FAC News Clips - May 14, 2021 -

The Hill

CDC says vaccinated people can take masks off indoors and outdoors

People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely resume life without any restrictions, according to long-awaited federal guidance released Thursday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says if you are fully vaccinated — two weeks past the last required COVID-19 vaccine dose — you don't need to wear masks indoors or outside, and you don't need to maintain physical distance.

South Florida Sun Sentinel

DeSantis promises pardons for everyone accused of violating COVID restrictions

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is promising pardons for anyone facing penalties, including fines and jail time, for violating mask mandates and other efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. The governor announced the pardons Wednesday night on The Ingraham Angle television show on Fox News, which has been critical of what host Laura Ingraham calls government overreach during the pandemic.

Florida Politics

Pandemic fraud bill lands on Governor’s desk

Gov. Ron DeSantis received a bill Thursday to protect consumers against fraud and scams during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sponsored by Republican Rep. Ardian Zika of Pasco County, the bill (HB 9) was the first measure to pass in the House during the 2021 Legislative Session and cleared both chambers with unanimous votes. “This is an important piece of legislation that protects our consumers against fraud during a pandemic,” Zika told House members.

Florida Politics

State government open for business? Gradually

Gov. Ron DeSantis has touted for months that Florida’s “open for business,” but it’s just now that state government is reopening offices, buildings and museums that interact directly with taxpayers. And the opening has seemingly come in fits and starts. Some agencies said their employees returned to work months ago after offices were initially closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Miami Herald

Not if, but ‘when’: Florida governor signs bills bracing state for sea rise flooding

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills Wednesday that lawmakers say will leave Florida better prepared for future flooding and sea level rise. The bills, SB 1954 and SB 2514, will — among other things — set aside hundreds of millions of state dollars for flooding infrastructure projects. The Republican-led efforts would redirect a significant portion of that money from an affordable housing trust fund to the storm hardening efforts.

Orlando Sentinel

Let’s make a deal. Florida Legislature to take up sweeping gambling agreement

Gov. Ron DeSantis is on the verge of hitting a political jackpot that will bring legal sports betting to Florida and generate billions of dollars of new revenue for the state. The Florida Legislature on Monday will take up a 30-year gambling deal signed by DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It could be the moment in DeSantis’ governorship that cements him as a dealmaker. The Republican governor served as a driving force in putting the agreement together, said Marc Dunbar, who teaches gambling law at Florida State University.

Miami Herald

New jobless filings in Florida are back on the decline as economic picture improves

Improving jobless benefits data show Florida’s economic recovery appears back in full swing. After seeing sporadic increases earlier this spring, new applications for unemployment assistance in Florida fell for the third straight week, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday. For the week ending May 8, new jobless claims fell from 19,765 to 14,872; barring a revision next week, that latest figure will represent a new pandemic low.