A seaweed blob spanning 5,000 miles, nearly twice the width of the United States, is heading toward the Florida Gulf coast, with officials warning that the thick mat of algae poses environmental and health concerns as it approaches the shore. Known as sargassum, the brown seaweed floats in open oceans, and is considered mostly harmless—while…

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on May 4 his commitment to nearly $14 million in the state’s budget to combat red tide and fuel research efforts. The “record-level” funds in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 budget are to be distributed between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Mote Marine Laboratory, in addition…

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on May 4 his commitment to nearly $14 million in the state’s budget to combat red tide and fuel research efforts. The “record-level” funds in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 budget are to be distributed between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Mote Marine Laboratory, in addition…

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–Florida is open for business, welcoming nearly 118 million domestic visitors in 2021, and surpassing pre-pandemic visitation levels for two quarters in a row. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R.) was all smiles on Feb. 15 as he announced that the number of visitors to the Sunshine State between October and December 2021 was…