Florida's Latest News

Francis Suarez says Miami welcomes and will be ready to host G20 Summit

Miami will now be at the center of much of the Free World next year, as the G20 Summit is set to be held in the South Florida metropolis. Leaders say they welcome the event and will be more than ready.

G20 is the acronym for the Group of 20, which represents the world’s leading countries with the largest economies. President Donald Trump announced the meeting will take place next year and will be held at his Doral golf resort in Doral, which is in Miami.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez stated that the city will be more than ready to host the international meeting and conference. It’s the first time a Republican-led city will host the event.

Suarez said the event will be a historic event for Miami.

“Miami is honored to host the G20 summit, marking a historic moment for both Miami and the nation. This summit underscores Miami’s growing influence as a global hub for business, culture, and diplomacy,” Suarez said in a prepared statement.

State grant helps Florida veterans get dental treatment

A grant from the Florida Veterans Foundation is helping vets across the state gain access to dental care they haven't been able to afford or qualify for.

Given to the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, the organization has helped 120 veterans get the dental help they need.

“These veterans can be zero-service connected,” Tami Marti, the Director of Veterans Programs for the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, said. “And also, it’s done by an eligibility through (a) financial 300% below the poverty guideline. So, it opens it up to be able to see more veterans.”

Army veteran Eric Tranholm is one of the veterans who is now able to get the help he’s needed. 

During his third appointment, he already knows what to expect. 

“I’m getting my permanent crowns put in today, and I might be getting fitted for my partials,” he said. 

Jimmy Patronis raises an alert to Floridians over bogus arrest warrant scheme

A new scam involving bogus federal warrant notices in Florida is gaining traction, and Rep. Jimmy Patronis is warning residents to be on the lookout for the trap.

Patronis, a Panhandle Republican for the First Congressional District seat, issued a news release detailing the scam that involves fraudulent federal warrant notices that try to pressure victims into paying money so they can get out of being arrested. The fraud includes fake documents that appear to be issued by the FBI or U.S. District Court, which are being used by criminals who claim to be representatives of law enforcement.

The documents also include fake letters ordering recipients to pay bond payments using Bitcoin, debit cards, or other mobile applications so that they can avoid arrest. There are also additional threats of being arrested if they don’t fork over money.

The fake documents are elaborate and even use bogus case numbers and signatures, along with questionable formatting, purported to come from law enforcement and court officials.

FSU to host event highlighting public service of Claude Pepper

Florida State University (FSU) is hosting a celebration of the life of one of Florida’s foremost advocates of senior rights in the state’s history this week.

The university in the state capital, along with the Claude Pepper Foundation, is marking the 125th anniversary of the birth of Sen. Claude Pepper on Friday. Pepper was a monumental figure in Washington, D.C., where he was a passionate advocate for the rights of senior citizens, not only in Florida but across America.

The commemorative event is being held on Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Broad Auditorium in the Claude Pepper Center Building on the FSU Campus. The event will involve keynote speeches from the likes of James C. Clark, a senior lecturer at the University of Central Florida, and presentations explaining Pepper’s influence on FSU and why his name is on the FSU library and museum.

There will also be a discussion on the legacy of his public service, health care, and advocacy for older adults.