VERN BUCHANAN

Normally giving food to wild animals is considered off limits.

For 2021, two Republican legislators are leading the national effort for the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make Daylight Saving Time a permanently fixed practice all year round.

Rep. Darren Soto In this image from video, Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, April 23, 2020. (House Television via AP, File)Rep. Darren Soto said Wednesday that he is experiencing mild symptoms of COVID-19 after recently testing positive for the virus. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible: https://t.co/3Mm7LPNMxT pic.twitter.com/vXNXAaSCTz — Rep. Darren Soto (@RepDarrenSoto) September 8, 2021The diagnosis is the latest known breakthrough case of COVID-19 in Congress. Since the start of the pandemic, officials have confirmed nearly 40.3 million COVID-19 infections and reported more than 650,800 deaths nationwide, according to numbers compiled by Johns Hopkins University. More than 222.1 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide, resulting in nearly 4.6 million deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.

A record-shattering number of sea cows have died this year.

With Florida seeing a record number of manatee deaths this year, two congressmen Monday said they have introduced legislation that would designate the sea cows...

A Republican Congressman from Louisiana who has criticized mask mandates and public health restrictions says he and his wife and son are now sick with the coronavirus.

Ashley Moody, the Republican attorney general of Florida, tweeted on Wednesday that she has tested positive for COVID-19.

While reports of athletes, lawmakers and others occasionally getting the coronavirus despite vaccination may sound alarming, top health experts point to overwhelming evidence that the shots dramatically reduce severe disease and death.

The Delta variant is in the House, and also the White House, jolting political Washington

While the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending that schools require face masks for children older than 2 and all adults, Alabama Gov. The state’s virus cases increased over the past three days by 2,552 to 365,132 total since the pandemic began. ___INDIANAPOLIS — A federal judge is allowing Indiana University to continue with its COVID-19 vaccine requirement for all students and employees. — With the delta variant causing a surge of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in southwestern Missouri, health officials have taken to going door-to-door in an effort to encourage vaccinations. The Kansas City Star recently followed along as health officials knocked on doors in Springfield, handing out brochures.

In the Netherlands about half of the adult population has been fully vaccinated and 82% of adults have had at least one shot. Ron DeSantis said a “seasonal pattern” affecting mainly Sun Belt states is largely to blame for a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Florida. ___PORTLAND, Maine -- More than half of Maine’s teenagers and 12-year-olds have had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. Only about 14% of the U.S. population that is under 18 has had a first dose of coronavirus vaccine, according to data from the Mayo Clinic. More than two-thirds of Maine’s population that is old enough to receive a coronavirus vaccine has received a second dose.

(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) (Alberto Pezzali)NEW YORK— New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday he does not plan to reinstate a citywide mask mandate even as COVID-19 cases increase, opting instead to focus on vaccinating more residents. Ron DeSantis said a “seasonal pattern” affecting mainly Sun Belt states is largely to blame for a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Florida. North Macedonia’s health minister, Venko Filipce, reiterated that mass immunization is the only way to end the pandemic and encouraged parents to have their children vaccinated. The health minister on Sunday announced 7,680 new confirmed cases over the previous 24-hour period, up from 5,261 daily cases a week earlier. Contacts of positive cases usually have to self-isolate for 10 days.

(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) (Alberto Pezzali)ST PETERSBURG, Fla. — U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan said Monday he has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus even though he was fully vaccinated against the disease. Ron DeSantis said a “seasonal pattern” affecting mainly Sun Belt states is largely to blame for a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Florida. Albania has registered some 130,000 coronavirus cases and 2,456 deaths so far but no deaths have been reported in the past month or so. North Macedonia’s health minister, Venko Filipce, reiterated that mass immunization is the only way to end the pandemic and encouraged parents to have their children vaccinated. Contacts of positive cases usually have to self-isolate for 10 days.

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan says he's tested positive for the COVID-19 virus even though he was fully vaccinated against the disease.

With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations up sharply over the last month in Alabama but still far below when the pandemic was at its worst early this year, school officials have said vaccines won’t be required in the fall and local systems can decide on their own whether to require masks or other precautions. INDIANAPOLIS — A federal judge is allowing Indiana University to continue with its COVID-19 vaccine requirement for all students and employees.

A Florida state agency says dam safety experts consider the risk of a possible second breach in a leaking wastewater reservoir to be “unsubstantiated.”.

Many have warned of the "environmental nightmare" long before the leak began.

A Florida state agency says dam safety experts consider the risk of a possible second breach in a leaking wastewater reservoir to be “unsubstantiated.”.

The Latest: Gimenez wins House seat over Mucarsel-PowellRepublican Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has won a Florida seat in the U.S. House, defeating a single-term Democrat. The 41-year-old Democrat easily defeated Republican H. Wayne Clark in the heavily Democratic county. _____8:17 p.m.Republican Kat Cammack has won Florida’s U.S. House seat held by her former boss, retiring Florida Republican Rep. Ted Yoho. _____7:22 p.m.Republican state Rep. Byron Donalds has been elected to the U.S. House seat now held by Florida Republican Francis Rooney. “I feel he’s just more level-headed.”______7 a.m.Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden have campaigned heavily in Florida, each hoping to win the prized battleground state’s 29 electoral votes.

— District 3: Republican Kat Cammack has won Florida’s U.S. House seat held by her former boss, retiring Florida Republican Rep. Ted Yoho. He defeated Democrat Donna Deegan, a former television news anchor who has worked to raise money for breast cancer research and to help patients. — District 15: Republican Scott Franklin has won Florida Rep. Ross Spano’s seat in the U.S. House. Deutch was first elected in 2010 and represents a firmly Democratic district that includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A supermajority of Florida voters approved the amendment to the Florida Constitution that will raise Florida’s minimum wage from the current $8.56 an hour to $15 an hour by 2026.

At least 10 lawmakers and three congressional caucuses have ties to organizations that received federal coronavirus aid, according to government data released this week. Four car dealerships owned by Kelly received $600,000 to $1.4 million. Mike Kelly Automotive Group, Mike Kelly Automotive LP and Mike Kelly Hyundai and Kelly Chevrolet-Cadillac, all near Pittsburgh, received the money. Buchanan, whose net worth is estimated at $74 million, received three loans for car dealerships totaling $2.7 million to $7 million. Two wineries tied to Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., and an Iowa farm run by his family received loans worth at least $2 million.

After brushes with coronavirus by others, a Florida congressman has tested positive for coronavirus. He was the first member of Congress to test positive for the virus at the center of a global pandemic. Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah later announced he, too, had tested tested positive for COVID-19. Gaetz, 37, had been in contact with an individual at a conservative conference in February who later tested positive. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, 67, remains self-quarantined after coming into contact with a Brazilian diplomat who tested positive.

After brushes with coronavirus by others, a Florida congressman has tested positive for coronavirus. He was the first member of Congress to test positive for the virus at the center of a global pandemic. Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah later announced he, too, had tested tested positive for COVID-19. Gaetz, 37, had been in contact with an individual at a conservative conference in February who later tested positive. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, 67, remains self-quarantined after coming into contact with a Brazilian diplomat who tested positive.

After brushes with coronavirus by others, a Florida congressman has tested positive for coronavirus. He was the first member of Congress to test positive for the virus at the center of a global pandemic. Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah later announced he, too, had tested tested positive for COVID-19. Gaetz, 37, had been in contact with an individual at a conservative conference in February who later tested positive. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, 67, remains self-quarantined after coming into contact with a Brazilian diplomat who tested positive.

Ron DeSantis is properly communicating coronavirus information. State health officials waited 24 hours after receiving the first two positive test results to send out a press release. Since then state health officials have put out regular updates about new positive cases, but the information being released about the outbreak is limited. Coronavirus: Florida Gov. Appearing at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton with hospital officials, Buchanan said the screening will prevent other hospital patients and staff from being exposed to the virus.

Ron DeSantis is properly communicating coronavirus information. State health officials waited 24 hours after receiving the first two positive test results to send out a press release. Since then state health officials have put out regular updates about new positive cases, but the information being released about the outbreak is limited. Coronavirus: Florida Gov. Appearing at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton with hospital officials, Buchanan said the screening will prevent other hospital patients and staff from being exposed to the virus.

Ron DeSantis is properly communicating coronavirus information. State health officials waited 24 hours after receiving the first two positive test results to send out a press release. Since then state health officials have put out regular updates about new positive cases, but the information being released about the outbreak is limited. Coronavirus: Florida Gov. Appearing at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton with hospital officials, Buchanan said the screening will prevent other hospital patients and staff from being exposed to the virus.

Florida has voted against changing the clocks for the end of daylight saving time but the practice will still continue March 8. Rubio and Buchanan renewed the push to ditch the switch last fall when daylight saving time ended. Daylight saving time activists said momentum is building nationwide to change the rules, and that Florida played a major role in advancing the discussion. But it would also mean sunrises from mid-December through January wouldnt happen until after 8 a.m.Thats why the Florida PTA opposes making daylight saving time permanent. The first nationwide daylight saving time law was passed in 1918 as an energy-saving measure during World War I.

Florida has voted against changing the clocks for the end of daylight saving time but the practice will still continue March 8. Rubio and Buchanan renewed the push to ditch the switch last fall when daylight saving time ended. Daylight saving time activists said momentum is building nationwide to change the rules, and that Florida played a major role in advancing the discussion. But it would also mean sunrises from mid-December through January wouldnt happen until after 8 a.m.Thats why the Florida PTA opposes making daylight saving time permanent. The first nationwide daylight saving time law was passed in 1918 as an energy-saving measure during World War I.

Florida has voted against changing the clocks for the end of daylight saving time but the practice will still continue March 8. Rubio and Buchanan renewed the push to ditch the switch last fall when daylight saving time ended. Daylight saving time activists said momentum is building nationwide to change the rules, and that Florida played a major role in advancing the discussion. But it would also mean sunrises from mid-December through January wouldnt happen until after 8 a.m.Thats why the Florida PTA opposes making daylight saving time permanent. The first nationwide daylight saving time law was passed in 1918 as an energy-saving measure during World War I.

Pixabay(CNN) - The House has unanimously passed a bill that makes animal cruelty a federal felony. The PACT Act -- which stands for Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture -- was approved by the House on Tuesday. The bipartisan act, introduced by Florida congressmen Ted Deutch and Vern Buchanan, will revise a previous law passed in 2010. "Passing the PACT Act sends a strong message that this behavior will not be tolerated." Currently, federal law only explicitly prohibits animal fighting, and only criminalizes wrongdoers when they create and sell videos depicting the actual animal cruelty.

WASHINGTON - House lawmakers passed a bipartisan bill Wednesday on Capitol Hill that would make animal cruelty a federal felony. The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, or the PACT Act, specifically bans crushing, burning, drowning and impaling animals, among other abuses. He said this will close a loophole that would ban animal cruelty recorded on video. Previous laws have de-legalized creating and selling such videos but not the acts of animal cruelty recorded. Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch says the legislation sends a message that our society does not accept animal cruelty.

Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman is expected to be sentenced early next week to life in prison. And Florida U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan is once again pushing for passage of a bill called the El Chapo Act. Buchanan told reporters recently, Guzmans drug empire amassed an estimated $14 billion from narcotic sales, responsible for destroying the lives of countless Americans. And, according to experts, thats a very big if.First, the $14 billion number seems to come from an estimate of how much the cartel churned over its existence. Finally, there is this pesky fact: Mexico is the only entity that can legally confiscate El Chapo property, not the U.S.