Florida

CF Ocala campus presents student art exhibition March 25-April 30

OCALA, FL (Jan. 30, 2024) — The College of Central Florida presents “The 2024 CF Student Art Exhibition,” an annual event showcasing the talents of students from its Visual Arts and Digital Media programs. The exhibition will be on display Monday, March 25-Tuesday, April 30 at the CF Webber Gallery, 3001 S.W. College Road at the CF Ocala Campus.

Bill would document gender at birth

The Center Square) – Florida driver’s licenses and other state government documents would have to list a person’s gender at birth under a bill pending in the House of Representatives.

House Bill 1639 was sponsored by Republican Rep. Doug Bankson, who helped found and is a pastor with his wife at Victory Church in Apopka.

The legislation would also require insurance companies that cover sex transitioning surgery to also cover detransitioning surgery.

“I call it the Compassion and Clarity Act,” the legislator told The Center Square.

Special Tue, 01/30/2024 - 08:45

DeSantis touts Florida's growing semiconductor manufacturing sector

(The Center Square) — Gov. Ron DeSantis highlighted the state's historic investment in semiconductor manufacturing in the Sunshine State on Friday.

"We have a lot of exciting things going on in the state of Florida if you look at where we are in things like aerospace, aviation, military and defense, transportation logistics, we are really, really leading the way across a lot of different industries," DeSantis said.

Florida's health secretary says Biden administration targeting state

(The Center Square) – A top health care official in Florida is accusing the Biden administration of "targeting" the state for Medicaid audits as a political jab against Florida Gov. Ron Desantis.

Jason Weida, secretary of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration, pointed to emails obtained by Wyoming nonprofit Government Accountability & Oversight that he says show the federal government singled out three red states – Florida, Texas, and Missouri – for audits over alleged misuse of Medicaid funds.

Florida Senate aims to help alleviate state's lack of housing for workforce

(The Center Square) — Florida lawmakers want to alleviate the state's growing affordable housing shortage by fixing some of the shortfalls in the Live Local Act of 2023.

The bill passed unanimously with the Senate Committee on Community Affairs on Jan. 9 and was due before the Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy on Thursday, however, it was temporarily delayed. No new meeting date has been posted on the state Senate's website. 

FWC seeks public input on Pasco Zone bay scallop season at Jan. 9 virtual workshop

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is gathering public feedback on proposed changes to the bay scallop season for the Pasco Zone. The Pasco Zone currently has a 10-day season in rule but a longer, trial season was set by executive order in 2023 to assess whether extending the season would balance resource sustainability with community interests. Based on public feedback and the outcome of this recent season, staff are recommending establishing a 40-day season, beginning July 10 through Aug. 18, in rule for future seasons in the Pasco Zone.

Efforts to stabilize insurance market highlighted

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) Commissioner Michael Yaworsky highlighted accomplishments made in 2023 to promote a stable and competitive insurance market for Florida’s policyholders.

Commissioner Yaworsky was nominated by Governor DeSantis in February to serve as Insurance Commissioner and was formally appointed by the Financial Services Commission, comprised of the Governor, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, and Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson in March.