For the first time in history, say scientists, endangered Atlantic pillar coral have spawned through lab-induced techniques. The scientific breakthrough occurred this week in a research laboratory at The Florida Aquarium’s Center for Conservation in Apollo Beach as part of Project Coral. Scientists believe the historic breakthrough could ultimately help save corals in the Florida Reef Tract from extinction.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., continued his tour of Israel on Wednesday, contrasting that nation with Palestine and taking aim at the Maduro regime in Venezuela.
Scott and U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., have been visiting Israel this week, meeting with leaders of that nation’s government on the ties between the two countries, talking about economic and military ties.
The number of hepatitis A cases in Florida continues to climb, according to a Florida Department of Health report that showed the state has had 2,266 reported cases this year.
The News Service of Florida has analyzed the Department of Health data posted over the last four weeks. The analysis found that the six counties with the highest number of reported hepatitis A cases between July 23 and August 17 are:
Volusia: 34
Brevard : 23
Manatee: 21
Pinellas: 21
Pasco: 19
Lee: 16
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that new health plan options will be available to more than 30,000 Medicare-eligible retirees participating in the State Group Health Insurance Program starting in 2020. The new choices are Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plans, which combine the benefits of Medicare and prescription drug coverage into a single plan and offer other valuable benefits such as vision, hearing, dental, and wellness benefits.
Florida House Democrats say they’ve rounded up more than enough support to require votes from both Republican-dominated chambers of the Legislature to determine if there is any appetite for a special session dealing with gun violence.
But such an effort may be futile, as Republican leaders are likely to quash the effort.
“President Galvano does not support calling a special session,” Senate President Bill Galvano’s spokeswoman Katie Betta said in an email, when asked about the Democrats' move on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, elected officials from both sides of the aisle took steps to help Central Florida crack down on opioids.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and religious and business leaders met at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando as part of “Project Opioid.”
On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the federal government will take on more of the costs associated with Hurricane Irma which hit the Sunshine State back in September 2017.
DeSantis announced that Hurricane Irma costs in Florida reached $2.63 billion which triggers an increase in the federal cost share from 75 percent to 90 percent. That being the case, DeSantis wrote President Donald Trump on the matter, noting that it will save the state government and local governments across Florida more than $160 million.
Florida taxpayers spent just over $4.3 million in one year to protect the occupants of the governor’s mansion and various visiting dignitaries, according to state records released last week.
The total for the fiscal year that ended June 30 is a $1 million jump from the previous year, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement report shows.
More than half of the increase --- $549,063.70 --- can be attributed to the cost to cover Gov. Ron DeSantis, as he transitioned into office following the November election.
Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton announced Monday the appointment of James M. Sullivan, Ph.D. to the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative Advisory Council.
Florida recorded a second straight month of job gains after four months of stagnant growth in employment, according to figures released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS].
Since July 2018, Florida employers have created 227,000 jobs — 128,000 since January — for an annual growth rate in employment of 1.3 percent, more than any state other than California and Texas.
