Speaking in Sanford, Gov. Rick Scott announced Thursday that Florida’s law enforcement officers and first responders "will be able to enjoy license-free freshwater and saltwater fishing beginning today through June 30, 2018." 

As a result of the Republican Party of Florida's Project Majority Red, the party's statewide voter registration effort, Polk and Volusia Conty have both moved from majority Democrat to majority Republican, RPOF Chairman Blaise Ingoglia has announced.

“... Polk and Volusia counties have officially joined the ranks and flipped,” Ingoglia said Wednesday. “For several election cycles, we have tirelessly worked to train and empower our grassroots leaders of the Republican Party because they are the lifeline to expanding our party. 

Speaker Richard Corcoran announced Tuesday the creation of the Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness. The Select Committee will gather information, solicit ideas for improvement, and make recommendations that can be utilized in the work plans of the appropriate standing committees.

Specifically, it will address issues such as protection of the elderly, disabled, and other vulnerable populations as well as look at evacuation and mitigation challenges for future storms

Florida-based government affairs firm Ballard Partners has announced Fort Lauderdale Managing Partner Justin Sayfie will move to Washington, D.C., where the seasoned government affairs strategist will enhance his focus on the federal government at the firm.

Citizens Property Insurance Corporations has announced it is opening Catastrophe Response Centers (CRCs) in Florida City, Key Largo and Naples to assist customers recovering from Hurricane Irma. 

Citizens representatives and claims handling specialists are now available at these three sites from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., curfew permitting.

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton made the following statement regarding Thursday's ruling by United States District Judge James E. Boasberg that the Department of State must make public a FBI declaration detailing its efforts to retrieve Hillary Clinton’s government emails (Judicial Watch, Inc. v. Rex Tillerson (No. 1:15-cv-00785)):
 

At the Florida Ports Council annual board meeting Wednesday, Port Everglades Chief Executive/Port Director Steven Cernak was elected chairman. Port Tampa Bay Director Paul Anderson’s term ended as of this meeting. PortMiami Port Director and CEO Juan Kuryla was elected as vice chairman and Port of Palm Beach Executive Director Manuel Almira was elected secretary/treasurer. All positions serve one-year terms.

The cost of gasoline at the pump is expected to shoot up this week, as oil and gas producers from Mexico to Louisiana gear up for heavy rains and winds as remnants of a tropical storm circulating over Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula threaten to redevelop into a hurricane.

Wholesale gasoline prices along the U.S. Gulf Coast were slightly stronger on Tuesday ahead of the storm, traders said.

In a statement issued Tuesday evening from the Senate office, Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, announced the death of former Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker. Evers died in a car accident earlier in the day not far from his home.

The South Florida Water Management District has scheduled a one-day public meeting and independent scientific peer review workshop as part of the District's reevaluation of the minimum flow level (MFL) criteria for the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary.