Weekly Roundup: Stoking the pot wars

By JIM TURNER
News Service of Florida

A 14-day sales tax tax โ€œholidayโ€ on school supplies, clothes and personal computers kicked off Monday, aimed at helping families save money in preparation for the 2024-25 school year.
A tropical wave brewing on Floridaโ€™s doorstep prompted Gov. Ron DeSantis to issue a state of emergency on Thursday for 54 counties, most along the Gulf Coast and in northern Florida.
And the week closed out as the fight over an effort to legalize recreational marijuana continued to heat up, with billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin dropping millions of dollars to help DeSantis defeat the plan.

Read More …

Weekly Roundup:

โ€˜Red tapeโ€™ for rentals refused

By RYAN DAILEY
News Service of Florida

TALLAHASSEE โ€“ Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed one of the more contentious measures of the 2024 legislative session this week, giving the thumbs-down to a bill that sought to regulate at the state level the ballooning number of vacation rentals in Florida.

Read More …