Florida's Latest News

DeSantis’ new climate change plan: $270 million for first wave of statewide projects

Florida is set to commit hundreds of millions to adapt to the impacts of climate change — with the promise of much more money on the way.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the “Always Ready Florida” strategy at an afternoon press conference in Oldsmar, near Tampa, on Tuesday. He said the 3-year plan includes $270 million in state money for more than 76 projects around the state.

That money would help build stormwater pumps and living shorelines to resist storm surge, as well as lay utility cables underground and storm-proof important facilities like fire stations, wastewater treatment centers and libraries around the state. It also could go toward buying out flood-prone homes and vacant land that borders sensitive environmental spaces.

Ron DeSantis’ odds surge in 2024 presidential betting market

Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to attract attention from people wagering money on presidential possibilities for 2024, with one offshore bookie touting “strong backing” from bettors Tuesday.

The Irish bookmaker BoyleSports contended a “new burst of support arrived this week” for DeSantis.

“The Florida Republican is attracting support to win the 2024 election with BoyleSports trimming his odds into 15/2 from 12/1 following strong backing. Former President Donald Trump has yet to officially confirm he will attempt to oust Joe Biden in three years’ time, but he is (the) 5/4 favorite to be the Republican candidate contesting the election, with closest challenger Ron DeSantis now 4/1 from 5/1,” BoyleSports wrote.

Florida’s first omicron case confirmed in Tampa, second case awaiting CDC confirmation

Omicron was found in Florida for the first time at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, a Florida Department of Health spokesperson in Hillsborough County confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel Tuesday.

“The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County has received confirmation from the State on the reported Omicron variant at the VA Hospital in Tampa; furthermore, we are actively working with the VA in response to this confirmed report,” said spokesperson Ryan L. Terry in an email.

The Florida Department of Health’s sequencing efforts also detected another possible case of omicron in the state. The data have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation, Terry said. He declined to share the location of this presumptive case.

Gulf Power bills are about to increase due to rising fuel costs. What to expect:

State regulators Tuesday approved allowing Florida Power & Light to collect an additional $810 million from customers in 2022 amid higher-than-expected costs for natural gas that plays a key role in fueling power plants.

The decision by the state Public Service Commission will add almost  $7 a month to the bills of residential customers who use 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. The increases will start in January.

FPL and other utilities, which are heavily dependent on natural gas, have grappled in recent months with higher fuel costs. Utilities pass along such costs to consumers and are not supposed to earn profits on them.