Florida's Latest News

AIF Endorses Ralph Massullo in Senate District 11 Special Election

The Associated Industries of Florida on Monday endorsed former state Rep. Ralph Massullo in the special election for Senate District 11, adding support from a campaign that has already drawn backing from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In a statement, AIF President and CEO Brewster Bevis cited Massullo’s background in medicine, business, and public service as reasons for the endorsement.

“As a physician, a business owner, and a former state representative, Ralph has been a leader in his community for more than two decades and has served his neighbors admirably,” said AIF President and CEO Brewster Bevis. “During his time in the legislature, he proved he will fight for the best interests of not only his fellow Floridians, but the business community as well. Ralph understands the importance of ensuring Florida’s economy continues to thrive, so its residents can prosper, and that’s why AIF is proud to extend our support to his Senate campaign.”

Massullo is running to succeed Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, who was appointed last week as Florida’s chief financial officer. The district includes portions of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties.

Massullo served in the Florida House from 2016 through 2024 and chaired several health care and appropriations subcommittees.

“Florida’s business community is the engine of our state’s prosperity—driving innovation, creating jobs, and powering the economic freedom that makes Florida a model for the nation,” said Massullo. “I am proud of the work the legislature has done to make Florida the best place to start and run a business, and I am grateful for AIF’s support.”

Does Florida have the best school system in the US? See where it ranks in this list

Every parent wants to give their child the best education possible; however, the quality of public-school systems varies widely from state to state, depending on the amount of funding.

Is Florida among the best school systems in the country?

To determine the top-performing school systems in America, Personal finance website WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 32 key metrics.

“Getting enough funding is essential for a productive school system, but simply having more money doesn’t guarantee success. How funds are applied also plays a big role in how good a school system is, as does the quality of educators, other professionals and the curriculum," Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, said. "In addition, schools need to focus not just on test scores but also on making sure that students feel safe, comfortable and cared for.”

To determine the best and worst states for public-school education, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key dimensions: “Quality” and “Safety.”

On notice: Gov. DeSantis, Blaise Ingoglia begin push for local audits in Democratic-controlled areas

Gov. Ron DeSantis and his “warrior” Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia are taking their Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) show on the road.

Appearing in Fort Lauderdale and Gainesville, the Governor and his latest appointment rolled out probes starting July 31 on pay, contracts and socially progressive policies taking taxpayer funds.

DeSantis noted in Broward that this swing to announce “on-site inspections and audits” of local and county governments was part of the “DOGE’ing of local government” and an effort to look at “problems in local governments” amid “complaints” he has heard.

At both stops, DeSantis promised changes.

In Gainesville, he joked that left-leaning Zohran Mamdani, a New York mayoral candidate, “probably could get elected” in the liberal college town. DeSantis then pointed out purportedly profligate spending that will be spotted by “real auditors on the ground” in a “thorough review.”

Gainesville has increased its operating budget by $90 million a year off the strength of an 86% ad valorem increase since 2020, DeSantis said.

UF researchers develop mRNA vaccine that helps immune system target cancer

An experimental mRNA vaccine developed at the University of Florida has shown the ability to supercharge the immune system and shrink tough-to-treat tumors in mice — even without targeting a specific cancer type.

A study, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, suggests the vaccine could one day serve as a universal cancer treatment, especially when paired with existing immunotherapy drugs like checkpoint inhibitors.

Instead of zeroing in on cancer mutations, the UF team designed the vaccine to mimic how the body fights viruses. This sparked a strong immune response, making the tumors easier for the body to recognize and attack — especially when paired with a common cancer drug that helps the immune system do its job.

“This is a proof of concept that even a nonspecific mRNA vaccine can produce tumor-specific effects,” said Dr. Elias Sayour, the UF pediatric oncologist who led the study. “It hints at the possibility of a broadly effective, off-the-shelf cancer vaccine.”

The strategy builds on Sayour’s work using targeted mRNA vaccines in brain cancer patients. This time, researchers used a generalized version of the vaccine, similar in design to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines but aimed at jumpstarting immune activity rather than targeting a virus or tumor.