DeSantis wants a federal judge to dismiss a Piney Point lawsuit against the state
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is asking a federal judge to toss out a lawsuit that targets the state and other defendants over a former phosphate-plant site where massive amounts of polluted water were released this spring to avert a potential catastrophe. Read more here.
Save the manatees
Federal and Florida wildlife agencies have agreed to what they are describing as “experimental feeding” of starving manatees in the ailing Indian River Lagoon. Read more here.
NASA names 2021 astronaut candidates as it plans for moon missions
NASA announced 10 astronaut candidates on Monday, selecting a group from more than 12,000 applications. The group, which includes four women, will train in hopes of being named to NASA's first human missions to the moon in more than 50 years. The would-be astronauts reflect a broad stretch of America, from Alaska to Puerto Rico. Read more here.
Florida greyhound racing ban case appealed
The owner of a Pinellas County greyhound kennel has gone to an appeals court to reverse the 2018 ban on greyhound racing. Even after a Leon County judge rejected arguments last month, the owners have filed a notice of appealing the case last week. Read more here.
Omicron spreads uncertainty about holiday travel and dampens recovery for airlines
Starting this week, the Biden administration is requiring all travelers coming into the U.S. to provide proof of a negative coronavirus test taken within a day of their departure, regardless of citizenship and vaccination status. And it extended the mask-wearing mandate on board planes and inside airports into mid-March. And such restrictions are raising concerns that there may be another slowdown in air travel. Read more from NPR here.
And, a new state holiday for Florida?
A proposal filed Monday by Sen. Randolph Bracy, D-Ocoee, aims to make Juneteenth Day a paid holiday for all state government employees. Read more here.