May 9, 2024
News Service of Florida
Florida citrus industry continues to get squeezed
Production of Florida oranges is now forecast to be about 17 percent below last season’s output, while the industry has seen a surge in demand linked to people staying home...
Read more »
Published on 12/11/2020
Florida to receive nearly 180,000 initial doses of COVID-19 vaccine
Florida will receive 179,400 doses of Pfizer Inc.’s vaccine in its first shipment from the federal government, Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a video recording released Thursday evening.
More than...
Read more »
Published on 12/11/2020
DeSantis outlines COVID-19 vaccination plan
Participating in a White House vaccine summit on Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis described his COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan for the state.
DeSantis said the state’s proposal calls for vaccinating...
Read more »
Published on 12/9/2020
Space Florida makes the case for putting U.S. Space Command at Patrick AFB
Space Florida leaders on Tuesday praised the aerospace facilities and commercial operations in the state, as site selectors inspected Patrick Air Force Base as a finalist to be the permanent...
Read more »
Published on 12/8/2020
870,000+ Floridians Pick Obamacare Plans In November
More than 870,000 Florida residents in November selected new health insurance plans for 2021 through the federal insurance exchange.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released data Thursday showing...
Read more »
Published on 12/7/2020
State still hailing electric bus applicants
An effort to remove older diesel buses from Florida roads has gotten off to a slow start.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection this week extended its “Electric School Buses...
Read more »
Published on 12/3/2020
Florida businesses ask Legislature for tax cuts, immunity from COVID-19 lawsuits
A coalition of business interests has released its wish list for Gov. Ron DeSantis and state legislators to consider in 2021, including cutting taxes, revamping alcohol laws and providing broad...
Read more »
Published on 12/2/2020
Workers' comp rates drop 6.6%
There’s some good news for Florida businesses struggling to keep afloat during the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic: Workers’ compensation insurance rates will decrease by an average of...
Read more »
Published on 12/1/2020
Medicaid surge means major workload for Florida
Florida has seen a spike in Medicaid enrollment since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and the agency responsible for enrolling and disenrolling people in the health care program is swamped.
Mark...
Read more »
Published on 11/30/2020
Justices reject red-light camera case
The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to take up a case about whether a South Florida city’s red-light camera program violates state traffic laws.
Motorist Lee Stein went to...
Read more »
Published on 11/24/2020
Canadian drug importation rules challenged
The legal battle is on about importing drugs from Canada, such as a program Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to establish.
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the Partnership...
Read more »
Published on 11/24/2020
Federal appeals court strikes down conversion therapy bans
A divided federal appeals court Friday struck down measures passed in Palm Beach County and the city of Boca Raton that blocked the controversial practice known as “conversion therapy,” saying...
Read more »
Published on 11/23/2020
FPL vehicle charging plan gets backing
The state Public Service Commission next week should approve a Florida Power & Light proposal that would lead to more vehicle-charging stations, commission staff members recommended Friday.
FPL in June...
Read more »
Published on 11/23/2020
Tourist visits in Florida plunge by 32% but show improvement from spring
The state’s tourism industry saw a nearly 32% drop in visitors during the third quarter compared with the same period last year, according to numbers released Thursday by Visit Florida....
Read more »
Published on 11/20/2020
Waiting game continues for Florida ports
Long-sought federal assistance for the state’s seaports might have to wait until next year as Congress remains unable to reach a deal on COVID-19 aid, a top lobbyist for the...
Read more »
Published on 11/19/2020
Florida legislators could limit Covid suits, but split on workers comp changes
Legislative leaders on Tuesday showed support for limits on lawsuits stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, but they could have a difference of opinion about whether to move ahead with changes...
Read more »
Published on 11/18/2020
DeSantis, cabinet to meet in December
After rarely meeting in 2020, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet are slated to hold an end-of-the-year meeting in December.
DeSantis and the Cabinet --- Attorney General Ashley Moody,...
Read more »
Published on 11/17/2020
AARP report points to COVID-19 improvements in Florida nursing homes
Florida has made improvements in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes, according to an AARP report released Thursday.
In the four weeks ending Oct. 18, Florida nursing homes...
Read more »
Published on 11/16/2020
Judge gives more time in unemployment case
Rejecting arguments by the state and Deloitte Consulting LLP, a circuit judge has given more time to plaintiffs to file a revised class-action lawsuit stemming from problems in Florida’s unemployment-compensation...
Read more »
Published on 11/15/2020
Sun sets on Sunshine State elections
What felt like a never-ending campaign season continues to linger, more than a week after Election Day and after President-elect Joe Biden nailed down the requisite number of electoral votes...
Read more »
Published on 11/15/2020
Court to hear antitrust fight between health insurers
A federal appeals court next week will wade into a battle about whether Florida Blue, the state's largest health insurer, violated antitrust laws by preventing agents from selling policies for a rival insurance company.
Read more »
Published on 11/9/2020
Workers' comp rates could dip 6.6 percent
Florida employers could see an average 6.6 percent decrease in workers’ compensation insurance rates in 2021.
The National Council on Compensation Insurance, which makes rate filings for the industry, proposed...
Read more »
Published on 11/5/2020
Massive layoffs at Florida Disney properties announced
More than 11,400 workers at Walt Disney properties across Central Florida will be laid off on New Years’ Eve, as tourism remains sluggish from the coronavirus pandemic.
“Due to the...
Read more »
Published on 11/4/2020
State colleges see enrollment drop during pandemic
Reversing historical trends during economic downturns, state college enrollment has dropped dramatically as the coronavirus pandemic continues to plague Florida.
Student enrollment is down between 5 and 10% at most of...
Read more »
Published on 11/4/2020
Major citrus grower adds to holdings
The major citrus firm Alico, Inc. said Monday it has bought another 3,280 acres of citrus land in Hendry County for $16.45 million.
John Kiernan, president and CEO of the...
Read more »
Published on 11/3/2020
