Governor appoints 3 to SWFWMD governing board

Governor Ron DeSantis appointed James Holton, Dustin Rowland and Robert Stern to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board. Holton, of St. Petersburg, is the president and owner of JWH Properties, Inc., MHH Enterprises, Inc. and James W. Holton, P.A. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and his master’s degree and juris doctor from Boston University. Holton...

Florida lawmakers strip away Disney’s special status

By Andrew Powell | The Center Square contributor (The Center Square) — The Florida Legislature concluded its special session on Friday, passing bills regarding Disney’s autonomy, transport of foreign nationals and election fraud. Florida House Speaker Paul Renner said at a news conference before the House’s final meeting that the special session was successful and that lawmakers addressed “the complete...

Key Training Center: Choice, Independence

As the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by 20% over the last five years, an increase for non-wage operational costs for iBudget providers has not been addressed in even longer. For the 2023 Legislative Session, we are seeking $44.6 million in General Revenue ($67.7 million in Federal Match) equating to $112,286,417 critical dollars to address this funding gap. Thank...

DeSantis seeks tax relief in proposed $114B budget

By Andrew Powell | The Center Square contributor (The Center Square) — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a news conference in Tallahassee Wednesday to discuss his “Framework for Freedom” budget. DeSantis’ proposed $114.8 billion budget contains some tax relief measures as the economy in the Sunshine State has performed far better than other states. Last year the state surplus was over...

Last call for Florida Fish Art Contest entries

The deadline is fast approaching for this year’s Art of Conservation Florida Fish Art Contest, hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). This contest is open to youths in grades kindergarten through 12th grade from across the state. The deadline to enter is Feb. 28 – start your entry today! Students from Florida can win top honors,...

CF invites students to a preview day

OCALA, Fla. (Jan. 30, 2023) — The College of Central Florida invites anyone thinking about college to attend an upcoming Preview Day event: Ocala Campus on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 5-7 p.m.; Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus on Thursday, March 2, 10 a.m-1 p.m.; or Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus on Thursday, March 9, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Preview Day is a chance for...

DeSantis makes conservation a priority

During the past four years under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has remained one of the most sought-after destinations for world-class fishing, unique hunting opportunities and recreation. Gov. DeSantis’ focus on protecting our natural resources and his continued support, ensures that residents and visitors will benefit and enjoy our environmental resources for generations to come while remaining the Fishing and...

Affordable Housing Committee meets Jan. 18

The Citrus County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) will meet on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 5:00pm. The meeting will be held in the café at the Citrus County Resource Center, located at 2804 West Marc Knighton Court, Lecanto, Florida. For more information, call the Citrus County Housing Division at (352) 527-7520.

County offices close for Christmas holiday

Citrus County government offices will be closed Friday, December 23, and Monday, December 26, 2022, in observance of the Christmas holiday. Normal hours of operation and services will resume Tuesday, December 27, with the following exceptions: • Citrus County Animal Services (CCAS) will be closed to the public on Friday, December 23, and Saturday, December 24. Normal hours of operation...

Hurricane Ian derelict vessel removal efforts continue

Almost 12 weeks after Hurricane Ian made landfall the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and partner agencies continue their efforts to remove vessels rendered derelict by the storm in Charlotte, Collier, Lee and Monroe counties. Imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has identified over 7,500 potentially displaced vessels. FWC officers have assessed over 4,200 vessels on...