Florida Politics

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced a new higher education accreditor for the Sunshine State called the Commission for Public Higher Education. DeSantis says the new accreditor will ensure that colleges and universities meet and maintain academic quality and operational excellence on behalf of their students. The commission will include six public university systems that will focus on academic excellence, student outcomes, process efficiency and the pursuit of quality assurance for public post-secondary education.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hosted a press conference on Thursday morning in Boca Raton. At the event, Ron DeSantis announced a new higher education accreditor for the Sunshine State called the Commission for Public Higher Education. DeSantis says the new accreditor will ensure that colleges and universities meet and maintain academic quality and operational excellence on behalf of their students.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hosting a press conference on Thursday morning in Boca Raton. DeSantis answered reporter's questions following his announcement, in which one media member asked him about Florida's plans for immigration detention facilities. On Wednesday, DeSantis said his administration is working on plans for a new ICE detention center at Camp Blanding ? Florida?s National Guard training headquarters located southwest of Jacksonville. The announcement followed the launch of construction for another ICE facility near the Everglades.

A lot has been happening in Florida's political landscape with the recent local primary election, rescue flights being chartered from Israel and a pause on legislation related to condominiums. Dr. Larry Walker, an associate professor at the University of Central Florida, joins Good Day Orlando to discuss.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed new legislation on Wednesday to promote mental health and addiction recovery. State Bill 1620 amends various sections of Florida Statutes to enhance mental health and substance-use disorder services, focusing on improving assessment and treatment standards. State Bill 168 focuses on the Tristin Murphy Act, which creates model processes for diverting defendants to mental health treatment.

FOX 35's Garrett Wymer takes a deep dive into "Alligator Alcatraz." Florida is now using emergency powers to take over a remote, 30-square-mile site in the Everglades to build what some are calling "Alligator Alcatraz." The state said the site will hold up to 5,000 immigration detainees and will operate under the current state of emergency. Construction is already underway.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hosted a press conference on Thursday in Tampa. At the end of the event, DeSantis took questions and was asked about "Alligator Alcatraz." The state is using emergency powers to take over a remote, 30-square-mile site in the Everglades to build what some are calling Alligator Alcatraz. The state said the site will hold up to 5,000 immigration detainees and will operate under the current state of emergency. Construction is already underway.

A special primary election will be held on Tuesday to fill the vacancies for state senate, Senate District 15, and state representative, Florida House District 40. Polls open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The first of several flights chartered by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to rescue Americans in Israel landed Thursday morning at the Tampa International Airport. The rescues come as the country?s conflict with Iran intensifies. DeSantis hosted a press conference after greeting a flight arriving from Israel in the early hours of Friday morning in Tampa.