Florida's recap – Highlights from around the state - May 9th
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the some of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- The Florida Education Association is holding a “Education Summit”, May 18th in Orlando. They intend to discuss what they perceive to be a threat by the state government to public education based the legislation passed during the session expanding school choice and the expansion of the Guardian Program. Quoting FEA President Fedrick Ingrahm:“Along with the majority of people in Florida, we believe that public education is a fundamental good for this state and for the nation as a whole. But our neighborhood public schools are under attack — there’s no other way to describe it.” The League of Women Voters and NAACP are among the organizations participating.
- Governor DeSantis officially signed the expansion of the Guardian Program into law. It takes effect October 1st. He also signed the restoration of felons voting rights bill into law
- President Trump announced $448 million in new disaster relief from HUD for Michael recovery efforts. He also indicated that the federal government can and would cover 90% of the cost of rebuilding because of the hurricane’s category 5 status at landfall. He also announced that the F-35 fighter jets would be moving to Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City in an effort to bolster the base and local economy.
- President Trump also announced $100 million to combat red tide & said the timetable for the completion of the Lake O’ Dike project has been bumped up by three years in an effort to expedite water quality concerns related to discharges.