Articles by Florida Phoenix

About Florida Phoenix

The Phoenix is a nonprofit news site that’s free of advertising and free to readers. We cover state government and politics with a staff of five journalists located at the Florida Press Center in downtown Tallahassee. We have a mix of in-depth stories, briefs, and social media updates on the latest events, editorial cartoons, and progressive commentary.

Tampa mayor fears Milton could be worst storm to hit the city in more than a century

October 7, 2024 Florida Phoenix

As Hurricane Milton strengthened to a Category 5 storm Monday morning, public officials in Hillsborough County had a simple and direct message for residents of areas subject to evacuation orders — if they failed to go, they could die.

Pinellas storm surge from Milton could ‘nearly double’ the size of Helene’s

October 7, 2024 Florida Phoenix

Officials in Pinellas County said Sunday that the storm surge from what is now Hurricane Milton could be as high as 10 feet, nearly double the amount that residents on the barrier islands contended with from Hurricane Helene just a little over a week ago.

Hurricane Helene reaches Category 3 status before hitting Big Bend region

September 26, 2024 Florida Phoenix

Hurricane Helene has now produced maximum sustained winds near 120 mph, according to a Thursday afternoon National Hurricane Center update.

61 Florida counties now included in state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Helene

September 24, 2024 Florida Phoenix

A day after Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 41 counties, he added 20 more on Tuesday, warning nearly the entire state to prepare for Tropical Storm Helene.

Disney settles lawsuit with DeSantis administration over new governing board

March 27, 2024 Florida Phoenix

Walt Disney World has agreed to live with a new state oversight board created by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature in a settlement approved Wednesday in the company’s state court challenge to the arrangement.

DeSantis says Ian expects to create major flooding in NE Florida, hundreds of miles from landfall

September 28, 2022 Florida Phoenix

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said early evening Wednesday that while Hurricane Ian is still battering the Southwest part of the peninsula, the Category 4 storm is going to continue to lash through Florida hundreds of miles away before it escapes into the Atlantic.