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Gov. DeSantis says Florida state parks development plans not approved by him, FLDEP will go ‘back to the drawing board’

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that a controversial plan to build hotels, pickleball courts, and other developments at Florida state parks was “half-baked” and not “ready for prime time.”

DeSantis said the plan was not approved by him and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FLDEP), which announced the “Great Outdoors Initiative” on Aug. 19, will go “back to the drawing board.”

“I never saw that,” he added.

Wednesday was the first time DeSantis addressed the plan that has sparked multiple protests across the state.

“Here’s the thing, I’d rather not spend any money on this, right? I mean, if people don’t want improvements, then don’t do it,” DeSantis said during an unrelated news conference with law enforcement officials.

DeSantis spotlights the border and fentanyl trafficking during Polk County media show

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, recently returned from a Florida State football game in Ireland, stood before enough law-enforcement officers Wednesday to form an entire offense and defense.

A sign affixed to a podium read “LAW & ORDER” and bore an image of an alligator as DeSantis stood in a large conference room at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office headquarters for a media event. Polk Sheriff Grady Judd and Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor joined about two dozen law-enforcement leaders and officers flanking the governor. Mark Glass, commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, also attended.

DeSantis and the other speakers, including Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, used the gathering to promote the state as a bastion of order, in contrast to other states. They decried what they called an “open” southern border and warned about the dangers of the illegal drug fentanyl entering the country from the south.

DeSantis did not announce any new initiatives but touted the successes of law enforcement, bolstered by funding provided through the SAFE — state assistance for fentanyl eradication program — program.

Millions of Floridians in need of affordable housing, says new report

The Florida Housing Coalition has called for collaboration among government, private, and nonprofit sectors to help solve the current “housing crisis.”

“We don’t have enough affordable housing in Florida,” read the organization’s 2024 Home Matters report, released Monday at the organization’s 37th Annual Statewide Affordable Housing Conference at the Rosen Center Hotel in Orlando.

The report found that at least 2.4 million families in Florida are cost burdened, meaning more than 30% of their income is spent on just rent and utilities. Of those families, 1.3 million are considered low-income households and were reported to be severely cost burdened — meaning they spend at least half of their income just to keep a home with power and running water.

That doesn’t account for transportation, groceries, and other basic living expenses.

Florida Housing Coalition CEO Ashon Nesbitt said Florida needs more affordable housing but also ways to reduce living costs for current renters and homeowners, as they live through record-high inflation amid stagnant wages.

University of Florida, Florida State University ranked among top public universities by Forbes

The University of Florida (UF) and Florida State University (FSU) were ranked among the top public universities in the United States in Forbes’ latest rankings, released on Wednesday, which measure value, alumni earnings, and low student debt.

UF was ranked fourth among public universities nationwide. According to Forbes, UF graduates earn a median salary of $56,398 six years after enrolling, which rises to $123,700 ten years after graduation. The publication also noted that the school was named a “New Ivy” earlier this year for “admitting top talent” and earning praise from employers for producing “high-achieving, hard-working graduates.” Forbes Advisor also listed UF as the country’s best military-friendly online college of 2024.

“The University of Florida accomplishes great things, and we are not slowing down,” Mori Hosseini, chair of the UF board of trustees, said in a prepared statement. “This ranking is another recognition of our world-changing mission as an elite and practical university. This board of trustees moves forward when we dare to be bold.”