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DeSantis admits, up to 1 million COVID test kits DID expire in FL
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, acknowledged Thursday that 800,000 to a million COVID tests had expired in a state stockpile, with the omicron variant spreading and residents facing long lines for testing. The acknowledgement came during a press conference Thursday, when reporters were asking the governor questions […]
Superspreader? Following DeSantis’ lead, FL Legislature to convene without COVID restrictions
When Florida lawmakers and thousands of state employees, lobbyists and visitors convene next week for a two-month legislative session, more than bills, budgets and gossip will be passed. COVID-19 and its newest, highly transmissible omicron variant may prove to be a key influencer in the state Capitol complex, which will be open to all with […]
DeSantis: ‘Our schools will be open’ despite surge in COVID infections
With nearly 3 million Florida public school students returning to in-person classes this week amid a record surge in COVID infections in the state, there will be no tightening of COVID protocols for students, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday at a press conference in Fort Lauderdale. “Our schools will be open in the state of […]
Essential workers in FL hope for relief in new year
While Americans grew more divided over politics in 2021, frontline essential workers toiled on to hold the nation together. Lauded as heroes but often not treated as such, nurses, first responders, teachers, farm workers, commercial drivers, and other essential workers shouldered the load to keep goods, food, health care, and education available through both the […]
Year that began with partisan violence spawned culture wars and litigation in FL
The hostile tone that branded 2021 set in early, when a mob in support of former President Donald Trump attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 to disrupt Congress’ transfer of power to incoming President Joe Biden. It cost Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, rioter Ashli Babbitt, and three other people their lives. Nearly 140 […]
Sports-betting campaign bets to win as deadline to gather signatures approaches
The campaign to let voters decide next year whether to legalize sports betting statewide is on track, its proponents insist, notwithstanding appearances to the contrary. Florida’s Division of Elections reports the campaign to amend the Florida Constitution in 2022 has collected fewer than one-third of the 891,589 validated petition signatures it will need within the […]
Feds to send FL $86.9 million for school meals amid supply-chain challenges
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is sending Florida $86.9 million to schools for food to help them cope with supply-chain challenges associated with the COVID pandemic. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Friday that is Florida’s share of $1.5 billion being provided to states to buy food for school meals, including $200 million to be used […]
FL Democrats call on DeSantis to declare emergency over affordable housing
Rising costs of rental housing and even price-gouging are driving Floridians from their homes in numbers that constitute a state of emergency, say 14 Democratic state lawmakers calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis to take emergency action on housing. “In Central Florida, rents have increased by 20 percent since January, in South Florida, rents have risen […]
Dems, Chamber of Commerce and engineers celebrate historic investment in infrastructure and jobs
The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law approved by Congress promises to deliver more than $20 billion in federal funding to Florida over the next five years to upgrade roads, bridges, airports, seaports and water systems. The funds also would expand availability of high-speed internet and electric-vehicle charging stations. Florida Democrats are celebrating passage of the infrastructure […]
CDC advisory panel advises against use of J&J vaccines and boosters
Update: CDC Director Rochelle Walensky late Thursday adopted the recommendation of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to express “clinical preference” for Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines and boosters over Johnson & Johnson’s COVID vaccine and booster. The J&J vaccine, despite a rare but serious side effect, will remain available for people who would […]
Forever chemicals: FL Senate panel proposes to tackle PFAS contamination
Florida’s Senate Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources plans to address PFAS, a class of man-made compounds referred to as “forever chemicals” that may pose public health or ecological risks, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The proposed committee bill would create a 16-member task force by next fall to determine how to identify […]
Gambling wars: Pro-casino group pauses lawsuit alleging interference by Seminole Tribe
A pro-casino group backed by Las Vegas Sands has dropped its emergency effort to shut down an “obstruction” campaign it alleges is underway by groups backed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The fight is over voter signatures for a Constitutional amendment drive. In Florida’s gambling wars, it appears that all new gambling initiatives are […]