Florida News Archive

Through Sunday, Florida totaled 1,031,795 COVID-19 vaccinations. Gov. Ron DeSantis has focused heavily on vaccinating people ages 65 and older. Here is a breakdown of vaccinations by age group:

— Ages 16 to 24: 18,053

President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday rolled out a sweeping $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan that, if adopted by Congress, would direct about $400 billion toward directly controlling the coronavirus.

It’s a big lift, even as Democrats prepare to assume a narrow majority in the U.S. Senate. And already some Republicans — including Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott — have questioned portions of the plan, especially the extra financial help for states. Scott said that, while there were some “good things” in the proposal, it would result in bailouts for “wasteful, liberal states.”

The state’s rocky rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations came under scrutiny this week, as Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees made the rounds of House and Senate committees.

Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, chided Rivkees, saying Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration hasn’t been open with the public about the effort to get shots in arms.

House and Senate committees this week kicked off meetings in advance of the 2021 legislative session, as a pandemic-created “new normal” transformed the Capitol and neighboring environs.

Adams Street, where restaurants, the members-only Governors Club and swanky offices are situated just steps from the Capitol, typically would have been abuzz.

State lawmakers, advised this week about limited tax dollars amid the COVID-19 pandemic, have already proposed 43 hometown projects worth more than $45 million. 

And hundreds more are expected before the 2021 legislative session starts in early March.