The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System has announced that the C. W. "Bill" Young VAMC Campus Emergency Department is closed until further notice. Outpatient appointments will be available in most areas, while all surgical, interventional radiology, interventional pain, and endoscopy procedures scheduled for Thursday, October 17, have been canceled. Veterans affected by these cancellations will be rescheduled for the earliest possible appointment.
The Florida National Guard faced a demanding period from late September to early October as it responded to two major hurricanes, Helene and Milton. Hurricane Helene struck Florida's Big Bend region on September 26, 2024, prompting the activation of nearly 4,100 troops for emergency operations. As these efforts unfolded, the Guard prepared for another storm, Hurricane Milton.
FloridaCommerce has provided over $10 million in financial assistance to more than 242 small businesses in Florida affected by Hurricane Helene. This aid is part of the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, designed to support businesses as they await other funding sources such as insurance.
Tom Gaitens, the executive director of Florida Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA), said tort reform is needed to settle injustives against businesses and customers during Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has filed an emergency motion in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, seeking to extend the voter registration deadline. This action comes as Floridians deal with consecutive hurricanes, Helene and Milton, which have disrupted essential services during the final days of voter registration.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced operational updates for facilities in VISN 8 due to Hurricane Milton. As of Monday, October 7, 2024, several facilities will experience closures and service modifications.
Governor Ron DeSantis has issued Executive Order 24-215, amending a previous order related to Tropical Storm Milton. This new directive expands the state of emergency to include 51 counties in Florida as the storm approaches.
Attorney General Ashley Moody of Florida, alongside Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and ten other state attorneys general, is advocating for the passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2024. This bipartisan effort aims to ensure that AM radios remain a standard feature in vehicles, especially as newer models, including electric vehicles, are being produced without them.
Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Charles Garrett Hill to the Columbia County Court. Hill has been serving as an Assistant State Attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit since 2020 and previously worked in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. He holds a bachelor's degree from Faulkner University and a juris doctor from Florida State University. This appointment fills the vacancy created by HB 5401.
FloridaCommerce has announced the extension of application deadlines for several grant programs due to Hurricane Helene. The new deadline for the Florida Defense Infrastructure Grant (DIG) and Florida Defense Reinvestment Grant (DRG) programs is October 18, 2024. The deadline for the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) has been extended to October 31, 2024.
Today, Governor Ron DeSantis, alongside Major General John D. Haas and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Purdue, provided updates on the state's preparedness for Hurricane Helene at the State Emergency Operations Center. As of 8:00 am ET, Hurricane Helene has intensified to a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph. The hurricane is expected to strengthen further and reach the Florida Big Bend coast tonight.
Governor Ron DeSantis, alongside Major General John D. Haas and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Purdue, provided updates on Hurricane Helene's approach at the State Emergency Operations Center. As of 8:00 am ET, Hurricane Helene has intensified to a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 100 mph. It is expected to strengthen further before making landfall on the Florida Big Bend coast tonight.
Governor Ron DeSantis has issued Executive Order 24-209, amending the previous Executive Order 24-208 to increase the number of counties under a state of emergency in Florida. This decision comes as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine approaches, prompting concerns about its potential development into a major hurricane.
At 9:30 AM today, Governor Ron DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), held a press conference at the State Emergency Operations Center to provide updates on Tropical Storm Helene. Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-209 on September 24, updating EO 24-208 and declaring a state of emergency for 61 counties. This declaration allows state officials to make critical resources available to communities ahead of potential storm impacts.
Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that officers with the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) arrested Santiago Diaz of Clearwater, Florida, on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges related to vehicle theft, trafficking of methamphetamine, and illegal possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. This significant felony arrest was aided by OALE’s use of innovative technology that provides real-time alerts of vehicles reported stolen, associated with missing persons, associated with active arrest warrants, and more.
FloridaCommerce has announced that the state's private sector job growth continues to surpass the national average, with a 2.1% increase over the year since August 2023, compared to the national rate of 1.4%. This achievement is attributed to strategic investments in workforce education and development.
On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve announced a 0.50 percentage point interest rate cut, its first reduction since March 2020. This cut aligns with the Florida Chamber Foundation’s 2024 economic forecast, which projected a rate cut in the second half of 2024. This larger-than-expected cut, surpassing the 0.25 percentage point drop forecasted by many economists, reflects the Fed’s determination to prevent the U.S. economy from slowing down amid rising concerns over a softening job market. The cut is expected to lead to lower borrowing costs for both businesses and consumers,...
Today, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and partners celebrated a successful 2024 Florida Python Challenge™ by announcing the final results and winners of the 10-day competition. This year, 857 participants from 33 states and Canada helped support Everglades conservation by collectively removing 195 invasive Burmese pythons from South Florida as part of the competition, with the Ultimate Grand Prize winner removing a total of 20 pythons. The aim of the Florida Python Challenge™ is to increase awareness about invasive species and the threats they...
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will host a public meeting on October 10 from 6-8 p.m. to discuss FWC activities and conditions on Orange, Lochloosa, and Newnans lakes. The meeting will also feature guest speakers from the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department.
Carnival Cruise Line is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary of year-round sailing from Port Tampa Bay. The cruise operator, the first to recognize Tampa's potential as a year-round cruise homeport, will host an event aboard Carnival Paradise on September 21 to express appreciation for its long-standing relationship with Port Tampa Bay. To mark the milestone, Carnival will also make a donation to Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.