Florida's Latest News

Gabriella Passidomo nomination passes first Senate panel

A Senate panel gave the first OK Tuesday for Gabriella Passidomo to serve on the Public Service Commission. Among those casting yea-votes was Passidomo’s mother.

Passidomo is the daughter of Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican who is the Senate President-designate and who sits on the Senate Regulated Industries Committee, the panel that heard Gabriella Passidomo’s confirmation on Tuesday.

DeSantis appointed Gabriella Passidomo to be a commissioner in May, selecting her from a pool of nine applicants. The position pays nearly $136,000 per year.

“It’s been a whirlwind of a six months, in the best ways possible,” Passidomo said. “I’ve learned so much, and I’ve really loved the job and gotten involved in everything that I can from both regulating here at the state and getting involved at the national level with the National Association of Regulatory Commissions.”

Ken Welch wins election to become the first Black mayor in St. Petersburg history

Ken Welch was elected the first Black mayor in St. Petersburg history Tuesday night.

Less than an hour after polls closed, Welch — a Pinellas County commissioner and third-generation resident of St. Petersburg — had bested City Councilman Robert Blackmon, 60% to 40%.

Hundreds of supporters gathered with Welch at the watch party outside the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum in the historic Midtown neighborhood. He spoke about the influence of his father, a former city councilman who received death threats when running for mayor 30 years ago. Welch wore a button from his father's campaign on his suit lapel.

He also honored his mother, Alletha, who sat in the front row as Welch, his wife, Donna, and their two adult daughters joined him on stage.

Alex Andrade, Jayer Williamson to raise cash during Blue Angels air show

Reps. Alex Andrade and Jayer Williamson hope to collect some checks when the Blue Angels fly over Pensacola Beach this weekend.

The Northwest Florida Republicans have planned a fundraiser for the Blue Angels’ — also known as the U.S Navy Flight Demonstration Team — homecoming air show on Nov. 6.

The fundraiser invitation promises an oceanfront view of the final day of festivities, which will feature a full slate of top-tier pilots beginning with the U.S. Navy Training Air Wing SIX at 11:20 a.m. and concluding with the top-billed squad from 2-2:45 p.m.

Andrade and Williamson’s event kicks off a little earlier. Attendees can grab breakfast with the two lawmakers at 9 a.m. at the Pensacola Beach Hilton. They’ll mosey over to watch the air show at 1 p.m.

World's oldest bottlenose dolphin Still missing

Researchers haven’t seen old Nicklo — so named for the nick in her lower dorsal fin — since 2017, when at 67 she was found to be the oldest bottlenose dolphin on record, the Bradenton Herald reports. ​​ ​​

Flashback: Before her disappearance, Nicklo was an active member of the Sarasota Bay dolphin community, which includes about 170 dolphins between the southern end of Tampa Bay and Venice.

No one is sure, but since dolphins tend to stay in the same area for life, Nicklo is presumed dead. She was last spotted in 2017.

Researcher Dr. Randy Wells tells Axios that Sarasota Bay's next-oldest dolphin is in its 50s. There could be unobserved dolphins older than Nicklo out there, but no one has recorded them.