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Florida schools ponder hurricane makeup days

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1 year ago

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Florida schools ponder hurricane makeup days


The big story: Students across Florida lost several hours of class time as their schools shut down for hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Once determining it was safe to resume classes, officials had another key decision ahead: How to make up the missed time, which for some children exceeded 50 hours. That’s nearly 5% of the year.

The choices included extending the school day, adding more days to the academic year and canceling vacations or parts of them.

“The driving question was constantly around, how do we make all the right moves for all the right reasons?” Pinellas County schools chief academic officer Donnika Jones said. Read more here.

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Eckerd College students return to campus after a month away because of hurricanes Helene and Milton, WUSF reports. The school moved to remote online classes after evacuating.

Hot topics

Lunch lines: The University of South Florida has cut ties with its longtime cafeteria services provider. The move will affect about 400 employees. • Duval County school cafeteria workers are discussing whether to walk off the job after reaching an impasse in contract talks seeking higher wages, WTLV reports.

Referendum politics: Opponents of the Hillsborough County school district’s local-option property tax referendum have made allegations against superintendent Van Ayres in their effort to detract support for the initiative, Florida Politics reports. • A campaign to extend Escambia County’s local-option sales tax supporting construction projects has strong support, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.

Save Our School: Some Collier County residents are petitioning to prevent Bonita Springs Elementary School from being demolished, WINK reports. The school was damaged in Hurricane Irma. • Duval County residents want school district officials to consider equity, and not just the bottom line, as they prepare to shutter several schools as part of a cost-saving effort, Jacksonville Today reports.

School uses: The Highlands County school district is transforming its prekindergarten center, which sat about half vacant, to other program uses, Highlands News-Sun reports.

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Union busting: A group that tried to push out United Teachers of Dade says it won’t give up despite losing its initial effort, the Miami Herald reports.

Vouchers: Both the Democrat and the Republican seeking a state House seat representing Palm Beach want more accountability for Florida’s school voucher system, Florida Phoenix reports.

From the police blotter … The principal of a Lake County high school was arrested on an allegation of driving under the influence, WESH reports. • Schools in Bonifay in Holmes County have canceled all outdoor activities during a police investigation into a nearby weekend murder, WJHG reports.

Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to Friday’s roundup.

Before you go … What’s that? New Wallace and Gromit?

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Florida

South Florida celebrates Bad Bunny ahead of Super Bowl Halftime performance

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10 hours ago

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January 28, 2026

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South Florida celebrates Bad Bunny ahead of Super Bowl Halftime performance


Published: 

South Florida fans of Bad Bunny come together ahead of Super Bowl performance

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A Miami Beach rooftop has become a haven for Bad Bunny fans counting down the days until the Super Bowl, all while playing one of America’s oldest and longest running pastimes.

High above the neon glow of Lincoln Road, the vibe isn’t just cinematic, it’s Un Verano Sin Ti.

Rooftop Cinema Club South Beach is known for its skyline views and wireless headphones, but on Wednesday, the speakers were pumping 100% Benito.

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The prizes for Bad Bunny Bingo ranged from free movie tickets to themed merch, but for most, the real win is the atmosphere and a community of likeminded fans.

The world will be watching when Bad Bunny takes the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show stage on Feb. 8 from Levi Stadium in Santa Clara.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.



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Looking for a job in Florida? The post office is hiring

Published

22 hours ago

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January 28, 2026

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Looking for a job in Florida? The post office is hiring


UPS announced plans to cut 30,000 jobs in the coming year. Amazon is slashing 16,000.

The post office is hiring.

In recent weeks, the U.S. Postal Service has been holding job fairs to fill vacant positions for carriers, assistant carriers, and auto techs at Florida locations, with salaries starting at $21.89 per hour. The next two are in Tallahassee and Lake City.

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Recent job fairs were held at Fernandina Beach and Jacksonville.

Here’s what to know.

Is the Post Office hiring?

The USPS in Tallahassee and Lake City are looking for “committed and motivated individuals,” according to press releases. The positions are:

  • Rural Carrier Associates (RCA) – $21.89 per hour, paid bi-weekly, full-time with health benefits. You would deliver mail on a full-time schedule that may include weekend and holidays.
  • Assistant Rural Carriers (ARC) – $21.89 per hour, paid bi-weekly, part-time. You would deliver packages.
  • Automotive Technician (AT) – $66,586 annually, paid bi-weekly, health benefits. You would perform repairs and maintenance on all types of motor vehicles used in the postal fleet. (Tallahassee only)

Benefits include multiple health and life insurance choices, pension benefits and a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) like a 401(k), and vacation time and sick leave, the USPS said.

When are the USPS job fairs?

  • Tallahassee: Friday, Jan, 30, at the Tallahassee Post Office, 2800 S Adams Street
  • Lake City: Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Lake City Post Office, 250 NW Main Blvd.

Interested applicants who can’t make it to the job fairs may also apply at usps.com/careers.

What are the requirements to work for the post office?

  • You must be 18 years old or older at the time of appointment or 16 years old with a high school diploma
  • You must be a United States citizen or permanent resident
  • You must be able to pass a criminal background check and drug screening
  • If driving is part of the job, you must have a valid state driver’s license and a safe driving record

C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.

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Florida Democrats seek guardrails on immigration enforcement

Published

1 day ago

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January 27, 2026

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Florida Democrats seek guardrails on immigration enforcement


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — As cities across the country see growing protests over immigration enforcement, Florida Democrats are pushing bills they say would protect residents and undocumented migrants — and counter Republican proposals to expand enforcement across the state.

“We stand at a crossroads where we need to decide what world we live in,” said Rep. Dotie Joseph, D-North Miami.

One measure, Senate Bill 316, known as the Visible Act, would ban the public use of masks, require police officers to identify themselves and create safe zones around schools and houses of worship.

“We are not a dictatorship,” said Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville. “Secret police belong in the history books, not Florida streets.”

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Democrats are also spearheading efforts to grant in-state college tuition to recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, often called DREAMers. Florida lawmakers ended that benefit in 2025.

“I dream and I dream big.I will always work as hard as I have to make my dreams come true,” said Alexander Vallejos, a DACA recipient and student at the University of Central Florida. “I love my beautiful Sunshine State of Florida, and I’m a Florida kid through and through.”

Republicans argued in-state tuition diverted state funds from legal residents during the 2025 debate.

“I don’t think it’s fair to ask hardworking Floridians who are struggling to make ends meet to spend $45 million subsidizing the education of people who shouldn’t even be here,” said U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, a former state legislator.

Gov. Ron DeSantis defended Florida’s continued cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, calling it “positive cooperation” that “has certainly made a difference here in Florida.”

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Tensions over enforcement have deepened nationally after ICE agents in Minneapolis fatally shot two U.S. citizens, drawing condemnation from lawmakers and activists.

“They feel they can do anything they want — even including executing a United States citizen in broad daylight,” said Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando.

The Visible Act must pass three committees before it can reach the full Senate floor for a vote.



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