TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Feb. 3 -- The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued the following news release: Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that more than $1 million in Hurricane Idalia recovery loans have been approved for Florida farmers through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. The program, launched less than a month ago, aims to make more PR

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Feb. 3 -- The Florida Department of Financial Services issued the following statement on Feb. 2, 2024: * * * Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued a statement urging Floridians to start saving now for your child's future by enrolling in a Florida Prepaid College Plan. A college degree is a major investment and with student loan debt at $1.7 trillion nationwide, pre-planning for the cost of college is not only vital to your student's academic success,  more PR

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Feb. 3 -- The Florida Public Service Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 2, 2024: The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a Commission Conference on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. Items scheduled for consideration at the Commission Conference can be found here (https://www.floridapsc.com/commission-conferences-of-the-fpsc). Public comment may be taken on any item noticed for public participation. Any interested person wanting to par more PR

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Feb. 3 -- The Florida State Senate issued the following news release: With its unanimous passage off the Senate Floor, SB 46 sponsored by Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando), is now expected to pass in the House HB315/SB 46, entitled "Reading Achievement Initiative for Scholastic Excellence (R.A.I.S.E.) Program", and would expand the pre-existing R.A.I.S.E. program to include after-school tutoring. The R.A.I.S.E. Program was instituted by the Florida Legislature in 2021 to  more PR

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Feb. 3 -- The Florida Department of Transportation issued the following news release on Feb. 2, 2024: The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) joins communities across the state to celebrate the selfless service of Florida's school crossing guards, recognizing their crucial role in enhancing community safety and protecting our schoolchildren. In a proclamation signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, February 2, 2024, has been officially designated as Crossing Guard Appreci more PR

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Feb. 3 -- The Florida Democratic Party issued the following statement on Feb. 2, 2024: * * * On Thursday, a coalition leading a new petition effort for a ballot initiative to expand Medicaid access in Florida launched its campaign to collect signatures. In response, the Florida Democratic Party issued the following statement: "Citizens are fed up with inaction," said FDP Chair Nikki Fried. "Florida is one of the last states in the country to expand Medicaid, even as trad more PR

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Feb. 3 -- The Florida Democratic Party issued the following statement on Feb. 2, 2024: * * * On Thursday, a coalition leading a ballot initiative to put expanding Medicaid access in Florida on the ballot already began collecting signatures for the petition. In response, the Florida Democratic Party issues the following statement: "Citizens are fed up with inaction," said Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried . "Florida is one of the few states in the country wi more PR

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Feb. 3 -- Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Feb. 2, 2024: Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Jason Cirolia to the Board of Physical Therapy Practice. Jason Cirolia, DPT Cirolia, of Ormond Beach, is the Manager of Clinical Quality and Compliance for Advent Heath Central Florida. He is a veteran of the United States Army and currently serves in the United States Army Reserve. Cirolia earned his associate degree from D more PR

BOWLING GREEN, Florida, Feb. 3 -- Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Feb. 2, 2024: Today, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded nearly $223 million to expand broadband internet access to Floridians, including small and rural communities. This funding includes $135 million in state funding through the Broadband Opportunity Program and $86 million in federal funds through the Multipurpose Community Facilities Program. Awards through the Broadband Opportunity Program will s more PR

MIAMI, Florida, Feb. 3 -- The Miami-Dade County government issued the following news release: Miami-Dade County is receiving a $13.5 million grant for Biscayne Bay Water Quality Improvement Program projects, following an announcement by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The funding will support transformative stormwater and wastewater management practices by the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources' (RER) Division of Environmental Re more PR

MIAMI, Florida, Feb. 3 -- The Miami-Dade County government issued the following news release: The Miami-Dade County Elder Affairs Advisory Board (EAAB) elected its Chair, 1st Vice Chair, and 2nd Vice Chair to serve a one-year term that will end November 2024. Chair Paul Hunt, who joined the EAAB as a member in 2019 and later became vice chair, was recently elected as chair by his peers on the board. With a notable background as the former director of the Area Agency on Aging for Miami-Dade and more PR

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Feb. 2 -- Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Feb. 1, 2024: Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida is deploying members of the Florida National Guard (FLNG) and members of the Florida State Guard (FSG) will be deployed to assist Texas in its efforts to stop the invasion at the southern border. Florida is offering up to a battalion of National Guard members (approximately 1,000 soldiers) to Texas, who will be deployed based on Tex more PR

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida, Feb. 3 -- The Ocean Center, a convention center, issued the following news release on Feb. 2, 2024: The Ocean Center will host the US Composting Council's Conference and Tradeshow's COMPOST 2024-- the premier event for the composting industry--Feb. 6 through 9. Themed "Making Waves," the 32 annual gathering is poised to attract more than 1,350 attendees, providing a comprehensive exploration of the foundations and latest advancements in the composting industry. "Our con more PR

SARASOTA, Florida, Feb. 3 -- Sarasota County issued the following news: Sarasota County is partnering with the Town of Longboat Key to build a public library in Longboat Key as part of the Town Center Green Project. This will be Sarasota County's first new library project since 2018 as well as the county's first library project on a barrier island. Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners took an important step in making this initiative become a reality in 2022 when they allocated $1 mill more PR