Florida's Latest News

DeSantis denies involvement in wealthy Key Largo vaccination site, despite donations

Gov. Ron DeSantis denied Thursday that he had anything to do with providing COVID vaccines to a wealthy, gated Florida Keys community in January ahead of other state residents.

“I’m not worried about your income bracket, I’m worried about your age bracket,” DeSantis said at a press conference in Crystal River when asked about a story in the Miami Herald that revealed almost all the senior residents of the Ocean Reef enclave in Key Largo got inoculated by Jan. 22.

The Herald report revealed that the management of Ocean Reef Club, a 2,500-acre gated community with golf courses, restaurants and its own airport, told residents that day that more than 1,200 seniors had been vaccinated over the previous two weeks. In all, 17 Ocean Reef residents had donated $5,000 each to the governor’s political committee through December 2020, the Herald reported using state records.

Publix soon opening COVID-19 vaccines to Florida educators, childcare workers

Publix will join Walmart in expanding its COVID-19 vaccine eligibility list by including teachers and childcare staff.

Starting Friday, Publix will allow appointments to be made for all Florida K-12 educators, and childcare teachers and personnel.

On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida will be following the Biden administration's federal mandate, which directs states to vaccinate all pre-K-12 teachers, staff and childcare workers.

CVS Health, Walmart, Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Mas and Sam’s Club are all expected to begin offering vaccinations to teachers and school staff, as they are a part of the federal retail pharmacy program.

Chris Sprowls runs tight ship during House’s first contentious debate

Chris Sprowls has now finished Day 3 of his first Legislative Session as House Speaker. Thursday marked the first extensive floor session, and the Speaker made it clear he wanted the chamber to follow rules for debate to a T.

During the question phase over Republicans’ bill granting COVID-19 liability protections to businesses (HB-7), Sprowls ran a tight ship. Sprowls was quick to cut off questions from Democrats who were being liberal with the lead-up to their inquiries.

It took Sprowls less than one minute into the first question of the afternoon to interrupt a line he said “sounds like debate.” That query came from Aventura Democratic Rep. Joe Geller, who would draw several more complaints from Sprowls throughout the floor session.

USF plans a full return to campuses this fall. Online classes will still be an option

The University of South Florida plans a full return to campus this fall, resuming in-person classes and activities, USF president Steve Currall announced on Wednesday.

The university has been operating during the pandemic on a phased return plan with some courses meeting online only, others in-person and still others with a mix of both. A little over 55 percent of courses have some in-person component this semester. Other campus activities have been limited to online.

In a message to the USF community, Currall said the university would continue to offer online courses, as it did before the pandemic. He also said the university plans to increase in-person course offerings and campus activities over its two summer sessions, especially the latter session beginning June 28.