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Cha-ching! Gov. DeSantis hands out $5K bonuses to new law enforcement recruits

Gov. Ron DeSantis handed out another round of $5,000 law enforcement recruitment bonuses as the state’s program hit a major milestone, he said.

Calling it “one of the most significant things that we’ve been able to do to show our appreciation for law enforcement,” DeSantis touted the state giving more than 8,700 bonuses since the program began in 2022.

DeSantis passed out 40 checks to employees from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and announced 715 more checks are in the mail this week to law enforcement officials across the state.

“You net $5,000, so we put in more for the taxes and everything like that,” DeSantis said. “You know, Uncle Sam is Uncle Sam.”

The majority of the new recruits are Floridians joining the profession for the first time. Others have transferred to the Sunshine State from other major U.S. cities, such as Chicago, Atlanta and New York City, DeSantis said.

New Miami U.S. Attorney sworn in by Attorney General Bondi in Washington

Former Miami-Dade County Judge Jason A. Reding Quiñones was sworn in Wednesday as the new U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

But the afternoon ceremony making his appointment by President Donald Trump official didn’t happen in the district’s home base, Miami, according to tradition. Nor was he sworn in by the district’s chief judge, which has been customary for decades.

Reding Quiñones was administered the oath of office by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi at the Justice Department in Washington — indicating that the nation’s first top federal prosecutor confirmed by the Senate earlier this month will be an ardent loyalist as the Trump administration carries out its agenda against illegal immigrants, gangs and drug traffickers.

“I think it’s unusual, if not rare — in the old days, the chief judge would swear in the U.S. Attorney,” said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond who carefully follows presidential nominations. “I’m wondering how the judges in the Southern District will feel about this. It seems like an unnecessary affront to them.”

The FAMU Foundation will supplement salaries of some members of President Johnson's leadership team

The Florida A&M University Foundation has agreed to supplement the salaries of President Marva Johnson's leadership team. The move comes at the expense of the school's famed Marching 100 band. But officials say that cut is just temporary.

Under a new budget passed during a special meeting Tuesday, foundation members agreed to shift about $400,000 dollars that had been earmarked for the band—zeroing out the foundation's line for the Marching 100—and instead allocating $300,000 to executive compensation and $100,000 to the Office of the President for fundraising.

Officials say the University's budget will make up for the cut to the band. During the meeting, Johnson said she and Chief Financial Officer Nichole Murray are committed to funding the band at full capacity.

The shift is happening because of a state law that says Florida's public universities can only pay salaries of up to $200,000 to university presidents and $250,000 to university executives. Johnson earns $650,000 plus housing and car allowances, a 3 percent annual raise, and a guaranteed faculty post when her presidency ends. But right now, the foundation is only paying $35,500 toward Johnson's salary package, because the legislature agreed to allow the FAMU Board of Trustees to allocate money for her salary – just one time – from the university's operating expenses.

Veteran law enforcement leader Matt Walsh to helm Department of Juvenile Justice

Gov. Ron DeSantis has named Matt Walsh as the new Secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), tapping a veteran law enforcement leader with nearly three decades of experience to oversee the state agency.

In a statement accompanying an appointment, the Governor said he is confident Walsh “will serve Florida well” in his coming role.

“He will continue the great work of the department to ensure the safety of those in their custody and care and improve outcomes for Florida’s at-risk youth,” DeSantis said.

Walsh, in turn, thanked DeSantis for entrusting him to lead the DJJ.

“I look forward to working with DJJ’s dedicated staff and partners,” he said, “to build stronger youth, stronger families, and safer communities in Florida.”

Walsh comes to the Secretary job after serving as Deputy Executive Director for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), where he led the Public Safety Command that oversees a host of subagencies, including the Capitol Police and Protective Services, Information and Technology, High Tech Cyber, Targeted Violence Prevention and Officer Wellness divisions.