The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced several closures and operational changes for its healthcare facilities in Florida due to the upcoming federal holiday and potential impacts from Hurricane Helene or Milton. The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System's C. W. "Bill" Young VAMC Campus will be closed from Thursday, October 10 through Tuesday, October 15, including its Emergency Department. All other sites within this system will also be closed from Friday, October 11 to Monday, October 14.
The inspiration for Erin’s Hope came after a significant loss experienced by Stacy Horst and her husband in 2014. Following the death of their daughter, Erin, they felt a strong urge to make a difference. "Four days after Erin’s death, my husband and I found ourselves on her bedroom floor, grappling with our grief. It was in that moment we felt compelled to make a change," Horst shared.
The state of Florida has collaborated with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to waive pet policies at lodging establishments as Hurricane Milton approaches.
The VISN 8 healthcare facilities have announced operational status updates due to Tropical Storm Milton as of Sunday, October 6, 2024. Appointments that are not switched to virtual will be rescheduled.
The Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) has issued a proclamation directed at Florida state-chartered financial institutions and securities professionals concerning Tropical Storm Milton.
The Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) in Tallahassee, Florida, has announced the availability of resources for residents affected by Hurricane Helene.
Attorney General Ashley Moody is advising Floridians to be cautious of price gouging, disaster scams, and fraud following Hurricane Helene. The hurricane struck Florida’s Big Bend region last Thursday, causing significant damage with storm surges, strong winds, and heavy rain affecting millions. Communities have been devastated, homes destroyed, and the death toll is rising. As residents seek essential services like food, shelter, debris removal, or home repairs, the Price Gouging Hotline remains active for reporting extreme price increases and recovery-related scams.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has released a report detailing the financial and social costs of incarcerating Black children in Florida. According to Delvin Davis, senior policy analyst at SPLC and the report’s author, "The legal system in Florida fails Black youth, trapping them in cycles of trauma and punishment, and at great expense to state taxpayers-$130,520 per child." Davis advocates for a shift from punitive measures to community-based alternatives and policy reforms that would protect future generations.
Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced the activation of the Florida Disaster Fund to support communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. The fund is part of the Volunteer Florida Foundation and supports recovery initiatives including Activate Hope.
Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis have announced the activation of the Florida Disaster Fund to support communities affected by Hurricane Helene. The fund is part of the Volunteer Florida Foundation and aids recovery initiatives, including Activate Hope.
Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of Mary Elizabeth Graham for defrauding the Florida Medicaid program. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office apprehended Graham following an investigation by Attorney General Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU).
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is launching the Florida panther Payment for Ecosystem Services pilot program. The initiative aims to benefit private landowners and the panther population by providing per-acre payments for habitat conditions that support panther conservation and landscape connectivity.
At its September meeting in Duck Key, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rule amendments creating a block grant option within the established FWC derelict vessel and public nuisance vessel removal grant program.
Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor stated, “In August, Florida’s single-family home market was fairly calm. Closed sales declined by 1.1% year-over-year, and as has been the case for most of the year, they have tracked pretty close to last year’s totals. Year to date through August, closed sales of single-family homes are down 1.7%.”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Samantha Ferrin, Robert “Bob” Majka, Monica Russell, and Chris Young to the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce has announced its third round of legislative endorsements for the 2024 elections. These candidates were selected after a comprehensive vetting process conducted by the Florida Chamber Political Institute, which involved interviews with over 100 candidates across five cities over six weeks. More than 80 business organizations participated in this process.