The Tallahassee Reports Daily Briefs: Wednesday, February 28, 2024

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LOCAL NEWS

On Thursday, February 29, 2024, the Blueprint Intergovernmental Board (IA) will evaluate a$15 million funding request submitted to the IA at their September 21, 2023 meeting by Florida A&M University (FAMU) for the Bragg Memorial Stadium Renaissance Project.

Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey is taking issue with the less-than-stellar economic forecast offered by the Florida Chamber of Commerce for Leon County. He took his case directly to local business leaders.

Tallahassee Police sent a dive team to search Lake Esther in the capital city Tuesday as part of their efforts to locate a missing middle schooler. Lori Paige, 12, was last seen near San Luis Mission Park in June 2023. Exactly a week after nearly 100 people searched the wooded park for the student, TPD quietly deployed a Leon County Sheriff’s Office dive team to search the lake there for her.

LOCAL SPORTS NEWS

The Lincoln girls soccer team celebrated a region championship and a trip back to the state final four this year. Last season, this is where the Trojans saw their season end, and unfortunately history repeated itself today down in DeLand.

FSU basketball’s Jamir Watkins scored 19 points and Primo Spears added 14 points and six assists to lead Florida State to a 90-83 victory over NC State at the Donald L. Tucker Center. The victory was the Seminoles’ sixth straight at home against the Wolfpack.

James Tibbs hit two more home runs and Cam Smith got his first of the season in Florida State’s 12-4 win over USF Tuesday night at Dick Howser Stadium.

FLORIDA NEWS

As budget talks continued Tuesday, Senate and House negotiators had quickly settled issues ranging from money for tourism marketing to school safety. But with most of the work on the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget taking place behind the scenes, differences remained on numerous issues such as an economic-development fund, law-enforcement recruitment bonuses and water projects.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is telling the nation that people in his state shouldn’t rely on the state-run insurer of last resort, raising new questions about Citizens Property Insurance ahead of what is expected to be an active hurricane season.

A small number of members of the Florida State Guard have been deployed to Texas to assist with border operations and about 30 more are on standby, Director Mark Thieme told members of the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Monday. Thieme, whose confirmation as head of the State Guard was backed by the committee, said five deployed State Guard members are working with officers of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

NATIONAL NEWS

President Joe Biden wins Democratic primary, roughly 15% goes to “uncommitted,” with voters protesting US role in Israel-Hamas war (More).

Former President Donald Trump wins Michigan GOP primary, taking an estimated 66% of the vote—as of early returns—followed by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 30% (More). 

The US Supreme Court today will hear arguments on the fate of bump stocks, a modification that allows semi-automatic rifles to fire continuously with one pull of the trigger.

US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 +0.2%, Dow -0.3%, Nasdaq +0.4%) as investors await this week’s inflation data (More).

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