A new report from Florida TaxWatch, an independent, nonpartisan research institute, reveals that Indian River State College generates substantial economic benefits for its service area (Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties) and the state of Florida. The report, titled "An Independent Assessment of the Economic Impacts of Indian River State College," underscores the college’s role as a key driver of workforce development and economic growth in the Treasure Coast region and beyond.
Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future, issued a statement in response to the Florida State Board of Education’s recent decision on the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Program performance metric.
Governor Ron DeSantis has awarded over $5.8 million to the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund (JGGF). The funding aims to enhance roadway infrastructure by creating direct access from the Space Coast Innovation Park to the Space Coast Regional Airport. This award is expected to facilitate business expansion in the park and create more than 900 jobs.
Closed sales of existing single-family homes statewide totaled 23,353, up 5.2% year-over-year, while existing condo-townhouse sales totaled 8,364, down 1.2% over July 2023, according to data from Florida Realtors Research Department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Closed sales may occur from 30 to 90-plus days after sales contracts are written.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning Floridians about the dangers of drug use on National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. According to a report, law enforcement seized more than 115 million counterfeit prescription pills containing illicit fentanyl in 2023. Fentanyl is also being found mixed in other illicit drugs, like meth and cocaine. To keep Floridians informed about the threats of this deadly substance, Attorney General Moody updated the Fast Facts on Fentanyl toolkit with additional resources to report online drug dealers.
SARASOTA, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced "Activate Hope," an expansion of the Hope Florida initiative aimed at assisting Floridians recovering from disasters. Activate Hope will serve as the emergency response arm for Hope Florida, integrating resources from the private sector, nonprofits, and government to aid in recovery efforts.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) stated that Florida is among several states that have prohibited certain types of "manipulative" advertising from law firms. The ILR shared its statement in an August 16 blog post.
Tallahassee, Fla., August 21, 2024 – The State Board of Education convened for its August meeting to implement rules concerning accountability for Voluntary Prekindergarten Programs (VPK), the new School Readiness Plus program, and the creation of a Florida Seal of Fine Arts program. Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. provided remarks on the Florida Department of Education’s progress, noting a 13.3% reduction in teacher vacancies since last year and a decrease in average vacancies per school to 1.11.
Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis have announced the launch of "Activate Hope," an extension of the Hope Florida initiative designed to aid Floridians in disaster recovery. This program aims to unite private sector, nonprofit, and government resources to assist residents with necessities such as food, household goods, and home repairs.
Commissioner Wilton Simpson has announced the approval of the first loan for Florida farmers affected by Hurricane Debby. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those impacted by the hurricane's devastating effects on agriculture.
Ten projects from state departments of transportation in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia have been recognized with top prizes in the regional 2024 America’s Transportation Awards competition.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution has announced the arrest of a supplier involved in a significant drug-trafficking ring operating out of Boynton Beach. William Moyo faces felony charges for trafficking cocaine and conspiracy to traffic cocaine. The investigation revealed that Moyo supplied cocaine and fentanyl to the Big Boi drug-trafficking ring, which has already led to the arrest of 17 defendants.
Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd will be available to the media this evening to discuss Florida’s 2024 Primary Election. The press event is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time at the Department of State’s R.A. Gray Building in Tallahassee.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the approval of the first Hurricane Debby recovery loan through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. The application process was launched on August 9, 2024, to assist eligible Florida farmers, ranchers, and growers in rebuilding and recovering from Hurricane Debby. This loan approval comes just 15 days after Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida.
Tallahassee, Fla., August 20, 2024 – Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. announced the Florida Department of Education Model Policy for the Volunteer School Chaplain Program.
Tallahassee, Fla., August 20, 2024 – The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida are inviting students to participate in the Hispanic Heritage Month student art and essay contests with the theme “Honoring Hispanic Contributions to Florida’s Success.” Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States from September 15 to October 15.
When it comes to ensuring that Floridians have access to critical commodities like food, fuel, and healthcare supplies, Florida’s seaports are the essential supply chain leader.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Ahead of National Senior Citizens Day, Attorney General Ashley Moody is urging older Floridians to remain vigilant against fraud. Florida, home to over 5.5 million seniors, has seen heightened efforts to protect this demographic from fraudulent schemes. Since taking office in 2019, Attorney General Moody has launched the Senior Protection Team, an intra-agency group aimed at combating fraud targeting seniors. Last year alone, the team secured more than $1 million in financial relief for Florida seniors.