Politics

Department of Citrus requests more than $3.8M to renovate unsafe Bartow buildings

Published

3 months ago

September 18, 2025

The funding request will be considered as part of the 2026 Legislative Session.

The Department of Citrus is asking lawmakers to set aside nearly $3.9 million next year to refurbish two state-owned buildings on its Bartow campus that have sat empty for years because they are not safe or accessible for use.

According to the agency’s 2026-27 budget request, the buildings — located adjacent to the Department’s headquarters — violate the Florida Building Code and fall short of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The second floors of the facilities are inaccessible because the stairwells are out of compliance, and there is no elevator or lift. Restrooms also fail to meet ADA requirements.

“The buildings are state-owned properties with significant life/safety deficiencies which prevent use of much-needed office, meeting, and storage space,” the Department wrote in its appropriations request.

The request totals just under $3.86 million in general revenue funds and is part of the agency’s five-year capital improvements plan submitted to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Office of Policy and Budget this month. Officials said the project has been deferred in recent years because of funding constraints.

The Department of Citrus is responsible for marketing and research tied to the state’s iconic citrus industry, which has faced steep challenges in recent decades. Citrus greening disease, hurricanes, and rising production costs have devastated yields, leaving growers and the industry fighting to recover. At its peak, Florida produced more than 200 million boxes of oranges annually; recent harvests have fallen to levels not seen since before World War II.

Restoring the unused buildings can provide additional workspace for staff, meetings and storage as the Department works to stabilize and promote the struggling citrus industry.

The funding request will be considered as part of the 2026 Legislative Session, when lawmakers craft the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Last year’s budget included around $140 million for citrus growers in the state.

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Politics

Ashley Moody, Rick Scott diverge on rescheduling pot

Published

29 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

May Greene

Florida’s U.S. Senators are split on President Donald Trump potentially rescheduling cannabis.

While Rick Scott signed a letter opposing the move with GOP colleagues, Ashley Moody did not.

“Rescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III drug will undermine your strong efforts to Make America Great Again and to usher in America’s next economic Golden Age. The only winners from rescheduling will be bad actors such as Communist China, while Americans will be left paying the bill,” the letter claims.

The Senators argue that changing cannabis’ classification would harm America’s attempts to reindustrialize, would have health consequences, and would give a “massive tax break” to companies in the space.

“While supporters of rescheduling argue that extending tax benefits to marijuana businesses will create economic growth, the costs of workplace and vehicular accidents caused by increased marijuana usage far exceeds any perceived benefits—not to mention the moral costs of marijuana advertising that could reach kids.”

Scott has called marijuana a “gateway drug” and says his own brother died after a lifetime struggle with drugs that began with it, so his opposition to relaxed laws continues.

While Attorney General, Moody opposed legalization initiatives in Florida. However, rumors are that the White House is considering rescheduling to Schedule III, which would permit medical research but wouldn’t immediately make it more commercially available.

12.17.2025-Letter-on-Marijuana-Rescheduling-

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Politics

Florida military installations to divvy up nearly $1B in federal funding act

Published

2 hours ago

December 17, 2025

May Greene

10 military installations in the Sunshine State will get a cut of the funding approved by Congress.

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody is touting approval by Congress of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will bring nearly a billion dollars in funding for several military installations in Florida.

The measure passed along bipartisan lines in the Senate and covers defense funding for the next fiscal year. It authorizes about $900 billion in total for defense spending across the U.S. The House signed off on the measure last week.

The act earmarks about $851 million for Florida installations. It will also fund expanded shipbuilding and prioritize development of the “Golden Dome” missile defense system.

“The passage of this year’s NDAA is a victory for the strengthening of our national security and Florida’s military bases. It is vital for the protection of our great nation that our military has the resources needed to deter evil and stay mission ready. Sadly, just this week we lost two National Guardsmen and an interpreter far too soon at the hands of an apparent ISIS attack in Syria. My heart breaks for their families’ unimaginable loss. It is a stark reminder that we must continue our efforts to secure peace through a robust national defense,” Moody said in a news release Wednesday.

“Florida is proud to be the home of three combatant commands, including SOUTHCOM, CENTCOM and SOCOM, as well as 21 military installations which all play a highly important role in the United States’ military strategy. I will always fight for their interests, because a strong military is essential for a strong nation.”

Ten different military installations in Florida will get a partial cut of the funding including, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Eglin Air Force Base, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Hurlburt Field, MacDill Air Force Base, Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, Naval Air Station Key West, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Naval Air Station Whiting Field and Tyndall Air Force Base.

Florida is home to more than 90,000 active military personnel in the state, and about 1.5 million military veterans reside here.

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Politics

New College Foundation announces $1M gift for ‘Socratic Stage’ program

Published

3 hours ago

December 17, 2025

May Greene

The New College Foundation has announced a $1 million donation from Dr. Michael C. and Ling Z. Markovitz to establish a new campus program centered on debate, classical learning and public discourse.

The donation, made directly to the New College Foundation, will help the college establish the Markovitz Socratic Stage, a signature forum dedicated to revitalizing civil discourse, classical learning and the free exchange of ideas on campus.

“We believe deeply in the power of ideas — and the courage it takes to explore them openly,” Michael said in a statement. “New College is leading a movement to bring back real dialogue, real debate, and real education. We are honored to support this mission and help build a program where students learn to think for themselves, speak with conviction, and engage with the world in meaningful ways.”

The donation will support a series of debates, lectures and discussion-based events meant to bring together students, faculty, visiting scholars and community members for debates, dialogues, books discussions, lecture series, public forums, intellectual events open to the community, and student-centered opportunities.

The program will be integrated into New College’s Logos/Techne curriculum and is expected to launch as a recurring campus initiative open to the public.

College President Richard Corcoran called the gift a “defining moment” for the institution, saying it aligns with New College’s emphasis on classical education and intellectual freedom.

“Michael and Ling Markovitz have made a profound and visionary commitment to New College,” he said. “Their gift strengthens our mission to revive rigorous classical education and restore the humanities as a force for intellectual freedom. The Markovitz Socratic Stage will impact generations of students by giving them a place to think deeply, debate boldly, and seek truth fearlessly.”

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