The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Food, Nutrition and Wellness Division has announced the household size and income guidelines for free and reduced-price meals or free milk for students unable to pay the full price under the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Special Milk Programs.
FloridaCommerce announced today that more than 5,400 bonuses have been awarded through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Program. The state has welcomed over 400 recruits from jurisdictions such as Illinois, California, and New York. This initiative aligns with Governor Ron DeSantis' commitment to prioritizing public safety in Florida.
The permit season opens inside the Special Permit Zone in south Florida on August 1. This zone includes all state and federal waters south of Cape Sable on the Gulf coast, and south of Cape Florida on the Atlantic coast, including all of the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay south of the Rickenbacker Causeway.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued an executive order to modify the recreational season for greater amberjack in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The recreational season, initially set to open on August 1, will now commence on September 1 and remain open through October 31, 2024. During August, the recreational harvest of Gulf greater amberjack will remain closed.
The Florida Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Revenue, has announced the commencement of the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday. The event starts today, Monday, July 29, and will run through Sunday, August 11. This initiative allows Florida families to save on essential items needed for the upcoming school year.
On July 24, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Division of Law Enforcement announced charges against four individuals involved in a scheme to defraud hunters seeking Osceola turkey hunts. Larry William Collins, David Preston Mills, Paul Neil Beckham, and Vernon Robert Flowers were charged with multiple felonies, including organized fraud, conspiracy to commit organized fraud, cheating, and the unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced today a temporary closure of the recreational bay scallop harvest in the Pasco Zone. This area includes all state waters south of the Hernando-Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, encompassing the Anclote River.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of eleven individuals to the Florida Faith-Based and Community-Based Advisory Council. The appointees include Kevin Baird, Tess Dewhirst, Joseph Knittig, Robert Pacienza, Marilyn Rivera, Megan Rose, and Michael Watkins. Additionally, James “Scott” George, Jerry Haag, Calvin Martin, and Pam Olsen have been reappointed.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Wayne Chutkan, Dr. Chris Ghaemmaghami, Matthew Love, and Dr. Michelle Mendez to the Graduate Medical Education Committee.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Monesia Brown and the reappointment of Jonathan Kilpatrick and Frank “Monte” Stevens to the Tallahassee State College District Board of Trustees.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, which begins on Monday, July 29, and runs for two weeks, ending on Sunday, August 11. The sales tax holiday aims to help families save money on items their students need for the new school year.
During Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez’s international mission to the Farnborough Air Show, aviation company AURA AERO Inc. announced the opening of its first US facility within Embry-Riddle and the decision to locate a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly plant in Florida. AURA AERO is a French designer and manufacturer of aircraft headquartered in Toulouse, France. This decision follows the company’s move last year to create a partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the University’s Research Park in Daytona Beach, which is now open. The new...
During Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez’s international mission to the Farnborough Air Show, aviation company AURA AERO Inc. announced the opening of its first US facility within Embry-Riddle and the decision to locate a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly plant in Florida. AURA AERO is a French designer and manufacturer of aircraft headquartered in Toulouse, France. This decision follows the company’s move last year to create a partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the University’s Research Park in Daytona Beach, which is now open. The new...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded funds for workforce development through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund (JGGF) and the Workforce Development Capitalization Grant Program. Awards were made to St. Petersburg College to help establish the Semiconductor, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning Training for Technicians (SMART Tech) 4.0 lab.
The Florida Department of Education has announced the 2024 school grades under a new grading scale. Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. commented on the results, stating, “This year’s school grades reflect Florida’s steadfast commitment to excellence in education. Under Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership, we have continued to raise the bar for providing students with a quality education that suits their individual needs, and these school grades are proof positive that our approach is working.”
Governor Ron DeSantis awarded $7.2 million to St. Petersburg College today through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund (JGGF) and the Workforce Development Capitalization Grant Program. The funds will help establish the Semiconductor, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning Training for Technicians (SMART Tech) 4.0 lab.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service announced today that $2 million is now available to Florida landowners through the Florida’s Future Forests Program to improve forest health. Now in its fourth year, the program offers cost-share opportunities for landowners to enhance the capacity of Florida’s forests, which provide clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat, recreation, and numerous essential products.
The Florida recreational spiny lobster sport season will commence on July 24 and 25, with the regular recreational season following from August 6 through March 31, 2025. Harvest regulations stipulate that lobsters must have a minimum carapace length of three inches, measured in water. In Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, harvesters may take up to six lobsters per day, while in other state waters, the limit is 12 lobsters per day.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the Florida Forest Service’s record-setting year of applying prescribed fire during the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The agency set a new annual record with 277,818 total acres treated for the year on State Forests. Prescribed fire reduces hazardous fuel buildups and the chances of catastrophic wildfires.