Florida's Latest News

UF unanimously selects Donald Landry, former chairman at Columbia University, to serve as interim president

Donald Landry, former chairman of the Department of Medicine at Columbia University, was approved Monday to serve as interim president of the University of Florida.

With little comment, the University of Florida Board of Trustees backed Landry to replace Kent Fuchs in the interim role as the Gainesville school prepares to restart a presidential search early next year. Fuchs, a former UF president, became the school’s interim leader last year after Ben Sasse resigned as president.

Landry, whose term is set to begin Sept. 1, must be confirmed by the state university system’s Board of Governors next month.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republican leaders frequently target Columbia for what they say is “woke” ideology and the Ivy League school’s handling of pro-Palestine protests after the 2023 attack by Hamas in Israel and retaliation by Israel in Gaza. But Mori Hosseini, chairman of the UF Board of Trustees, said he was “happy to have” Landry as he read the nephrologist’s biography to trustees.

In a news release, Hosseini characterized Landry as having “shown exceptional leadership in academia and beyond, building programs with innovation, energy and integrity.”

Tallahassee mayor hopeful fights residency rule for candidates

Camron Cooper, a political unknown vying to become the next mayor of Tallahassee, gained traction with some city commissioners after pressing them to change a recently passed ordinance that threatens to disqualify him from running.

Cooper, who also goes by Camron Justice, addressed the commission Aug. 20 saying he didn't receive fair notice about the new candidate qualification criteria in an ordinance they passed back in June. The ordinance says that only "registered electors who have resided in the city limits for at least one year are eligible" to run for office.

For his entire life, Cooper has lived less than a mile outside of city limits.

"I love Tallahassee – I was born and raised here," Cooper told the commission. "I cannot stand by while democracy is weakened."

The problem isn't the ordinance but how it was passed, he said. The 1-year requirement is "too restrictive, especially when applied retroactively." He asked the board to considering repealing the ordinance or changing the criteria to be 180 days instead of a full year.

Gov. DeSantis appoints Jim Turner to SWFWMD, reappoints 3 others

Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed or reappointed four people to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD).

Jim Turner, senior counsel at Williams Parker Law Firm, has been appointed, while Jack Bispham, Johnnie Hall and Nancy Watkins have all been reappointed.

Turner is a member of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Government Issues Council. In 2023, he was named Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers. He earned his undergraduate degree in management science and accounting from Duke University and his law degree from the University of Florida.

Bispham owns and operates Red Bluff Plantation and owns Paul’s Parrish. He’s a member of the Sarasota Sportsmen’s Association and previously served as Chair of the Argus Foundation. He earned an undergraduate degree from UF in agriculture.

Hall is a business owner, leading Polk Community Association Management. He previously served as a member of the Polk County Cattleman’s Association and is a former Polk County Commissioner. He holds a degree from Saint Leo University in business administration.

Congressman Randy Fine proposes national park as way of rehabilitating ailing springs

U.S. Rep. Randy Fine explained his proposal for creating a new national park while standing by a clear, freshwater spring surrounded by spiny green palms and spindly oaks. The juxtaposition was intentional − while it may not look it, Florida's springs are ailing.

Fine spoke at an Aug. 25 press conference at Juniper Springs Recreation Area, one of dozens of such spots within the Ocala National Forest. Fine, a Florida Republican, has proposed transforming the national forest into Florida Springs National Park.

The first-term congressman said as he thought about the problem and how he cherished his visits to many of the 63 U.S. national parks, the idea sprang to his mind.

"The bill begins with the fundamental promise that things like what we have behind me, these Florida springs, are as miraculous and amazing as any other natural asset that we have in this country, and they are deserving of our protection," Fine said.

His bill would mandate a U.S. Department of the Interior study of not simply making the forest a national park, but also the feasibility of adding springs in surrounding areas, including in Volusia and Flagler counties, to the future national park.

Ocala National Forest is the oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River.