Ron DeSantis to mobilize the National Guard to help distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. In a letter to DeSantis, Fried said distribution has been characterized in media reports as “very chaotic” and that there is a lack of “clear direction” for health-care professionals on vaccination procedures. “Instead of efficient, centralized distribution management by the state of Florida, distribution has been left to hospitals and county health departments,” Fried, the only statewide elected Democrat, wrote. Fried asked that health and emergency-management officials be present at a Feb. 2 state Cabinet meeting to answer questions about vaccine distribution. “The COVID vaccine supply is limited,” DeSantis said Wednesday while at a senior complex in Delray Beach where 300 residents were being inoculated.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried wants the state to be more open about how it plans to spend federal stimulus money received because of the coronavirus pandemic. Ron DeSantis on Friday, Fried requested a full accounting of federal “CARES Act” money the state has received so it can be discussed at a scheduled Sept. 22 Cabinet meeting. She noted that several states have used CARES Act dollars for school nutrition programs and would like some of the money Florida received to be “emergency relief” to schools and programs that provided lunches over the summer. The state Cabinet has met only once since Feb. 4, with a May 28 meeting held by phone. An agenda had not been posted on the Cabinet website as of Monday afternoon.

The Department of Agriculture closed all nine of its Division of Licensing branches and suspended online concealed carry applications in mid-March. Now it is time for the next step, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said Thursday. Fried announced the Tallahassee Regional Office will be the first to open its doors, and online applications will resume starting next week. Hinkle said the statistics are proof Floridians have had a more difficult time applying for concealed carry permits given record-setting gun sales this year. At the Tallahassee Regional Office, city employees will wear face masks, shields and gloves while collecting fingerprints.