American Rescue Plan

The year that was 2021 wasn't a bad year for environmental initiatives in Tallahassee. More money could be forthcoming this year from Tallahassee, but some worry even that won't be enough.

The issue of housing affordability was emphasized in a Sarasota County Commission meeting earlier this month.

The National Endowment for the Humanities received $135 million to assist organizations across the country. State humanities councils each received a portion of the NEH award.

The money is intended to promote long-term investments to promote community health and stability, said Bonnie Wise, county administrator.

The federal government continues to withhold one-third of the state’s allocation, which amounts to $2.3 billion.

Community health centers in Florida will get $39.7 million in American Rescue Plan funds and part of it will go to clinics in the greater Tampa Bay region.

More Florida school boards vote to require masks as the state follows through with the threat to hold back funding. And, how the state changed reporting COVID-19 deaths.

It's part of a $250 million package Gov. Ron DeSantis announced will go to Florida's ports.

Advocates for poor, elderly and disabled individuals, who have been pressing the DeSantis administration to leverage the additional funding since spring, hailed the plan.

Federal education officials questioned state leaders about teacher bonuses and holding back COVID-19 relief funds from school districts.

The state wants a 30-day extension to consider the effects of using added funds from the American Rescue Plan for home- and community-based services.

Because of a legally required 72-hour “cooling off” period, the budget is required to be finalized and printed Tuesday for the annual legislative session to end on time Friday.