Photo courtesy of the Governor's Office

~ Florida Officials Interact with More Than 5,800 Undocumented Migrants Including One MS-13 Gang Member on U.S. Terror Watch List ~

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida teams have made contact with more than 5,800 undocumented migrants and assisted the Texas Department of Public Safety with more than 190 arrests including felony charges for human smuggling, drug paraphernalia, unlawful carrying of weapons, and a suspect with a capital murder warrant. In addition, Florida officials have assisted with the apprehension of an MS-13 gang member currently on the U.S. Terror Watch List.

The following state resources remain deployed in Texas supporting the mass migration crisis at the U.S. southern border:

Florida National Guard (FLNG)

• Over 400 personnel continue to support the Texas Military Department with service members to assist with the mass migration on the southern border. Mission sets include assisting with static observation points, roving patrols, and engineer assistance with obstacle improvement.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

• Thirty FDLE special agents and nine support team members remain deployed assisting Texas law enforcement agencies investigating criminal activity along the border associated with human trafficking and drug and weapon smuggling.  
• Florida law enforcement agencies continue to assist with more than 190 arrests on charges including human smuggling, drug paraphernalia charges, unlawful carrying of a weapon, money laundering, and a suspect with a capital murder warrant.
• FDLE agents have assisted the Texas Department of Public Safety with the arrests of violent felony suspects including gang members. Suspects were arrested on various Texas state charges including human smuggling, burglary, firearms, smuggling of persons, and possession of controlled substance. As part of the arrests, FDLE agents helped seize cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, firearms, and boxes of ammunition.

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) - Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)

• 101 FHP troopers are deployed in support of Operation Lone Star. 
• Troopers have been involved in nearly 700 traffic stops, eight commercial vehicle inspections, and seven pursuits. These efforts have resulted in nine narcotic-related charges along with 17 federal and/or state warrant arrest on fugitives as well as the seizure of two firearms. Throughout the course of their duties, troopers have identified gang members and recovered undocumented migrants concealed within vehicles.
• FHP has been involved with seven human smuggling/human trafficking arrests and nearly 100 overall arrests.
• Troopers responded to an area on the Unites States border due to reports of gunfire occurring in Mexico. Troopers provided perimeter security for a local school in the immediate area. Additionally, troopers have responded and assisted with an attempted suicide, aggravated battery with a firearm, and an incident that resulted in a battery on a law enforcement officer in the United States Border Patrol. 
• FHP has deployed unmanned aircraft on 215 occasions while facilitating multiple missions and assisted in identifying the location of 652 undocumented migrants.
• FHP has detained two suspects involved in smuggling people into the United States, both of which have been turned over to the United States Border Patrol. Troopers have had encounters with multiple undocumented migrants originating from China, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Columbia, El Salvador, and Middle Eastern countries. Through the weekend, FHP encountered African, Cuban, Bolivian, and Iranian undocumented migrants who were detained and turned over to U.S. Border Patrol.
• Troopers participated in a traffic stop which led to seizing an estimated $500,000 of currency. During a joint task force investigation with FDLE and Texas state and federal partners, cash, coins, one kilo of cocaine, and one pound of marijuana were seized (estimated total value of $263,675.00). One undocumented migrant contact was identified as an MS-13 gang member who was also on the Terrorist Watch List.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

• A third wave of 20 sworn FWC Officers and two mechanics deployed to Texas to assist federal, state, and local agencies with response efforts.
• FWC’s law enforcement assets will provide assistance to responding federal, state, county, and municipal agencies with border security, information gathering, humanitarian response, search and rescue efforts, officer safety and assistance, emergency medical services, and other similar duties.
• FWC officers are partnering with Texas law enforcement to conduct high-visibility water patrols along the border.
• FWC officers are conducting land-based border patrol activities in conjunction with Texas law enforcement.
• Ten shallow draft vessels and two airboats capable of navigating variable depth river environments are being used by FWC and Texas law enforcement to assist federal, state, and local efforts.
• Twenty four-wheel-drive patrol vehicles are in use by FWC officers.

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Senator Keith Perry looks on as Governor DeSantis signs the bill | Photo courtesy Office of Governor DeSantis

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on May 30 signed Senate Bill (SB) 478, sponsored by Senator Keith Perry, to convert the Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot Program into a permanent program available to school districts across the state. The Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Program provides assistance to school districts in implementing comprehensive music education programs in kindergarten through second grade.

“Music education has been shown to help children with language development, brain development, and fine motor skills,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Florida has nation-leading early childhood and early literacy programs, and this bill will further help schools build a strong learning foundation for our youngest students.”

The Department of Education will be responsible for administering the program. Eligible schools will receive $150 per student enrolled in a comprehensive music education program. Schools must meet the following criteria to be program eligible:

• Includes all students enrolled at the school in kindergarten through second grade.
• Is staffed by certified music educators.
• Provides music instruction for at least 30 consecutive minutes two days a week.
• Complies with class size requirements under the law.
• Complies with the Department of Education’s standards for early childhood music education programs for students in kindergarten through second grade.

The Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot Program was established in 2017 to assist certain school districts in implementing comprehensive music education programs in kindergarten through second grade. Pilot program schools were selected based on their proximity to the University of Florida and Florida International University. The universities were required to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program.

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TALLAHASSEE ‒ The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites Florida residents and visitors to go fishing during two license-free weekends: June 3-4 for saltwater and June 10-11 for freshwater.

License-free fishing weekends offer a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and experience the many fishing opportunities the Fishing Capital of the World has to offer. The FWC encourages everyone to take advantage of these weekends to spend time enjoying the beautiful Florida waters.

“Fishing is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and experience Florida’s abundant fishing opportunities,” said Roger Young, FWC’s Executive Director. “License-free fishing weekends allow Floridians and visitors to get outdoors, connect with nature and create lasting memories with family and friends.”

During the license-free weekends, all bag limits, size limits and fishing regulations still apply. Anglers must also follow all other fishing rules, such as gear restrictions, seasons and closures. To help ensure a fun and safe fishing experience, the FWC encourages all anglers to review the regulations before heading out on the water. For current recreational fishing regulations, visit MyFWC.com/about and click on “Rules & Regulations” or download the Fish Rules App to stay up to date on saltwater and freshwater regulations in your area.  

Find a location to go fishing through the pier finder tool or visit a Fish Management Area. Launch your vessel at a local boat ramp or access point. View the quarterly FWC’s Freshwater Fishing Forecasts by region.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Good News Arts held its 2^nd annual Paint the Night Gala fundraiser at Rustic Oaks Ranch on Saturday evening, May 20. The event helps raise funds for gallery operation, classes and children’s activities the Gallery sponsors.

Because the gallery is heavily invested in the local community and is a nonprofit venture, fundraising events help cover expenses, and the community has shown their support. The signature event is the Paint the Night Gala. The sponsors, businesses and community volunteers are what makes it a success according to gallery founder and artist Jessica Caldas.

Tickets to attend were $40 in in advance and $50 at the door and over 150 people attended. For that price, attendees were treated to dinner, an open bar and several activities and entertainment including a live DJ, violin quartet, a fire dancer, live poetry readings and a live painting exhibit. There were also gift basket giveaways and a 50-50 raffle.

Most of the activities, food and venue were donations to the event to keep cost down and add more money to the fund raiser. There was also a silent auction of work donated from over 30 artists.

The Rustic Oaks Ranch and venue provided the location free of charge, The Great Outdoors was a sponsor and provided meals free, and Mi Apa served food at cost. Golden Group's Consultants paid for the bar with additional donations from Dorn Liquors and the High Springs Brewery. Porta Serve and The Barber Group also provided funding for the event.

Good News Arts is a registered 501c3 charitable organization that serves arts and culture to the High Springs and Alachua County community in the form of exhibitions and arts programming for all ages. “The gallery is designed to be a community arts space and gallery that collaborates with artists and the community to provide contemporary arts and education that is affordable, accessible, and equitable,” Caldas said. “We want to provide a space for local, regional, and national artists to show challenging and engaging work tied to relevant contemporary issues.”

Caldas says that artists are chosen by the power of their practice and message, rather than the commercial viability of their work. The organization does not take a commission from the artists, but instead allowing the artists to keep all their sales, and also provides honorariums and stipends when possible.

Caldas said, “Outside of curated exhibitions, Good News Arts is an open space for community members to present work including musical performances, spoken word, events, and whatever else serves the community’s needs.”

The gallery partners with local schools, libraries, nonprofits, and other community organizations to broaden their impact and serve the community as thoroughly as possible. This includes classes in the various arts, many geared toward children, and after school care and summer camp focused on the arts.

“We charge a nominal fee on classes and school programs to cover costs,” said Caldas. “But none of it's for profit—it’s all about engaging the community and promoting arts.”

Helping make the 2^nd annual Paint the Night Gala fundraiser a reality, community volunteers provided staffing and the artist and musicians provided their talents as well. Gainesville Event DJ's provided music throughout the event. A high school violin quartet, Joey's Wings, named in memoriam for a fellow student who died of cancer, played classical music. The group performs to raise funds for children's cancer research.

Artist Pam Valcante performed a live painting demonstration and several people gave live poetry readings. Concluding the event, a fire dancer called 1 Girl Fire performed for the crowd.

“It was a wonderful evening with a lot of support for the gallery's mission from the community,” Caldas said. “Everyone had a fun time and we raised more than $6,000 for our programs.”

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