Florida's Latest News

Gov. DeSantis names 4 to Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority, including 2 new faces

Gov. Ron DeSantis has reappointed two individuals to the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) and appointed two new members to the board. 

Returning for another term are Vincent Cassidy, the current THEA Board Chair, and Bennett Barrow, the current Vice Chair. Newly appointed to THEA are Lakshmikanth “LK” Nandam and Cody Powell.

Cassidy is the President of Majesty Title Services, a division of LandCastly Title Group, which is a title insurance and settlement agency working with real estate professionals, builders and mortgage lenders across Florida. 

Cassidy started the firm in 2006 before selling it in 2018. Before that, he spent 25 years with JPMorgan Chase & Co. in several leadership positions. He rose to Executive in Charge of its Client Access business before leaving the company. In that role, he provided technology solutions to the firm’s global clients for their treasury management needs. 

UCF says it is now a preeminent school, joining exclusive company

The University of Central Florida announced it has cleared the last hurdle to become a “preeminent” state research university, joining the exclusive ranks of just a few universities in the state, including the University of Florida and Florida State University.

“At a university of nearly 70,000 students, this accomplishment is truly remarkable and unprecedented at our scale,” UCF President Alexander Cartwright said in a statement. “Like every milestone before, it enables us to do even more to transform lives at scale, propel innovation and fuel Florida’s workforce.”

Cartwright discussed the news at Monday’s UCF Trustee meeting.

Preeminent schools receive additional state funding depending on the whims of the Legislature. In 2025, lawmakers agreed to spend $40 million on preeminent schools after providing $100 million a year earlier.

The list of preeminent schools includes other newer members, such as the University of South Florida and Florida International University.

Florida hospitals challenge organ-transplant proposal

Three major hospital systems have challenged a new state proposal about approving organ-transplant programs, alleging it does not include adequate safeguards for quality of care.

Tampa General Hospital, UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville and Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami filed the challenges after the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration in August issued a proposed rule for transplant programs. The challenges, filed this month at the state Division of Administrative Hearings, came after years of debate and disputes about approving transplant programs.

Tampa General, UF Health Shands and Jackson provide procedures such as heart, liver, lung and kidney transplants. The proposed rule, in part, would revise standards for hospitals that want to begin providing such procedures and continue providing them after getting initial approvals.

New Florida legislation aims to protect dogs from being abandoned during hurricanes

Lawmakers are now requiring that pet owners include their dogs in hurricane evacuation plans. 

Under the law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in May, abandoning a dog outdoors during a named storm or while an evacuation order is in effect is now classified as a third-degree felony.

The legislation, known as Trooper’s Law, was named in honor of a bull terrier who was found chained to I-75 during Hurricane Milton in 2024. The law aims to ensure that no dog is left in harm’s way during hurricane conditions, an offense that can now result in serious legal consequences.

Penalties under Trooper's Law can result in up to $10,000 in fines and up to 5 years in prison for felony abandonment.

Offenders can also receive first-degree misdemeanor charges for leaving dogs in flood-prone areas or failing to provide food, clean water, and proper exercise.