The career change for Florida’s former lieutenant governor was sudden, and to most, surprising. Jeanette Nunez is Florida International University’s new president, interim, technically. She is a two time alum there and an FIU mom,

A new study by researchers at Florida International University found Houston's hurricane-resistant skyscrapers are at greater risk against "bouncing" winds.

Some years are worse than others and this year is a worse flu season, although it’s a better COVID season,” said Mary Jo Trepka, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Florida International University.

Despite outscoring its opponents 19-6 during the first half of the weekend, Indiana softball scored just two runs in its final two games to drop to 10-3 on the 2025 season. After falling short in its season opener to Florida International University on Feb.

Barrera, a Cuban American, was 23 when he first fled to Cuba. A history major at Florida International University, he was driven by a desire to capture the reality of a place that seemed like the last place you'd expect to find a totalitarian regime.

Dr. Aileen Marty, Infectious Disease Specialist and Professor at Florida International University, joins Bob Sirott to talk about the latest health news. Dr. Marty shares details about a bird flu

Nicklaus Children’s Health System and Florida International University, through its Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, announced a strategic affiliation to create the region’s only pediatric academic hospital that will enhance

Good morning and welcome to Tuesday. Now that JAMES UTHMEIER is Florida’s attorney general, Gov. RON DESANTIS still has a couple more roles to fill, choices that could have ripple effects for the 2026 elections. And when it comes to who will get the nod from DeSantis, there’s plenty of intrigue and speculation in Republican circles. Let’s start with the lieutenant governor vacancy. JEANETTE NUÑEZ, who was picked to become interim president of Florida International University, officially resigned Sunday. But what if … what if … the governor lets the post stay vacant and doesn’t rush to fill it right away? That’s what Gov. RICK SCOTT did for more than 300 days back in late 2013 and 2014. Scott did eventually fill the job, but only after he got sued and — just as importantly — was planning to run for reelection. State law mandated that Scott would have to name a running mate eventually. Three people in Republican circles have speculated to Playbook about the possibility that DeSantis keeps the LG spot open for now. (If you are wondering … Florida statute 14.055 dictates that if there is a vacancy in both the governor’s office and lieutenant governor’s office, the attorney general is next in line.) Keep in mind the timing. There have been real conversations about first lady CASEY DESANTIS running for governor herself next year, according to two Republican insiders who requested anonymity to speak on the discussions. Gov. DeSantis downplayed the suggestion just last week, but it could send mixed messages about a potential successor if he suddenly picks someone else as LG. But that poll didn’t include Casey DeSantis. A fresh-from-embargo poll from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab found that the first lady’s favorable marks were twice that of Donalds. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: [email protected]. With a new administration in place, how will governors work with the federal government and continue to lead the way on issues like AI, health care, economic development, education, energy and climate? Hear from Gov. Jared Polis, Gov. Brian Kemp and more at POLITICO’s Governors Summit on February 20. RSVP today. THIS WEEK — Florida state Senate and House committees are meeting in Tallahassee. MR. ATTORNEY GENERAL — “DeSantis on Monday officially elevated Uthmeier from his spot as the Republican governor’s chief of staff to the state’s next attorney general,” reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. “Uthmeier was sworn into office during a brief ceremony inside the Old Capitol held in front of a crowd of well-known Republican officials, legislators and members of the DeSantis administration. Uthmeier, who served several months as campaign manager for DeSantis’ ill-fated bid for president, is one of the governor’s closest and most trusted aides. “‘This was not a very difficult decision for me to put James as the next attorney general,” said DeSantis, who praised his chief-of-staff as a ‘bulldog’ for his administration ‘who was always digging in and fighting.’” THE GRUTERS INTERVIEW — Gruters had several blunt assessments about DeSantis in an interview with Dara Kam on the latest News Service of Florida “Deeper Dive” podcast. Gruters, who acknowledged he’d had a strained relationship with the governor, said he thought the migrant relocation program — when Florida flew migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard — had been a “waste of money” and a “stunt,” even as he said it helped highlight the Biden administration’s immigration policies. Gruters also took issue with DeSantis using state money to message against the “political campaigns” of the pot and abortion amendments during the last election, calling such work “propaganda.” He’d wanted the pot amendment to pass but not the abortion one. (One interesting tidbit: Gruters himself said he didn’t try marijuana until his early 40s, when he was in Las Vegas for his birthday with his wife and ingested some gummies.) Gruters also appeared to criticize DeSantis’ approach toward relationships, saying, “You have to have friends in this process” and “work together.” WATER MANAGEMENT SCRUTINY — “State Sen. Jason Brodeur said Friday that the Legislature wants more assurances that Florida’s five water management districts are spending state money as the Legislature intended,” reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. “Senate leaders on Friday filed a proposed bill, SB 7002 (25R), which would require more detailed information on projects and allow a legislative panel to block spending that doesn’t comply with district budgets. Brodeur (R-Sanford) said that, in his four years as chair of the environmental appropriations committee, the South Florida C-43 reservoir project has been fully funded. But agencies request more for it each year.” “Larry Keefe, who as public safety ‘czar’ in DeSantis’ administration helped orchestrate controversial flights of migrants from Texas to Massachusetts in 2022, was named Monday to oversee immigration enforcement in Florida,” reports Jim Turner of News Service of Florida. “And Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd will also be part of a new a new State Immigration Enforcement Council.” “Edward Fleming, Andrew Hobbs, Dr. Joel Rudman and Zachary Smith were appointed to the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees,” reports Mary Lett of the Pensacola News Journal. DeSantis appointed “Michael Barnett, a longtime Republican Party leader and champion of Palm Beach State College, as a trustee of the school,” reports Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “DeSantis has appointed three new members to Disney World’s governing board. Alexis Yarbrough, the current Chair of the Broward College District Board of Trustees, will be the new Chair,” reports Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics. “Joining Yarbrough on the Board will be John Gilbert, Executive Managing Director at Stream Realty Partners, and Scott Workman, who owns Workman Transportation and Workman Travel.” — “Florida’s new immigration law met with fears of profiling, distrust,” reports Juan Carlos Chavez of the Tampa Bay Times. — “Florida universities shouldn’t admit immigrants living in the state illegally, DeSantis says,” reports Jackie Llanos of the Florida Phoenix. — “DeSantis urged to declare emergency over toxic red tide algae off Florida coast,” reports the Guardian’s Richard Luscombe. We’ve re-imagined and expanded our Inside Congress newsletter to give you unmatched reporting on Capitol Hill politics and policy -- and we’ll get it to your inbox even earlier. Subscribe today. USF SWITCHOVER — “University of South Florida President Rhea Law announced Monday she will step down from her post, as major changes continue in the leadership of Florida public universities,” reports Jim Turner of News Service of Florida. “Law, an attorney who had longstanding ties to USF, became interim president in 2021 before being named president in March 2022. Monday’s announcement said she will leave the presidency after USF conducts a search for a successor.” GETTING OOT — “As Trump threatens sweeping tariffs and belittles Canada as the ‘51st state,’ [Tim] Bishop is part of a social media movement urging Canadians to spend their money at home or in more supportive countries,” reports Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel. “That could be bad for business in Florida. Canada is the Sunshine State’s top source of international visitors with the Maple Leaf flag flying proudly in snowbird enclaves and license plates from Ontario and Quebec signaling winter’s arrival.” — “Tallahassee utility customers stunned by high electric bills after rare Florida snowfall,” reports Elena Barrera of the Tallahassee Democrat. — “Fearful immigrants ask Florida activist to sign guardianship papers for their children,” reports Gisela Salomon of The Associated Press. — “How Coral Gables became a key end point for smuggled Chinese migrants,” by the Miami Herald’s Milena Malaver, David Goodhue and Jacqueline Charles. MESSAGING FLOUNDERING — “Florida Democrats have struggled with how to respond to the issue [of immigration], even as Republicans engage in public fights among themselves and reverse their own positions and legislation in some cases,” report Gray Rohrer and Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network — Florida. “All the while, Florida Republicans were zooming past them in voter registration numbers.” SPECIAL ELECTION AHEAD — “DeSantis is waiting to set a Special Election date to fill Sen. Geraldine Thompson’s seat, but says it will happen as soon as possible,” reports Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics. The governor said: “We usually wait until the elected official is put to rest and everything before we really charge into that. But we will set it. We’ll try to do that as convenient as possible for the local officials.” IN MEMORIAM — “Former Florida legislator and longtime circuit court judge Thomas Gallen died peacefully at his Bradenton home on Feb. 5 at the age of 92,” reports Jesse Mendoza of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. “Gallen worked as a law partner at the Miller, Gallen, Kaklis and Venable law firm in Bradenton from 1960 to 1985 and served for 12 years in the state Legislature, spending six years each in the Florida House and Senate in the 1960s and ‘70s.”

The only woman serving as an FCC Commissioner will be participating in a roundtable discussion at Florida International University on Wednesday afternoon with a Federal Trade Commission Commissioner and five key U.

- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks about plans to lower insurance prices in the state, during a press conference at Florida International University's Wall of Wind, an experimental facility

The Liberty Flames (21-5, 9-4 CUSA) will attempt to extend a four-game win streak when they host the Florida International Panthers (8-18, 2-11 CUSA) on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Liberty

Here’s a look in words and pictures at how the world famous food fest got its start at FIU and then the first year in South Beach: When the South Beach Wine & Food Festival debuted in March on the sandy shores of Miami Beach as an outgrowth of the Florida Extravaganza that Florida International University had hosted for five years,