Florida's Latest News

Ono blocked as University of Florida’s next president by state board

Florida’s highest university board voted Tuesday to block the University of Florida from selecting Santa Ono as its next president.

It is the first time in the Board of Governors’ 20-year history that members have overturned a university’s presidential selection.

The 10-6 vote, with one member absent, came after a monthlong campaign by conservative politicians and activists who opposed Ono’s prior stances on diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of Michigan, and his handling of pro-Palestine protests in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Ono and UF Board of Trustees chairperson Mori Hosseini quickly left the meeting through a side door, escorted by police. When approached by reporters, Hosseini declined to take questions. Ono didn’t look back.

The downvote sends UF back to the drawing board on picking a qualified leader — which will be much more difficult now, said Amanda Phalin, a former faculty representative on the board.

Budget conference: Lawmakers tighten leash on executive branch, add reporting requirements for allocations

'New reporting requirements throughout the budget will safeguard taxpayer dollars and improve accountability.'

A trend is emerging in Florida’s proposed budgets, as the House and Senate continue to negotiate: For many funding pots allocated to the executive branch, agencies will be required to report back on how they’re using the money effectively.

Add that to the list of ways lawmakers have looked to push back against the Governor’s Office this year, from rejecting a proposed immigration plan during a Special Session to House lawmakers vetoing moves by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the chambers offering competing financial relief plans.

For instance, the Senate would attach conditions to $6.8 million in nonrecurring funds allocated to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for an information technology modernization project.

“The department shall submit quarterly project status reports to the Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the chair of the House Budget Committee no later than thirty days from the close of the previous quarter,” reads the latest Senate budget proviso.

Budget conference: Senate offers to meet at $50M for Hometown Heroes amid haggling over housing

That's half what Gov. DeSantis wanted and a third of what the Senate originally proposed.

The Senate appears willing to compromise on funding for the Hometown Heroes Program

The Senate in its initial budget proposed budget included $150 million for the program, three times the $50 million budgeted by appropriators in the House. But the latest Senate Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Appropriations Committee offer shows the upper chamber bringing funding to House levels.

That means the program could end up with half the $100 million Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed in his own budget ahead of Session. DeSantis has often cited the program’s success in attracting police officers to the state. DeSantis’ budget also called for extending the program to members of the Florida State Guard.

As part of the Live Local Act, the program was expanded last year from helping first responders and other public employees to assisting any qualified first-time homebuyers by providing loans to assist with down payments, closing costs and new mortgages.

Stu Sandler to take over as Rick Scott’s Chief of Staff

He will succeed Craig Carbone in the role.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott will bring on a new chief of staff next week.

The Naples Republican announced he has hired Stu Sandler, a partner at OnMessage Inc., to succeed Craig Carbone as his Chief of Staff.

Carbone, who has held the role since 2020, will stay on the job until the end of the week. He worked for Scott both in the Senate and in the Florida Governor’s office as Deputy Chief of Staff.

“It is an incredible honor to congratulate my friend and Chief of Staff, Craig Carbone, as he takes the next steps in his career after years of public service when I was Florida’s Governor and in my U.S. Senate office,” Scott said.

“Craig has been an incredible leader for our team as my Chief of Staff and an integral part of our success. He has led our constituent services team to become the best in the nation, helped the passage of legislation that made our state safer and more prosperous, and worked tirelessly to make life better for Floridians.”