Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
It’s Veterans Day, when the country honors and thanks those who served in the U.S. military.
This year, Gov. Ron DeSantis marked the occasion by announcing $8.6 million in grants for workforce development boards to help military veterans and their spouses get job training.
“We owe the freedoms we enjoy as Americans to our military veterans, and I am focused on ensuring Florida is the best state in the nation for those who have served to find great jobs, start or grow businesses and support their families,” said DeSantis, who served in the U.S. Navy.
“Business is booming in Florida, and employers are looking for the leadership skills, training, and teamwork military veterans bring to the workforce.”
The four grant awards announced will fund a 12-county partnership in the Panhandle, a Tampa Bay-area program aimed at training veterans for jobs in IT and aviation, an expansion to a program at CareerSource Palm Beach County that focuses on disabled military veterans, and a partnership led by CareerSource Broward that reaches out to homeless veterans.
Also on Thursday, CFO Jimmy Patronis released a video thanking veterans for their service and highlighting his efforts to make Florida the “most veteran-friendly state in the nation” during his time in the House and on the Cabinet.
“It takes a special person with an undying love for their country to leave their families behind at a moment’s notice and lay their lives on the line for others,” he said. “Florida is home to more than 1.5 million amazing veterans, many of whom have chosen to continue to serve their communities as first responders. In fact, Florida is the third-largest veteran populated state in the nation and our state’s veterans bring more than $18.4 billion federal dollars annually into Florida’s economy.”
Evening Reads
“Gambling amendment campaigns plow another $22 million into drives” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Sen. Marco Rubio wants to ban these contributions for ballot initiatives” via Alex Daugherty and Jimena Tavel of the Miami Herald
“In Florida, two strikes and you’re in prison forever” via Cary Aspinwall, Weihua Li and Dan Sullivan of the Tampa Bay Times
“Booster shots are most popular in poorly vaccinated states where coronavirus rages” via Dan Keating, Fenit Nirappil and Katie Shepherd of The Washington Post
“America’s real ‘wokeness’ divide” via Olga Khazan of The Atlantic
“Races for state AG in 2022 hold high stakes for Joe Biden as GOP looks to halt agenda” via Bryan Lowry of McClatchy
“‘Miya’s Law,’ named for murdered Orlando teen, seeks to improve apartment safety” via Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel
“Lawmaker warns Palm Beach School Board about ‘critical race theory’” via Anne Geggis of Florida Politics
“Florida could cash in on Biden’s infrastructure bill — if we had a plan” via Craig Pittman of the Florida Phoenix
“Mystery group behind attack ads in Central Florida Senate race strikes settlement with election officials” via Jason Garcia and Annie Martin of the Orlando Sentinel
“John Dingfelder officially denies key allegations in public records suit” via Daniel Figueroa IV of Florida Politics
“With travel ban lifted, international buyers could make the South Florida real estate market even hotter” via Amber Randall of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“Report: Nursing home staff vaccination rates up; COVID-19 deaths down” via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics
Quote of the Day
“Florida is a beacon of freedom and we’ve got millions of residents who are hungry for In-N-Out Burgers, so I plan on keeping at it. Floridians love this business and they’re enthusiastic about it and we’ll keep sending their sentiments to the West Coast. After all — you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.“ — CFO Jimmy Patronis, after In-N-Out said it had no plans to move to Florida.
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