Suspect Arrested in Mall Shooting
A suspect was identified and arrested in the December 23, 2023, Paddock Mall shooting in Ocala.
Details on the suspect and the case:
– Suspect: was arrested on January 8, 2024, after a 16-day manhunt. He is charged with premeditated first-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.
– Victim: The shooting resulted in the death of 40-year-old man. Two other people were also injured.
– Motive: According to police,The suspect and the victim knew each other and had an ongoing conflict, suggesting the shooting was targeted.
– Capture:Suspect was apprehended at a home southwest of Ocala after a standoff with law enforcement, which included the Ocala Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.
– Status of the case: Suspect has pleaded not guilty, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. His trial is currently scheduled to begin in June 2025.
This project is the first to break ground under Florida’s new Everglades restoration acceleration agreement with the
U.S. Department of the Army
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla.–Governor Ron DeSantis marked the official groundbreaking of the Blue Shanty Flow Way project, an important milestone in Everglades restoration which will ensure that more water flows from the to-be-completed EAA Reservoir south into Everglades National Park and Florida Bay.
“We are acting on our historic agreement with the Trump Administration to expedite Everglades restoration using federal funds and state expertise,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Today’s groundbreaking on the Blue Shanty Flow Way project in Miami-Dade County is a milestone in our Everglades restoration efforts, building on our many previous conservation actions.”
This marks the first event since the State of Florida and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a new landmark agreement on July 18, 2025, to accelerate the restoration of America’s Everglades. Under the new agreement, the State of Florida assumed responsibility for the Blue Shanty Flow Way and anticipates that it will be done about two years faster than planned. Continue reading
Florida is also home to seven of ten top scoring Large Metropolitan
Statistical Areas in the nation
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Lightcast released the 2024 Talent Attraction Scorecard, ranking Florida as the number one state for attracting and developing a skilled workforce for the third consecutive year. Florida is also home to seven of the ten top scoring Large Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and four of the top ten scoring Mid-Sized MSAs in the nation. The Talent Attraction Scorecard evaluates states based on job growth, education attainment, regional competitiveness and migration data.
“Florida set an ambitious goal to be number one in workforce education by 2030—and we continue to march towards this achievement,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We’re not just preparing for the future—we’re ahead of schedule, building a workforce ready for high-demand, high-wage careers today.”
In the Lightcast Talent Attraction Scorecard, Florida also earned high rankings in multiple categories including:
- #1 for overall job growth;
- #1 for competitive effect;
- #2 for skilled job growth; and
- #3 for high-earning job growth.
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