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

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 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.