Politics

WalletHub study found Florida ranked 14th best state for driving

Published

5 hours ago

February 3, 2025

Florida ranked second best state in the country for access to vehicles and maintenance.

When it comes to driving and road challenges, many residents consider Florida a tricky place to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. But stacked up and compared to other states, the Sunshine State isn’t all that bad.

Florida landed in the top 15 best states in America for driving, according to a new ranking by WalletHub. The study released this year concluded that Florida is the 14th best state for driving in the United States, with a combined score of 61.03, according to the scale developed in the WalletHub study.

WalletHub researchers compared the 50 states using four essential factors: vehicle ownership and maintenance costs, traffic and infrastructure, vehicle safety and access, and maintenance.

Florida scored high on the element of access to vehicles and maintenance and was ranked second in the country in that category.

Despite the many tourists coming to Florida daily and the large number of vehicles on the streets of the state’s largest cities, the Sunshine State is pretty safe. Florida’s safety ranked eighth best in the country.

However, the same elements of tourists and big cities also lowered Florida’s ranking in traffic and infrastructure. Florida ranked as the 45th worst state in those areas. Florida also ranked pretty low in the cost of ownership and maintenance of vehicles, coming in at 32nd in America.

Kansas was ranked the best state to drive in America, scoring 65.92. It also ranked high in the cost of vehicle ownership and maintenance, as well as traffic and infrastructure, as it was ranked third and fifth, respectively. Kansas was ranked 33rd for safety and 32nd for access to vehicles and maintenance.

Idaho was ranked second best, with Indiana ranked third among the best states for driving.

Hawaii was ranked 50th for driving; Washington preceded that at 49th, and Montana at 48th.

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Politics

Florida gambling officials try to crack down on illegal overseas wagering operations

Published

22 minutes ago

February 3, 2025

May Greene

Florida officials advise when state residents bet on illegal wagering, they take funding from Florida programs.

With the Super Bowl fast approaching, Florida gaming officials are trying to stop overseas bookmakers and casinos from cashing in on illegal gambling operations in Florida.

Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) officials announced Monday they’re demanding three overseas operations that have established online gambling websites accessible to Florida residents and visitors halt operations in the Sunshine State. Cease-and-desist letters were sent to Milvus Ltc., also doing business as BetUS.com.pa, Harp Media B.V., also doing business as Bovada.lv and Gaming Services Provider, N.V., also doing business as MyBookie.ag.

“Gaming, both land-based and online, is strictly regulated in Florida. For example, when it comes to slot machine gaming, counting the eight legal, state-licensed slot machine businesses, and the six tribal gaming locations currently operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, there are only 14 legal slot machine businesses in Florida,” said FGCC Executive Director Ross Marshman. “The only online sportsbook operating lawfully in Florida is the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Hard Rock Bet. Anyone in Florida betting on the Big Game needs to know this. Bettor beware.”

The cease-and-desist letters state: “The gambling websites offered by your overseas bookmaking and casino operation offers or accepts wagering on sports and horse races, including betting on point spreads, moneylines, and totals, as well as proposition bets and futures in the sportsbook and adding money to bet slips in the racebook. Under Florida law, this conduct is a felony offense … Further, it is a felony offense to receive illegal wagers on the result of any trial or contest of skill, speed or power or endurance of human or beast, or to aid, assist, or abet such illegal wagering.”

A news release from the FGCC said illegal gambling offers “no benefit” to Floridians and only takes away tax revenue from legal operations. When legal operations are passed over for illegal gambling operations, it takes money from Florida programs and services supported through tax revenues collected from legal outlets in the state, FGCC officials advised.

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Ron DeSantis promotes ‘focus on fiscal responsibility’ for proposed Florida budget

Published

53 minutes ago

February 3, 2025

May Greene

With a proposed Florida budget of $115.6 billion, which would leave $14.6 billion in reserves, Gov. Ron DeSantis said fiscal responsibility will be the theme for his 2025-26 spending plan, and his budget’s name this year reflects that.

The “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility” budget represents a “significant’ reduction” over last year’s budget, DeSantis said.

“Florida’s steadfast commitment to fiscal conservatism is why we are in such good financial shape,” DeSantis said in a news release Monday. “Florida has experienced historic success by keeping government spending low while balancing significant investments in meaningful initiatives. These include expanding workforce education for high-demand jobs, providing family-first tax relief, ensuring that Florida’s students can access a quality education that fits their needs, expanding infrastructure to reduce congestion and restoring the Everglades.

“It is proof positive that when you act responsibly with taxpayers’ money, success will follow. I look forward to accomplishing even more for this state in the coming year on this firm financial footing.”

DeSantis said there have been 2.7 million new businesses launched in the state since 2019, the year he moved into the Governor’s Mansion. He added that under his administration, fiscal conservatism has helped pay down $1.7 billion in tax-supported debt while providing $2.2 billion in tax relief, all while reducing the size of government in the state.

The Legislative Session gets underway in Tallahassee March 4, during which lawmakers will craft and approve the state budget, typically with the Governor’s proposal as a guide post. DeSantis said he has his eye on continuing tax relief for Floridians by repealing the state’s business rent tax; creating a new venture capital tax credit program to spur investments in research, innovation, science and engineering; and continuing a plethora of other programs, such as back-to-school and disaster preparedness sales tax holidays.

His “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility” budget will also prioritize “home hardening programs to continue efforts to lower property insurance premiums for Floridians and help reduce the costly impacts of hurricane damage to homes across the state.”

DeSantis also pointed out he’ll emphasize primary education in kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as higher education.

While DeSantis is committed to financial restraint, he does call for expansion of services, such as disaster response and “investing in a healthier Florida.”

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Electric vehicle charging stations could help fund infrastructure projects

Published

1 hour ago

February 3, 2025

May Greene

The new measure could add millions of dollars to state coffers for infrastructure projects.

Florida lawmakers have proposed using certain funds gathered from public electric vehicle charging stations to help fund much needed critical infrastructure projects, such as new roads.

The measure (SB 462), filed by Indian Rocks Beach Republican Sen. Nick DiCeglie, would move funds gathered from Florida’s public electric charging stations to the State Transportation Trust Fund through the Department of Transportation.

To address the impact of electric and hybrid vehicles and avoid implementing a new tax for electric vehicles, Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed distributing the current energy storage tax to support road projects, which is $4 million, according to Chris Dudley of The Southern Group.

The Florida Department of Transportation would distribute 6-cents per kilowatt hour of electricity used at public charging stations to the trust fund, which would begin in October 2025 and would be paid every month before the 25th day thereafter if the bill passes, according to bill language.

There are currently more than 11,200 public electric charging stations across the state, Axios reported. There were also nearly 168,000 registered electric vehicles in the state as of May 2024, putting Florida second behind California for most electric vehicle drivers in the U.S. The state is further aiming to have a public charging station placed at least every 40 miles.

The new measure could add millions of dollars to state coffers for infrastructure projects. The bill further notes the disbursal of funds to the trust fund would sunset on June 30, 2030.

The average electric vehicle uses approximately 34.6 kWh of electricity to travel 100 miles, according to GenCell, which also noted the electricity used by the average American driver would equate to 336.9 kWh per month. Per day, electric vehicles use approximately 11.3 kWh. Most public charging stations use between 10 and 30 kWh per charge, which would mean the state could collect between 60-cents to $1.80 every time a charging station is used.

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