State News – Page 16 – Capital Outlook

School immunizations slide

December 13, 2022

Immunization of school-age children hit a new low last year.NSF photo By Ryan DaileyNews Service of Florida Last school year marked a more than 10-year low for Florida’s kindergarten and seventh-grade students completing all doses of required immunizations, according to a recent report from the state Department of Health. About

U.S. Sugar completes deal amid legal fight

December 13, 2022

U.S. Sugar Corp. has completed a $315 million acquisition of Imperial Sugar Co.Photo special to the Outlook By Jim Saunders News Service of Florida U.S. Sugar Corp. has completed a $315 million purchase of another large player in the sugar industry as the federal government continues to fight the merger on

DeSantis administration departures stack up

December 13, 2022

NSF Staff Report Two state agency heads are stepping down from their posts as Gov. Ron DeSantis moves into a second term as governor. DeSantis announced in a series of tweets Monday that Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Dane Eagle and Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director

Justice Francis targeted in challenges to appeals court candidates

December 13, 2022

Justice Renatha Francis By Dara KamNews Service of Florida Legal challenges to six candidates seeking to be appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to two appellate courts took another twist, after plaintiffs filed requests to disqualify Florida Supreme Court Justice Renatha Francis from the cases. The challenges, originally filed Nov. 17

Suspended prosecutor is now in waiting mode

December 13, 2022

Andrew Warren By Jim TurnerNews Service of Florida A three-day trial over Gov. Ron DeSantis’ suspension of a twice-elected Hillsborough County state attorney wrapped up, but a federal judge presiding over the lawsuit said it could be weeks before he releases a decision. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said last

DeSantis not backing down on Disney

December 13, 2022

FNS Staff Report A spokeswoman for Gov. Ron DeSantis called “fake news” on reports that Republican lawmakers are working on legislation to scale back a law rushed through earlier this year stripping Walt Disney of its unique self-governing power in Central Florida. “Fake news. @GovRonDeSantis doesn’t make ‘u-turns,’ ” DeSantis’

Housing challenges linger after Ian

December 13, 2022

NSF Staff Report Temporary housing remains an issue for thousands of residents displaced by Hurricane Ian, a deadly Category 4 storm which slammed into Southwest Florida just over two months ago. State and federal disaster officials last Friday said construction of temporary housing, delayed by the on-going removal of more

Parents reluctant to send their kids back to school after COVID, homeschooling spiked

November 18, 2022

Getting children ages 6 months and older vaccinated for COVID can help keep them protected.Photo special to the Outlook By Josephine McNealSpecial to the Outlook Homeschooling, once a fairly niche form of education, rose to new heights during COVID, especially among Black families who made the switch at a remarkably

Nicole brings power outages, erosion

November 18, 2022

Remnants of Hurricane Nicole brought winds high enough to Tallahassee, knocking down some trees and causing power outages around the city.City of Tallahassee photo By Jim TurnerNews Service of Florida After Hurricane Nicole made landfall south of Vero Beach and started traveling up the state as a tropical storm, Gov.

Feds push back in Florida drug importation case

November 18, 2022

Florida wants to import drugs to treat conditions such as HIV and AIDS, hepatitis C, diabetes and mental illness, according to the lawsuit.Photo special to the Outlook By Jim SaundersNews Service of Florida The Biden administration asked a judge to reject allegations that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has