Florida's Latest News

Ron DeSantis leverages his Covid response for a foothold in Nevada

Even amid the star-spangled dresses, American flag-clad cowboy hats and “Let’s Go Brandon” baseball caps, Greg Cesarz stood out. 

Cesarz wore a custom-made “DeSantis 47” baseball jersey with “Yale,” which is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' alma mater, stitched across the front. Cesarz says he’s a diehard DeSantis fan for one overarching reason: Covid. 

“He didn’t let Covid ruin the state,” he said. “He’s a bad-ass. I want him to turn our country into Florida.” 

It was a sentiment heard again and again in interviews with more than a dozen people attending the Basque Fry, an annual conservative political event that drew about 2,500 people here Saturday. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs off on more than $100 million for Indian River Lagoon

The $116.5 billion budget Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Thursday that included more than $130 million in funding for the Indian River Lagoon marks what some are calling a major milestone for funding to clean up the waterway.

"It's historic," Duane De Freese, executive director of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, said Friday after attending Gov. Ron DeSantis' budged signing a day earlier in Fort Pierce. "I really felt the historical context of that budget signing."

But DeSantis' veto pen struck out other projects, including $2 million for Brevard Zoo's planned aquarium facility, which is named after De Freese; $4.9 million to study improving ocean flow into the lagoon at Port Canaveral and $2 million to strengthen jetties at Sebastian Inlet.

DeSantis signs measure allowing CNAs to become qualified med aides at nursing homes

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed 11 bills, including a measure that allows certified nursing assistants in nursing homes to become trained as “qualified medication aides.”

The aides could then administer “routine” medications to residents, freeing up registered nurses to provide other needed care. The aides could also perform tasks such as checking blood glucose levels.

The aids would be limited to administering oral, transdermal, ophthalmic, otic, inhaled or topical prescription medication. They must also be supervised by a nurse when doing so.

Certified nursing assistants seeking to qualify would need to get specified training and must have worked as a CNA for at least a year.

Changes are coming to Florida’s Move Over law for drivers

A broad transportation bill recently signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis includes a component that directly affects drivers.

It expands Florida’s Move Over law to include any disabled vehicle. But, it won’t go into effect right away.

“This is Trooper Dave Rodriguez with the Florida Highway Patrol reminding you of Florida’s Move Over law. I myself am a victim as I was struck in 2012 by a distracted driver who failed to move over while I was working up on the highway. Now I have lifelong injuries to deal with.”

That public service announcement for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles touts the Move Over law that’s already in effect. It requires drivers to move into a different lane, if possible, when first responders are on the roadside. That includes law enforcers and utility trucks.