Politics
Pence: Candidates must run ‘as Republicans’ to win in 2024
Published
3 years agoon
NEW YORK (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence ramped up his criticism of fellow Republicans at a GOP donor summit Friday night, trying to paint his would-be rivals as straying from party principles as he inches closer to an expected presidential run.
Speaking at a Republican National Committee donor summit in Nashville, Pence planned to criticize former President Donald Trump and others who have questioned the war in Ukraine and oppose entitlement reform and further curbs on abortion rights. He argued the party will be better served by candidates who espouse more traditional GOP views, according to excerpts shared by aides ahead of his remarks.
“It’s becoming clearer every day that the upcoming Republican primaries will not just be a contest of candidates but a conflict of visions,” Pence was expected to tell donors. “One vision grounded in traditional Republican principles, and another vision driven by the promise of winning at the expense of our highest ideals.”
He said the party’s route to victory rests on a “well-worn path” it has “traveled for the better part of half a century,” including support for strong national defense, limited government and “traditional” social values.
“We will win if we run boldly as Republicans,” he was expected to add. “We will lose if we run away from that proven American agenda.”
Pence is widely expected to launch a campaign for the White House in the coming weeks that will put him in direct competition with his former boss, who is the frontrunner for the GOP nomination.
Pence, who was a loyal lieutenant to Trump in the White House, has spent the years since he left office distancing himself from the former president. That has included criticizing Trump’s actions on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump’s supporters violently stormed the Capitol building as Pence was presiding over the certification of President Joe Biden’s win. Trump was furious with Pence for refusing to go along with his unconstitutional scheme to overturn the results, and the two have been at odds ever since.
In his speech at the retreat, Pence continued to tacitly criticize Trump as well as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, another likely candidate, saying the party must “resist the politics of personality and the lure of populism unmoored to timeless conservative values.”
“If 2022 taught us anything, it’s that candidates that were focused on the challenges facing American families did well. But candidates focused on the past, on litigating the last election, did not do well,” he was expected to add. “Elections are always about the future. To win in 2024, the Republican Party must be the party of the future.”
The comments came hours after both men spoke at the National Rifle Association’s annual convention in Pence’s home state of Indiana, where Pence was greeted with a smattering of boos from the crowd. It was a reflection of lingering animosity from Trump’s loyal base, which continues to harbor resentments over Pence’s handling of the 2020 election.
Trump, who will address the donor summit in Nashville Saturday, took a dig at Pence from the NRA stage, telling the crowd he hoped they’d given the former vice president a warm introduction. Still, he called Pence a “nice” and “good man.”
Pence, in his remarks, was expected to continued to criticize those in his party who have questioned U.S. support for Ukraine after Russia’s invasion. “Joe Biden wants to cut defense spending. But for some reason, so do some prominent Republicans,” he was expected to say.
DeSantis last month walked back his characterization of the war as a “territorial dispute” following criticism from a number of fellow Republicans who expressed concern about the potential 2024 presidential candidate’s dismissive description of the conflict.
Pence was also expected to call out Trump for opposing reforms to Social Security and Medicare, such as increasing the age of qualification — once a standard GOP talking point.
“Sadly, our former president has echoed Biden’s pledge ‘not to touch’ Social Security. I think we owe my three granddaughters better,” he was planning to say.
He was also expected to criticize those in his party who are shying away from further restrictions on abortion rights following a series of GOP losses.
“On the heels of the biggest pro-life victory in history, too many Republicans want to run away from the cause that has animated our party for half a century,” he was going to say, according to the excerpts.
Trump has warned that the party risks fallout from tight abortion restrictions, while DeSantis late Thursday signed a 6-week ban into law.
Florida
Attorney General James Uthmeier Announces Arrests in Central Florida Medicaid Fraud Case
Published
2 weeks agoon
January 28, 2026
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrests of Alexander McKinnie and Kara Morrison in connection with a scheme to defraud Florida’s Medicaid program.
“Medicaid fraud is a clear example of theft from taxpayers,” Uthmeier said. “In Florida, our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit will safeguard public funds and aggressively pursue anyone who exploits these programs.”
An investigation by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit determined that McKinnie submitted tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent claims for non-emergency medical transportation gas reimbursements for trips that never occurred.
Investigators said McKinnie fraudulently billed Medicaid for more than $65,000 in medical services that were never provided. Morrison assisted in the scheme by submitting approximately $7,000 in false reimbursement claims.
McKinnie is charged with one count of Medicaid provider fraud exceeding $50,000 and one count of organized scheme to defraud. Both charges are first-degree felonies, punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Morrison is charged with one count of Medicaid provider fraud under $10,000 and one count of organized scheme to defraud. Both are third-degree felonies, punishable by up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines.
McKinnie was arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, while Morrison was arrested by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The cases will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney for Florida’s Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.
Central Florida News
Orange County Government Updates Temporary Warming Center Schedule
Published
2 weeks agoon
January 28, 2026
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) — Orange County officials announced updated operating hours for the county’s temporary warming centers following revised weather forecasts indicating temperatures will not fall below 40 degrees for at least four consecutive hours.
As a result, warming centers will be closed Thursday, Jan. 29, and Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. The centers will reopen Saturday, Jan. 31, at 5 p.m. and remain open continuously through Monday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m.
Warming Center Locations and Hours
Temporary warming centers are located at the gymnasiums of Barnett Park Recreation Center and Goldenrod Recreation Center and will operate on the following schedule:
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026: 5 p.m. – 9 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 29 – Friday, Jan. 30: Closed
Saturday, Jan. 31: Opens at 5 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 1: Open 24 hours
Monday, Feb. 2: Closes at 10 a.m.
Transportation Services Available
For residents in rural East Orange County, Bithlo Community Park will continue to serve as a transportation hub, with LYNX bus service providing access to the Goldenrod Recreation Center.
LYNX Bus Schedule:
Saturday, Jan. 31 – Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026: 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
LYNX buses provide free transportation to warming centers.
Pet Policy and Additional Shelter Resources
Secured pets are permitted on buses and at warming centers. Pet owners must provide carriers for cats, leashes for dogs, and all necessary food and supplies.
Warming center operations are subject to change based on weather conditions. For the latest updates, visit www.ocfl.net/cold.
Additional Homeless Services Network partner locations include:
Coalition for the Homeless, 18 N. Terry Ave., Orlando
Matthew’s Hope, 611 Business Park Blvd., Winter Garden
Orlando Union Rescue Mission, 3300 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando
The Salvation Army Orlando (Men Only), 624 Lexington Ave., Orlando
The Salvation Army Orlando (Women and Children Only), 400 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Politics
Gov. DeSantis: Florida Opts Into Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit to Expand School Choice
Published
2 weeks agoon
January 28, 2026
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida will opt in to the Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, a new program created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, further expanding school choice opportunities for families across the state.
“Florida families have access to the nation’s top-ranked and largest school choice program,” DeSantis said. “About 1.4 million students are enrolled in school choice options in Florida—more than most other states’ entire K-12 school population. This new federal program will allow Florida families to supplement their existing scholarships.”
Federal Tax Credit Expands Education Freedom
The Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, allows taxpayers to receive a tax credit of up to $1,700 annually for contributions that help K-12 students cover educational expenses. By opting into the program, Florida enables families to combine federal benefits with existing state-based scholarships, further broadening access to educational options.
Florida’s Leadership in School Choice
Florida enacted universal school choice in 2023, ensuring every family has access to education options that meet their needs. Nearly half of all students in the state now participate in school choice programs, including private schools, charter schools, virtual education, and homeschooling.
National Recognition and Rankings
Florida continues to lead the nation in education freedom. The Heritage Foundation ranked Florida No. 1 in Education Freedom for the fourth consecutive year, also awarding top marks in Education Choice, Civic Education, Academic Transparency, and Teacher Freedom. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) ranked Florida No. 1 for Education Freedom for the third straight year, citing student-centered funding, charter schools, and homeschooling. The Center for Education Reform also ranked Florida No. 1 on its Parent Power Index for the fourth consecutive year, highlighting the state’s leadership in transformational learning and choice programs.
