Information about crime-fighting and prevention initiatives will now be on display in tax collector offices across the state, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Wednesday.

With murders increasing in parts of Florida, rewards for tips resulting in homicide arrests can now reach $9,500, up from $5,000, Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Wednesday. “Florida has experienced historic crime rate lows. But unfortunately, we have seen in certain parts of our state significant increases in murders,” Moody said during a news conference at the Orlando Police Department. The 27 Crime Stopper organizations in the state have been offering rewards between $1,000 and $5,000 for anonymous tips that provide information leading to arrests. AdAccording to Moody’s office, murders in Florida went up 16% in the first six months of 2020, with some of the highest rates found in Broward, Duval and Orange counties.

The 47 attorneys general and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reached the settlement with PEAKS Trust, which ran a private loan program for ITT Tech. According to the agreement, PEAKS acknowledged coercing students into taking out high-interest loans, has agreed to forgive outstanding loans and end operations. “I am glad we were able to secure debt relief for former students who are still financially affected by this high-pressure loan program,” Moody said in a statement. Moody said students don’t have to do anything to receive the relief. Students may direct questions to PEAKS at customerservice@peaksloans.com or 866-747-0273, or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at 855-411-2372.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Ahead of Hurricane Isaias arrival, Floridas attorney general has expanded the price-gouging hotline, which has been activated for the pandemic since March, to include storm supplies as well. Hand sanitizer, personal protective equipment and household cleaning supplies were protected under the original order enacted in response to coronavirus, but now gas, food and water will be included, too. Attorney General Ashley Moody said her office has screened thousands of complaints from the pandemic and recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars. She said her office is up to the task of expanding its work. That is unique, but what is not unique is how the Florida Attorney Generals Office will respond and take those complaints, Moody said.

A group called Ban Assault Weapons Now sponsored the proposed constitutional amendment, inspired by the mass shooting at a Parkland high school that left 17 people dead. While the ballot summary purports to exempt registered assault weapons lawfully possessed prior to the Initiatives effective date, the Initiative does not categorically exempt the assault weapon, only the current owners possession of that assault weapon. The ballot summary is therefore affirmatively misleading, the court wrote in its opinion. But since the petitions used the language the court says is invalid, the group cant simply tweak the ballot summary. Attorney General Ashley Moody opposed the ballot initiative, as did the National Rifle Association, which hired a legal team to fight it.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Floridians have received nearly $350,000 in refunds from businesses because of inflated prices related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state’s price gouging hotline has been contacted 4,200 times since a state of emergency was declared in mid-March because of the deadly virus. In addition, Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office has issued 70 subpoenas as part of investigations into price gouging on high-demand items such as masks, sanitizing supplies, personal protective equipment and COVID-19 test kits. “People that are going to use this crisis to profit while other people are just trying to protect themselves and their families, they need to be put on notice that we haven’t stopped working,” Moody said. “We’ll come for them.”People who violate the state’s price-gouging law face penalties of $1,000 per violation, up to $25,000 per day.

Florida’s price gouging hotline has received 3,350 contacts from consumers about potential price gouging. Items covered by Florida’s price gouging law under the state of emergency include protective masks, sanitizing and disinfecting supplies, commercial cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment and COVID-19 test kits. So, that work will continue.”More than 4,500 merchants have been contacted about price gouging allegations. You can also report price gouging online by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com. In Georgia, price gouging can be reported online here: http://consumer.ga.gov/form/price-gouging/step1/price-gouging-form.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Tuesday that 65 subpoenas have been issued in investigations into price gouging on high-demand items amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Moody said the information was largely based on hundreds of tips provided by consumers. Moody activated the state price-gouging hotline on March 10, after Gov. Moody’s office has contacted merchants about allegations of price gouging and gotten online platforms to deactivate more than 160 posts offering items at inflated prices. “In most cases, people and businesses are working with our office and trying to remedy this situation,” Moody said.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Attorney General Ashley Moody has activated the price gouging hotline in response to the COVID-19 state of emergency declared by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Here is the list of supplies covered under the state of emergency:Protective masks used to protect you from others if you are sickSanitizing and disinfecting supplies such as hand sanitizer, gel, wipes, cleaning supplies for surface cleaning and all commercial cleaning suppliesAll personal protective equipment, including gowns, booties, gloves and other protective gearTo report coronavirus-related price gouging, call the hotline at 1-866-9NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226). You can also report price gouging online by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.