On Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis provided an update on Florida’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan after returning from a Washington, D.C. meeting, which includes details on the state’s initial allocation of 179,400 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. “The federal government has allocated Florida 179,400 doses of the Pfizer vaccine forContinue Reading

In a follow-up on the police raid of former Department of Health scientist, Rebekah Jones Tallahassee home yesterday, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) issued a statement of serving the search warrant: According to FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen, “Our investigation began last month following a complaint by Florida DepartmentContinue Reading

Rebekah Jones, the former Florida Department of Health data scientist, who was fired from her job in May and has since started her own COVID-19 dashboard, tweeted today a video showing a raid by police officers with her husband and children apparently upstairs (see below). Jones tweeted: At 8:30 amContinue Reading

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) reported a Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) case in an unvaccinated donkey in Orange County. The donkey, a four-year-old mare, began showing symptoms in mid- November–down, recumbency, unable to rise. The animal was euthanized. This is Florida’s 22nd confirmed case of EEEContinue Reading

The City of Los Angeles issued a Targeted Safer at Home Order yesterday in response to the increase in COVID-19 cases. This prompted Mayor Eric Garcetti to say, “My message couldn’t be simpler, It’s time to hunker down. It’s time to cancel everything. And if it isn’t essential, don’t doContinue Reading

Governor DeSantis

Governor Ron DeSantis today announced that Florida has been awarded an additional $28 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Labor Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant in response to COVID-19. This federal Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant is administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and willContinue Reading

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) reports an increase in COVID-19 cases in the Tampa Bay area, some attributed to spread among household contacts, individuals going to congregate settings (i.e. weddings, places of worship, parties, etc.) and people who are traveling. DOH is urging members of the public to followContinue Reading

With limited capacity, Hillsborough County cold weather shelters will open tonight, Dec. 1, for the homeless and for those who live in homes without adequate heat. The National Weather Service expects local temperatures to dip to or below 40 degrees with wind chill in Hillsborough County Tuesday night. Important changesContinue Reading

On Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis provided an update on new therapeutics to treat COVID-19, as well as Florida’s vaccine distribution plan once vaccines are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Watch the Governor’s update by clicking the image below or clicking HERE. Wednesday’s update follows Governor DeSantis’ recentContinue Reading

Hillsborough County has extended its state of local emergency enacted in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the mandate that face coverings must be worn in indoor locations of businesses, with certain exceptions, remains in effect. Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise Wednesday signed an extension of the declarationContinue Reading

Out of an abundance of caution and after consulting with healthcare providers, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG) and EventFest have announced that they will postpone Tampa’s signature Gasparilla Parades to a later date this spring. The decision resulted from an ongoing dialogue between event organizers, city leaders, and healthcareContinue Reading

After a recent announcement of a statewide Two-Week Freeze on Oregon, Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order 20-65, outlining risk reduction measures. “I know Oregonians have made tremendous sacrifices throughout this pandemic and that these new, temporary restrictions may seem daunting,” said Governor Brown. “But, we are at a breakingContinue Reading

The City of Toronto, Canada reported 420 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, putting Canada’s largest city, a population of 6,197,000 at 36,821 total cases since the pandemic started. The recent increase in cases has prompted the Province of Ontario Friday to announce further measures in Toronto and Peel Region toContinue Reading

In Ocala, Florida, 27-year-old Tommy Lee Holt was sentenced to four years and seven months in federal prison for possession of an unregistered destructive device today. According to the plea agreement, on November 5, 2019, Holt manufactured eight “Molotov cocktails” using glass bottles filled with gasoline. All qualified as destructiveContinue Reading

Michigan health officials announced this week a new emergency order that enacts a three-week pause targeting indoor social gatherings and other group activities in an effort to curb rapidly rising COVID-19 infection rates. Under this order, indoor residential gatherings are limited to two households at any one time. However, MDHHS stronglyContinue Reading

A Brandon man arrested during a recent Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office online chat operation is now facing additional charges after detectives discovered he was engaging in sex with a minor he met online. Flor-Adam Brandon Cruz, 24, was one of 22 men arrested during Operation Social Bust. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s OfficeContinue Reading