Florida

VIDEO: Adam Putnam Talks Algae Blooms, Washington Politics, Florida First at Lakeland Rally

Published

6 years ago

August 21, 2018

LAKELAND (FNN NEWS) - Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam rallied voters in Lakeland Tuesday evening on his "Florida First" bus tour. Image: Willie David/Florida National News.

LAKELAND, Fla. (FNN NEWS) – Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam rallied voters at the Magnolia Building in Lakeland Tuesday evening, his third stop for the fifth day on his nine-day “Florida First” bus tour. Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd joined Putnam at the rally and Sheriff Judd introduced Putnam to the audience of 300-plus voters.

For Sheriff Judd, Putnam is more than a candidate. “For me, this is personal…I’ve known Adam Putnam his whole life.” He added,

“Adam Putnam is the best person to be Governor of the state of Florida. He’s a Christian man, he’s a family man, he’s a man who grew up in our public schools systems, he’s a man whose children are in our public school system, he’s a man that I’ve always turned to when I needed help for the people Polk County, he’s a hardworking man, he’s my friend and he’ll be the next Governor of the state of Florida.”

During his rally speech, Putnam spoke to the power of grassroots and specifically the success of his own campaign, having knocked on “over 400,000 doors” across Florida. He also fired his shots after GOP primary opponent Congressman Rick DeSantis by comparing their endorsements. Putnam acknowledged that while DeSantis’ endorsement from President Trump “is a pretty big one,” he would gladly take the endorsements he has received from fifty Florida sheriffs, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Florida businesses and organizations any day, because his focus is “Florida First.”

“You’ve got a choice in this election between putting Florida first or the Washington way,” he stressed at the rally and with the press thereafter. “I say we need to put Florida first. To make Florida the most family-friendly, jobs-friendly and the most veteran-friendly state in the country.”

During the media scrum after the speech, Putnam also talked with Florida National News about how he would go about solving the algae bloom and red tide emergency as well as his plans for the Puerto Rican evacuees in Florida. Watch our interview to learn more.

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Mellissa Thomas is Editor for the Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com

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Florida

Governor Ron DeSantis Signs “Victoria’s Law” Alongside David and Jackie Siegel

Published

1 week ago

April 9, 2024

FNN NEWS

SANFORD, Fla. (FNN) – SB 66, “Victoria’s Law,” designate June 6 as “Revive Awareness Day”. The law is named after Victoria Siegel, who died of an overdose in 2015.

Victoria was the daughter of billionaire couple David Siegel, founder of the Westgate Resorts timeshare company, and his wife, Jackie, “The Queen of Versailles.”

Jackie delivered remarks on Victoria’s Law during a press conference held by Governor DeSantis.

Revive Awareness Day coincides with National Naxolone Awareness Day on June 6.

Florida

USDA Invests in Clean Energy to Reduce Energy Costs, Strengthen Florida Businesses

Published

3 weeks ago

March 28, 2024

FNN NEWS

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) State Director Lakeisha Hood Moїse announced today that USDA is investing in renewable energy projects that lower energy costs for small businesses in Florida.

“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is committed to ensuring farmers, ranchers and small businesses are directly benefitting from both a clean energy economy and a strong U.S. supply chain,” said Hood Moїse.

USDA is awarding $190,845 to two Florida businesses through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP provides grants and loans to help ag producers and rural small business owners expand their use of wind, solar and other forms of clean energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses, address climate change and lower energy costs for American families.

In Levy County, Blue Grotto LLC will receive $137,398 to install a proposed 45.0 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. This installation will increase efficiency of the overall business operation and decrease outside energy costs. This project is estimated to save the business $7,750 a year, which is enough electricity to power seven homes.

Click here to read the full news release.

Florida

Governor DeSantis Deploys Additional Personnel, Assets to Southern Florida and the Keys to Stop Potential Influx of Illegal Immigration from Haiti

Published

1 month ago

March 13, 2024

Willie David

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—In anticipation of a potential influx of illegal immigrants from Haiti, Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered additional state assets to the Keys and southern waters of the State of Florida.

“For quite some time, the State of Florida has been dedicating significant resources to combat illegal vessels coming to Florida from countries such as Haiti,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Given the circumstances in Haiti, I have directed the Division of Emergency Management, the Florida State Guard, and state law enforcement agencies to deploy over 250 additional officers and soldiers and over a dozen air and sea craft to the southern coast of Florida to protect our state. No state has done more to supplement the (under-resourced) U.S. Coast Guard’s interdiction efforts; we cannot have illegal aliens coming to Florida.”

Currently, state agencies have security and surveillance assets in South Florida and the Keys as a part of Operation Vigilant Sentry to stop illegal immigration at sea. The governor’s directive today will send additional personnel and assets from the following agencies:

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement: 39 additional officers.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: 23 additional officers with eight additional seacraft.
The Florida National Guard: 48 additional Guardsmen with four additional helicopters.
The Florida Highway Patrol: 30 additional officers with an additional aircraft and drones for surveillance.

Governor DeSantis will also today authorize a deployment of the Florida State Guard to the Keys to assist in the operation. This deployment includes up to 133 soldiers.

Illegal immigrants feel empowered to enter the sovereign territory of the United States because of the federal government’s refusal to diligently enforce our immigration laws and protect the integrity of the border. When a state faces the possibility of invasion, it has the right and duty to defend its territory and people. Under Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida will act.