Florida State Wide
WASHINGTON, D.C. — “Operation Epic Fury” resulted in Khamenei’s death. Tonight, I am thinking of all my fellow Americans who had a loved one injured or killed due to his diabolical terror spree. Khamenei was a terrorist and a scumbag. He can rot in hell for all the terror he inflicted around the world.
The situation in Iran and across the Middle East is evolving by the moment, and I am monitoring it closely. I look forward to a briefing from the Administration as soon as possible. As an America First constitutional conservative, avoiding the prolonged wars and conflicts that my generation experienced firsthand, many on the battlefield, is critical. I am hopeful today’s actions will prevent further necessary engagement and put direct threats to the United States to rest. God bless our troops.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03) joined U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today at the U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters as the Secretary signed a disaster declaration for Florida counties impacted by this year’s historic winter freeze, beginning the federal process to deliver relief to farmers suffering catastrophic losses.
The declaration comes after a bipartisan letter led by Rep. Cammack and signed by all 29 members of Florida’s congressional delegation urging USDA to act quickly after freezing temperatures struck the state during peak harvest in late January and early February.
Several members of the Florida delegation attended the announcement, including
Reps. Scott Franklin, Byron Donalds, Neal Dunn, Randy Fine, Greg Steube, and Dan Webster, who each outlined the damage farmers in their districts are facing not only from the historic freeze but also from storms and drought conditions that have compounded challenges for Florida agriculture.
“On behalf of all of us, I can say it’s incredibly refreshing to have a Secretary of Agriculture who is not only willing to listen, but willing to act,” said Cammack. “Every single one of us in Florida has a district that’s been affected by this freeze, which is why today’s declaration is so important.” Continue reading
WASHINGTON, D.C – Today, following 25 hours of markup, the House Agriculture Committee passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) with bipartisan support, advancing the long-awaited farm bill to the next stage of consideration.
Congresswoman Kat Cammack’s (R-FL-03) top priorities were successfully secured in the bill, including major wins for Florida producer.
“For years, producers have been operating without the stability they need to plan and invest,” said Cammack. “The farm bill is the backbone of American agriculture, food security, and rural communities. This legislation delivers meaningful improvements for Florida farmers and ensures our growers have the tools they need to recover, rebuild, and compete.”
Cammack pointed to the toll hurricanes, flooding, and recent freezes have taken on Florida’s specialty crops, citrus groves, berry farms, and nursery operations, noting the bill strengthens the agricultural safety net to reflect the realities growers face. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the results of a two-day sting operation targeting illegal gaming operations. The operation spanned Volusia, Brevard, Duval, and Flagler counties, resulting in the seizure of 525 illegal machines and $190,000 in illicit proceeds across 39 locations, according to preliminary operation results.
“Unlawful gambling operations often play a role as the financial backing behind criminal networks,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “These illegal casinos fuel organized crime, prostitution, and other illicit activities. Florida will see a major statewide crackdown on illegal gaming in 2026. If you’re running an illegal operation, don’t roll the dice; shut it down now.”
“The partnerships we have with the Attorney General, Florida Gaming Control Commission and surrounding law enforcement agencies are what give us great results,” said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey. “They help us keep our crime down in our communities and keep our citizens safe, because we don’t turn a blind eye to any crime!” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of seven individuals for their roles in a multi-county organized retail theft ring targeting beauty and fragrance products.
“This was a coordinated criminal enterprise that robbed retailers across Florida and turned stolen goods into illicit proceeds,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect Florida businesses, keep prices low for consumers, and quickly dismantle organized retail theft rings from the ground up.”
“Organized retail theft is not just about stolen merchandise, it is about coordinated criminal activity that impacts families, small businesses, and our entire community,” said Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz. “This investigation demonstrates the strength of our partnerships across jurisdictions and our shared commitment to holding those who engage in organized criminal enterprises accountable. In Miami-Dade County and throughout Florida, we will continue working with our state and local partners to identify these networks, disrupt their operations, and ensure they face the full consequences under the law.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of Blake McKinniss, 37, of Sanford. McKinniss faces 53 Counts of possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), 46 counts of possessing AI-generated CSAM, and one count of possessing a child-like sex doll. During a search of his house, law enforcement found a bedroom decorated for a little girl, even though no children lived there.
“Law enforcement and prosecutors walked into a house of horrors upon executing this search warrant,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “This guy could spend the rest of his life in prison, and I’m grateful our team worked to ensure he never has access to our kids. I also thank Representative Plakon for supporting legislation to keep convicted predators away from children.”
“I am honored to work alongside my fellow legislators to protect Florida’s children from those who exploit them through harmful materials,” said Representative Rachel Plakon. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Attorney General and our dedicated law enforcement agencies for their relentless efforts in enforcing these critical laws.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier opened a civil investigation and subpoenaed Discord, a popular online chat platform. The subpoena demands documents and information related to the platform’s practices in marketing to children, enforcing age-verification requirements, content moderation, parental control features, and reporting of exploitative activity.
“Many of our criminal investigations into internet child predators lead to one place: Discord,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Groomers and predators seem to believe that they can get away with targeting children on Discord—and we are going to find out why. Discord owes us an explanation on the overwhelming use of its platform among predators, and what they are doing to protect children.”
“Investigations show that offenders are using platforms like Roblox and Discord as an access point to reach children. Parents should know we are taking this seriously,” said Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman. “My message is clear, we are committed to protecting our kids, and predators have no safe place in our community. If you exploit children, we will find you, arrest you, and hold you accountable.” Continue reading
Scammers take every opportunity to trick you into believing their lies are legitimate offers, wins, and even emergency requests from friends and family. Now, with the prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI), scammers are using this new method to personalize their tricks and cons to make them appear even more real, legitimate, and believable—from AI-generated photos and voice clones that mimic a real person to wording that builds a relationship with a victim over weeks. But a fake is still a fake. As in any other scam, these fakes are created to separate you from your hard-earned money or property.
AI fakes are used in many types of long-running scams, from romance to investment scams, cryptocurrency scams, and even scams claiming to be tech support. Whatever the scam, they all involve impostors looking for their next victim, but it doesn’t have to be you. Continue reading
(NAPSI)—While most people think of parks as just scenery, they are also a silent powerhouse of public health, says the TurfMutt Foundation, which advocates for outdoor living and the care and stewardship of yards and parks.
“From backyard sanctuaries to sprawling community commons, green spaces are engines that fuel our mental health, physical well-being, public safety, and economic development,” explains Kris Kiser, President of the TurfMutt Foundation.
Parks are environmental superheroes, too. They support pollinators, produce oxygen, reduce carbon, capture and filter rainwater, and mitigate urban heat islands.
According to research conducted for the TurfMutt Foundation by The Harris Poll, the data is clear. Americans aren’t just visiting parks; they are prioritizing them. Continue reading
Batson, Aleizha
[Feb. 9, 2026] – Florida Blue, the state’s leading health insurer, has named Tony Jenkins as market president for Northeast Florida, effective Mar. 1, 2026. Jenkins, a native of Jacksonville, will succeed Darnell Smith, who recently announced his retirement after 35 years of dedicated service to Florida Blue.
Jenkins joined the organization in 2001, serving the last 20 years as market president for Central Florida. A seasoned health care executive with a track record of leadership and community engagement, Jenkins also brings a deep understanding of Northeast Florida’s unique needs and opportunities.
“Tony’s extensive experience in health care, strong local connections, and exceptional community leadership make him ideal to take this role,” said Kari Regar, senior vice president, Florida Market Leader at Florida Blue. “We are excited about his return to Jacksonville, and confident Tony will advance our 80-plus year commitment to our members and partners throughout Northeast Florida.”
Jenkins joined Florida Blue following a distinguished career with CSX Corporation and the Walt Disney World Company. He has distinguished himself for his commitment to improving the health and well-being of communities. Continue reading

