Robbie Gaffney

Federal officials have declared an unusual mortality event for the state's manatees. An investigation is underway as to why they're dying off so quickly. More than 700 manatees have died in Florida so far this year. That's more than double the average.

State health officials reported 2,327 new COVID-19 cases and 66 deaths, Wednesday for a total of more than 2.3 million infections and more than 37,000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. So far, more than 10 million people in Florida have been vaccinated, including more than eight million people who have completed a two-dose series or received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.Governor Ron DeSantis singed a bill into law this week providing $1,000 bonuses to teachers and principals of charter schools and traditional public schools. DeSantis also signed a bill into law aimed at increasing protections against pandemic-related fraud and scams.The City of Naples is set to end its distribution of COVID-19 vaccines on Friday as demand has waned. The city is also looking to end temporary use permits for restaurants that have allowed for expanded outdoor dining.Florida Conservation Voters is criticizing Governor DeSantis and the Florida legislature for failing to put any federal pandemic relief money towards helping Floridians who’ve struggled to pay their utility bills during the pandemic. Between August 2020 and March 2021 more than 610,000 residential utility lines were cut off by the big five investor-owned utility companies in Florida. Of those, 59,000 haven’t been restored.

State health officials reported 1,606 new COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths Monday bringing Florida’s total to more than 2.3 million infections and more than 37,000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. As of Monday morning, more than 10 million people in Florida have received a vaccine including more than two million who have received a first dose and more than 7.9 million who have completed a two-dose vaccine series or received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.The state Department of Economic Opportunity announced Monday that unemployed Floridians will no longer receive the additional $300 dollars a week in federal unemployment assistance beginning in late June. The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program isn’t slated to sunset until early September, but state officials are cutting off jobless residents early as part of what they’re dubbing a “return to work” initiative.Florida unemployment rate inched up slightly to 4.8% in April as restaurants across the state are reporting labor shortages. The leisure and hospitality sectors are recovering more slowly than other industries in Florida.Norwegian Cruise Line plans to resume voyages from ports on the West Coast, Central America and the Caribbean starting in August. Norwegian is pulling its business from ports in Florida because Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning businesses from requiring proof of vaccination, even though the federal government requires that 98% of a cruise ship’s crew and 95% of passengers be vaccinated before setting sail.

State health officials reported 1,976 new COVID-19 cases and 58 deaths, Monday for a total of more than 2.2 million infections and more than 36,000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. As of Monday morning, more than 9.6 million people in Florida have received a vaccine, including more than two million who have received a first dose and more than 7.5 million people who have completed the two-dose series or received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.Sarasota School Board members are revisiting the district’s mask mandate amid recent new guidance from the CDC. Theme parks in Florida are loosening COVID-19 restrictions following the CDC's new guidance that fully vaccinated people don't need to wear masks in most settings.St. Armands Key Lutheran Church in Sarasota is hosting a vaccine clinic Sunday, May 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. offering the two-dose Moderna vaccine and the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine to people with registered appointments and walk-ins alike.The Kaiser Family Foundation has been surveying the public's opinion toward COVID-19 vaccines since last December. 42% of rural Americans surveyed say they will wait and see whether to get the vaccine, will only get vaccinated if required, or will definitely not get the vaccine.The foundation's Liz Hamel says that percentage has less to do with geography and more to do with political opinion, noting that about one in five Republicans surveyed say they don't plan to get the vaccine at allGovernor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law, last Thursday, that makes permanent a popular COVID-19 emergency order allowing restaurants to sell alcoholic drinks with take-home meals.

State health officials reported 2,296 new COVID-19 cases, Monday for a total of more than 2.2 million infections. The Florida Department of Health also reported 52 coronavirus-related deaths, May 10, increasing the statewide death toll to 36,498 fatalities since the beginning of the pandemic.The Florida Division of Emergency Management reports that as of Monday morning more than 9.3 million people in Florida have been vaccinated against COVID-19 including more than 2.2 million people who have received a first dose and more than 7 million people who have completed a two-dose vaccine series or received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.Publix grocery store locations offering COVID-19 vaccines are no longer requiring appointments. CVS, Walgreens, Winn-Dixie, Walmart, and Sam's Club had already allowed walk-ins.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is facing blowback from Democrats after he gave Fox's morning news show, Fox & Friends, exclusive access to his signing of a controversial elections bill Thursday morning.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will host its annual lionfish festival from May 15 to 16 in Destin. The event is meant to raise awareness of the invasive species.

Law enforcement agencies could use drones to survey crowds, assist in traffic management, and collect evidence at a crime scene or traffic crash. That's under a proposal that passed a Senate vote and is heading for a House vote. But some lawmakers have raised concerns over how the bill could impact someone's privacy.

Lawmakers are again considering a proposal to change how alimony and child sharing is handled in divorce cases. Of the many changes included in the measure, one would eliminate permanent alimony unless both parties agree to it. A group of family law attorneys are against the proposal.

Environmentalists are concerned over a series of bills aimed at promoting consumer choice by preempting local government control of energy-related issues. Senate Bill 1128 is one of them. It would stop local governments from being able to restrict or ban utilities from using certain fuel sources like natural gas.