Florida's Latest News

‘Urgent’ request sent to states in push for coronavirus vaccine delivery by Nov. 1

Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sent a letter last week to the nation’s governors with an urgent request. The Trump administration wanted them to do everything in their power to eliminate hurdles for vaccine distribution sites to be fully operational by Nov. 1.

The Aug. 27 letter, obtained by McClatchy, asked governors to fast-track permits and licenses for new distribution sites. “The normal time required to obtain these permits presents a significant barrier to the success of this urgent public health program,” Redfield wrote.

“CDC urgently requests your assistance in expediting applications for these distribution facilities,” he continued, “and, if necessary, asks that you consider waiving requirements that would prevent these facilities from becoming fully operational by November 1, 2020.”

Gov. DeSantis suggests Florida may be inching toward Phase 3 reopening

Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested Tuesday that Florida may be inching toward a Phase 3 reopening.

Speaking to reporters from the Space Coast, the Governor raised the possibility after unveiling a new VISIT FLORIDA tourism campaign. The $13 million campaign is designed jumpstart Florida’s stalled tourism industry.

“We got to just be a little bit more dynamic,” DeSantis said. “Some of those rigid phases were done in April. We’ve learned a lot since then. In this part of Florida, there’s not a whole lot that folks – I think they can do pretty much do whatever they need to.”

Ron DeSantis exudes confidence as VISIT FLORIDA encourages in-state tourism

VISIT FLORIDA is releasing a new ad encouraging Floridians to vacation in the state, culminating a week and a half that saw Gov. Ron DeSantis showcase the state’s leisure industry.

The COVID-19 pandemic looks like it will end the streak of record-breaking annual tourism in the state. But the Governor has spent the last couple of weeks attempting to kick start what is normally the state’s largest industry.

Outbreaks have been on the decline in Florida since mid-July after the summer resurgence. New cases, hospital metrics and, more recently, daily deaths, have been trending in the right direction.

Cyberattackers target Miami-Dade students

Cyberattackers disrupted some 350,000 Miami-Dade students as they attempted to log into online classes, school officials said, and the U.S. Secret Service and FBI have been brought in to investigate.

The attacks, which began Monday morning, followed a crippling software glitch that disrupted the first day of the fall semester.

“There was a malicious, well-orchestrated, complex attempt at derailing—destroying—the connection, which is essential for our students and teachers,” Superintendent Alberto Carvalho told reporters on Tuesday.