Florida's Latest News

Is Ron DeSantis the Future of the Republican Party?

For most of the last year, Ron DeSantis would not indulge the speculation. Yes, he made clear to donors, he might seek the presidency. But pressed with the obvious follow-up — would he still run in 2024 if Donald Trump does? — DeSantis, the governor of Florida, begged off. “He’ll be completely, completely open about whatever, but then the Trump stuff — he suddenly starts to act like he’s being recorded,” Dan Eberhart, a prominent Republican donor and a DeSantis ally, told me in March.

By the summer, though, the governor seemed to be testing the beginnings of a pivot in private settings. He would praise Trump’s record — “You think Ukraine would have been invaded if Donald Trump were president?” — suggesting the former president would win a rematch with President Biden decisively on the policy merits. “But it’s not going to be just the record,” DeSantis has added, according to a person present, performatively ruing this fate. “And that’s a shame.”

Back home, DeSantis-friendly lobbyists have welcomed a growing cottage industry: advising clients who fear becoming the next Disney. “Companies that have otherwise taken big stands on cultural issues are now worried,” Nick Iarossi, a lobbyist and a DeSantis fund-raiser, told me. “You know: ‘Florida’s a big state. This guy could be president one day. How do we stay off the shit list?’” He added, “If you want to make a point, you make a point by punching the biggest guy in the room.”

State Board of Governors will discuss how to spend a $40 million boost for nursing education

State higher-education officials are slated next week to discuss how universities plan to spend $40 million aimed at bolstering the number of “high-quality” nursing graduates in Florida.

The Legislature this year approved spending $100 million to create what’s called the Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers and Learners Through Incentives for Nursing Education fund, or PIPELINE.

Along with money for universities, the PIPELINE fund included $40 million for nursing programs at state colleges and $20 million for nursing education at career and technical centers.

Gov. Ron DeSantis touted the money as part of efforts to boost workforce education.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers $1,000 bonuses to first responders in Jacksonville

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was in town on Monday to deliver $1,000 bonuses to members of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.

At an afternoon news conference at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, DeSantis said the bonuses are just a small way to show support for our first responders and appreciation for their service.

“Because we know how hard you guys have been working, you know, and always it’s a tough job, but particularly since COVID,” DeSantis said.

JFRD Chief Keith Powers spoke, but we also heard from firefighting veteran Chris Stover, who summed up the gesture as a difference-maker for his family.

Florida scientists will study how homeowners affect the water quality of stormwater ponds

Florida researchers are tasked with identifying the benefits of stormwater ponds, and how homeowners are interacting with them.

More than 70,000 of these waterbodies exist across Florida. They capture stormwater runoff, which brings in a lot of street debris and pollution. Plus, they prevent flooding and erosion.

They're engineered to overflow into a chain of consecutive ponds, theoretically cleaning the water more and more before ending up in a preserve or the Gulf of Mexico.

But residents have a complicated relationship with stormwater ponds. Some purchase what are labeled as "waterfront properties" and have the misguided expectation of seeing perfectly manicured green lawns surrounding a body of water clear enough to view the sky in it. However, those qualities are actually a sign that the ponds are being mistreated.