DeSantis expands vaccinations to teachers, cops aged 50-plus
Marking a significant change in Florida’s vaccination strategy, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday said teachers and law enforcement officers ages 50 and older will have access to COVID-19 vaccine doses in the coming days as four federally supported vaccination sites open in the state.
Governor: Vaccines to be distributed at CVS
Tuesday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that CVS Health will begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations at 81 select CVS Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy y más, and Navarro Discount Pharmacy locations in 13 counties across Florida, including 67 in Miami-Dade County. The nearest location to Navarre is Escambia County.
Senate GOP committee spends 450K for new digs
The Florida Senate Republicans’ campaign committee paid $450,000 in cash to purchase a restored 120-year-old building in Tallahassee this month, Senate President Wilton Simpson confirmed on Monday.
By the numbers: Counties with the most COVID-19 deaths
Florida on Monday exceeded 30,000 residents deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic started last year. Here are the 15 counties with the most resident deaths:
— Miami-Dade: 5,314
— Palm Beach: 2,412
10 big issues to watch during the 2021 session
The 2021 legislative session will start March 2, with Gov. Ron DeSantis giving the annual State of the State address.
Lawmakers will take up a wide range of issues during the 60-day session, along with negotiating a budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Here are 10 big issues to watch during the session:
Gulf Power customers could face Sally costs
The Florida Public Service Commission next week could approve a proposal that would lead to Gulf Power Co. customers paying $206 million for costs related to Hurricane Sally.
Fried won’t lower flags for Limbaugh
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried intends to defy a call by Gov. Ron DeSantis to lower flags to half-staff to honor conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who died last week.
Prison guard changes pitched for ‘system in crisis’
Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Mark Inch has been making the rounds in Tallahassee to pitch lawmakers on a plan to spend more than $26 million to shorten prison guards’ regular daily work shifts. Inch sells the switch from 12-hour shifts to 8.5-hour shifts, already in effect at roughly a third of Florida’s state-run prisons, […]
DeSantis pushes for election changes
Contending the state needs to strengthen election integrity, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday proposed a series of changes in Florida’s voting process.
DeSantis made the announcement three months after proclaiming that Florida had vanquished the “ghost” of the 2000 presidential recount and other well-documented election problems.
Florida to lower flags for Limbaugh
Florida will lower flags to half-staff after funeral plans are set for conservative media icon Rush Limbaugh, a Palm Beach resident who died Wednesday after a battle with cancer, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday.