(The Center Square) – The Tampa Bay Rays will reportedly announce plans Tuesday for a new $1.2 billion domed stadium that could cost up to $600 million in public funds. The domed stadium would have 30,000 seats, be located near Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg’s 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District and be ready to open in 2028, according to the...
December 21, 2024
Black Bears more active during Fall
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds residents and visitors that our state’s black bears are more active in search of food as autumn approaches. Following BearWise® practices can help prevent negative interactions with bears and other wildlife, including securing garbage and removing food attractants. During the fall, bears start consuming more calories to pack on fat reserves...
Border Patrol email: Plan to mass release illegal border crossers from crowded facilities
(The Center Square) – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on Tuesday published an internal Border Patrol email her office obtained that provides guidelines to release foreign nationals being held at Customs and Border Patrol processing centers because they are at near full capacity, at full capacity or are already over capacity. President Joe Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary...
Florida enrollment in Medicaid continues recent decline
(The Center Square) — Florida’s Medicaid enrollment continue to decline, according to recent data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on health policy, research and polling. According to data from the Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker, the number of people on Medicaid in the Sunshine State declined 7% from April to July, shrinking from 5.78 million to...
Updates for Florida policyholders following Hurricane Idalia
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Governor Ron DeSantis provided updates for Florida policyholders following Hurricane Idalia, including the issuance of an emergency order by the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) to protect policyholders impacted by the storm. Additional announcements include the approval of a fifth property insurer since March and the approval of 202,399 additional takeout requests from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation...
Several Florida areas lose eligibility for federal rural home loan program
(The Center Square) -– Nine counties in Florida have areas that will no longer be eligible to participate in a federal loan program for rural housing due to population increases. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development completed its recent review of rural areas nationwide, using data from the 2020 U.S. Census. The ruling goes into effect for those areas...
Citrus Sheriff Prendergast issues statement on Hurricane and evacuations
By Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast Hurricane Idalia is expected to impact Citrus County sometime Tuesday. Winds are predicted to be Category 3 Hurricane strength, that means 129 miles per hour. Catastrophic life threating storm surge up to 11 feet above ground level is expected. A mandatory evacuation has been ordered for all of those in Zone A. Zone A...
Water District monitors Tropical Storm Idalia
Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 activation Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials are monitoring Tropical Storm Idalia and have raised the activation level of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 2 as of 7 a.m. Monday. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities before, during and after an emergency event. The District is continuing to monitor...
CF receives $5 million commitment from Citrus County Hospital Board
OCALA, Fla. (Aug. 24, 2023) — The College of Central Florida has received a $5 million commitment from the Citrus County Hospital Board to support its Debbie Ressler Nursing Program. The college plans to use the funds to cover the costs of tuition for Citrus County residents who enroll in the Associate Degree in Nursing program as well as add...
FWC recognizes Pasco County landowner for wildlife conservation efforts
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recently recognized the outstanding wildlife habitat management efforts of private landowner Jake English of Pasco County. The recognition is part of the Wildlife Habitat Recognition Program, meant to formally honor exemplary landowners by gifting them with a sign to display on their property and a certificate recognizing their habitat conservation efforts. English...