Florida's Latest News

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announces four-day holiday weekends for state workers

Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday gave state workers an end-of-the-year holiday surprise: A couple of four-day weekends to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

Since the two holidays fall on Saturday this year, typically a day off for many state workers, employees have the Friday before off as part of the paid holiday observations in their collective bargaining agreement.

But DeSantis said he will also close state offices on two Thursdays, the 23rd and 30th, as part of the holiday observance. 

“Our state employees worked hard throughout the year to ensure that Floridians were free to earn a living, to operate businesses, and to choose educational options tailored for their children,” the governor said in a statement. The extra time off will provide employees "with well-deserved time to spend the holiday season with their loved ones."

Enterprise Florida begins search for new leader

Enterprise Florida, the state’s business-recruitment agency, is undertaking a 90-day national search for a new president, a position typically appointed by the governor.

The Enterprise Florida Board of Directors on Wednesday also formally named Marc Adler, the agency’s deputy secretary of commerce, as interim leader.

Adler has been at the helm since Jamal Sowell stepped down as president and CEO in October to prepare for specialized training with the U.S. Navy Reserve. Adler said he viewed the 90-day appointment as more than a “caretaker” role.

“I know that to keep pace with our governor, and the shared wisdom of this board, we have no time to pause, because time is consistently working against us,” Adler said. “On behalf of the professional staff of Enterprise Florida, I pledge to you that we are heading into the new year with strength and a clear result we want to manufacture in this state. We want to double down on economic diversification and innovation. We want to empower rural Florida. We want to support small- and minority-owned businesses. We want to expand our export opportunities for Florida. We want to tell Florida’s story of broad-based economic freedom.”

Monday's Florida COVID-19 update: 7-day case averages and hospitalizations are on the rise

Florida has reported 3,865 COVID-19 cases and 66 new deaths, 35 of which occurred in the last two weeks, according to Sunday’s report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on Miami Herald calculations of CDC data released Monday.

In all, Florida has recorded at least 3,717,079 confirmed COVID cases and 62,073 deaths. In the past seven days, the state has added 41 deaths and 2,106 cases per day, on average, according to Herald calculations of CDC data. The 7-day case average is the highest since Oct. 21.

The CDC rates the community transmission for each South Florida county as “substantial.”

Tampa is opening a new permanent shelter for homeless residents

Homelessness is prevalent across the country, including in Tampa. But area officials are working on solutions to bring residents out of poverty.

Some of Tampa's homeless residents began moving into tents at a new permanent shelter that opened Monday in East Tampa. The complex will eventually house up to 300 people — for as long as they need to stay.

The site is being run by the City of Tampa and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Residents will live in tents for now, but the complex will start moving residents into cottages in February.

The “Hope Cottages” are small structures that provide occupants with electricity, heat, and air conditioning. The shelter will also provide residents with support services such as daily meals, basic medical and dental care and counseling.