Florida's Latest News

Freezing temperatures brought over $3.1 billion loss to Florida's agricultural industry

With farmers caught shorthanded and with crops not ready for harvesting, a pair of winter storms at the beginning and end of January potentially inflicted more than $3.17 billion in losses to the state’s agricultural industry.

Winter storms Ezra from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1 and Gianna from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4 brought freezing temperatures for multiple hours to all but Monroe County, which includes the Florida Keys.

In a release, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson described the freeze events as “one of the most damaging” in Florida agriculture history.

The fallout is expected to linger into future harvests, according to preliminary estimates reported Friday from Simpson’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

“Freeze events of this nature have not been experienced by Florida producers for decades,” the report stated. “The freeze struck areas vital to Florida’s production of vegetables and melons, citrus, sugarcane, fruits, horticulture and aquaculture.”

Florida e-bike injuries rising: Local attorney says he’s seeing cases daily as lawmakers push new safety bill

Legislation moving through the Florida Capitol would create new guardrails for electric bike riders, including a sidewalk speed limit, potential age restrictions and a new licensing requirement for the fastest models.

The proposal, House Bill 243, advanced in the Legislature and was unanimously approved by the House Transportation Committee. This comes as Wolfson Children’s Hospital reported 19 cases in January alone involving children injured while riding e-bikes.]

State Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat, said the measure is aimed at addressing a growing number of safety concerns, particularly involving children.

“Across the state of Florida and in communities like mine, we have seen folks who are using e-bikes irresponsibly and children are using e-bikes without any type of guardrails or oversight,” Eskamani said in an interview.

Neal Dunn says he will serve out final term in House

U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn’s Office says he will not leave before the end of his term.

“Congressman Dunn announced last month he will not be seeking re-election. As a dedicated public servant, he will remain in Congress to represent his constituents through the end of this term,” said Communications Director Eleanor Railsback.

The Panama City Republican announced in January he would not seek another term in office, but rumors persisted more recently about whether he would leave much sooner.

That news earlier this month created shockwaves, particularly among Republican leadership when the GOP holds a narrow 218 to 214 seat majority in the U.S. House.

Speaker Mike Johnson has publicly said he would prefer Dunn stay in office until a new Congress is sworn in next year.

Political community mourns passing of former Sen. Charlie Dean

Charlie Dean Sr., a giant in Citrus County politics who served 14 years in the Legislature after four terms as Sheriff, died Monday morning. He was 86.

Dean was born in Jacksonville but grew up in Inverness. He was elected Citrus County Sheriff in 1980, following his father, who held the same office 40 years earlier.

He served four terms, leaving in 1996 for a Senate District 20 run against Anna Cowin. Dean lost, but never gave up his pursuit for higher office.

Dean was elected in 2002 to the House, where he served until 2007. When then-Sen. Nancy Argenziano received a Public Service Commission appointment, Dean won the seat’s Special Election and stayed in the Senate until 2016.

Even after leaving politics, Dean still held high esteem in Citrus County. Dean was a towering figure, often seen wearing a cowboy hat from his ranching days.