The Latest Breaking News from Jeff Brandes

Hurricanes refocus attention to scarcity of flood insurance in high-risk Florida

Only about one-third of homes in Florida’s flood zones are covered by insurance. Residents say the state ‘should provide every incentive’ to obtain it

The Guardian - US · Oct 11, 2024

Florida’s other big November vote: will the state legalize weed?

A ballot measure on the legalization of recreational marijuana has been overshadowed by the vote on abortion rights

The Guardian - US · May 19, 2024

This Florida Republican Is All in on Criminal Justice Reform

Former state lawmaker Jeff Brandes says the Florida Legislature has "ceded its role" to high-profile Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Reason · Dec 23, 2023

Florida's property insurance market was already under stress. Ian could make it worse

Rampant litigation, costlier storms and rising reinsurance costs have all combined to make chaos in Florida's home insurance market. Now, some worry Ian could send even more insurers out of the state.

WEKU · Oct 6, 2022

Hurricane Ian: Damage will drive insurance rates even higher, cripple industry

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — With early predictions of $50 billion in damage from Hurricane Ian, experts worry whether the state’s struggling property insurance system will become another casualty of the storm and lead to even higher premiums.

Orlando Sentinel · Oct 1, 2022

Voter fraud arrests reveal ‘broken system’ for screening Florida felons, advocates say

ORLANDO, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis’ election fraud show of force is casting light on a broken system for restoring the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions and bringing flawed criminal cases against people who mistakenly thought they could vote, defense lawyers and advocates say.

Orlando Sentinel · Sep 4, 2022

Editorial: Gov. DeSantis’ sham felon voting arrests

Who gave those ex-cons that Florida just arrested the crazy idea they could legally vote? Turns out: the state of Florida. All 18 of those arrested told state investigators they received a voter registration card from their local elections office. And officials in Tallahassee acknowledged it was the responsibility of…

Tribune News Service · Sep 3, 2022

‘What’s this about?’: body-cam footage shows confusion as Florida man arrested for voter fraud

Byron Smith registered to vote after a key amendment, but didn’t know he was ineligible – now he faces up to five years in prison

The Guardian - US · Sep 1, 2022

Cases against 20 arrested voters in Florida on shaky legal ground. State issued them voter IDs

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Two weeks after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state’s top election officials stood in a Broward County courtroom and announced the arrest of 20 people for voting illegally, the state’s case is starting to fall apart.

Miami Herald · Aug 31, 2022

Editorial: DeSantis’ voter-fraud arrests have a conveniently beneficial side effect for GOP: intimidation

Florida announced with great fanfare last week that 20 people had been charged with voting illegally in the 2020 election. That may sound like an early win for the new elections police force that Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed through the Legislature last spring. But this is actually about voter intimidation…

Tribune News Service · Aug 24, 2022