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.

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks about his proposal for Florida to become the first state to abolish property taxes during a news conference at the Florida REALTORS headquarters in Orlando on Monday, March 31, 2025. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel)

Legislature focused on cutting homestead property taxes as cities, counties raise concerns

December 26, 2025 at 8:15 a.m.

The Florida House is considering seven proposed constitutional revisions that would eliminate or lower property taxes, at a huge cost to city and county governments. They would let voters choose...

An alligator suns itself on the bank of Wekiva River on Dec. 20, 2024. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Florida leads nation in cuts to environmental protection jobs, report says

December 11, 2025 at 1:54 p.m.

The state cut 19% of the full-time jobs at its Department of Environmental Protection from 2010 to 2024, according to the newly released report.

Paul Bojerski, 79, awaiting bond hearing Tuesday morning at Krome Detention Center in Miami.

Florida grandfather to remain at Krome while judge ponders case

November 18, 2025 at 2:45 p.m.

A 79-year-old born after WWII in Germany will remain at the Krome detention facility in Miami until a judge decides whether to let him go home until his deportation trial.

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 2:18 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.

A sign urging customers to vote against Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana, is shown posted in Grateful J’s smoke shop in in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea last year. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Florida voters object to government interference on ballot initiatives, survey shows

November 11, 2025 at 3:03 p.m.

A nearly unanimous cross section of Florida voters said residents, not state politicians, should make the call on issues of high interest, including whether to legalize marijuana for adults.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier
(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel).

Uthmeier’s brief tenure at GrayRobinson raises potential ethical issues

November 2, 2025 at 7:02 a.m.

For five months, Attorney General James Uthmeier ran Gov. DeSantis' presidential campaign while also working for the high-powered GrayRobinson law firm, which lobbies the state. The two jobs prompt questions...

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