Tag Archives: Ron DeSantis

The Miami Herald reports: Tallahassee Leon County prosecutors say there is an open criminal investigation relating to information a lawmaker provided concerning the Hope Florida Foundation. In response to a request by the Herald/Times for Hope Florida Foundation-related records that prosecutors received from state Rep. Alex Andrade, the records custodian for State Attorney Jack Campbell said the information couldn’t be …

Florida Politics reports: Speaking in Tampa, DeSantis complained about benchmarks that can qualify states for federal dollars, explaining that to “change your behavior to get crumbs from the federal government” is not “something that you want to do.” “They did this infrastructure bill, and you get the bill and they try to give you money. But then you’ve got to …

The Tallahassee Democrat reports: As of July 1, it’ll be against the law to fluoridate water in Florida. On May 6 in Miami, Gov. Ron DeSantis, accompanied by Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, signed the “Florida Farm Bill” (SB 700), which prevents local municipalities from adding fluoride to their water. During his press conference, behind a …

“We’re ready, willing and able to take it to the next level. We have submitted plans to DHS to say if this is approved, we will go off to the races. And we will be able to do really from soup to nuts, from apprehension to detention, even putting some of our people in the National Guard in line to …

CNN reports: Lawmakers in Florida approved a bill to prohibit certain additives in drinking water, effectively banning fluoride, and the measure now goes to Gov. Ron DeSantis for a signature. If it’s finalized, Florida will become the second state to ban fluoride in municipal drinking water. The Florida Farm Bill includes language banning the use of any additive in a …

Fresh Take Florida reports: Florida’s new Halo Law, the controversial statute intended to protect law enforcement from harassment, went into effect at the start of this year. Now the first people arrested and prosecuted under it say they were left in the dark. At least 11 people so far have been arrested on charges of violating the new law, which …

Florida Politics reports: As First Lady Casey DeSantis continues to draw scrutiny along with Hope Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis is urging people to differentiate that program’s “smashing success” from the finances of the Hope Florida Foundation. “I think what they’re doing with this Foundation is they’re trying to smear the program by implication and trying to smear the First Lady, …

The Miami Herald reports: The $10 million that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration diverted to a state-created charity last year consisted of Medicaid dollars owed to state and federal taxpayers, contrary to what the governor and other officials have publicly asserted. Three years ago, lawyers working with the state drew up a settlement agreement that said Florida’s largest Medicaid contractor, Centene, …

The Miami Herald reports: A federal judge on Friday said she was “astounded” that Florida authorities violated her order blocking them from enforcing a new state law that targets undocumented immigrants who enter the state. During a hearing in Miami federal court, it was disclosed that as many as 15 arrests have been made by Florida law enforcement officers over …

“Casey and I stand in solidarity and are praying for the entire Florida State community. We’re mourning the two individuals who lost their lives in this tragic attack, and we wish well of those who are currently recovering in the hospital. “This killer must and will be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law. I want to …

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports: A New College of Florida marketing director was arrested Tuesday night for exposing his sexual organs, Manatee County officials say. The incident marks one of four arrests for indecent exposure in Sarasota and Manatee Counties related to 47-year-old Frederick Piccolo Jr. He previously worked as the spokesperson for Gov. Ron DeSantis and the director of marketing, …

The Hill reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Tuesday’s special election in the state’s 6th Congressional District is not a referendum on President Trump’s first few months back in office. “If there’s an underperformance, [political media] is going to say, ‘See it shows the voters are rejecting [Trump].’ It has nothing to do with that,” DeSantis, who previously represented …

The Florida Alligator reports: When Gov. Ron DeSantis hand-picked Joseph Ladapo as Florida’s surgeon general in September 2021, the role came with a second high-profile appointment: a tenured faculty position at UF. But Ladapo’s colleagues still aren’t sure what he does to earn his salary at the university. Some say not much. UF fast-tracked Ladapo into a $337,000-a-year contract as …

Florida Politics reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis likes DOGE so much he ripped it off for his own policy proposals this year, starting a DOGE Task Force of his own. But he’s voicing some criticisms of how the federal effort is operating. During a talk in Idaho, DeSantis cited what he called a “dustup about the National Weather Service,” referring to …

Fox News reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants President Donald Trump to tap Sunshine State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo as CDC director. DeSantis contends that the public health official could do more for the state at the CDC than he can now. “Overhauling the CDC would be beneficial to FL. Joe could do more for FL as CDC Director …

Florida Politics reports: The Florida Governor tried on his wrestling promoter hat Friday as he suggested the Sunshine State could host an unlikely faceoff between former Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz and Tennessee politico Glen Jacobs, who worked as a wrestler in Smoky Mountain Wrestling and the WWE as characters that include the Unabombe and Kane (for which he is …

Florida Politics reports: Florida’s Governor says jobs for immigrants come at the expense of gainful employment for native born youth. “What’s wrong with expecting our young people to be working part time now? That’s how it used to be when I was growing up,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a discussion at New College. “Why do we say we need …

Florida Politics reports: Florida’s Governor is recommending his Surgeon General for yet another job in the Donald Trump administration. Ron DeSantis believes Dr. Joseph Ladapo would be a “fantastic selection” to helm the CDC. The recommendation is timely, as former Congressman Dave Weldon did not move forward in the process due to insufficient support from Senate Republicans. If this feels …

The Tallahassee Democrat reports: Less than half of young LGBTQ Floridians feel accepted in their communities, according to a new report released by The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project, a nonprofit that provides crisis support for LGBTQ young people, surveyed almost 1,000 young LGBTQ Floridians about their mental health, and 48% felt the community they live in was accepting of …

The New York Times reports: Florida’s insurance regulator has demanded an unusually intrusive trove of data on millions of prescription drugs filled in the state last year, including the names of patients taking the medications, their dates of birth and doctors they’ve seen. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation in January sought this information from pharmacy benefit managers like UnitedHealth’s …