Florida's Latest News

Wilton Simpson makes bid for Agriculture Commissioner official

Senate President Wilton Simpson has officially filed for a chance to become the state’s next Agriculture Commissioner, ending months of speculation surrounding his plans following his final Senate term.

Simpson has long been rumored to want to mount a run for Agriculture Commissioner. Simpson earned much of his fortune in the farming industry before joining the Legislature.

Simpson will enter the contest as a favorite to earn the GOP nomination. First elected to the Senate in 2012, Simpson will have a decade of experience in that body to tout, including his current term as the 2020-22 Senate President. In addition, he has already secured the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, who still holds significant sway among the GOP base.

Trump made his endorsement in May as Simpson was still contemplating a run.

Defense budget proposal pitches $600 million for Northwest Florida military projects

Military projects in Northwest Florida may soon get a $600 million boost under a defense spending bill OK’d by the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.

Under the House’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act, roughly $359 million is slated for construction projects at Eglin Air Force Base.

Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz highlighted the passage Friday, saying the money will support facility upgrades and more.

Gaetz represents the 1st Congressional District and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Federal and state data disagree on Florida's county-level COVID-19 deaths

The Florida Department of Health reported the number of deaths relating to COVID-19 for each county on a weekly basis but stopped providing that after June 2.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports deaths related to COVID-19 on a daily basis for counties nationwide, but that is drawn from state health departments. Florida is among the very few that no longer provide this on a daily basis.

While it might seem possible to determine county-level deaths since June 2 by checking the difference between what the state reported through June 2 and what CDC reports through Aug. 28 — the most recent date available — that calculation holds a surprise: in nearly half of all Florida counties, the number of deaths the CDC reports is smaller than what Florida reported June 2.

FSU Researchers See Encouraging Sign Needed For Rebound Of Apalachicola Bay's Wild Oysters

Apalachicola Bay's wild oysters are showing signs they could rebound after years of decline. But the oyster's recovery is still fragile.

A group of Florida State University researchers is studying Apalachicola Bay's declining ecosystem and oyster reefs. They're called the Apalachicola Bay System Initiative. Earlier this year, the group put oyster shells and limestone into the Bay's waters as part of an experiment. Sandra Brooke is the Initiative's Principal Investigator. She says the experiment is showing a promising sign—baby oysters are settling all over the materials they've set out.

"When you get down to a really low number of adults, the worry is that there's just not enough adults in the system to provide the larvae that can get the system started again. But again, we've seen that that's maybe not the case, so that's encouraging," Brooke says.