Ana Goñi-Lessan/News Service of Florida

Since March, deportations ordered by immigration judges in Florida have increased 18 percent, according to recently released data.

A parasite that causes extreme diarrhea, seen in recent outbreaks across the country, has been documented in over 20 counties in Florida. But experts say there could be more cases than what has been reported.

The Florida Board of Education approved measures that will block undocumented students from attending state colleges and taking the General Educational Development test.

Undocumented students wouldn’t be admitted to the state’s public universities under a proposal reviewed by the State University System Board of Governors on Thursday.

To prevent the New World Screwworm from infesting Florida, the state is blocking rescue dogs and cats coming from Texas and New Mexico.

Florida enacted emergency rules Friday to prevent the New World screwworm from making its way to the Sunshine State. The state created protocols to protect Florida’s cattle herds from the parasitic fly after it was found in Texas earlier this week.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the second highest amount of funds in its proposal – a little over $8 million. About $5 million of the money will be used for communication equipment, including radios. Notably, the county is asking for $600,000 for two Skywatch mobile towers to “enhance situation awareness and support immigration enforcement operations.”

Lawmakers on Tuesday approved a sweeping tax cut for homestead property owners pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, sending it to the November ballot. The measure increases the existing $50,000 exemption for homestead properties to $150,000 starting in 2027, and it increases to $250,000 in 2028. The exemption, though, doesn’t apply to school taxes, after lawmakers changed DeSantis’ plan Monday to protect districts from drastic cuts.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has grown frustrated at pieces of his agenda being thwarted by the GOP-led House, and lashed out at Speaker Daniel Perez on Thursday.

The Florida Department of Education on Tuesday unveiled a new high school U.S. history course eligible for college credit, designed as an alternative to the existing Advanced Placement course. The Florida Advanced Courses and Tests (FACT) U.S. history course will be available to students in districts that apply to offer the course through a pilot program as soon as this fall. Districts have until May 18 to sign up for the new pilot program. The statewide implementation of the new course is slated for 2027-2028 school year.