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.
OCALA, Fla.—Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, in collaboration with the Florida Department of Health, Department of Children and Families, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and community partners, has introduced the Florida Swimming Lesson Voucher Program.
BRADENTON, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the award of $18 million in funding to invest in Florida’s supply chain and boost aggregate storage for critical infrastructure and asphalt and concrete production. These awards are the first of $100 million to be invested over five years. The initial five recipients of these grants will create an additional 1.2 million tons of aggregate materials storage and enable more rail access to existing aggregate storage facilities. This material will support major projects under the Moving Florida Forward Initiative.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Dennis “Rick” Dingle and Dell Hoard Sr. and the reappointment of Tina Clary and Tammy “Chereese” Stewart to the Clay County Development Authority.
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.
FloridaCommerce announced today that the Fort Lauderdale metro area led all metro areas in job gains over the year in several industry sectors for August 2024. The sectors with notable increases include government (+4,500 jobs), other services (+4,400 jobs), and trade, transportation, and utilities (+4,300 jobs). The private sector employment in the Fort Lauderdale area reached 823,000 in August 2024, marking an increase of 20,200 jobs or a growth rate of 2.5% over the previous year.
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.
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.
FloridaCommerce has approved over $3.2 million in funding through the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to support small businesses impacted by Hurricane Debby. As of now, 82 businesses have been approved for these funds, with more applications being processed daily.
PINELLAS PARK, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis held another roundtable discussion with condo owners and association leaders to discuss solutions for condominium building safety and address concerns about the cost and implementation of new legislation. Last week, Governor DeSantis conducted a similar roundtable in Miami Lakes.
At its September meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved changes to the marine fisheries trip ticket reporting requirements.
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...
At its September meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed changes to improve the Marine Special Activity License (SAL) program licensing process, accommodate additional requested activities, and update provisions to several license types.
At its September meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved classifying the oceanic whitetip shark as a prohibited species within Florida state waters.
The Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) has announced the recovery of more than $10,000 for a victim of a cryptocurrency-based romance scam. The case involves Sunday Adebola, a Nigerian national who was charged in October 2023 with grand theft, scheme to defraud, money laundering, fraudulent use of a money service business, and stolen valor. If he enters the United States, Adebola faces up to 30 years in prison.
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.