Journalist

Jeffrey Schweers

Jeffrey Schweers is the Orlando Sentinel’s Tallahassee bureau reporter. He is an award-winning journalist and proud alumnus of the University of Florida. Except for a 5-year stint covering growth and gaming in Las Vegas, he has spent his career reporting on state and local politics in Florida, including as Gannett’s Florida statehouse watchdog and investigative reporter.

Florida election officials said Sunday that the proposed ballot amendment to legalize pot had not received enough signatures to make it to the 2026 ballot. But supporters of the proposal say there are still petition signatures, filed on time, left to count (Mary Altaffer/Associated Press).

Florida says pot ballot referendum is dead, but organizers say not so fast

February 4, 2026 at 6:45 a.m.

The organization pushing the legalization of marijuana in Florida says there are still petition signatures to count.

Sandy Adams with her mom, Gayle Bojerski, on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Bojerski’s husband, Paul John Bojerski, 79, was incarcerated at Alligator Alcatraz until recently, when he was transferred to ICE detention in Miami. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)

Florida grandfather, born in refugee camp, nabbed by ICE after 70 years in U.S.

November 18, 2025 at 3:57 p.m.

Paul Bojerski never gained official residency, but he checked in regularly with ICE for years. Then in July, at age 79, he was detained and sent to Alligator Alcatraz.

Republican Party of Florida Christian Ziegler, left, and his wife Bridget, an elected Sarasota County School Board member, have been asked to resign their positions. The RPOF voted Monday to remove Christian Ziegler as chairman. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack & Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)

Florida GOP dumps chairman amid sexual assault investigation

January 8, 2024 at 5:24 p.m.

In the biggest shakeup the Republican Party of Florida has seen in more than a decade, board members voted Monday to oust party chair Christian Ziegler, who's been accused of...

Florida GOP dumps chairman amid sexual assault investigation

October 31, 2025 at 1:16 a.m.

In the biggest shakeup the Republican Party of Florida has seen in more than a decade, board members voted Monday to oust party chair Christian Ziegler, who's been accused of...

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