$1,000 checks for first responders and other ways Florida’s governor wants to spend federal stimulus money

Gov. Ron DeSantis expects that the Sunshine State will receive between $9 billion and $10 billion from the American Rescue Plan, which he said is less than he would have liked. “Florida’s policies have been more effective and yet with the advent of the federal stimulus bill, we are getting comparatively less money than our population because our unemployment is lower and a lot of those states that have much higher unemployment are getting much, much -- billions and billions of dollars more,” DeSantis said [Source: WKMG]

Groups call for overhaul of Florida school voucher program, changes in Baker Act use

There’s a push in Florida to overhaul the system that gives students scholarships to attend private schools.There was a massive online rally on Tuesday hosted by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the NAACP, the state-wide PTA and more than a dozen other organizations. The groups all say the use of school vouchers diverts badly-needed funds from public schools. [Source: WJXT]

Vaccinating theme park workers could give boost to Central Florida economy, experts say

Gov. Ron DeSantis said he’s not doing vaccine changes by occupation anymore. However, Mayor Jerry Demings has been making some special requests to get certain jobs covered. While theme park employees wear masks all day, every day, many said they’d feel a lot more comfortable around tourists being vaccinated. [Source: WFTV]

Florida Future Fund would help secure a safe, just, and climate-ready future for Florida

The destructive impacts of extreme weather caused by climate change have increasingly threatened the public health and economic well-being of Florida residents, particularly low-income communities and communities of color with the fewest resources to reduce these risks. [Source: Center for American Progress]

Beach smoking restrictions clear first House committee

The House Professions and Public Health Subcommittee advanced a bill (HB 239) that would authorize local governments to regulate smoking at those locales. Right now, Florida law leaves the decision to regulate smoking only to state government. [Source: Florida Politics]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Encompass Health chooses site for proposed rehab hospital in Osceola County [Orlando Business Journal]
Encompass Health Corp. has revealed more details on its planned new Osceola County rehab hospital, including where it will be built.

› Major changes to Bright Futures program pass Florida Senate Committee [WTVJ]
Florida’s Bright Futures scholarship program has paved the way over the years for thousands of high school students to go to college.

› Florida bills would stop transgender athletes from playing women’s sports [Tampa Bay Times]
he latest front in the culture wars has made its way to the Florida Legislature.

› A new real estate reality show is coming to Netflix. This one has a Florida connection [Miami Herald]
Fact: Florida real estate is as hot as the state itself. So it’s no surprise that a new reality show centered around brokers is coming to Netflix

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› NASA targets March 18 for redo of Artemis core stage hot fire test [Orlando Sentinel]
The hot fire test is back on. NASA announced it is targeting March 18 for the redo of the test to light up all four engines of the core stage that will be used on the Artemis I mission to the moon as soon as November this year.

› Florida woman gives birth to 1st known baby with COVID-19 antibodies, doctors say [WFLA]
A baby born in Florida has reportedly become the first in the world to be born with COVID-19 antibodies after her mother was given the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant.

› The Sunshine economy: A look back at the COVID-19 year in Florida [WLRN]
One year after the pandemic took hold of the economy, shutting down the hospitality industry and costing thousands of jobs, these business owners are fighting their way back. And in some cases, the future looks brighter now.