TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning Floridians about the dangers of drug use on National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. According to a report, law enforcement seized more than 115 million counterfeit prescription pills containing illicit fentanyl in 2023. Fentanyl is also being found mixed in other illicit drugs, like meth and cocaine. To keep Floridians informed about the threats of this deadly substance, Attorney General Moody updated the Fast Facts on Fentanyl toolkit with additional resources to report online drug dealers.
SARASOTA, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced "Activate Hope," an expansion of the Hope Florida initiative aimed at assisting Floridians recovering from disasters. Activate Hope will serve as the emergency response arm for Hope Florida, integrating resources from the private sector, nonprofits, and government to aid in recovery efforts.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) stated that Florida is among several states that have prohibited certain types of "manipulative" advertising from law firms. The ILR shared its statement in an August 16 blog post.
Tallahassee, Fla., August 21, 2024 – The State Board of Education convened for its August meeting to implement rules concerning accountability for Voluntary Prekindergarten Programs (VPK), the new School Readiness Plus program, and the creation of a Florida Seal of Fine Arts program. Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. provided remarks on the Florida Department of Education’s progress, noting a 13.3% reduction in teacher vacancies since last year and a decrease in average vacancies per school to 1.11.
Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis have announced the launch of "Activate Hope," an extension of the Hope Florida initiative designed to aid Floridians in disaster recovery. This program aims to unite private sector, nonprofit, and government resources to assist residents with necessities such as food, household goods, and home repairs.
Commissioner Wilton Simpson has announced the approval of the first loan for Florida farmers affected by Hurricane Debby. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those impacted by the hurricane's devastating effects on agriculture.
Ten projects from state departments of transportation in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia have been recognized with top prizes in the regional 2024 America’s Transportation Awards competition.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution has announced the arrest of a supplier involved in a significant drug-trafficking ring operating out of Boynton Beach. William Moyo faces felony charges for trafficking cocaine and conspiracy to traffic cocaine. The investigation revealed that Moyo supplied cocaine and fentanyl to the Big Boi drug-trafficking ring, which has already led to the arrest of 17 defendants.
Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd will be available to the media this evening to discuss Florida’s 2024 Primary Election. The press event is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time at the Department of State’s R.A. Gray Building in Tallahassee.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the approval of the first Hurricane Debby recovery loan through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. The application process was launched on August 9, 2024, to assist eligible Florida farmers, ranchers, and growers in rebuilding and recovering from Hurricane Debby. This loan approval comes just 15 days after Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida.
Tallahassee, Fla., August 20, 2024 – Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. announced the Florida Department of Education Model Policy for the Volunteer School Chaplain Program.
Tallahassee, Fla., August 20, 2024 – The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida are inviting students to participate in the Hispanic Heritage Month student art and essay contests with the theme “Honoring Hispanic Contributions to Florida’s Success.” Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States from September 15 to October 15.
When it comes to ensuring that Floridians have access to critical commodities like food, fuel, and healthcare supplies, Florida’s seaports are the essential supply chain leader.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Ahead of National Senior Citizens Day, Attorney General Ashley Moody is urging older Floridians to remain vigilant against fraud. Florida, home to over 5.5 million seniors, has seen heightened efforts to protect this demographic from fraudulent schemes. Since taking office in 2019, Attorney General Moody has launched the Senior Protection Team, an intra-agency group aimed at combating fraud targeting seniors. Last year alone, the team secured more than $1 million in financial relief for Florida seniors.
Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd will be available to the media to discuss Florida’s 2024 Primary Election tomorrow morning at the Department of State’s R.A. Gray Building at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The press availability will be in the Department’s Gallery for Innovation and the Arts on the first floor. Press will need to be prepared to show their press credentials.
Nearly 800 people gathered at Port Canaveral’s Jetty Park to bid “Bon Voyage” to Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas as it embarked on its first revenue sailing from the port. The event, dubbed “The World’s Biggest Wave Out,” was organized by the port for the local community, campground guests, and beachgoers. Attendees enjoyed a festive afternoon featuring a DJ, bubble machine, giveaways, and refreshments provided by local vendors.
Gerard van den Heuvel was recently appointed to the Port of Miami Terminal Operating Company (POMTOC) as its new Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Carlos Arocha, who recently retired after a distinguished career with the organization.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured 40-year prison sentences for three members of a Romanian crime ring that stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from schools and churches. A Fort Myers jury found Panait Dumitru, Catalin Trandafir, and Simona Trandafir guilty of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, grand theft, money laundering, aggravated white-collar crime, and unlawful possession of personal identification information. According to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation, the crime ring stole...