Florida's Latest News

DeSantis family joins red tide recovery fish release

First Lady Casey DeSantis and two of her children — Madison and Mason — joined the fight Wednesday against red tide.

The trio released more than 20,000 red fish in Wakulla County early Wednesday alongside others, including Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Shawn Hamilton.

The release is part of a larger effort to combat red tide and replenish the supply of redfish.

“Today’s event is important as the community works to restock the redfish population that has been impacted by red tide,” DeSantis said. “I’ve heard from many throughout Florida who understand that our water must be safe for our families, visitors and economy. That is why the Governor has made the protection of Florida’s water resources a top priority, dedicating record funding towards water restoration initiatives.”

Last remaining public school mask mandate expiring Nov. 20

Starting Nov. 20, no public school student in the state will be under a mandatory mask policy that does not allow a parent to opt out of the requirement.

That means that after a months-long struggle with defiant school boards, Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ executive order issued in July is at last the status quo. He prohibited school districts from mandating masks without offering parents to opt out of sending their child to school with a mask.

Alachua County became the last to lift its mask mandate Nov. 10; the official policy goes into effect Nov. 12. The only other school district to open with the facial covering requirement, Broward County schools, will no longer require a medical excuse to go without a mask starting Nov. 20. There, parents can also opt out of the requirement, as Gov. DeSantis wished.

DeSantis pledges $8.6 million to veteran career and workforce training

Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced an investment of $8.6 million toward career and workforce training opportunities for military veterans and their spouses.

As part of the ‘Get There Faster: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act,’ grants have been awarded to workforce development boards across the state to expand career and workforce training opportunities for military veterans and spouses seeking employment.

“We owe the freedoms we enjoy as Americans to our military veterans, and I am focused on ensuring Florida is the best state in the nation for those who have served to find great jobs, start or grow businesses and support their families,” said DeSantis. “Business is booming in Florida, and employers are looking for the leadership skills, training, and teamwork military veterans bring to the workforce.”

In June, the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors approved the funding for the grants to reach and assist a greater number of military veterans and spouses of active-duty military and veterans with employment challenges such as homelessness or service-related disabilities.

Winter the dolphin dies at Clearwater aquarium

Winter the dolphin, the beloved star of the “Dolphin Tale” movies whose story of resilience with a prosthetic tail, and recent illness, captured attention around the world, has died.

Winter died at about 7:45 p.m. as she was being prepped for exploratory surgery to treat an intestinal blockage at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, according to aquarium board chairperson Paul Auslander. She was 16.

Aquarium staff noticed Winter stopped eating and began to behave differently on Nov. 1. She was being treated around the clock for a gastrointestinal infection and initially responded to antibiotics but took a turn on Thursday, according to the board chairperson.

Auslander said a team of about 15 veterinarians and technicians were preparing Winter for the “last-ditch effort surgery” to treat the blockage when her blood pressure spiked and breathing became heavy.