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Associated PressMay 3, 2017

Miami-Dade County plans to hire a full-time entomologist in its increasingly costly fight against the Zika virus. The Miami Herald reports the county’s budget to combat the mosquito-borne virus is nearing $30 million. That figure is based on a contracting request the Miami-Dade County Commission approved Tuesday. A spokesman for County Mayor Carlos Gimenez says the […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 18, 2017

Zika season is all but upon us, and to that end Gov. Rick Scott visited Jacksonville Tuesday to discuss Florida’s ongoing struggles with Zika. Scott found himself messaging heavily around Zika in 2016, frustrated with President Barack Obama not doing as much as he could to fund Zika-related costs. In 2017, Scott has an ally in the White House — […]

Associated PressApril 4, 2017

No disease-carrying mosquitoes have been found so far this year in the Miami area, but officials are prepared to launch aerial pesticide spraying to stamp out any reemergence of Zika, according to the head of mosquito control in the first U.S. county to report transmission of the virus linked to severe birth defects. Miami-Dade County […]

Associated PressMarch 27, 2017

Florida officials say they’re continuing aggressive efforts to stop the spread of the Zika virus. Gov. Rick Scott met Monday with Miami-Dade County officials to discuss Zika preparedness ahead of Florida’s rainy season, when mosquitoes are most prevalent. Officials said fewer travel-related cases are being reported in Florida so far this year, compared with last […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 14, 2017

A British company could begin releasing genetically modified mosquitoes in the Florida Keys sometime this year, a scientist with the company said. Simon Warner, the chief scientist at Oxitec, said the company is hopeful it can begin its genetically modified mosquito trial in Monroe County this year. The trial, which has been in the works […]

Associated PressMarch 13, 2017

Men from three Florida counties shouldn’t donate sperm because of a small risk of spreading Zika, U.S. health officials said Monday. The guidance had previously applied to Miami-Dade County, the only place in Florida where there’s evidence mosquitoes spread the virus. But infections were reported in people in South Florida who couldn’t clearly be linked […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 31, 2016

Everyone expected Florida to play an important role in politics this year. And why wouldn’t they? Presidential hopefuls hailed from here; the state’s electoral votes were coveted; and its Senate race could have determined control of the U.S. Senate. But just like many predictions in 2016, some of the prophecies for Florida’s outsized role on […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2016

From algebra to Zika, 2016 brought a plethora of material to the Capitol Press Corps. Trying to pick the top state government stories is a subjective pursuit, to say the least, but here are the FloridaPolitics.com picks for the passing year. In (kind of) chronological order: — Kevin McCarty ousted as state Insurance Commissioner, replaced by […]

Scott PowersDecember 20, 2016

A bipartisan Congressional task force heavily influenced by Florida’s U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio released its final report Tuesday on dealing with Puerto Rico’s economic collapse offering scores of recommendations for helping the U.S. territory, its economy and it’s people. Authorized last summer by the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, […]

Associated PressDecember 9, 2016

Demand for travel to Cuba may be flattening, with soaring hotel prices on the island, American Airlines cutting some flights, and uncertainty over whether new travel restrictions could be imposed when Donald Trump takes office. Gregory Geronemus, co-CEO of smarTours, a tour company that’s taken 3,000 Americans to Cuba, confirms there has been a softening […]

Tag: Zika

Costs of Zika fight rise to nearly $30M in Miami-Dade County

Rick Scott optimistic about partnership with White House on Zika

Miami-Dade outlines aggressive mosquito control plan

Florida officials: Aggressive efforts to stop Zika continue

Genetically modified mosquito trial in Keys could begin this year, company scientist says

CDC: Don’t donate sperm in 3 Florida counties due to Zika

Infamous dates: The moments that shaped Florida politics in 2016

Jim Rosica’s review of top state government stories in 2016

Congressional Puerto Rico task force releases final recommendations

Is demand for travel to Cuba flattening?