Florida's Latest News

DeSantis says red tide this year ‘not like 2018’ bloom

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that the growing bloom of red tide spreading around parts of Southwest Florida and Tampa Bay is not like the one that devastated the region in 2018.

The governor’s comments came during a roundtable with scientists and state environmental officials at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg to discuss efforts to better understand and combat red tide.

The last major outbreak of the microorganism that turns the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico into the color of cola lasted from October 2017 to February 2019. It killed countless sea creatures, including fish, dolphins, turtles and manatees. 

“This is not 2018,” DeSantis said. “I think we see some localized (red tide) ... but this is a great place to be. There’s very few places in this country that are as nice as this Tampa Bay region.”

Clerks of Court seek budget fix with Gov. DeSantis-approved bill

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a proposal to address court clerks’ long-standing budget issues.

Those problems have been magnified by declining funding from fines, fees and court costs. But the bill DeSantis approved (SB 838) strives to plug the leak.

Unlike many government entities, clerks’ offices operate on a cash basis month-to-month, depending on fines, fees and court costs to fund critical public services. There are many services and activities that have no associated fees or revenue, such as domestic violence injunctions and indigency cases.

The new law will allow clerks to carry statewide reserves to plan for emergencies, to submit funding requests for certain deficits and other provisions.

Florida Supreme Court snuffs out another effort to legalize marijuana

For the third time in three months, the Florida Supreme Court dashed the hopes of Floridians who want to see expanded access to cannabis.

In a 5-2 ruling on Thursday, the state’s highest court found a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana to be misleading. The initiative, titled “Regulate Marijuana in a Manner Similar to Alcohol to Establish Age, Licensing, and Other Restrictions,” also would have allowed Floridians to grow cannabis at home. Had it reached the ballot, the initiative would have needed the approval of 60% of voters to become a part of the state Constitution.

Attorney General Ashley Moody asked the court to weigh in on the ballot language in September 2019. It took the court the better part of two years to issue its ruling.

Injured police dogs will get ambulance rides to clinics under new Florida law

Police dogs injured in the line of duty will soon be able to be taken by ambulance to emergency veterinarian clinics.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Friday aimed at protecting K-9 dogs that work alongside law enforcement.

“It will end up potentially saving the lives of some of our K-9s,” DeSantis said at a news conference in St. Augustine.

The bill stipulates that dogs can be transported by ambulance as long as no person requires medical attention. It also authorizes paramedics to render aid.