On Tuesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill (SB) 478 to convert the Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot Program into a permanent program available to school districts across the state. The Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Program provides assistance to school districts in implementing comprehensive music education programsContinue Reading

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) reported one case of locally acquired malaria this week in Sarasota County. The Plasmodium species was Plasmodium vivax. The DOH says the individual spent extensive time outdoors. The patient was promptly treated at a hospital and has recovered. DOH is working closely with local partnersContinue Reading

unemployment

On May 19, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida has the lowest unemployment rate among the top 10 largest states in the nation at 2.6 percent, as Floridians see continued economic stability spurred on in part by the thriving tourism industry. Between January and March of 2023, Florida saw aContinue Reading

According to a new study conducted by the Research Centre for Child Psychiatry of the University of Turku and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the amount of new psychiatric diagnoses by Finnish specialist services increased by nearly a fifth among children and adolescents in Finland after the firstContinue Reading

U.S. Term Limits commends Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for signing the bill that enforces eight-year term limits for school board members. U.S. Term Limits (USTL) began advocating for term limits for school boards in 2017.  Efforts have included participation in town hall meetings, the Florida State Supreme Court, the ConstitutionContinue Reading

Legendary Italian car maker Ferrari has no intention of phasing out combustion engines and going fully electric or hybrid anytime soon, promising Sunday to keep making the eight and 12-cylinder engines it has made its trademark at least until the end of the 2030s. The Italian manufacturer said it wouldContinue Reading

As healthcare professionals across Florida call attention to the importance of organ donation in April during National Donate Life Month, a west Florida man is particularly grateful for one donor among the more than 11.8 million enrolled in the state’s Joshua Abbott Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. Just eight months afterContinue Reading

Today, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System announced they will host their second drive-through baby shower of the season at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center, from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 6. The C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center is located at 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bay Pines, FloridaContinue Reading

Named one of the most “beautiful cinemas” in the world, the Tampa Theatre is receiving much-needed repair and restoration improvements to protect and fully preserve the iconic landmark.  Phase I of the restoration efforts started in 2017 and addressed substantial infrastructure needs to the interior and exterior of the historical building. TheContinue Reading

The Florida Department Agriculture and Consumer Services reported two cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in horses in Polk County. The first case (the third overall in the state) was a 10-year-old Pony Cross gelding who exhibited symptoms on April 7 of depression, muscle witching, incoordination and inability to stand.Continue Reading

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Surigao del Sur Provincial Office, in collaboration with other local  law enforcement agencies announced the arrest of 43-year-old, Nickel Sayson Dano, a Top 4 in the regional priority drug personality, earlier this month in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur. Dano was busted while selling methamphetamine,Continue Reading

Officials with the Zamboanga City Health Office (CHO) report 524 total cases of dengue fever since the beginning of the year, including seven deaths. Health officials say most of the cases are in children under 10 years of age. Barangays (villages) recorded the most cases in the city include MercedesContinue Reading

As legislators consider Florida SB 262/HB 1547, legislation targeting large data-driven digital advertising platforms like Google, Facebook, and Amazon, small businesses statewide are voicing strong opposition to the proposal. More than 100 business leaders sent a letter asking legislators to oppose the bills in order to “preserve the current digitalContinue Reading