Gov. DeSantis talks hurricane recovery, gives $1M from disaster fund to South Florida schools
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday held a news conference at a street corner near Fort Myers, recapping the stateโs ongoing recovery efforts in South Florida after Hurricane Ian, previewing some future plans and awarding money to local education foundations.
โAnything we can do to help:โ Osceola deputies head to Lee County to offer help after Hurricane Ian
Deputies with the Osceola County Sheriffโs Office are set to deploy Wednesday to Lee County, which is still struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the sheriffโs office said in a release.
Florida Gov. DeSantis announces 1st Disaster Recovery Center, financial relief programs in wake of Ian
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday the activation of the stateโs first Disaster Recovery Center in Fort Myers, with more expected to open in the coming weeks, for Floridians impacted by the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Ian.
Gov. DeSantis announces $1.1M raised for tornado victims in Lee, Charlotte counties
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis doubled down on claims he made last month the Biden administration withheld funding for tornado victims in Lee and Charlotte counties because of โpoliticsโ and announced $1.1 million was raised for repairs, temporary housing and other forms of relief.
1M expired COVID tests to be used in Florida after FDA grants new extension, DeSantis says
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said 1 million Abbott COVID-19 rapid tests that expired in a warehouse last month are now โgoing outโ to testing sites after their usage date was extended to March 2022 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Gov. Ron DeSantis: Florida students will be taught communism is evil
Civics education will be expanded in Florida, including instruction about communist and totalitarian governments, and state universities will be prevented from quashing conservative ideology under bills Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed.
CVS Pharmacy expanding vaccine locations across Florida
LEE COUNTY, Fla. โ CVS Pharmacy will be receiving more COVID-19 vaccine doses and expanding its inoculations across Florida beginning Friday, Gov. Under Florida vaccine eligibility groups: K-12 school employees, law enforcement officers and firefighters, all 50 and older, can also get vaccinated. AdCVS, CVS Pharmacy y mรกs, Navarro Discount Pharmacy, Publix, Winn-Dixie and Walmart pharmacies are also offering vaccines in Florida by appointment. I mentioned we are going to probably do another Walgreens would be really, really good,โ DeSantis said. Just make an appointment come into your local pharmacy, do it.โFind a list of CVS Pharmacy locations and make an appointment for a vaccine here.
Florida panther struck, killed by vehicle
FORT MYERS, Fla. โ An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle. Itโs the fourth panther death attributed to fatal collisions, out of six total deaths this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The remains of the 7-year-old female panther were found Saturday in Lee County on a rural road near Wild Turkey Strand Preserve, wildlife officials said. Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast, but now their habitat mostly is confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.
Florida panther struck and killed by vehicle
FORT MYERS, Fla. โ An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle. Itโs the third panther death attributed to fatal collisions, out of four total deaths this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A total of 22 Florida panther deaths were reported in 2020, with 19 killed by vehicles. Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast, but now their habitat mostly is confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.
Deputy Dog: Puppy pulled from mouth of alligator gets new job
LEE COUNTY, Fla. โ A Florida dog whose rescue went viral last month has a brand new job. Gunner, a 5-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is now a โdeputy dogโ with the Lee County Sheriffโs Office. โDo you swear to up hold the constitutional law for the Lee County Sheriffโs Office, Gunner,โ Sheriff Carmine Marceno asked the pup. In a video shared by the Sheriffโs Office Wilbanks retold the story of the wild encounter when he rescued Gunner from the jaws of an alligator. Gunner is fine, Iโm fine and so am I,โ Wilbanks said.
Puppy pried from gatorโs mouth by his human doing just fine
Meredith Budd, regional policy director with Florida Wildlife Federation, said Wilbanks volunteers with an educational program called Sharing the Landscape. Itโs a campaign part of the Stop Foundation with a mission to teach about co-existing with wild animals. The nonprofit organization hopes the video will serve as a learning experience for people to maintain their distance from wild animals and make sure to stay safe. โYou know, I didnโt even realize that until people started making that comment after they saw the video. Gunner is fine, Iโm fine and so am I,โ Wilbanks said.
Restaurants scramble to reopen in most of Florida
MIAMI, Fla. โ As restaurants in many Florida cities prepare to re-open on Monday under new pandemic rules set by Gov. Restaurants in all but three South Florida counties can reopen inside dining rooms at 25% capacity. In Lee County, for example, officials are allowing restaurants to place tables and seating in areas not previously allowed, such as parking lots. Florida is saying no condos can be rented, but restaurants can be open. The governorโs order said retail and store-front businesses can reopen, but only if the local government allows it.