Arek Sarkissian

“You should be able to talk to folks, your doctor, your friends, your family, whatever, on any of these issues, and then make an honest judgment about what you think is best for you and your family,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

Here’s a guide to the scandal and why it's dragging down the lame-duck governor and his wife.

The donation garnered headlines as state lawmakers began inquiries over the program's finances.

First lady Casey DeSantis launched Hope Florida in 2021 as a welfare assistance program designed to become a clearing house of community-based services to help people become less reliant on taxpayer-funded programs.

The program, led by first lady Casey DeSantis, aims to connect eligible residents in need with resources in the community.

“When you’re forcing it into the water supply, that’s not really giving people the choice,” DeSantis said.

The state's surgeon general has already convinced at least 11 municipalities to stop adding the naturally occurring mineral into the water, using his high profile as Florida’s top health officer and a recent official recommendation against fluoride use.

New medical marijuana companies may come soon to Florida — but those already operating have a huge advantage.

It is a major setback for the state’s medical marijuana industry.

Kim Rivers, the CEO of Florida’s largest medical marijuana company, has bet that she can beat Gov. Ron DeSantis in his own state.

The state Department of Health sent letters to TV stations declaring the ad to be a “unsanitary nuisance,” which is a second-degree misdemeanor crime.

It made landfall along the Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday evening; DeSantis warned earlier in the day of the likelihood of storm-related deaths in the state.

"Let's pray that we get a weakening," the governor said.

Milton has rapidly strengthened into a Category 5 storm and could make landfall Wednesday.

The state is still recovering from Helene, which made landfall less than two weeks ago.

The governor said he'd rather see President Joe Biden go to North Carolina, which has active rescues underway.

Helene was one of the most powerful storms to hit Florida’s Big Bend in a lifetime, and damage across the region are mounting from the water and wind.

The storm was having a dramatic impact across the state.

“It’s a big, big storm, and it’s going to have a lot of impacts,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

Helene, which is currently a tropical storm, is expected to strengthen and slam into Florida by Thursday.