North Florida News
Governor Ron DeSantis Announces $187 Million in Awards for Communities Impacted by Hurricane Sally
Published
2 years agoon

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded $187 million to communities impacted by Hurricane Sally through the Florida Department of Commerce’s (Florida Commerce) Rebuild Florida program. Rebuild Florida provides funding for local governments to strategically rebuild homes and harden infrastructure to prevent or mitigate losses from future disasters through multiple avenues.
- City of Pensacola ($39,686,539.86) – to facilitate a stormwater infrastructure project at Hollice T. Williams Park to improve water quality and reduce stormwater in the area, to repair infrastructure at the Port of Pensacola, and to repair and improve infrastructure at the Fricker Center.
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners ($52,946,768) – to build a new state-of-the-art, energy-efficient and resilient Escambia County Area Transit Center and to make regional stormwater drainage improvements in low- and moderate-income neighborhood
- Town of Century ($12,877,137) – to demolish the old Century High School Gym building located at 440 East Hecker Road and build a shelter that can also be used as a multi-purpose facility and to make drainage and road improvements at Jefferson Avenue, Freedom Road Bridge and Alger Road Bridge, which were damaged during Hurricane Sally.
- Town of Jay ($5,479,939) – to build a Community Disaster Response Facility and various infrastructure to support disaster response and recovery following a storm event.
- City of Panama City ($5,000,000)
- Escambia County ($3,170,114)
- City of Panama City ($992,308) – to facilitate Project ACCESS, a boardwalk on Bayview Ave in the St. Andrews community, which aims to draw new businesses, foster economic growth for existing enterprises, encourage a healthy lifestyle for the low- to moderate-income households, and create enduring positive environmental effects.
- City of Pensacola ($10,000,000) – to acquire, prepare and rehabilitate a targeted property at West Cervantes and North Pace Boulevard and complete a project at Baptist Hospital.
- Escambia County ($5,000,000) – to improve streetscapes and add solar-powered lighting throughout low- to moderate-income areas by installing 80 new Escambia County Area Transit bus shelters and updating 32 Escambia County Area Transit Bus Shelters.
- City of Pensacola ($5,861,500)
- Escambia County ($9,000,000)
North Florida News
Attorney General James Uthmeier Secures Guilty Conviction of Child Predator
Published
3 weeks agoon
April 2, 2025
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a guilty conviction for Deandre Devone Williams on four felony counts for sexually abusing a minor. Williams traveled from Illinois to Florida to commit these crimes.
“Thanks to our law enforcement partners and Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Emily Frazier and Johnna Lessard for bringing this sick predator to justice,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Child sexual abuse is heinous, and anyone who harms a child will be held accountable. Our office will continue prioritizing these cases and ensure those who commit such disgusting crimes face the consequences.”
According to the law enforcement investigation, Williams, a resident of Illinois, contacted a 13-year-old victim through social media. Williams convinced the child that the two were in a romantic relationship and traveled from Illinois to meet the child in St. Augustine. The defendant then took the child to Ft. Lauderdale, where Williams spent the weekend with the victim in a hotel room. Williams sexually abused the child, then later dropped the victim off at a train station in Ft. Lauderdale, where the minor was unable to get home.
Williams was found guilty of four felony counts of lewd and lascivious battery, traveling to meet a minor, and interference with the custody of a child. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced in St. Johns County on May 2, 2025, and faces up to 50 years in prison.
North Florida News
Representative Adam Anderson to Present $5 Million to FSU Health at Pediatric Rare Disease Symposium
Published
7 months agoon
October 3, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – Florida State University’s Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU Health will host the Pediatric Rare Disease Symposium on Monday, October 7, 2024, from 9 AM to 4 PM Eastern, bringing together the nation’s leading experts in pediatric rare disease research. The symposium aims to foster collaboration between researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to advance treatment and research for pediatric rare diseases.
State Representative Adam Anderson will kick off the event with special opening remarks, where he will present a $5 million funding check to support the Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU Health.
“Florida State University is at the forefront of pediatric rare disease research. This symposium will be the catalyst for a collaborative nationwide effort, ensuring that institutions share the best knowledge and practices to bring new cures and hope to millions of children and their families,” said Rep. Anderson.
Other highlights of the event include:
- Keynote address by Dr. Terence R. Flotte, Executive Deputy Chancellor and Provost at UMass Chan Medical School
- Presentations from experts representing NIH, Harvard, Stanford, University of Florida, University of Miami, and Nicklaus Children’s Health System
- Industry roundtable focusing on the intersection of industry, healthcare, and academia in advancing pediatric rare disease research
What to Bring:
- Relevant research materials or presentations
- Questions for the panelists and speakers
Note: The symposium is focused exclusively on pediatric rare disease research. For more information or to register, visit med.fsu.edu/iprd/.
FSUHealth, RareDiseaseResearch, PediatricCare, MedicalBreakthroughs, FSUSymposium
North Florida News
Harris Campaign to Launch Historic Mobilization Blitz in Florida Panhandle
Published
9 months agoon
July 26, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – The Harris for President campaign is set to kick off its largest mobilization effort to date in the Florida Panhandle, capitalizing on the surge of grassroots energy across the state. This massive weekend of action, marking 100 days until the general election, comes just days after Vice President Kamala Harris secured her position as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.
Starting tomorrow, the campaign will engage thousands of supporters through over 36 events statewide, including canvass launches, press events, and appearances by notable Democratic leaders such as Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former Florida House Representative and Attorney General candidate Sean Shaw, and Florida House Representative Kevin Chambliss.
Key Points:
- Mass Mobilization: More than 36 events will take place across Florida, including the Florida Panhandle.
- High-Profile Support: Democratic leaders like Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Sean Shaw will participate.
- Grassroots Energy: Over 7,000 organic volunteer signups have been recorded.
- Campaign Goals: Harris is focusing on strengthening democracy, protecting reproductive freedom, and ensuring economic opportunities for all.
- Opposition Stance: The campaign contrasts Harris’s vision with Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, which they claim would threaten rights and hurt the middle class.
The weekend’s events, open to media, include the Harris for President – 100 Days of Action Weekend Black Men’s Roundtable in Hillsborough County on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 3:00 PM EST.
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