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Category: State Government

Crestview Councilmember Ryan Bullard Resigns, City Seeks Replacement

A leadership change is coming to Crestview City Hall — and residents now have the opportunity to step into a City Council role shaping the city’s future.

Crestview City Councilmember Ryan Bullard has announced his resignation effective Dec. 31, 2025, citing professional, personal, and health-related considerations. City officials have opened the application process to fill the vacant Precinct 2 seat through the remainder of Bullard’s term, ending in November 2026.

Okaloosa NAACP Blasts Plan to Redo 2020 Census

The Okaloosa County NAACP has denounced Florida’s push to redo the 2020 Census, warning it’s a partisan effort that threatens democratic integrity and will present its concerns to lawmakers on December 15.

Okaloosa NAACP Blasts Plan to Redo 2020 Census Staff Reports December 10, 2025 4:50 pm Government, Okaloosa County, State Government In Brief: The Okaloosa County NAACP strongly opposes Florida’s proposal to redo the 2020 Census, calling it unconstitutional and politically motivated. President Sabu Williams says the effort would weaponize the census process to boost Republican […]

Mayor Whitten Joins National Foreign Policy Summit

Mayor JB Whitten traveled to Washington, D.C., to take part in a national foreign policy summit connecting local leaders with federal officials to address how global events shape city-level challenges.

Crestview Mayor JB Whitten joined more than 30 mayors from across the country in Washington, D.C., for the Mayors Foreign Policy Summit, a two-day event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Whitten said the meetings with national policymakers and members of Congress offered valuable insight into how global issues directly affect Crestview and provided an opportunity to voice the city’s concerns at the federal level.

DeSantis Unveils Florida’s New “AI Bill of Rights” and Data Center Crackdown

Florida could soon see some of the strictest AI rules in the nation — and Governor Ron DeSantis says it’s the only way to protect residents from deepfakes, soaring utility bills, and Big Tech’s growing footprint.

Governor Ron DeSantis has announced a sweeping proposal to establish an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” in Florida, setting new rules for how AI can be used by businesses, governments, and insurers. The plan also places strict limits on hyperscale data centers, aiming to protect residents from higher utility costs, safeguard water resources, and give local communities the power to reject major tech developments.

Tourism Pumps $133B Into Florida Economy

Florida didn’t just break tourism records in 2024—it saved Florida families nearly $2,000 each. Here’s how tens of billions in visitor spending reshaped the state’s economy.

Florida’s tourism industry delivered a record-setting year in 2024, generating $133.6 billion in economic impact, supporting 1.8 million jobs, and saving Florida households nearly $2,000 in taxes. New data from VISIT FLORIDA shows visitor spending reached historic highs, with 99 cents of every tourism dollar staying in the state’s economy.

DeSantis Moves to Shut Down Puppy Mills in Florida

Florida is taking aim at puppy mills — and the governor says it’s time to hold abusive breeders accountable. Here’s what his new plan means for dogs, shelters, and pet stores statewide.

Governor Ron DeSantis has unveiled a sweeping proposal to crack down on abusive puppy mills and strengthen protections for dogs across Florida. The plan calls for statewide breeder licensing, tougher penalties for animal abusers, a new hotline to report mistreatment, and requirements for pet stores to prioritize shelter adoptions as overcrowding reaches crisis levels.

Florida Delegation Warns Trump: Drilling Threatens Military Ops

Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis and a group of Florida representatives are asking President Trump to pull drilling blocks from the Eastern Gulf to protect military operations and the Northwest Florida economy.

Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis and a group of fellow House members are urging President Donald Trump to remove several drilling blocks from an upcoming federal lease sale in the Gulf, warning that oil exploration in the Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range could disrupt military testing, threaten Northwest Florida’s economy, and undercut the region’s tourism industry.

Audit sparks major overhaul: Florida Lawmakers move to fix school choice tracking and funding Flaws

Florida school choice audit, SB 318, Don Gaetz, Florida scholarship overhaul, Family Empowerment Scholarship, Florida Education Finance Program, DOE audit findings, Danny Burgess, Corey Simon, Jason Pizzo, Rosalind Osgood, scholarship tracking issues, Florida private school funding, home education programs Florida, personalized education program Florida, scholarship payment accuracy, Florida Legislature 2025, education integrity Florida, scholarship funding organizations, student enrollment verification Florida

Patronis Demands Answers on Special Operations Relocation

Florida lawmakers are challenging the Air Force’s plan to relocate special operations units to Arizona, arguing the move undermines national security and lacks transparency.

Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis and Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody are pressing Pentagon leaders for answers after the Air Force finalized its plan to move the 492nd Special Operations Wing from Northwest Florida to Arizona. In a sharply worded letter, the lawmakers warn the relocation could slow U.S. response times to growing threats in Venezuela and the Caribbean and question why the Air Force relied on Biden-era climate considerations instead of current national security priorities.

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