Florida's Latest News

How high will Medicaid enrollment go?

4,835,582: That’s how many people state economists in March predicted would be enrolled in the Medicaid program during the state fiscal year 2021-2022, which covers the 12-month span from July 1 through June 30, 2022.

4,846,412: That’s how many people were enrolled in Florida’s Medicaid program as of June 30.

Even before the start of the new fiscal year, the number of people enrolled in the program that provides healthcare to poor, elderly and disabled people had exceeded the number economists had predicted earlier this year.

Members of the Social Services Estimating Conference meet today to sharpen their pencils and adjust the enrollment estimates made at the end of March.

Former DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein joins American Flood Coalition as senior adviser

Former Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein is bringing his eco-expertise to the national level as a new senior adviser to the American Flood Coalition.

Valenstein, who in May resigned from his post as the state’s top environmental official after four years, joins “a growing team” at the nationwide alliance of cities, elected officials, military leaders, businesses and civic groups working on sea level rise, an AFC press note said.

“We are pleased to welcome to AFC Noah Valenstein, a Florida leader I have enjoyed working with over the past years,” AFC Executive Director Melissa Roberts said in a statement. “With his deep experience in flood resilience and state government, he will help us lead in finding proactive solutions to frequent flooding and rising seas.”

Ruling against ‘no sail order’ back in place

A federal appeals court has reapplied a court order ending the federal no sail rule for cruises, a win for Florida.

Last week, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals put on pause a district court judge’s ruling to end the no sail order. But late Friday, the appeals court ruled that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention failed to prove it had the jurisdiction to issue the no sail order in the first place.

The CDC issued that order, which required a percentage of cruise passengers to be vaccinated, to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. But the order conflicted with a law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that prevented businesses, including cruise lines, from enforcing vaccination requirements.

Florida is buying $300 million in land. It’s for the environment — and developers.

One of the rare bipartisan highlights of Florida’s legislative session this year was the decision to spend $300 million buying up land for conservation.

Republicans, Democrats and environmentalists called it a boon for the environment, helping save thousands of acres of land in Florida’s delicate wildlife corridors from development.

The result could be a boon to landowners and developers as well.

The fine print in this year’s budget includes a stipulation that some environmentalists fear could spur development in the state’s wetlands.