Weekly Report Ending March 28th: Leon COVID Cases Up, Nominal Change in Positivity Rate and Hospitalizations

Weekly Report Ending March 28th: Leon COVID Cases Up, Nominal Change in Positivity Rate and Hospitalizations

TR’s weekly report (March 22 – March 28) on Leon County COVID cases, hospitalizations, and testing positivity rates is detailed below. TR’s March 21st weekly report can be reviewed here. The weekly COVID report, ending March 28th, shows increases in new cases and small changes in the positivity rate and hospitalizations. Since the middle to the […]

Fried’s Fiancee & Father Served with Complaint Related to Cannabis Company

Fried’s Fiancee & Father Served with Complaint Related to Cannabis Company

On March 20th, 2021, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried received a summons detailing a complaint against her fiancee, Robert Bergmann, related to Iconoclast Ventures LLC, a cannabis company founded by Bergmann and Fried’s father, Ronald Fried. The complaint was filed in the Second Judicial Circuit Court in Leon County and the allegations include breach of […]

House GOP Passes Controversial Protest Bill

House GOP Passes Controversial Protest Bill

TALLAHASSEE — With Black lawmakers condemning the proposal as a return to the Jim Crow era, the Republican-controlled Florida House on Friday approved a measure aimed at cracking down on violent protests by creating a host of new crimes, enhancing riot-related penalties and creating roadblocks for local governments to trim police spending. The House’s party-line […]

Leon County School Board Reviews Construction Projects

Leon County School Board Reviews Construction Projects

The Leon County School Board reviewed an updated report on school related construction projects during the School Board meeting on March 23rd. The Superintendent is required to submit to the Board a semi-annual status update of all construction projects that are planned to being in the next 12 months, that are currently active, or that […]

Leon County Taxable Sales Recovering from COVID Pandemic

Leon County Taxable Sales Recovering from COVID Pandemic

During April, May, and June of 2020, Leon County experienced double digit decreases in taxable sales growth. However, Florida Department of Revenue data now shows that Leon County is rebounding from the economic downturn caused by the COVID pandemic. The most recent information from the Florida Department of revenue shows that consumer spending in Leon […]

Online Sales Tax Plan Backed in Florida Senate

Online Sales Tax Plan Backed in Florida Senate

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida The Florida Senate on Thursday approved a proposal that would require out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes, with the money slated to be used to help Florida business owners avoid increases in unemployment taxes. In a 30-10 vote, the Senate backed the proposal (SB 50), which […]

Vaccination Age to Drop to 40 Next Week

Vaccination Age to Drop to 40 Next Week

By The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced that all Floridians ages 40 and older will be able to receive COVID-19 vaccinations starting Monday and that all adults will be eligible on April 5. The announcement came after eligibility expanded to people ages 50 and older this week. “We have made […]

City Gets Update on Mobile App that Allows Citizens to Record Police Interactions

City Gets Update on Mobile App that Allows Citizens to Record Police Interactions

The Tallahassee Police Department will be the first agency in the nation to implement a hands-free, stream recording app that includes multiple contacts and a portal for review this Spring. The efforts coincide with Objective 5D of the City’s Strategic Plan: “provide state-of-the-art technology to support public safety initiatives.” According to the March 24 meeting […]

The PBA Takes Frustration with Contract Negotiations to the Streets

The PBA Takes Frustration with Contract Negotiations to the Streets

The Big Bend Police Benevolent Association, frustrated with contract negotiations with the City of Tallahassee, took a bold step and placed a controversial message on several billboards around town. The billboards read, “Thinking of sending your child to college in Tallahassee? Think again! Tallahassee is the 5th most dangerous city in Florida. Murders are the […]