Florida's Latest News

DeSantis announces $125 million will go toward nursing education

Gov. Ron DeSantis is touting additional funding to get more nurses trained in the state.

DeSantis announced the approval of allocating $125 million toward nursing education programs for the 2022-23 budget at a press conference Monday at Seminole State College's Sanford/Lake Mary campus in Sanford.

DeSantis said $100 million will go toward the creation of Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE), a program to reward colleges and universities for their nursing programs, based on student success.

Funding will include student loan reimbursement and scholarships for nurses, expanding infrastructure at colleges and universities that provide nursing education, and salary and recruitment incentives for nurses within the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

Gov. DeSantis says he’ll support $37M funding increase for cancer research

Appearing in Miami on Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis touted his support for $37 million in increased funding for cancer research and care at three Florida cancer centers.

The Governor also gave the public a brief insight into the cancer treatment journey that he and his wife, First Lady Casey DeSantis, traveled last year in her fight against breast cancer.

DeSantis, who said his mother battled cancer when he was a child, called the increased funds a “really, really big deal” noting that the state now spends $100 million annually on cancer research at Moffitt Cancer Center, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and University of Florida Health Cancer Center.

“We really have confidence in these institutions to be out of a good use of that money and do so in a way that will have a meaningful impact on the lives of the patients,” he said.

Celtics co-owner donates $2M to protect Florida manatees

A co-owner of the Boston Celtics is donating $2 million toward protecting the Florida manatees and their habitat following two seasons of record-breaking manatee mortalities in the state.

Fox Rock Foundation will give $1 million each to the nonprofits Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida and Save the Manatee Club, the groups announced Tuesday. The foundation is a family charity overseen by Celtics co-owner Rob Hale and his wife, Karen. The Hales have a home in Naples.

“Our family feels called to manatee conservation not only because they are intelligent, curious creatures, but also because of the critical role they play in aquatic ecosystems,” Karen Hale said in a statement. “We are proud to partner with both of these incredible organizations that are working tirelessly to protect manatees and improve the health of our oceans and other waterways.”

The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida is using the money to expand current projects to restore the Indian River Lagoon’s overall health by replanting eight acres of vegetation at six sites in the lagoon with promising water quality, according to news release.

Majority of Florida Memorial Day travelers staying in-state

According to AAA, Orlando is the number one travel destination for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend in the U.S.

Most of the tourists are expected to be from right here in the “Sunshine State.”

This year's Memorial Day Travel is not expected to break 2019 numbers which saw 2.3 million holiday weekend travelers in Florida.

With just under 2.2 million expected to travel 50 miles or more from their homes, Visit Orlando reports advance hotel bookings are pacing at 97% of 2019.

Seasons Florida Resort owner Peter Sharma can put his Memorial Day weekend bookings of his Kissimmee hotel in just a few simple words: “It’s amazing. It is insane,” Sharma says looking at his bookings.