Florida's Latest News

Trump endorses Florida Senate President Simpson for agriculture commissioner

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday gave a jolt to the political aspirations of state Senate President Wilton Simpson, saying that he would endorse Simpson if he ran for agriculture commissioner next year.

Simpson has publicly brushed aside questions about whether he will run for the Cabinet-level position that is currently held by Nikki Fried. Fried, the only statewide elected Democrat, is one of several Democrats expected to challenge incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022.

“Wilton Simpson has done an outstanding job as President of the Florida State Senate, and I hope he runs for Florida Agriculture Commissioner in 2022 – he will have my Complete and Total endorsement!” Trump said in a statement. “Wilton has been a great supporter and worked hard to get many good Conservatives elected in Florida. He helped us grow our Republican majority in the Florida State Senate, and gave us a historic win in the 2020 Presidential election.”

DeSantis issues state of emergency as gas hoarding hits amid pipe shutdown

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency as demand for gasoline surged in some areas of Florida and across the U.S. after a ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline, which carries fuel to the nation’s East Coast.

DeSantis signed the order late Tuesday that bans price gouging and relaxes restrictions on trucks, something typically done as a hurricane approaches the state.

“We really do need the federal government to step up and help, and we don’t want to see these long gas lines persist throughout the northern part of our state,” DeSantis said in Jacksonville.

Florida Ranks High For COVID-19 Hospital Admissions, Especially Among Young Adults

The number of people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 is going down in Florida, but new admissions are still higher than in most parts of the country, especially for younger and middle-aged adults.

An analysis of federal data conducted by Jason Salemi, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of South Florida, found Florida ranks fifth in the nation for confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions for the week predating May 8.

The state jumps up to third in the nation for people between 30 and 50 years old.

Florida families to get more school vouchers as DeSantis signs $200M choice expansion

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed into law a $200 million school choice plan that will pave the way for about 61,000 new students to become eligible for taxpayer-funded vouchers that will help families pay for private tuition and other education expenses.

The measure is a continuation of a decades-long push to expand school choice in Florida, a move Republicans support and most Democrats have fought as they advocate for more oversight and accountability for private schools that get state-funded vouchers.

Legislators who attended Tuesday’s bill signing heralded the law as the largest school choice expansion in state history.