Senior homelessness surges in Central Florida as rising costs push retirees into crisis Senior homelessness is increasing in Central Florida as retirees face rising costs and limited income. Local shelters are seeing record demand.

Reflecting a trend seen across the country, seniors are now the largest group experiencing homelessness in Central Florida -- and the number is only growing. #DefendDemocracy www.wftv.com/news/local/s...

Maxwell: Special interests shower $14 million on Florida legislators in one day Members of the Florida Legislature collected a whopping $14 million worth of campaign donations from special interests in a single day – the day before their legislative session began.

"Lobbyists want to make sure legislators remember their sugar-daddies right before the voting starts. So one of the grossest traditions in Tallahassee is the annual writing of the checks on the eve of session." #DefendDemocracy www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/04/15/f...

Editorial: Uthmeier has forgotten who he represents The problem with an appointed attorney general such as James Uthmeier is that the “people’s lawyer” doesn’t feel any obligation to answer to the people.

"It used to be the Florida Supreme Court’s job to decide whether a law is unconstitutional. But the unelected man serving as Florida’s attorney general, James Uthmeier, has made that his domain to the detriment of Floridians." #DefendDemocracy www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/04/11/u...

State attorney sends JEA subpoena for records about former mayor's lobbying firm The subpoena, obtained by the Florida Trib and News4Jax, suggests prosecutors remain interested in probing what has mushroomed into an increasingly bitter but convoluted feud

Jacksonville’s city-owned electric, water and sewer utility received a subpoena from the State Attorney’s office seeking records on their CEO and discussions involving City Council President and a lobbying firm that employs former Mayor Lenny Curry. #DefendDemocracy floridatrib.org/2026/04/13/s...

Editorial: Florida shouldn’t write its budget in the dark By historic benchmarks, Florida’s annual budget preparations aren’t all that late. But House and Senate leaders have been dragging their heels and are still miles apart — triggering a fake sense of…

"House and Senate leaders have been dragging their heels and are still miles apart — triggering a fake sense of urgency that will probably lead to a final spending plan mostly crafted in darkness" #DefendDemocracy www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/04/12/e...

Lee County official wants city demo contract despite track record of illegal dumping FORT MYERS, Fla. – Mark Firing wants to know if pollution caused by a local company twice busted for illegal dumping is contaminating his neighborhood’s

A Lee County commissioner whose company was twice cited for illegal dumping is now seeking a nearly $1M city demolition contract. Neighbors worry about toxic contamination of their well water and a lack of accountability. #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/lee-county-o...

Desantis ‘flip-flop’ on pro sports tax subsidies divides Republicans In 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis was blunt and concise about using tax dollars for professional sports. “I don’t support giving taxpayer dollars to sports

Gov DeSantis previously rejected the idea of taxpayer-funded sports stadiums. Now his stance is less clear regarding the proposed new Tampa Bay Rays stadium, sparking bipartisan concern about public spending priorities. #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/desantis-fli...

Attorney General James Uthmeier keeps silent on if he's blocking Hope Florida grand jury report Uthmeier was asked several times during a press conference in Miami this week if he had formally requested the judge overseeing the grand jury to keep the findings secret.

#DefendDemocracy www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/f...

This Week In South Florida: Michael Barfield On April 12, Glenna Milberg of WPLG Local 10 news spoke with FLCGA Executive Director and Florida Trident investigative reporter Michael Barfield about

Watch now! FLCGA Executive Director and Florida Trident investigative reporter Michael Barfield recently spoke with Local 10 News about our fight for access to the Hope Florida grand jury presentment. #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/this-week-in...

Maxwell: We sued Florida for public records and got them … once again Scott Maxwell: The state of Florida has again paid to cover legal fees the Orlando Sentinel incurred while fighting for records that were clearly public. This time, they dealt with the state’s…

#DefendDemocracy www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/04/11/m...

Sarasota County blocks ‘Live Local’ law, risking clash with developers In a unanimous vote that could set up a major legal showdown, Sarasota County commissioners this week moved to block developers from building large

Sarasota County commissioners rejected plans for large apartment complexes near rural areas, amid legal uncertainty around the 2023 Live Local Act, which lets developers bypass local zoning rules when projects include some affordable units. #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/sarasota-cou...

"If there is indeed a grand jury report on the investigation into a Hope Florida charity — and it certainly sounds as though there is — voters should be demanding to see it, and soon." #DefendDemocracy
www.miamiherald.com/opinion/edit...

During a "combative" press conference, Attorney General Uthmeier asserted that he has "not been a suspect or a target" of the Hope FL investigation but dismissed further questions about the secret grand jury report as "political nonsense." #DefendDemocracy www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...

Barbara Petersen on Florida's open government issues Barbara Petersen, founder of Florida Center for Government Accountability, discusses the erosion of public access to government records in Florida.

Listen: CEO & Publisher Barbara Petersen was recently invited to the podcast Between the Lines with Dara Kam, to discuss the current landscape where citizens and reporters are met with government officials’ "total refusal" to turn over records. #DefendDemocracy pro.stateaffairs.com/fl/podcast/p...

What happened to mom? When June Hodge pushed the key into the lock of her elderly mother's Cape Coral home, the door wouldn't budge. She felt a chill go down her back. The

Today’s follow‑up digs into June Hodge’s story: the day she found strangers in her mother’s home, taking control of her mother’s life. #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/what-happene...

Lee County official wants city demo contract despite track record of illegal dumping FORT MYERS, Fla. – Mark Firing wants to know if pollution caused by a local company twice busted for illegal dumping is contaminating his neighborhood’s

The Lee County Commissioner -- owner of Honc Destruction -- is responsible for 179 acres of polluted land. And this isn't his first time being busted for illegal dumping. Now, neighbors are concerned this waste is also polluting the local wells. #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/lee-county-o...

Celebrating Freedom: FLCGA's Fifth Anniversary Celebration Monday, April 20, 2026 5:30pm-7pm Orlando Museum of Art Join us for a lively discussion with some of Orlando's local journalists and special guest Gilbert King as we explore today's challenges in government accountability, First Amendment protections, and the importance of a vibrant independent media. Register today: www.flcga.org/special-events Questions? Email events@flcga.org.

Our anniversary event next month is filling up quickly -- buy your tickets today! www.flcga.org/special-events #DefendDemocracy

#DefendDemocracy

Collier County judge blocks group's request for school parent emails NAPLES, Fla. (WINK) — A Collier County judge denied a conservative education advocacy group's request that the school board share email addresses in the district's database.

"A Collier County judge denied a conservative education advocacy group's request that the school board share email addresses in the district's database." #DefendDemocracy www.winknews.com/news/collier...

Maxwell: Pay Florida legislators more? A foul idea that could actually help Scott Maxwell: The salary for Florida legislators $29,697, even though the job requires occupants to relocate to Tallahassee for at least 15 weeks a year. That’s why few regular citizens who need to…

"They say you get what you pay for. Well, in Florida we’re paying poor wages and getting even poorer performance." #DefendDemocracy www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/03/27/f...

Maxwell: FPL blocks plan to cut power bills in Florida, sees big profits A powerful Florida senator blamed FPL for killing a bill meant to lower utility costs for Floridians. The company was also just named one of the most profitable utilities in America. Those two things…

"Though Florida theoretically has 'regulators' who are supposed to look out for working-class Floridians, when companies want to jack up [utility] rates, the regulators often just roll over like well-trained dogs." #DefendDemocracy www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/03/25/f...

Players in Hope Florida saga could keep grand jury report secret for months There’s a secretive legal process around grand juries.

"Under state law, grand jury presentments are made public only after all persons named in the report have the chance to ask a judge to order the redaction of all or parts of it that they think are 'improper and unlawful.'" #DefendDemocracy www.tampabay.com/news/florida...

Maxwell: Florida homeowners get stiffed — and gaslit — on property insurance Maxwell: Florida politicians have teamed up with the insurance industry to tell homeowners that they’ve delivered rate relief. The numbers tell a different story.

"Insurers and their political allies are pushing a P.R. campaign that you’re living in some kind of low-cost utopia" -- yet, Florida has some of the highest insurance costs in America. What's going on? #DefendDemocracy www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/03/24/m...

BREAKING NEWS: Judge grants limited intervention in Hope Florida grand jury case Judge allows Florida Trident to challenge closure of court proceedings in Hope Florida grand jury matter.

BREAKING: FLCGA & the Florida Trident granted limited right to intervene in court proceedings related to secret grand jury presentment in Hope Florida investigation #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/breaking-new...

Celebrating Freedom: FLCGA's Fifth Anniversary Celebration Monday, April 20, 2026 5:30pm-7pm Orlando Museum of Art Join us for a lively discussion with some of Orlando's local journalists and special guest Gilbert King as we explore today's challenges in government accountability, First Amendment protections, and the importance of a vibrant independent media. Register today: www.flcga.org/special-events Questions? Email events@flcga.org.

Join us on April 20! Register here: flcga.org/special-even...

Commentary: Florida sunshine laws descending into darkness

Florida has — or used to have — the nation’s strongest government-in-the-sunshine laws. More and more, officials are simply ignoring the law.

Florida Center for Government Accountability (FLCGA) The Florida Center for Government Accountability, a non-partisan nonprofit, focuses its government accountability and journalistic efforts primarily on local governments, providing support and…

Millions from a Medicaid settlement flowed through the Hope Florida Foundation, and top officials won’t answer for it. A grand jury investigated — but the findings are sealed. We’re going to court to make them public. Help fund the fight for accountability. #UnsealTheHopeReport www.flcga.org/donate

Maxwell: To vote in Florida, all state IDs would be legal — except for college IDs Florida’s new voting law would allow citizens to vote using any form of state-issued ID except for one – “identification cards issued by an educational institution.” The goal is clear.

"Sometimes politicians tell on themselves." Florida’s new voter‑ID law accepts nearly every ID issued by a state agency — except from educational institutions. It’s a move blatantly designed to make voting harder for young people. #DefendDemocracy www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/03/18/f...

What Happened To Mom? Joyce Santinello, 84-years-old and suffering from dementia, disappeared from her Fort Lauderdale apartment on March 5, 2024. Her son and primary

Elder exploitation is often brushed off as a civil matter, even when vulnerable adults are at risk. The Santinello case shows deep failures in how law enforcement & adult protective systems respond to exploitation & dementia‑related vulnerability. #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/what-happene...

‘Take Care of Maya’ case upended by new allegations against former lead attorney Attorney denies allegations of impropriety Maya Kowalski, the woman at the center of the Netflix documentary “Take Care of Maya,” has filed a sworn

An update to the case of Maya Kowalski, the woman at the center of the Netflix documentary “Take Care of Maya,” whose story we investigated back in 2022. #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/take-care-of...