Florida's Latest News

DeSantis wants cops, other first responders to help fill teaching vacancies

After giving military veterans easier access to temporary teaching certificates, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday said he wants state legislators to expand that same option for law enforcement officers and other first responders next year.

The goal is to help Florida schools fill vacant teaching positions — which amount to nearly 9,000 in schools across the state, according to the most recent data from the Florida Department of Education. But the governor says the proposal also will support and incentivize law enforcement officers and other first responders, like paramedics and firefighters, to go into the teaching profession.

“Just like we do for veterans, we will do for the other first responders,” DeSantis said at a news conference in New Port Richey on Tuesday morning. “We will waive the exam fees for the state certification program.”

Florida receives $1.5 million grant for rural health workforce training

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a grant of $1,545,000 to CommunityHealth IT, Inc. at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to the HHS investment report. The Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Program will be maintained with the use of the allocated funds.

The financing is a part of a $60 million commitment made by the Department of Health and Human Services to workforce development initiatives for rural areas nationwide. According to the department’s release, the awards include $46 million from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan to “increase health care capacity in rural and tribal communities.”

“Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we have significantly improved access to health care for the millions of families who live in rural America. Our work doesn’t stop here: with these funds, we can continue working to ensure rural communities have the support they need,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra

USF, seeking more stature, says $50M from state would go a long way

The goal has been on the University of South Florida’s wish list for more than a decade now — joining the nation’s premier league of more than 60 research institutions.

Entry into the Association of American Universities is by invitation only. But in its state budget request for next year, USF is hoping a $50 million allocation can help it get in.

After a historic 2022 budget year in which USF received more than $245 million in legislative funds, a board of trustees work group this week approved a list of requests for next year that amount to another big ask.

On top of the $50 million, the university will ask for $20 million to fund a planned oceanographic science center in St. Petersburg, to be followed by annual requests over the next three years totaling $60 million. Officials at USF are spreading out their requests for the center after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a lump sum $75 million allocation earlier this year.

State university system Board of Governors announce two finalists for Chancellor position

The state university Board of Governors on Thursday announced two finalists — Dr. Lori Cromwell and Ray Rodrigues — to succeed outgoing Chancellor Marshall Criser.

Rodrigues, who is employed at Florida Gulf Coast University, has served in the Senate representing Lee County since 2020 and is not seeking re-election. Cromwell, meanwhile, serves as the Chief Business Officer for Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, according to the university’s website.

News Service of Florida reports that the search committee members pointed to issues such as Rodrigues’ experience with the university system and Cromwell’s financial background in selecting them for interviews.