over the summer and early fall as both sides work to persuade voters.

We will have to spend the summer and the early fall educating voters about whats going to happen as a result of this bill, Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman said.

Because the proposal is a constitutional amendment, it does not require approval from the governor. It will need support from at least 60% of voters in November to pass. If approved, its initial changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

A Florida man who confessed to killing his girlfriends infant daughter and throwing her body in a pond three decades ago was executed Tuesday evening.

Andrew Richard Lukehart, 53, was pronounced dead at 6:19 p.m. after receiving a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was sentenced to death after being convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in 1997 for the death a year earlier of 5-month-old Gabrielle Hanshaw.

When the curtain of the execution chamber went up at 6 p.m., Lukehart was already strapped to a table with an IV in his arm. A priest sat at the foot of the table to pray over him as he died.

When a warden asked Lukehart if he had a final statement, he raised his head to look at a group in the front row of the viewing area and said, "Im sorry.

Lukehart then recited the Bible verse Luke 23:34, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do, which Scripture says Jesus Christ uttered during his crucifixion.

Lukehart lost consciousness almost immediately after the administration of the lethal drugs began. Several minutes into the execution, the warden shook Lukehart and shouted his name, but there was no reaction.

A medic was called in to check his vital signs, and he was declared dead several minutes later.

Lukehart declined a last meal and did not receive any visitors before the execution, though he did meet with a spiritual adviser, Department of Corrections spokesperson Jordan Kirkland said during a news conference.

This was Floridas eighth execution so far this year, following a record 19 executions in 2025. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous record was set in 2014 with eight executions.

According to court records, Lukehart was watching his girlfriend's baby in February 1996 while his girlfriend was caring for her older daughter, who had been ill. At some point, the girlfriend said Lukehart drove away from their Jacksonville home, and she couldn't find baby Gabrielle. Lukehart called his girlfriend about 30 minutes later and told her to call police because the baby had been kidnapped and he was chasing the kidnapper.

Later that evening, Lukehart was found in a neighboring county after driving his car off the road. During questioning the next day, Lukehart told investigators that Gabrielle died after he dropped the baby on her head and then shook her. He told police that he panicked and threw the baby in a pond. Law enforcement officers searched the pond and found the child's body.

The Florida Supreme Court denied Lukehart's appeals last week. His attorneys had claimed that medication he was taking for kidney disease could have a negative reaction with the lethal injection drugs. They also argued that having only a month between the signing of Lukehart's death warrant and the execution deprived him of his due process.

The U.S. Supreme Court denied Lukeharts final appeal Monday.

A total of 47 people were executed in the U.S. in 2025. Florida led the way with a flurry of death warrants signed by DeSantis. Alabama, South Carolina and Texas tied for second with five executions each.

Another execution is planned in Florida later this month. Dusty Ray Spencer, 74, was convicted of fatally stabbing his wife in 1992.

All Florida executions are carried out via lethal injection of a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections

A 16-year-old girl is missing from Hamilton County, and authorities believe she may be traveling to a neighboring Florida county.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) issued a Florida Missing Child Alert for Elissa McCarthy, who was last seen in the 2600 block of Northwest 44th Street in Jasper.

According to FDLE, McCarthy is 16 years old, 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs about 140 pounds, and has red hair and blue eyes.

She was last seen wearing a gray-and-navy T-shirt, pink shorts, and blue Crocs.

Investigators believe she may be traveling to the Madison County area.

Anyone with information about McCarthys whereabouts is asked to contact the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office at 386-792-1001 or call 911.

Florida lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Monday for a high-stakes, three-day special session on property taxes, but the final plan lawmakers could send to voters is still taking shape.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is urging the Republican-controlled Legislature to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would expand the homestead exemption and create a pathway toward eventually eliminating property taxes on primary residences.

Watch report from Forrest Saunders

The reality is, the property tax has become a big, big burden for millions of people in this state, DeSantis said during an appearance in Pasco County.

The proposal would create a new $150,000 homestead exemption in 2027 and raise it to $250,000 in 2028 for homeowners who establish permanent Florida residency by the end of 2026. The exemption would then increase with inflation. Lawmakers would also be directed to establish a process allowing counties, municipalities and school districts to expand the exemption further, potentially eliminating homestead property taxes entirely.

The plan would also lower the annual assessment cap for non-homestead properties, including businesses and second homes, from 10% to 5%. It would restrict how counties and cities may spend remaining property tax revenue and call for a state trust fund to help local governments continue funding certain services.

Republicans broadly agree homeowners need relief and that voters should have an opportunity to weigh in. But lawmakers are still debating what protections should be included before the proposal reaches the ballot.

Rep. Toby Overdorf, a Palm City Republican carrying the House legislation, said the final language remains unsettled.

Im not sure what the final bill is going to look like, Overdorf said. Im not sure what the final joint resolution is going to look like.

Overdorf said lawmakers are hearing from school boards, superintendents, sheriffs, local governments and other groups concerned about the potential impact.

The House and Senate entered the special session with similar overall goals but potentially different ideas about how to reach them. During the regular legislative session earlier this year, the House approved a separate proposal that would have phased out non-school homestead property taxes while protecting funding for law enforcement, firefighters and other first responders. That measure did not pass the Senate.

Some Republicans are now pushing for comparable protections in the new plan.

I personally would like to see a school carve-out, Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah, said. I think thats created some angst and some concern with a number of my colleagues in the House.

Rep. Danny Alvarez, R-Tampa, said constituent calls have increased as lawmakers examine the details.

My phone is ringing off the hook, Alvarez said. It used to be when I was on the campaign trail, everyone was like, Are you cutting? When are we cutting? Now they see the actual package were voting on, and they say, Wait a minute. What about police? What about schools? What about firefighters?

Democrats argue the Legislature is moving too quickly on a proposal that could dramatically reshape how local governments and public schools are funded.

This is going to change the entire financial landscape in the state, change the services that were able to offer, and to do it in three days it makes me so angry, Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman, D-Boynton Beach, said.

Rep. Michele Rayner, D-St. Petersburg, said lawmakers need to be more direct with voters about the potential consequences.

Whos paying for police? Whos paying for fire, parks, all your trash? Rayner said. These are things that were not properly educating our people on.

House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, described the proposal as a cost shift rather than a true reduction.

Eliminating property taxes is not a tax cut, but a tax shift, Driskell said.

An analysis by the Florida Policy Institute, a progressive think tank, estimated that the $250,000 exemption alone could reduce county revenue by an average of $4.8 billion annually and school district revenue by an average of $5 billion annually. The organization said the losses could grow substantially if homestead property taxes are fully eliminated. The analysis did not include the potential impact on cities or certain special districts.

DeSantis rejects warnings that the proposal would gut essential services. He argues property tax collections have risen sharply in recent years and says local governments can absorb reductions while prioritizing core needs.

Yeah, of course we can do this, DeSantis said. Of course we can. Dont let anyone tell you you cant.

The governors office says statewide property tax revenue collected by local governments increased from $32 billion to $60 billion over seven years and could reach $83 billion by 2032 without intervention.

Four bills have been filed for the special session: a proposed constitutional amendment and an implementing bill in each chamber. Overdorf is sponsoring the House measures, while Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs, is carrying the Senate versions.

Any proposed constitutional amendment would need support from three-fifths of the House and Senate to reach the November ballot. It would then require approval from at least 60% of voters.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO at a press conference in West Palm Beach on Monday.

The state accuses OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in a complaint filed in 10th Judicial Circuit of Florida of "knowingly released and aggressively marketed ChatGPT to the publicincluding to childrenwhile concealing serious risks, suppressing internal safety warnings, and deceiving Floridians about the true nature and dangers of the product."

Attorney General James Uthmeier said, "OpenAI and Altman ignored internal and external safety warnings, put children at great risk, and allowed a dangerous product to reach millions of Floridians."

State Capitol Reporter Forrest Saunders covered the Office of Statewide Prosecution launching a criminal investigation into OpenAI on April 21, arguing ChatGPT may have done more than reflect the thinking of the accused Florida State University shooter and instead may have helped him plan the 2025 attack.

In response to the AG's lawsuit announcement on June 1, OpenAI released the following statement:

FDLE Special Agent in Charge Mike Duffey joined Uthmeier at the press conference, highlighting what he deems as the dangers of artificial intelligence mimicking human responses.

"Parental vigilance must shift from simply monitoring who our children talk to, to ensuring they understand what they are talking tobecause a machine programmed to please can never replace the safety of human boundaries," Duffey said.

The complaint also claims ChatGPT "collects data from minors without meaningful parental oversight, causes behavioral addiction and cognitive harm, and is prone to dangerous errors that the company has actively downplayed."

Starting Monday, lawmakers will return to Tallahassee for another special session, this time focused on property taxes.

Governor Ron DeSantis has unveiled a proposal to phase out property taxes on homesteaded properties beginning next year. His plan would start by exempting the first $250,000 of a homesteads value and end with the full elimination of property taxes by 2030.

The Governors Office has launched a Save Our Homes tax calculator, allowing residents to enter their address and see how much they might save under the proposal.

The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser is also developing a property tax estimator to show the impacts of the Governors plan alongside other proposals being considered.

Critics argue the cuts could drastically affect funding for services supported by property taxes, such as schools and local government operations. The Florida Policy Institute released maps estimating annual losses of up to $5 billion for school districts under the $250,000 exemption, and $8.59 billion if property taxes are fully eliminated by 2030.

Lawmakers will review the proposal and its potential impacts during the special session.

After more than two and a half months of overtime work, Florida lawmakers on Friday passed a $114.5 billion state budget, sending the spending plan to Gov. Ron DeSantis for review.

Republicans who control the Legislature called the plan responsible and balanced, saying it trims overall state spending while still increasing money for schools, public safety, environmental projects and tax relief.

Watch report from Forrest Saunders

Im so excited that we took the extra time, because at the end of the day, a great budget was put out for Florida, said Rep. Danny Nix, R-Port Charlotte.

Rep. Danny Alvarez, R-Hillsborough County, said the spending plan shows Republicans are following through on promises to reduce spending.

I think it's fair to call this budget a solution, Alvarez said. What we've delivered is a balanced budget, right? That continues to cut as Republicans promise.

The budget includes tax breaks tied to hurricane home-hardening, casinos and gun accessories. Rep. Dean Black, R-Jacksonville, defended the gun-related tax relief.

Look, we should support Floridians' right to be able to defend and protect their homes, Black said. There's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing to be ashamed of. We should be proud of that.

But Democrats argued the final plan does not do enough to address affordability problems facing Floridians.

We've been here a long time, could have done better work than what we did, said Sen. Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville.

House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said the budget falls short on the affordability measures her caucus wanted to see.

My theme for this budget overall is that it's inadequate, Driskell said.

Democrats said the plan lacks enough relief for medical expenses, affordable housing, gas prices and teacher pay. They also criticized the tax package for prioritizing items they said are not top concerns for working families.

We have relief on taxes on silencers, taxes on weapons, taxes on all of the gun accessories, said Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando. That is not what they asked for. They need relief from gas taxes, not gun taxes.

The budget now heads to DeSantis, who has line-item veto power and is expected to spend the coming weeks reviewing the plan before signing it ahead of the July 1 deadline.

Lawmakers, meanwhile, are not done at the Capitol. They are expected to return next week for a special session on property taxes, where they will have three days to consider a proposed constitutional amendment for the November ballot that would begin phasing out property taxes for homesteaded property owners over the coming years.

Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon is retiring.

The Florida Department of Corrections posted on social media that Dixon announced his retirement after 30 years of service with the State of Florida.

Crisis in Corrections

A Blue Origin rocket exploded during a test at the launch pad Thursday night, shaking nearby homes and briefly painting the sky orange.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin said its New Glenn rocket exploded during an engine-firing test. No one was hurt, according to officials at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Its too early to know the root cause but were already working to find it," Bezos said via X. "Very rough day, but well rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. Its worth it.

Emergency crews remained more than an hour later, but officials said there was no threat due to fumes or other potential hazards.

The massive New Glenn was grounded in April after it left a satellite in the wrong orbit because of engine failure. It was only the third flight of the rocket that Blue Origin intends to use to launch landers to the moon for NASA.

Homes shook in nearby Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach around 9 p.m., with residents turning to social media to wonder what happened. Launch Complex 36 is visible from the beach, and the internet quickly filled with photos of an orange fireball.

We experienced an anomaly during todays hotfire test, Blue Origin said in a brief statement. We will provide updates as we learn more.

The rocket was supposed to blast off next week with internet satellites that are part of the Amazon LEO constellation in orbit.

Towering at 321 feet (98 meters), New Glenn made its debut in 2025. It is named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, and is much bigger and more powerful than the New Shepard rockets that have carried tourists to the fringes of space from Texas.

Gov. Ron DeSantis push to overhaul Floridas property tax system is heading into a special session next week, but the proposal is already facing questions from Democrats, local governments, and some Republicans over what it could mean for public services, schools, and taxpayers.

The governors plan would ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment raising Floridas homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. Lawmakers would then be required to create a schedule to eventually eliminate homestead property taxes entirely.

WATCH: Florida property tax proposal draws early scrutiny ahead of special session

Supporters say the proposal would provide major relief for homeowners. DeSantis has framed the effort as a way to make homesteaded property tax-free, telling supporters, The primary purpose of that is to make your homestead property tax-free.

But critics say the plan leaves major questions unanswered, including how cities, counties, schools, and public safety agencies would replace lost revenue. 

Former Republican state Sen. Jeff Brandes, now with the Florida Policy Project, called the rollout amateur and said lawmakers need answers to numerous questions before moving forward. He posted a list of ten unknowns online, including what replaces lost revenue, who pays existing debt backed by property taxes, and whether the costs simply come back through fees, assessments, higher rents or higher costs on businesses.

These are the unknown questions that you would think after a year, 15 months of talking about this, they would have answered, Brandes said.

Democrats argue the plan could hurt local governments and shift costs elsewhere, including through higher fees, assessments, rents, or costs on businesses.

Were open to solutions that create affordability, but not at the expense of working families, our small businesses, and local governments, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said on Wednesday.

Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, also criticized DeSantis public comments about using his veto pen as leverage, saying, For him to publicly say that if he doesnt get what he wants, he has his veto pen as retribution it just sort of tells you where we are as a society.

House Republicans say they are still reviewing the language. Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Palm City, who led the Houses earlier work on property tax reform, said lawmakers are hearing from local governments, school boards, sheriffs, and others, and suggested the proposal could change.

Its very rare that a bill, and especially a joint resolution, comes in where theres no amendments whatsoever, Overdorf said. Im not sure what the final bill is going to look like. Im not sure what the final joint resolution is going to look like. But we are certainly prepared, and we have the staff that's ready and willing to go.

A second piece of the proposal would spend $5.5 million to mail notices to voters about the amendment and create an online calculator showing estimated taxpayer savings.

Lawmakers are expected to return Monday for a special session that could last just a few days. To reach the November ballot, the proposal would need support from 60% of both the House and Senate. If approved by lawmakers, it would then require 60% voter support to become part of the Florida Constitution.

A Florida man says he suffered second-degree burns to his feet after walking barefoot on a cruise ship pool deck.

According to the lawsuit, Jorge Luis Alverio Nunez filed a $5 million lawsuit against Carnival Corporation, claiming the decks surface reached dangerously high temperatures during his May 2025 trip on the Carnival Magic.

The suit alleges Carnival failed to warn passengers and had prior knowledge of similar incidents, citing dozens of complaints and injuries from hot decks across its fleet.

Nunez says he was injured on the Lido Deck and required extensive medical treatment. The case seeks compensatory and punitive damages and demands a jury trial.

The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) said it is working to fix ongoing issues with driver's licenses and motor vehicle systems.

The state system is impacting tax collector services such as driver license renewals, auto and boat registration renewals and other services.

Florida residents are being told at the tax collector's office systems are down and to come back later.

Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano called on the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles to tell customers what is going on.

The solution is simple: tell the public what is wrong and how it is going to be fixed. End of Story, Fasano said.

A federal judge ruled a teenager charged with sexually assaulting and killing his 18-year-old stepsister on a Carnival Cruise ship will remain free as he awaits trial following a hearing on Wednesday morning in Miami.

Timothy Hudson was initially arrested and charged as a juvenile, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres ruled in February that the 16-year-old could live with an uncle and be electronically monitored. But after the case was transferred to adult court, prosecutors wanted Hudson in custody until the case's conclusion.

The judge ended Wednesday morning's hearing without making a final decision. Torres said he wanted to speak with the someone from the U.S. Marshals Service about the logistics of detaining Hudson in central Florida, closer to his family, rather than South Florida, where the trial is taking place.

It's unknown when the judge will announce his decision. In the meantime, Hudson walked out of the courthouse after the hearing, rather than being immediately taken into custody.

Hudson has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. Minors are rarely prosecuted in federal court. Hudsons federal public defenders have declined to comment on the charges.

Hudson's stepsister, Anna Kepner, had been traveling on the Carnival Horizon ship in November with her family, including Hudson. Before the ship was scheduled to return to Florida, her body was found concealed under a bed in a room she was sharing with Hudson and another teen, a criminal complaint said.

The cause of Kepner's Nov. 6 death was determined to be mechanical asphyxia, which is when an object or physical force stops someone from breathing.

Kepner's father, Christopher Kepner, previously released a statement, saying the family was placing trust in the justice system to pursue the truth with care and integrity.

The situation is deeply painful and complex for the entire family, Kepner said.

Anna Kepner was a high school cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of Orlando. At her memorial service in November, family members encouraged people to wear bright colors instead of the traditional black in honor of Annas bright and beautiful soul.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling Florida lawmakers back to the Capitol next week for a special session on property taxes, unveiling a proposal Wednesday that would ask voters to begin phasing out property taxes on homesteaded homes.

Speaking in Tampa, DeSantis said he will issue a proclamation for a special session beginning Monday. The goal, he said, is to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

WATCH: UPDATE: DeSantis tees up major property tax fight for lawmakers

The governors proposal would initially raise the homestead exemption to $250,000. DeSantis said that would eliminate property taxes for about 60% of Florida homeowners with homesteaded property.

The proposal would also require the Legislature to create a schedule to eventually eliminate homestead property taxes altogether.

Once you put a schedule in, and this would be something that we'd work with the legislature on after the vote is taken in November if it's successful when you raise to $500,000 limit, that's 92% of all Florida residents would be tax free, said DeSantis.

The plan would need approval from 60% of the House and Senate to reach the ballot. If lawmakers approve it, 60% of voters would then need to support the measure in November for it to become part of the state constitution.

The plan also includes several guardrails. DeSantis said remaining local property tax revenue from commercial and non-homestead residential property would be limited to core services such as schools, police and fire services. The plan would also cut the annual assessment growth cap for small businesses from 10% to 5%.

Another provision would allow the state to require new Florida residents to wait up to five years before qualifying for the full property tax benefit. DeSantis said that is intended to prevent the measure from creating a new incentive for people to move to Florida just to avoid property taxes.

Finally, the governor said he would seek a state trust fund to provide grants to local governments for core services, including in rural areas that may have a smaller tax base.

Senate President Ben Albritton signaled support for the proposal in a memo to senators Wednesday, saying the chamber will convene Monday for Special Session F and prepare to consider a joint resolution placing the measure on the November ballot.

We trust our constituents and they deserve a chance to change the system and decide for themselves what role property taxes should have in our state, Albritton wrote.

Albritton said he expects the governors proposal to be filed as Senate Joint Resolution 2-F and Senate Bill 4-F. He said both measures will be referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration Monday, with senators told to be ready for floor action Tuesday and, if necessary, Wednesday.

In my view, the proposal the Governor explained today does that, Albritton wrote. I cant think of a more meaningful way to celebrate Americas 250 than the passage of $250,000 in tax relief for every Florida homeowner.

The House response was cooler.

House Speaker Daniel Perez noted in a brief statement the House has already passed its own proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate homestead property taxes.

We are pleased the Governor has finally gotten around to share an actual proposal, Perez said in a statement. We look forward to reviewing it once we have received the language.

The Houses proposal, approved earlier this year, would have moved more aggressively to eliminate homestead property taxes while preserving funding for schools.

Democrats sharply criticized the governors plan Wednesday, arguing it is rushed, unclear and risks undermining local governments. House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell called the property tax push a diversion from what she said are more pressing affordability issues.

This discussion on property taxes is a distraction to keep us from talking about the governors failed record when it comes to addressing the skyrocketing property insurance rates that Floridians are experiencing all the way down from the Keys all the way up to the Panhandle, Driskell said.

Driskell said Democrats are open to affordability solutions, but not if they come at the expense of working families, small businesses or local governments that rely on property tax revenue.

She warned the plan could threaten services such as road repairs, public safety, parks, schools, libraries and hospitals.

The plan presented today strips trust for local governments, and it leaves a door open for the state to choose who gets help and who does not, Driskell said.

The special session is expected to begin Monday morning and last until Wednesday at the latest. Lawmakers needing to move quickly to finalize ballot language in time for voters to consider the measure in November.

A Leon County circuit judge on Tuesday declined to block Floridas new congressional map from being used in the 2026 elections, handing a setback to voting rights groups that argue the districts were drawn to illegally favor Republicans.

Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes denied motions for a preliminary injunction filed by multiple groups challenging the map, including Equal Ground, Common Cause Florida, the League of Women Voters of Florida and LULAC. The groups said after the ruling that they will continue fighting the map, including taking the case to the Florida Supreme Court if necessary.

The lawsuit centers on whether the new congressional districts violate Floridas Fair Districts Amendments, which prohibit drawing districts with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent. The plaintiffs argue the map is an overtly partisan gerrymander pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and approved by the Legislature.

But Hawkes found the challengers had not met the high legal bar required for early court intervention before a full trial.

The Court concludes that from this record, there is insufficient evidence of impermissible intent to show substantial likelihood of success on the merits, Hawkes wrote.

The judge also pointed to timing, writing that Floridas election machinery is already underway. The states primary is less than three months away, and the general election is less than six months away. Hawkes said the public interest weighs more heavily in favor of certainty than a last-minute judicial order replacing the new map with one previously discarded by state leaders.

The public interest weighs more in favor of certainty than a haphazard judicial mandate of discarded maps, Hawkes wrote.

The ruling does not end the case. Hawkes wrote that the denial of preliminary relief does not preclude the entry of a final injunction at the conclusion of a trial on the merits.

In a statement, voting rights groups seized on that point Tuesday, saying they remain committed to getting the map thrown out.

Forcing voters to accept rigged election maps undermines the democratic process in which Floridians overwhelmingly rejected the use of partisan gerrymandering, said Bradley Heard, deputy legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center. While this map unfortunately remains in place for now, it by no means changes the reality that this is an unconstitutional gerrymander under the Fair Districts Amendments that the people passed in 2010.

Amy Keith, executive director of Common Cause Florida, said the groups will exhaust all legal options to make sure a map this partisan does not last the rest of this decade.

Jessica Lowe-Minor, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, called the decision disappointing but said it was only a short part of a long journey to ensure that the will of the voters is respected.

The order notes that plaintiffs argued the case was unusual because the maps were redrawn mid-cycle by a single map drawer who used partisan data. Defendants countered that improper intent had not been shown and that the court should not impose an injunction before trial.

Hawkes wrote that the question of whether Floridas Fair Districts Amendments remain constitutionally viable is premature at this stage of the case.

The judge also found it would be improper, on the current record, to force the state back to the 2022 congressional map. He wrote that if the plaintiffs ultimately prevail, the proper remedy would likely be ordering the Legislature to redraw the map in a constitutional manner, not having the court impose a specific map itself.

The case is now expected to continue toward a trial on the merits, while the new congressional districts remain in place for the 2026 election cycle.

Florida lawmakers have finalized a roughly $114.5 billion state budget, setting up a final vote Friday after negotiations again stretched beyond the regular legislative session.

The spending plan is about $500 million smaller than the current years $115.1 billion budget. Republican leaders are pitching it as a restrained, balanced proposal that keeps state spending in check while investing in schools, health care, public safety, infrastructure, Everglades restoration, water projects and citrus recovery.

WATCH: GOP touts restrained Florida budget, Democrats call it missed opportunity

Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said in a statement the budget reflects an effort to limit spending while preserving state reserves.

We are holding the line on spending, living within our means and striking the right balance between spending and saving, Albritton said.

The proposal includes record K-12 funding, teacher pay money focused partly on veteran educators, major transportation spending and tax breaks tied to hurricane home-hardening. It also includes a hunting, fishing and camping sales-tax holiday that covers some firearms, ammunition and accessories, including silencers.

But Democrats say the deal falls short of meeting the states affordability challenges.

It is unacceptable that this is the second year in a row, where Republicans failed to deliver a timely, transparent, balanced budget that addresses the affordability crisis that so many Floridians are facing, House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said Tuesday.

Democrats have criticized the budget for not including a broad gas-tax suspension, sweeping property-insurance relief or stronger housing assistance. The deal also does not include across-the-board raises for state workers or post-term security funding for Gov. Ron DeSantis family.

Floridians, most in need, have not seen relief from this legislature, and they wont find it in this budget, Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Delray Beach, said.

The House and Senate finished the budget Tuesday, triggering the constitutionally required 72-hour cooling-off period before lawmakers can vote. That puts the final vote on track for Friday.

The budget is expected to pass both chambers before heading to DeSantis, who has line-item veto power and can strike individual projects from the spending plan.

DeSantis has already signaled he will take lawmakers support for his agenda into account when reviewing local spending items.

Florida lawmakers now have a spending plan but the Rays stadium deal is still in limbo.

The proposed state budget includes $50 million for Hillsborough College campus improvements tied to the Tampa Bay Rays push for a new $2.3 billion indoor stadium on land now used by the colleges Dale Mabry campus. But Senate budget chief Ed Hooper said last week that money is not locked in unless the team, Tampa and Hillsborough County finalize their financing agreements.

"Look, thats not a done deal yet," Hooper said last Friday. "I just believe that until that issue is resolved and signed and sealed, I dont know that the state should commit $50 million to help Hillsborough College rebuild three buildings that are in dire need of a lot of upgrade and upkeep and renovation."

The warning comes after both the Hillsborough County Commission and Tampa City Council narrowly advanced a non-binding memorandum of understanding allowing negotiations to continue. The Rays have committed more than $1.2 billion and all cost overruns, while seeking about $976 million combined from the city and county. Local officials remain divided, especially over the use of $80 million from a half-cent sales tax and $100 million from future property-tax growth in an existing Community Redevelopment Area.

Hooper stressed the state money would go to the college, not the Rays. The funding is included as a Public Education Capital Outlay project requested by Sen. Danny Burgess before the college and team began formal talks. Still, Hooper said the appropriation depends on the stadium deal becoming real.

"This is not money thats going to the Rays," Hooper said. "This is for Hillsborough College and a PECO project to build a new building to meet their students needs, but I dont think that will be committed until there is a done deal."

The Rays envision a larger stadium district with more than $8 billion in surrounding development, including a rebuilt college campus. But for now, the states $50 million appears to be more of a placeholder than a promise one lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis may not release unless local governments and the team can turn their framework into a signed agreement.