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Speaking at his daily press briefing on Wednesday, DeSantis said that the Executive Director Department of Economic Opportunity, Ken Lawson, will remain in his current role, but overseeing the unemployment response in the wake of the outbreak will now be the responsibility of Department of Management Services Secretary Jonathan Satter. “His mission is very simple: Get assistance out as quickly as you can,” DeSantis said. “I hope that Jon can get in there, rattle the cage, and get it....

To those who think that players went to the Florida Cup to enjoy the sun, beaches and warm weather: think again! The first São Paulo practice under coach Rogério Ceni was in cold and rainy weather. Even so, the new manager conducted a tough practice, focusing on tactics to make sure the team is ready for its Florida Cup debut. The former player was energetic in the practice and showed that his soccer skills are still on point....

The former longtime Democratic mayor of Hialeah earned a “tells it like it is” reputation among his supporters for railing against corruption in Miami politics, and was a fan of giving nicknames to politicians he felt were doing a bad job, calling Governor Ron DeSantis, Ron Desastre, or disaster, for example. But for a Democratic Party that suffered brutal defeats in Florida in November, he was also like water in the desert, one of the very few Democratic voices on air, who in recent months could be heard during rush hour explaining the lack of evidence for Trump’s lie that he won the election, talking about “anti-immigrant” forces within the Republican Party trying to stop reform, and giving people details on how to get vaccinated....

“When my assistant gave the COVID-19 diagnosis CVS said, ‘Sorry we can’t dispense the drug,’” Speros Hampilos, a Tampa Bay-area physician, told WFLA News Channel 8 after he sent his assistant to a St. Petersburg CVS pharmacy. “This was the first time we’ve been asked for a diagnosis and were declined,” the doctor said. Hampilos, who has 35 years of experience, tried to fill the prescription after getting a phone call from a patient who just received news he was diagnosed with pneumonia and the novel coronavirus....

States are the laboratories of our democracy. As Justice Louis Brandeis wrote in the 1932 Supreme Court case of New State Ice Co. v. Liebmann: “It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” The complexity of online markets—and the threats the Big Tech giants pose to competition, children’s welfare and even democracy itself—call for greater involvement at the state level....

“I think the outcome should be that his nomination is withdrawn,” Polsky told MSNBC on Monday afternoon. “I don’t want this man serving as a surgeon general.” “His nomination should just be pulled,” she added. “This man is not fit to serve as a surgeon general. He certainly didn’t care about my health, so I don’t know how he’s going to care for the public health of 21 million Floridians....

The incident, which took place Sunday night at Ricky T’s restaurant and bar, resulted in 47-year-old Jason Andrew Copenhaver’s arrest. According to Treasure Island police, Copenhaver was arrested on charges of simple battery and disorderly conduct. Copenhaver, who appeared to be intoxicated and was not wearing shoes, approached a 16-year-old boy, who was wearing a mask, at one of the tables and asked if the child was wearing a mask, according to arrest reports....

Jesse Stover was arrested Monday after his request for a discount was refused and an argument broke out between him and employees at the chain restaurant, WPLG reported. Officers discovered a badge that Stover allegedly used to impersonate law enforcement while searching him. The case involving Stover is one of several incidents in the U.S. this month where individuals allegedly impersonated officers or agents. A college student was pulled over by a man allegedly impersonating a cop and called 911, while another man accused of posing as a federal agent allegedly offered to purchase a gun for a Secret Service agent serving in First Lady Jill Biden’s protective detail....

Key Largo resident Joseph Guenther was 58. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said Guenther’s heart had stopped beating, and CPR was performed. He was airlifted to the Ryder Trauma Center at nearby Jackson Memorial Hospital, where his head injury was possibly fatal, according to the agency. FWC officials told the Miami Herald that Guenther was traveling in a 21-foot Action Marine boat “North in Blackwater Sound at a high rate of speed” around 9:30 a....

Describing Smith as a “sleeper,” Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said the incident is particularly worrisome. Detectives said they don’t know what Smith intended to do with the explosives. He has no criminal history, there is no intelligence from other agencies and he has no social media, Gualtieri said at a press conference. “Those are the ones that are most concerning and the hardest to figure out,” Gualtieri said....

Florida resident Jason Wood was filmed making a string of racist comments after being cut off at the Out of the Barrel Taproom in Fig Garden Village in Fresno. Bartender Rebecca Hernandez posted the confrontation she had with Wood to social media. The clip starts with her informing Wood that she is not from Iran. “I’m leaving. Don’t worry about me. Don’t worry about me, Saudi Arabia,” Wood said....

“Big” being the operative word. Brian Boyle, the 6-6, 245-pound center who last played for the Nashville Predators, has signed a one-year, one-way contract with the Panthers, the club announced Sunday. Boyle’s deal with the Panthers is worth $940,000, according to CapFriendly.com. Florida hopes Boyle’s veteran presence can provide a boost to the team following its 3-2-3 start to the 2019-20 campaign. “With over 700 games played in the NHL and over 100 more in the playoffs, Brian brings a wealth of experience to our club,” Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said in a team release....

The arrest report shows the victim was Porter’s girlfriend, who is 10-weeks pregnant. He fired a gunshot at the wall where she was standing after an altercation over her alleged romantic involvement with one of Porter’s teammates. He also held the gun to her head, “demanding that she tell him the truth about being with his teammate.” According to court records, Porter was charged with four felony counts, including aggravated battery (second degree), two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent (third degree), and firing a weapon into a dwelling (second degree)....

The starting defense at Florida State hasn’t given up a rushing touchdown all season. The Auburn rushing offense, meanwhile, has been the best in the nation statistically over the last 13 games and has 46 touchdowns. MORE: Inside the numbers | BCS champions | SN picks | Bowl gallery LINEMAKERS: Double-digit favorites | Prop bets | History and the spread This, of course, brings two converging arguments. First, from FSU’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Jameis Winston: “Why can’t we blow (Auburn) out?...

“Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) suspended the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption at all bars throughout the state,” the department wrote in a press release emailed to Newsweek. “The suspension of alcohol sales directed by DBPR Emergency Order 2020-09 is effective immediately.” In the press release, DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears stated that, “based on recent increase in COVID-19 cases and non-compliance with previous orders, DBPR has taken action to suspend on-premises alcohol sales at bars....

Orlando and Miami prove to be top vacation spots for tourists, and the state of Florida had 32.5 million travelers from July to September this year. That’s more visitors during the same time period for pre-pandemic 2019, DeSantis said. Borders opened up for the United States earlier this month and the state is expecting more international vacationers. However, it is unknown how the new COVID-19 omicron variant will affect international traveling....

Dr. Raul Pino from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County told WKMG on Monday that the events took place over the previous week. He did not disclose further details but said that more would be released once an investigation had been conducted. “We are not 100 percent sure but we are looking to our data. We think that we have detected a couple of events superspreading in the last week and as soon as we have all the tracking information in place, we will display the data for you,” Pino said....

The richest fight in boxing history is a little over two weeks away with Mayweather putting his perfect 47-0 record on the line against the Filipino at the MGM Grand in one of the most eagerly awaited fights of all time. MORE: Classic Mayweather photos | ‘Money’ has ridiculous Instagram pics While boxing fans the world over gear up for the exciting showdown, Mayweather himself admits that at this stage of his career the sport has become more of a business for him....

We seen on Monday that “Money” was chopping wood and channeling his inner Rocky Balboa. Now Mayweather is going all out in another area. TMZ Sports first reported that Mayweather will be using Chef Q, who is based out of Las Vegas to cook all his meals leading up to the fight. Mayweather will be paying her $1,000 a plate. “My daily schedule for Floyd is, there is no schedule,” Chef Q said to TMZ Sports....

Mayweather and Pacquiao will meet twice before the fight for a news conference on Wednesday and the weigh-in on Friday, an ordeal that sold more than 10,000 tickets. The fight itself will take place at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, scheduled for 11:30 p.m. ET. Pacquiao opted to skip the grand arrival to avoid the chaos. MORE: How to watch the fight | Mexico to air fight for free | How much are Mayweather vs Pacquiao tickets?...