New legislation has been filed to increase accountability for juveniles in the criminal justice system. HB 1181 and SB 1274 propose harsher restrictions that ensure youth comply with the terms and conditions of court-ordered sanctions for gun offenses.

Representative Berny Jacques (R) who filed the House bill highlighted that under Governor Ron DeSantis Florida was experiencing a "50-year low in crime.

"Florida is experiencing a 50-year low in crime, but there’s always more we can do to keep Floridians safe. One area we can work on is holding juveniles who commit gun crimes more accountable," stated Rep. Jacques." Just this past Christmas Eve in my district, two juveniles escalated an argument over Christmas presents into a shootout that left their older sister dead and their nephews motherless. This bill will deliver strong early accountability to prevent senseless tragedies like this one from happening in our state.”

“This bill is a major step forward in our efforts to end juvenile recidivism, keep our streets safe, and make positive impacts in the lives of our youth,” said Senator Jonathan Martin (R) who filed his corresponding bill in the Florida Senate.

Florida is number 1 in the country for innovative, evidence-based approaches to juvenile justice and has benefitted from significant decreases in system-involved youth. In keeping with its mission, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice worked in unison with the Florida Legislature and partners in law enforcement to help craft this important piece of legislation.

“Juveniles who commit crimes involving a firearm are a serious risk to public safety. Strengthening accountability on juvenile firearm offenses is a priority of DJJ and this bill is an important way to build a stronger, safer Florida,” said Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Eric Hall.

The post New Florida Bill Cracks Down on Youth Gun Crimes appeared first on The Floridian.

It is no secret that Florida continues to grow at a breakneck pace..  However, many would be shocked to learn where in Florida is growing the fastest.  According to recent numbers, the Palm Bay-Melbourne area has taken over as the fastest-growing region to move to, with Ocala placing second.

U-Haul published a report based on their company analytics on which area in their market became the most popular to move to in 2023.  According to U-Haul's report that measures one-way movers in U-Haul equipment from last year, Palm Bay-Melbourne ranked fourth.

Over 54% of all one-way U-Haul traffic was arriving in Palm Bay-Melbourne, compared to just over 45% departing, the report found.  U-Haul calculated their numbers by calculating net gain (or loss) of one-way equipment from customer transactions in 2023. Last year, over 2.5 million one-way transactions with U-Haul equipment were recorded.

U-Haul did clarify that these numbers are not meant to reflect population or economic growth. Rather, it's an effective way of seeing how states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents, according to the report.  Suburbs and cities are also clumped together by region to get a general picture of where people are moving in Florida.

"Growth in the Palm Bay-Melbourne area has been increasing at an explosive rate," said Cal Conner, president of U-Haul of Eastern Florida. "The Space Coast has many companies investing in this region and creating jobs such as Embraer, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and L3Harris Technologies. We have a low cost of living compared to many of the northern cities people have left. Add to that our fantastic year-round climate, and you can see why Palm Bay-Melbourne is such a desirable area to live."

In 2022 Ocala, Florida held the title of the number 1 growing city in U-Haul's market.  But with the emergence of Palm Bay-Melbourne, Ocala has slipped, but stayed in the top 2 growing cities across several states in 2023, outranking cities like Dallas, Texas.

The post Data Finds Palm Bay-Melbourne Fastest Growing Region in Florida appeared first on The Floridian.

As if the infamous "Florida man" headlines could not get any crazier, a Florida man has now been arrested for threatening to kill US Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and his children.

Representative Swalwell is a prominent House Democrat who currently represents California in the House of Representatives.  The congressman tried running for president in 2020, but was unsuccessful, dropping out before losing to President Biden (D) in the primary race.

Swalwell has since become famous, or infamous in conservative circles for reasons other than his political success.  Swalwell became embattled with controversy after it surfaced that he had personal ties with a CCP spy.  The Chinese operative, named "Fang Fang," used campaign fundraising and networking, which is reported to have included romantic/sexual relationships with two Midwestern Mayors, and was able to acquire proximity to political power. Moreover, it “was a big deal, because there were some sensitive people that were caught up” with the Chinese operative according to US intelligence agencies.

The controversy has made him an easy target for voters to pick on.  72-year-old Michael Shapiro allegedly threatened Swalwell because of this incident with the Chinese spy.  Of the five voicemails Shapiro is accused of making statements such as he will, "come and kill your children."

Shapiro is accused of leaving other voicemails that appeared to refer to allegations tying Swalwell to the suspected Chinese intelligence operative, according to the criminal complaint. They repeatedly refer to "a Chinese spy” and "Fang Fang," it says.

Swalwell stated in response to the criminal proceedings, "There is no place in America for threats of political violence.  We must always resolve our differences at the ballot box. While I will continue to protect my family and staff these continued threats will never stop me from representing my constituents."

Shapiro has been released on bail and has an arraignment scheduled for January 24, 2024.

The post Florida Man Arrested Over Threats to Eric Swalwell appeared first on The Floridian.

As 2024 Republican primary candidates scramble to take down former President Donald Trump (R), the road ahead just got a lot steeper as US Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) has just endorsed the former president's campaign.

Scalise is currently the House Majority Leader for Republicans and was a favorite to replace US Rep. Kevin McCarthy after being ousted as Speaker of the House.  Scalise was initially hesitant on who to support in 2024 but solidified his choice in Donald Trump today.

"When Donald Trump was President, American workers and families were thriving.  The economy was strong and interest rates were low — grocery costs were affordable, and families could afford to buy a house and provide for their children," Scalise continued. "The border was secure and crime was down. America had secure energy policies, keeping gas and utility prices low," stated Scalise.

Scalise also got his digs in on President Biden (D), "[Biden] has driven our country into chaos with skyrocketing costs, and hardworking taxpayers are the ones paying the price," and that under his administration, "gas prices more than doubled, housing affordability reached all-time lows, mortgage rates doubled, inflation hit the highest level in 40 years, and interest rates are at the highest level in 22 years."

The Louisiana Congressman certainly feels the moment is right for Trump, as he stated Americans need "a strong leader to fix the problems Joe Biden has created and — with rising aggression from adversaries abroad — deter foreign actors who wish to harm us," noting the "over 6.2 million encounters at the southern border" and the "1.7 million known gotaways" coming and being arrested from "hundreds of countries," not just Latin America.

The post Steve Scalise Endorses Trump in Crowded 2024 Primary appeared first on The Floridian.

President Joe Biden (D) and his challenger, former President Donald Trump (R) exchanged jabs with each other on New Year's Eve through their respective celebrations.

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden spent the New Year at St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands.  In an interview with Ryan Seacrest, the host of this year's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve show, Biden seemed confident about the upcoming election and bragged about his accomplishments, "[the American people] understand that we’re in a better position than any country in the world to lead the world. We’re coming back, and it’s about time."

Biden went on to talk about job numbers claiming, "People are in a position to be able to making a living now, and they’ve created a lot of jobs for over 14 million."

Trump made his New Year's statement in typical Trump fashion by taking to Truth Social.  Surprisingly, Trump wished Biden a happy new year, "As the New Year fast approaches, I would like to wish an early New Year’s salutation to Crooked Joe Biden and his group of Radical Left Misfits & Thugs on their never ending attempt to DESTROY OUR NATION through Lawfare, Invasion, and Rigging Elections," stated Trump.

Although both sides have put on a confident front about their odds in this year's election, the polls tell a radically different story.  Polling averages compiled by FiveThirtyEight reflect that only 39% of Americans approve of Biden’s performance, with 55% disapproving – this number has doubled in the past year.

Trump on the other hand faces legal challenges through his arrests that he is still fighting from 2023, and the subsequent attempts to remove him from primary ballots across the nation.

The post Trump and Biden Exchange Jabs on New Year's Eve appeared first on The Floridian.

One of the few things people dislike about traveling in Florida are the infamous highway tolls put on travelers.  Although toll relief was given to travelers in Florida, this expired on Monday, meaning tolls will now be reversed to their usual rate in 2024.

This state toll relief program was brought into effect in Florida in 2023 with an expiration date of January 1, 2024.  Drivers using  E-PASS or SunPass would automatically receive 50% credit to their accounts throughout 2023.

Drivers were eligible if they kept their account "in good standing," drove a two-axle vehicle, and have at least 35 toll transactions per month.  The program was applicable to many crowded and dangerous roads such as I-75 and I-4, which pushes a majority of travelers through the state.

While the parameters for qualifying seemed specific, the state of Florida projected that about 1.2 million people benefitted from the service, saving on average $400 in 2023 alone.  The plan was apart of Governor DeSantis' (R-FL) "Family Focused Tax Relief" agenda in 2022.

During this period, DeSantis lifted taxes on many items/activities in the state of Florida such as diapers and other expenses families may endure with having children.

Toll relief has already been revitalized before, with the first time the program was launched being in 2022 for 6 months, and it was revived in 2023.  However, no updates on the status of the program in 2024 have been given.

SunPass has publicly issued that from January 1, 2024, beneficiaries of the program have up to 90 days to file any disputes they may have.

The post Toll Relief Ends for Floridians in 2024 appeared first on The Floridian.

The Israeli -Hamas conflict has become the United States' biggest foreign policy issue in the past three years.  However, the conflict has impacted voting in the United States in a way many would not expect, with young people siding with former President Trump (R) on the issue over President Joe Biden (D).

The United States has been a long-standing ally of the state of Israel since its inception in the 1940s.  Liberal and conservative presidential administrations alike have reaffirmed support for Israel throughout the region in different ways.  However, the issue has become partisan for voters this time.

Young Americans have been a sure voting block for Democrats in recent decades, but the 18-29 age group solidly prefers Donald Trump when it comes to the current conflict in Gaza.  According to a New York Times/Siena College poll released on Tuesday, 72% of registered voters aged 18-29 disapprove of Biden's handling of the conflict.

Since young people virtually always show up to the polls for Democrats on Election Day, this issue may be critical for President Biden to tackle as Trump now leads this demographic of voters overall by 6 points among registered voters aged 18-29 years old. In July of 2023, Biden led voters in this age group by 10 points.

Last presidential election, exit polls showed Biden winning this age group by 21%.  Among all registered voters Trump holds a narrow 2% to Biden, which may be tight, but is greater than what might be expected if the 2020 election was used as a reference to predict 2024.

While this may be good news for Donald Trump, not all of the numbers are in this Republican's favor.  A recent poll has found that around 40% of Jewish Israelis support Joe Biden, and only about a quarter want to see Trump take office again.  This number used to be in Trump's favor with 63% in 2020, and 17% backing Biden.

This creates ambiguity as to whether Biden is handling the crisis in the Middle East well.  The numbers could also be due to Trump's odd and newfound rivalry with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who Trump is reported to have called to be impeached following the October 7th massacre.

The post Polls on Israel-Gaza Unclear, Trump Now Winning Young Voters appeared first on The Floridian.

The Florida Democratic Party has effectively canceled their primary race by only putting Biden's name on the ballot, despite challengers rising against the president in his own party.

In 2020, former President Donald Trump (R) faced a primary challenge from long-shot candidates himself.  Although not heavily reported, President Trump blew these Republican challengers out of the water.  Even this primary cycle, he will most likely do it again to even more prominent Republicans like Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL).

Democrats are now enraged that the Florida Democratic Party led by Nikki Fried has essentially ended the primary contest, especially US Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN).  Phillips is running for president against President JoeBiden and has accused the Florida Democratic Party of "rigging" the election in a quote given to Politico.  The congressman further stated he would consider suing, and a push at the national convention if he was not at least put on the ballot.

However, somebody had already beat Phillips to the punch.  A Tampa attorney is now suing the Florida Democratic Party for omitting primary challengers from the primary ballot.  Michael Steinberg, a former chair for the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee and former candidate for Congress and the Florida Legislature filed the suit.

In the federal lawsuit, Steinberg claims the decision violates the constitutional rights of voters by excluding Phillips in an "arbitrary" fashion and violates people's due process and equal protection rights.  Steinberg has also insisted that Phillips is a legitimate candidate, making it unethical for him to be disqualified off the ballot for political reasons.

"He has appeared on numerous television news programs and his candidacy has been discussed by multiple media sources including television, print and social media," Steinberg says in his lawsuit. "The Florida Democratic Party cannot dispute the Democratic Party credentials of Congressman Dean Phillips. His platform is consistent with the platform of the Democratic Party, he is currently a member of Congress, and has mostly supported the position of President Joe Biden."

Steinberg also noted that the Democratic party in Florida has a "non-discretionary duty to prepare and approve a list of all recognized Democratic Presidential candidates, not just the ones they favor or choose."

Other candidates such as famous internet personality, Cenk Uygur and author Marianne Williamson have threatened litigation against the Florida Democratic Party for being disqualified off of the primary ballot.  These candidates have additionally raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for their campaigns.

The post Florida Democratic Party Sued for Shutting Down Presidential Primary appeared first on The Floridian.

As Florida saw a mass influx of migration from other states, many have wondered what this means for the future of the state.  Contrary to what is popularly believed, the "Great Sort" indicates that Florida will stay conservative for the near future and possibly beyond.

The "Great Sort" is the idea that Americans move places based on their political ideologies.  People moving to Florida may have done so because they were already conservative and were attracted to the state for its recent Republican resurgence on the national stage, not to mention the fact that Florida does not have a state income tax

Florida gained one vote in the electoral college for the upcoming 2024 election, but this metric does not capture the magnitude of migration to Florida.  Experts say Florida has experienced its largest population growth ever this year.

The Florida Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research disclosed research this week that showed the state's estimated population in April was 22,634,867, an increase of roughly 359,000 people, or 1.61 percent, from the previous year.  In fact, the number of people moving to Florida from other states in the United States is at its highest point ever.

Republican voters have worried that this may mean that new Floridians may be bringing their ideologies from states like New York and California with them.  However, there has been no reason to believe this so far.

Many of those new residents may have been attracted to Florida because they see it as a right-leaning state, stated J. Miles Coleman, an associate editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, highlighted by Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R-FL) position on COVID-19 restrictions which catapulted him to national prominence.

"Given Florida’s reputation, or at least what DeSantis has tried to sell it as, with the ‘Free State of Florida’ [slogan] … if I’m a retiree, that’s what I associate Florida with," Coleman said.

With the Culture War seeing its epicenter in Florida, it is very hard to believe Liberal voters from populated states like Michigan or New York would see Florida as an appealing place to land.  DeSantis and the state of Florida are simply attracting voters who buy into their brand, which should cement Florida's conservative reputation for quite a while.

The post Florida to Remain 'Red' After Mass Migration From Blue States appeared first on The Floridian.

The gutter politics war being waged between the presidential campaigns of Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and former President Donald Trump (R) has been nothing less than the biggest spectacle of the 2024 Republican presidential primary race. The America First Policy Institute is a group closely associated with Donald Trump in terms of its policy positions and outward appeal toward Trump voters.  But things shook up when the group expanded into Florida and quickly gathered prominent Florida Republicans in their corner.

The Florida chapter of America First Policy Institute announced that former state Attorney General Pam Bondi (R-FL) will lead its Florida chapter.

"At a time when our communities value safety, opportunity, and freedom more than ever before, the commitment of the America First Policy Institute to Florida demonstrates a determination few entities are willing to consider these days," said Bondi. "As we look to better the lives of all Floridians, I’m honored to be able to contribute to AFPI’s efforts to help the state continue to flourish and further the America First movement."

"America First Policies proved to work at the national level, and they are working in dozens of states across our country,” said Brooke Rollins, AFPI’s president and CEO.“From high crime rates and homelessness to businesses and families struggling to make ends meet, we believe now is the time for the people to demand proven policies that can get the state back on the right track."

Rollins also stated that Florida is already a model for conservative governance, but the new chapter wants to "make it better and continue to help Florida model for the country what fighting for freedom looks like under an America-First banner."

While the move may look uniting to conservatives, it is crystal clear that Trump and DeSantis have two different visions of what conservative governance means to them.  With Pam Bondi seemingly joining Trump's circle, Team DeSantis should now be noting Florida as a possible toss up state in the upcoming Republican primary election.

The post Trump Think Tank 'America First Policy Institute' Moves to Florida appeared first on The Floridian.

With 2023 coming to a close, the state of Florida has gone under great changes this year, the most notable being the use of capital punishment.  Florida was one of the leading states this year in executions along with states like Texas.

The state of Florida only executed less people than Texas, with six executions ordered by the state government and eight ordered by the state of Texas.  The death warrants signed by Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) were given to offenders such as Darryl Bryan Barwick, who murdered a Panama City woman in 1986.

Death penalty changes in Florida are not only chalked up to being about increasing the use of the death penalty, but also changing the definition of what constitutes capital punishment.  Governor DeSantis signed a bill last summer that extended the use of capital punishment to child rapists.

During a press conference in Titusville, Florida with Attorney General Ashley Moody and local law enforcement officials, Gov. DeSantis challenged the U.S. Supreme Court ruling negating the death penalty from being used in the crime of rape, adding that the death penalty is an “appropriate punishment” for heinous crimes like rape.

DeSantis has also tore down another hallmark of the death penalty standard in the United States by throwing out the mandatory unanimous jury decision to penalize a convicted offender with capital punishment, and instead has signed legislation that only requires a supermajority of a jury to impose the death penalty.

In the wake of mass shootings, the issue became a bipartisan one as even  Senator Lauren Book (D-FL) and Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-FL) have come out in support of strengthening capital punishment.  "There is a stark difference between those who do not deserve to live, and those who deserve to die,” Sen. Pizzo said in regard to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooter. “And Nikolas Cruz did not deserve to live, and he did deserve to die."

Now with 2023 near the rearview mirror, Florida has become the death penalty state.  While this may be a very "law and order" way of prosecuting crimes, many wonder how ethical these new practices are with the Supreme Court of the United States siding against many of the moves Florida has made on the practice.

The post Florida Became the Death Penalty State in 2023 appeared first on The Floridian.

US Sugar has embraced the holiday spirit this month with food and toy donations throughout south Florida communities.  Contributions managed to come in from thousands of people.

3,000 farmers and employees have contributed to local families through a series of food and toy donations in the communities where they live and work.  Donations have been ongoing since December 1st and the people of US Sugar have donated anything you could imagine.

More than 3,000 turkeys have been donated to first responders, local government employees and church affiliates in the region.  In Palm Beach County 1,000 hams and 1,000 turkeys were given to residents of Belle Glade, Pahokee, and South Bay, sponsorship of the City of Belle Glade’s toy drive, and sponsorship of the City of South Bay’s holiday toy giveaway.

Martin and Lee County also saw donations in the hundreds so families could eat proper meals this Christmas.  US Sugar has also started a partnership with Toys for Tots and the U.S. Marines where over 4,000 toys benefitting children in Western Palm Beach, Hendry, Glades, Martin, and Highlands Counties have been donated.

The post US Sugar Makes Historic Donations This Holiday Season appeared first on The Floridian.

Florida has become a haven for conservatism in recent years.  Now, the state is reacting to the recent news of President Donald Trump (R) being removed from the ballot in Colorado.

This week the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump being removed from the ballot in the 2024 election would be constitutional under the Insurrection Clause.  Trump's legal team is already working on appealing the decision before the United States Supreme Court where the decision is thought to be over turned.

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) stated on X in response to the decision, "The Left invokes 'democracy' to justify its use of power, even if it means abusing judicial power to remove a candidate from the ballot based on spurious legal grounds. SCOTUS should reverse."

US Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) likened the decision by the Colorado Supreme Court to Communist dictators, "Liberal activist judges in Colorado are following the same playbook as Maduro and Castro. Democrats’ gross attempts to silence or disenfranchise American voters will never stand."

US Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) echoed the same sentiments as his fellow Republicans, claiming the decision is antithetical to America's democratic values, "Free and fair elections are the hallmark of a well-functioning democracy. However, in a truly unprecedented decision, liberal judges in Colorado just decided to unilaterally remove Donald Trump from the Republican primary ballot.   This opinion from the Colorado Supreme Court is un-American and will disenfranchise millions of voters. Regardless of your political ideology, everyone should be concerned about the potential ramifications of this chilling decision and the ability of four partisan judges to silence the will of the American people."

Now that Colorado has been the first state to remove Trump from primary ballots, expect another state to follow suit.  With multiple criminal cases pending, Donald Trump will have to fight just as hard in the courtroom as he will on the campaign trail.

The post More Florida Lawmakers Denounce Colorado Supreme Court's Decision to Remove Trump From Ballot appeared first on The Floridian.

With Florida nearing the most populated state in the United States, farmers have worried about their way of life being infringed upon.  Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson (R-FL) has a plan to protect 2,000 acres of ranch land through a new policy.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, will serve as the means Commissioner Simpson intends to protect this land.  The farm and ranch land easement totals $8,195,000.  This policy is promised to halt future development of the land and allow agriculture operations to continue.

Simpson has argued that the farming industry in the state is too important to the economy.  Products that are said to be protected through this act include food, timber, and other natural resources produced in Florida.

"Today’s approval to partner with Syfrett Ranch to preserve over 2,000 acres of productive ranchlands through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is a triple win for the state," said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. "These rural land protection easements strengthen our food security though the protection of prime agricultural land, keep the protected property on the local tax rolls, and require every property owner to maintain the land and its natural resources according to state standards."

This project will be the 70^th Rural and Family Lands Protection Program easement, with nearly 100,000 acres preserved through the program. A story map of all completed Rural and Family Lands Protection Program projects can be viewed here: FDACS.gov/RFLPPMap. For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.

The post Commissioner Wilton Simpson Promises to Protect 2,000 Acres of Farm Land appeared first on The Floridian.

With the fast emergence of electric vehicles, Port Canaveral has expanded their infrastructure in accommodating electric cars by funding fast-charging options for these vehicles along with Florida Power and Light.

FPL's new "Level 3" chargers will be located at the Port's "Cove area" and their claim to fame is charging vehicles in an hour at most.  The six new chargers will be placed in the parking lot for, "more convenience for EV owners/operators."

This move was made possible by the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners at its December meeting, where the Port Canaveral-FPL EV fast charging agreement was legitimized. The agreement was made in an effort to advance environmental stewardship while maintaining its status as one of the world’s busiest cruise ports experiencing continuous growth.

"We're delighted to incorporate these charging stations into the publicly accessible infrastructure at Port Canaveral," stated Port Canaveral CEO Capt. John Murray. "This initiative underscores our commitment to provide our guests and visitors with a high-quality customer experience while at the Port."

The chargers are in line with policies established by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are projected to be fully operational in less than a year with potential plans for additional charging stations in the future.

The new chargers at Port Canaveral will join a network of more than 100 public fast charging locations FPL offers EV drivers across the state.  The news is thought to be especially significant for Brevard County, where charging stations such as these are sparse.

The post Port Canaveral to Add FPL Fast Charging Electric Car Chargers appeared first on The Floridian.

In an effort to expand and modernize the SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal, SSA Marine has reached the halfway point in a $72 million project.  The SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal project is a public-private partnership between the port and SSA Marine.

Work on the project began last year in 2022, and the company is now seeing its fourth phase of the eight phase plan completed.  This included installing upgraded terminal lighting and a redesigned terminal gate system, as well as paving nearly 40 acres with heavy-duty asphalt, as well as six new outbound truck lanes are also currently under construction and scheduled to open in February 2024, with improvements to the terminal’s six inbound lanes scheduled for completion in late 2024.

By next year, the facility should accommodate around half a million TEU per year, a 150% increase over its current throughput. The increased capacity will bring JAXPORT’s total TEU capability across all terminals to more than two million TEUs annually, approximately double its current throughput.

The update comes as JAXPORT earlier this year had already moved almost 1,000 pieces of military equipment including aircrafts that were used in the Middle East.

“One of our most important roles at JAXPORT is serving as a U.S. Strategic Seaport,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green. “The strength of Jacksonville’s transportation network and experienced maritime service providers complement our capabilities to serve our nation’s military forces any time the need arises.”

The post SSA Marine Halfway Done with Multi-million Dollar Modernization Project appeared first on The Floridian.

State Rep. Chuck Clemons (R-FL) has made a key endorsement of Levy County Commissioner Chad Johnson (R-FL) who is running to succeed Clemons in the upcoming election in House District 22.

Clemons has been term-limited this election cycle, reaching the maximum time allotted to a representative in the Florida House.  Clemons has been serving since his election in 2016 to the Florida House of Representatives. The representative kept his post through elections and is known for zealously backing economic development and education in Florida.

Chad Johnson, now endorsed by Clemons, is a sixth-generation Floridian, and born in Alachua County, Florida. Johnson has familial connections in both Gilchrist and Marion County, Florida. Before becoming the Levy County Commissioner, Johnson graduated from the University of Florida, and started his family of now four children.

"Chad Johnson's strong ties to the region and deep understanding of the various communities that make District 22 so unique make him the right candidate to carry on our hard work in the legislature," Clemons said of candidate Johnson. "Chad is a proven leader who will tirelessly fight for free markets, limited government, and private property rights for all Floridians. It is my pleasure to endorse him and to ask others in our district to support him in his effort."

"It is an honor to have Speaker Chuck Clemons ' endorsement," responded Johnson. "I look forward to following in his footsteps in the Florida House as a champion for common sense, freedom, and agriculture. Floridians in Gilchrist, Levy and Alachua counties can count on me to serve them with the same unwavering dedication and commitment shown by Speaker Clemons."

Johnson has since promised that he will back policies that, "keep Florida free and also fight to protect District 22's quality of life and natural resources."

The post Rep. Chuck Clemons Endorses Chad Johnson for Florida House appeared first on The Floridian.

The Iowa Caucuses usually help dictate how the rest of the presidential primary early-voting states turn out.  However, this year Iowa looks to be less competitive than ever with new polling data showing President Donald Trump (R) ahead of anybody else by as much as 30 points.

With only 5 weeks to go before the Iowans caucus, Trump looks like he will be the apparent winner of the Iowa Caucus if the polls are correct.  Not only is the former president leading by roughly 30 percentage points against both Gov. Ron DeSantis and Ambassador Nikki Haley, but he has also surpassed 50% support among Republican voters in Iowa.

Polls vary extremely from showing Trump support having up to 62% (Emerson) or as low as 37% (Cygnal).  But among 21 different polls, Trump holds a solid 50% to DeSantis' 19.7%.  Haley takes third on average with 15.7%.  All remaining Republican presidential candidates are hoving in single digits.

The most recent poll was conducted by NBC news/Des Moines Register from December 2nd to December 7th, where Trump polled at one of his highest numbers at 51%, 32 points higher than DeSantis' 19%.  These numbers become more significant when compared to President Biden's (D) polling numbers.

The Wall Street Journal recently published data that reflected Biden's worst numbers in his presidential history.  Donald Trump is now leading Joe Biden head to head-among voters for the first time ever.

Biden trails Trump by 4%—47% to 43%, on a theoretical ballot with only those two candidates. Trump’s lead expands to 6 points, 37% to 31%, when five potential third-party and independent candidates are added to the mix.

While Republicans fear the election may be a referendum on Trump, despite the former president not being the incumbent, this fear may go unfounded. According to the survey, 23% of voters say that Biden's policies have helped them positively, while another 53% say they have been hurt by the president’s agenda.

By contrast, about half of voters say Trump’s policies helped them personally, more than the 37% who say they were hurt.

The post Trump Beats Biden in Head to Head Polls Before Iowa Caucus appeared first on The Floridian.