Politics
Hundreds of weather forecasters fired in latest wave of DOGE cuts
Hundreds of weather forecasters and other federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees on probationary status were fired Thursday, lawmakers and weather experts said.
Federal workers who were not let go said the afternoon layoffs included meteorologists who do crucial local forecasts in National Weather Service offices across the country.
Cuts at NOAA appeared to be happening in two rounds, one of 500 and one of 800, said Craig McLean, a former NOAA chief scientist who said he got the information from someone with first-hand knowledge. That’s about 10% of NOAA’s workforce.
The first round of cuts were probationary employees, McLean said. There are about 375 probationary employees in the National Weather Service — where day-to-day forecasting and hazard warning is done.
The firings come amid efforts by billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency to shrink a federal workforce that President Donald Trump has called bloated and sloppy. Thousands of probationary employees across the government have already been fired.
Rep. Grace Meng, a New York Democrat, released a statement saying: “Today, hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including weather forecasters at the National Weather Service (NWS), were given termination notices for no good reason. This is unconscionable.”
Meng added: “These are dedicated, hardworking Americans whose efforts help save lives and property from the devastating impacts of natural disasters across the country. This action will only endanger American lives going forward.”
Rep. Jared Huffman, a California Democrat and ranking minority member in the House Natural Resources Committee, also said “hundreds of scientists and experts at NOAA” were let go.
Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, said on social media that the job cuts “are spectacularly short-sighted, and ultimately will deal a major self-inflicted wound to the public safety of Americans and the resiliency of the American economy to weather and climate-related disasters.”
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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
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Politics
Asked about the Governor’s race, Ron and Casey DeSantis serve up ‘good old Yogi Berra’ quotes
If Casey DeSantis is running, she’s not saying just yet.
Reporters are serving up softballs. But Florida’s First Couple won’t swing at the pitches.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis were more interested in talking about a quotable 20th-century baseball player than the 2026 race for Governor during a recent media availability.
“To quote the late Yogi Berra,” the First Lady said when asked if she was running, “if you see a fork in the road, take it.”
The Governor amplified the memorably quotable former New York Yankee in his own quippy comments at Florida International University.
“I think she’s leaving that to the imagination and to start talking about good old Yogi Berra, because you know he had a lot of very perceptive comments,” the Governor said.
“I just remember when they were in kind of the doldrums with Major League Baseball, you know, there wasn’t as much fan interest. I don’t think the Yankees were doing as well that year. And he said if people don’t want to come to the ballpark, no one’s going to stop them. And that’s just kind of the nature of it, right?” the Governor said on Friday.
Neither Ron nor Casey wanted to evaluate the emergent state of the race, which will include Donald Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds.
But the Governor did revisit previous themes about people wanting Casey to take a more active role in politics.
“I’ve had people coming up to me for years begging to get her in the fray because I think you see with her presentation, I mean, she’s passionate. She’s articulate, she’s smart, she’s got rock solid values,” the Governor said, before repeating the increasingly familiar story of Rush Limbaugh saying the First Lady was “more conservative” than her husband.
Whether Ron or Casey DeSantis have more to say about the future remains to be seen. But for now, they clearly are patient at the proverbial plate.
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Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Rep. Rita Harris are backing a pair of bills (SB 1514, HB 1197) that would expand anaphylaxis policies and training in public schools.
The Orlando Democrats introduced the measures to ensure proper protocols are followed for handling anaphylactic reactions. The bills would mandate that school districts implement and enforce emergency action plans and provide critical training for school personnel.
According to the Allergies & Asthma Network, approximately 1 in 12 school students have food allergies in the U.S., with 25% of allergic reactions happening in schools without a previous diagnosis. There are also between 150 to 200 fatalities from food allergies every year, and another 40 fatalities per year from insect stings.
Under the legislation, School Boards would be required to ensure that emergency action plans exist for students who have allergies. Students must also be able to access the life-saving medication at all times while they are on campus, including during extracurricular activities, athletic events and school dances.
In a press release, Smith said the measure is needed to ensure students are kept safe while they are participating at school.
“It is vital that we ensure our schools understand the risk of anaphylaxis and have a plan should a child be exposed to a triggering allergen,” Smith said. “This training is quick, easy, free, and could mean the difference between life and death for some of our students. There is no reason they should be at heightened risk of anaphylaxis while at school or at before and after care.”
The lawmakers said that while there are many agitators that could lead to a student going into anaphylaxis, the most common trigger for anaphylactic events among all K-12 students is food allergies, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Harris said the medications are essential to be kept on hand at schools and noted the importance for schools to be fully prepared to react in an emergency.
“Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening, and it is essential that our schools are prepared to handle these emergencies effectively,” Harris said. “This legislation ensures that all students, especially those with allergies, can attend before and after school care, sports, and extracurricular activities knowing that school personnel are well-equipped to act in case of an emergency. The health and safety of our children should always come first, and this bill moves toward that direction.”
Portions of the measures are dedicated to providing education and training to students and parents about food allergies and strategies to avoid exposure to foods that are unsafe.
School personnel, including employees and contracted staff at school programs, would be required to receive comprehensive training on how to recognize the signs of allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, and how to effectively respond when they occur.
Training would include instruction on the administration of emergency epinephrine, utilizing auto injections and nasal sprays — crucial medicines for saving lives during severe allergic events.
If passed, the new requirements would come into effect July 1.
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Asked about the Governor’s race, Ron and Casey DeSantis serve up ‘good old Yogi Berra’ quotes
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