Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, in honor of Veteran’s Day, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the launch of a new military-friendly travel section on VISIT FLORIDA’s website, www.visitflorida.com/military.

The section is a consolidated source of Florida travel information for service members, veterans, and their families. The site includes information about discounts and experiences available to military members and their families, monuments and memorials, military-related events, museums and more.

“More than 1.5 million veterans call Florida home and the defense industry is one of the state’s top economic drivers,” said Governor DeSantis. “On Veteran’s Day, we recognize and observe the sacrifices of our men and women in the armed services who have dedicated their lives to preserving the principles upon which our great country was founded. Since taking office, I have made it a priority to enhance Florida’s reputation as the most veteran-friendly state in the nation. VISIT FLORIDA’s new military travel hub expands this initiative and further strengthens the bond between Florida and our nation’s heroes.”

“Florida is one of the world’s leading destinations and VISIT FLORIDA is dedicated to providing all our visitors with inspiring travel ideas,” said VISIT FLORIDA President and CEO Dana Young. “Through this new addition to our website, VISIT FLORIDA is showcasing the many military-friendly experiences available throughout the state. We are honored to provide our country’s servicemen and women with tailored visitor information, and will remain committed to ensuring military members, veterans, and their families feel welcome when creating lifelong memories in the Sunshine State.”

Florida is a diverse destination that last year attracted 127 million travelers from around the world. Tourism remains the state’s leading industry and, based on the latest economic impact study, visitors to Florida contributed $85.9 billion to the state’s economy and supported 1.5 million Florida jobs in 2017.

Friends,

This column comes to you from our desk in the Florida Capitol. That is right, our desk, not mine. This seat, this desk, belong to the people of Senate District 12 and it is very humbling for me to be here on your behalf today. It is never taken for granted the responsibility and trust that you have given to me to represent over 500,000 people in our great State. We get to work on some big issues, that will affect all of you, and it is very important for you to be engaged and informed in our legislative process. Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is asking Floridians to help fight the opioid crisis and teen vaping epidemic by participating in the 18th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The biannual event is an opportunity for people to properly dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs or controlled substances. Disposing of unwanted or expired pharmaceuticals helps prevent drug abuse, addiction and overdose deaths. Additionally, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, for the first time ever, will accept vaping products on Drug Take-Back Day.

Attorney General Moody today joined DEA to preview a take-back location in the Tampa Bay area. Drug Take-Back Day will take place this Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations across Florida.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “The excess supply of prescription medications is helping fuel the national opioid crisis and teen vaping is at an all-time high. Properly disposing of unused, expired drugs and vaping products helps prevent addiction and could save a life. I ask all Floridians to please participate in Drug Take-Back Day and help keep addictive opioids and vaping products from falling into the wrong hands.” Continue reading →

September 18, 2019

This week, I announced the most expansive state vaping investigation known publicly to date. As many of you know, I spent the summer traveling the state to find out what was behind the dramatic increase in vaping among our youth. According to the Florida Department of Health, nearly one in four Florida high school students now admits to using e-cigarettes—students have said that rate is much higher.

One study found two-thirds of young persons didn’t even know vaping products contained nicotine. Now we are hearing about vaping-related hospitalizations around the country. According to a recent report, in Florida there have been 68 cases of vaping-related pulmonary illnesses.

As a mother, I cannot sit on the sidelines while underage vaping skyrockets and our next generation becomes addicted to nicotine. It’s illegal under Florida law to sell these products to anyone under 18, yet vaping among our youth is out of control. Continue reading →

Florida’s Mitigation Plan Will Further Improve Florida’s Air Quality

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced another step in the state’s effort to modernize public transit, provide accessible electric vehicle infrastructure and reduce harmful air pollutants caused by diesel emissions.

Coordination amongst state agencies and private and public sector partners will be critical to the success of meeting the objectives of the state’s recently submitted Beneficiary Mitigation Plan. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has published three Requests for Information (RFIs) for the three project types outlined in the plan.

“My administration is committed to making smart investments to help improve our state’s air quality long-term,” said Governor DeSantis. “This funding will allow us to focus on projects that will reduce harmful emissions, help modernize school and transit bus fleets, and provide access to charging stations in our state as electric vehicle usage continues to increase.”  Continue reading →

Jupiter, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced proposed legislation for the 2020 Legislative Session that will expedite water quality improvements throughout Florida. The legislation incorporates recommendations of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force, which the Governor created shortly after taking office to aid the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in protecting, conserving and managing the state’s natural resources.

The Governor made today’s announcement following a tour of the Loxahatchee River District, where he was joined by DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein and Chief Science Officer Dr. Tom Frazier as well as other environmental stakeholders from across the state. Continue reading →

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a permit to the Department of Interior’s National Park Service, Everglades National Park, for the removal of 5.45 miles of roadbed along the Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41).

This critical project is a component of the larger Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), which also includes the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Project. CEPP will provide the necessary components to deliver additional freshwater from Lake Okeechobee south to Water Conservation Area 3, Everglades National Park and Florida Bay. Bridging Tamiami Trail remains one of Governor DeSantis’ priority Everglades restoration projects. Continue reading →

Reported by the AP and published in The Washington Post 97 years ago ran story that states within a few years it is predicted that due to the ice melt the sea will rise and make most coastal cities uninhabitable.

Yes they have been saying this for 37 years, making money with these predictions. Actually the air in the United States has improved. It is other countries that are polluting a lot worse than the USA.

Someone needs to sue Henry Ford for causing the Global Warming in 1922!!!

What do you think???

Tallahassee, Fla., Oct. 24, 2019 – In a ceremony held in Tallahassee at Native Nurseries, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried proclaimed October to be Florida Native Plant Month. The proclamation was presented to the Florida Native Plant Society to highlight the role of native plants in conserving and protecting Florida’s natural environment.

“This is a significant step in our efforts to publicize the benefits of native Florida plants, trees and wildflowers,” said Florida Native Plant Society President Susan Carr. “We thank Commissioner Fried for this recognition, and we are delighted to work with the nursery and agricultural communities to grow and conserve native Florida plants that host pollinator species necessary for our farms and gardens to thrive.”

In Florida, sales of native plants accounted for $170 million of nursery sales in 2015 (15.5 percent of total nursery sales) and generated an expanded economic impact of $1.2 billion based on University of Florida survey data. Continue reading →

Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced that US forces would withdraw from parts of Syria currently held by the Kurds and allow Turkey to move forward with military operations in the area. The abrupt move was met with backlash from politicians on both sides of the aisle.