The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is conducting regional workshops to inform local governments about opportunities to conserve gopher tortoises and other state-listed species in Florida.
FloridaCommerce has announced the availability of $20 million in funding for rural communities in Florida through the Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF). The initiative aims to support infrastructure projects that encourage job creation, capital investment, and economic strengthening in these areas. Since 2019, the RIF has awarded over $87 million for 121 projects.
Youth angler Krieger Brasseale had a memorable visit to the Sunshine State earlier this year. Brasseale spent his spring break chasing saltwater fishing records and achieved five approved youth Florida Saltwater Fishing Records.
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation announced today that the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing program has provided over $50 million in down payment and closing cost assistance to help Florida’s workforce purchase homes. Since the launch of the third cycle of funding on July 1, 2024, the program has allocated a total of $61.3 million to 3,745 families across the state. Veterans, active-duty military personnel, nurses, teachers, and law enforcement officers are among the primary beneficiaries.
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.”