By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Miami-Dade County state attorney has charged former Florida Sen. Frank Artiles with election fraud for allegedly propping up a sham candidate in a razor-thin Senate contest in which an incumbent Democrat was ousted by a Republican challenger in November. Artiles is accused of using […]
By The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that Florida will start offering COVID-19 vaccines to all people age 50 and older starting Monday. This week, Florida lowered the age threshold from 65 to 60, but the governor said softening demand convinced him the state could go to 50. “The demand has […]
According to CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, the White House has yet to label the growing situation at the southern border a crisis — but it is quickly becoming a main political issue for the new administration. In February alone, 9,297 unaccompanied children (UACs) were apprehended at the border. As a result, thousands of children have been […]
During their March 10 meeting, the Tallahassee City Commission voted 5-0 to approve collective bargaining agreements that cover the bargaining units represented by the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF). The agreements will cover the time between Apr. 1, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2023 and include increased wages, pension and parental leave. The estimated cost for […]
During their March 9 meeting, the County Commissioners approved the proposed maximum discretionary funding levels for outside agencies for Fiscal Year 2022. Besides the main benefactor of the ordinance, the Community Human Services Partnership (CHSP), other agencies and events will also receive funds for future endeavors. Provided below is a description of the three agencies […]
Leon County recently launched Homework Hub, a brand-new online educational resource. Homework Hub is a voluntary after-school initiative offered by the Leon County Public Library System that connects students in kindergarten through eighth grade with one-on-one tutors through Zoom. Rick Minor, Leon County Commission Chairman, said the new online educational resource will assist students in […]
Relying on federal coronavirus relief funds for schools, Gov. Ron DeSantis is proposing to spend $106 million to bolster civics education, including offering bonuses to teachers who complete training. During a news conference Wednesday in Naples, DeSantis announced what he’s calling the “Civic Literacy Excellence Initiative.” Part of the plan would direct the Florida Department […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Despite the leisure and hospitality industry still struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, Florida’s unemployment rate continues to improve as vaccinations increase and people return to the workforce. The state Department of Economic Opportunity reported Monday that Florida’s unemployment rate decreased to 4.8 percent in January, […]
TR’s weekly report (March 8 – March 14) on Leon County COVID cases, hospitalizations, and testing positivity rates is detailed below. TR’s March 7th weekly report can be reviewed here. The weekly COVID report, ending March 14th, shows decreases in new cases, the positivity rate and hospitalizations. Since the middle to the end of January 2021, […]
The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has declared Oak Ridge Elementary, Hartsfield Elementary and Pineview Elementary to be three of the “Lowest 300” performing elementary schools in the state. FDOE lists the schools based on three-year averages for achievement on state exams in English language arts, and increases in exam scores over those years. The […]